Manual Versus Automatic Transmission

What is better? Manual or automatic? How do they work? Which one to

choose? Why? This site is dedicated to unbiased information / pros and cons
about these two types of transmissions. Don't forget to add your own
thoughts at the end of the page.
f you are too la!y or don't ha"e time to read all that's on this site here's the
one sentence e#ecuti"e summary$ manual transmission %MT&cars use less
fuel and gi"e you more control o"er the car but are less con"enient' while
automatic transmissions %(T& burn %a little& more gas' pro"ide less control but
they are easier to use.
Costs
Manual transmissions cost less than automatics to begin with. When you go
to a car dealear you will notice that the stick)shift "ersion of the same model
is about a thousand bucks cheaper. *ometimes a thousand dollars seems like
not not so much when it comes to buying a new car but forget about the car
itself' think of what you can do with an e#tra +,---.
n the long run' manuals re.uire less ser"ice' thus making maintenance
cheaper too.
Maintenance
(ny mechanic can tell you that working on a manual transmission is much
easier than working with automatic gear bo#es. *o the repair costs for
automatics are signi/cantly higher.
Manuals ) if properly operated ) will go hundreds of thousands of kilometers
without problems %well' you also need a good car&. The lubricant needs to be
replaced periodically but not as fre.uently as in automatics. %*ome cars use
special transmission 0uids that do not need to be replaced at all.&
Operation (driving)
*tandards are harder to dri"e. *ay the 1orth (mericans. Huh. (sk a
2uropean ta#i dri"er who talks to the dispatcher and !ig)!ags on narrow
winding streets with three passangers chatting in the background. He will
swear to the life of his mother that stick shifs are better.
3)speed manual gear shift
With (Ts' at stop lights you ha"e to keep your foot on the brake pedal
otherwise the start keeps rolling forward. 4ust how uncomfortable is that?
This was so strange to me the /rst time dro"e an automatic that slowly
rear ended the car in front at the lights$& %n case you are wondering spend
3 years dri"ing standards and 5 years dri"ing automatics.&
The main di6erence in operating a car with a stick shift "s. one with
automatic trasmission is that you need to shift gears based on the "ehicle's
speed and this re.uires the use of the clutch pedal and the gear shift %stick&.
When the clutch pedal is depressed the clutch is disengaged ) the engine
and the transmission is separated. 7ears can be selected at this time or the
car can be stopped without stalling.
(utomatic gear selector
t's not depressing the clutch pedal that takes practice ) releasing it re.uires
practice to ensure a smooth start and gradual transition between gears once
the "ehicle is in motion. f the clutch pedal is not properly used the car will
89ump)start8 %much like an angry donkey& and often stall. :earning to control
the clutch pedal is the single most frightening part of dri"ing standards and
many people become discouraged after a few unsuccessful trials. ;ut once
you learn how to use properly use your left foot to control the cluch)pedal the
8muscle memory8 becomes permanent and you won't forget it again ) much
like riding a bicycle.
(utomatics also ha"e a clutch e#cept instead of a clutch pedal a tor.ue
con"erter is used to seperate the engine from the transmission ) and it all
happens automatically without the need of dri"er input. *peaking of dri"er
input$ manual enthusiasts need all their pride and discipline in tra<c 9ams
when they need to shift gears e"ery minute for hours. %hint$ if you commute
in bad tra<c' buy an automatic and forget about control) it's 9ust not worth
the stress dri"ing a stick shift through tra<c 9ams&