Hope it's ok to add to this thread instead of making a new one, so as not to clutter the forum with similar thread concerns...

I'm new to A/T, have been driving m/t mainly, and after reading the manual, just wanted to ask some questions:

1. engine braking to avoid smoking your brakes-- going downhill fast at say 130kph, i'll (still) use my brakes to lower speed to 95 then shift to d3, then if desired, when it hits 50 shift to d2 to slow down it some more... is this procedure correct?

2. when parking, full brakes > then handbrake> release brakes >shift to P > turn off.... i understand this is the procedure... should i be concerned that the engine jerks noticeably when passing R when shifting from D to P... when i drove manual, i'd shift to 1st gear when parked after i've turned off the engine, but im guessing that won't work here... someone advised me that i should do this: brakes > shift to P > handbrake > release brakes> turn off, but im trying to follow the manual, just concerned about the jerk if it indicates i'm stressing the engine because of the handbrake.

3. Noticeable engine jerks when shifting from anywhere to PNRD, this is normal, right? (sorry if i sound paranoid, i never experienced engine jerks at all using m/t so i just want to make sure i'm doing it right)

4. i know it's not the best situation to drive cars through slightly flooded streets, lets say max 6 inches high, but if left with no choice but to go forward, is an a/t more delicate than an m/t to drive through one, having more electronic components?

added: the new car, when parked on a slight incline, is very creaky/noisy when releasing the brakes-- is this normal or needs lubrication somewhere? my old car was this noisy but i thought it was because it was old...

btw, it was mentioned in the manual to clean the car with water only often (mostly dust); shampoo only for stubborn dirt-- is the water only route ok considering manila pollution? the car's new and shiny now, i don't want to overshampoo with frequent car wahes, but i'm not so sure about washing it with just water...

tia!