Home Automobiles Automatic Vs Manual Shifting:The Pros And Cons

Automatic Vs Manual Shifting:The Pros And Cons

The automatic transmission has been slowly starting to overtake their manual relatives recently. There are many reasons to buy an automatic car, and there are many reasons to buy a manual car. Whatever your need when it comes to driving, there are pros and cons for each one, and they are:

THE AUTOMATIC

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They are easier to use than a manual. There are people (myself included) that find the task of shifting gears a difficult one to acclimatize to. Once I got used to it, it was fine, but there was a few months of uncomfortable crunching and grinding of gears and pedals. Using an automatic car, that issue is completely disposed of. Therefore it will take drivers much less time to learn.

They are less manually restrictive. Typically, new drivers are taught that the safest way to drive is to keep both their hands firmly on the steering wheel at all times. This is possible when driving an automatic transmission vehicle. But it is less achievable with a manual transmission due to the changing of gears.

They are a lot better for areas that are more “hilly.” When you are less experienced, you can find it difficult to negotiate a hill in a manual transmission very difficult, and this is especially so if you are attempting to drive from a dead stop. With an automatic this is removed, enabling your car to operate efficiently no matter how steep the hill could be.

There is a great reduction in the risk of stalling. A problem I know too well! Driving an automatic, it is very VERY difficult to stall the car. It will only stall if there is a mechanical problem in the vehicle, which is very rare.

It is much easier to use in heavy traffic. When it comes to a manual transmission, there is more work going into starting, accelerating, decelerating, and stopping the car. This isn’t usually a problem. But when it comes to heavy traffic where a car is not able to get up to speed, drivers can get frustrated that the constant starting and stopping of the car becomes quite a chore. Automatic transmissions allow the driver to go through heavy traffic by just pushing a single pedal. Simple!

THE MANUAL

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They are less expensive to buy. On average, a manual transmission will cost you a lot less than an automatic of the same model. For example, buying a Vauxhall Corsa in manual can save you over £1000 on the price over an automatic.

They are cheaper to maintain. Manual transmission cars require very little maintenance in comparison. And maintenance and repairs end up being less costly. But if the clutch wears out, that is something that can cause you trouble. Which is something that won’t be an issue with an automatic.

They have better fuel efficiency. Overall, manual transmission engines are less complex in comparison. They also weigh less and have more gears than automatics. You will end up getting more miles out of the petrol you pump in than an automatic. Manual transmissions can save drivers between 5% and 15% on their fuel costs.

There are ups and downs to each one, but the choice is yours! Put your foot down and decide!

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