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I have an automatic car, a Volkswagen polo 1999 model that has run app. 170 000 km, that I bought 2 months ago. I have noticed that sometimes right after I've started the car and begun driving, it seems like the car goes into neutral instead of gearing up to the 2nd or 3rd gear when I'm accelerating - especially if I'm going up a hill the first metres when I start driving. The car hasn't ever fully stopped. After some seconds it goes into the right gear and works perfectly normal. There is never a problem once the car is running, it's only in the first few seconds in the start phase. It has not happened after smaller breaks, but only when the car has been parked for a longer time (one day or more, I think).

Do you know what the problem might be? Is this a serious problem? Or is it somewhat common for automatic cars? I'm not used to driving automatic cars before this, so I don't know much about them..
Besides from this "starting issue" the car runs really well.

I'd suggest you have an automatic transmission specialist check this out. It may be something as simple as low transmission oil level, but it could be something more serious. However, if it has drive the rest of the time, I think it's best to get it looked at to avoid the potential of damaging (or causing more damage to) the transmission.