The convenience of driving an automatic car can hardly be ignored. The immersive drive experience of a car with a manual gearbox remains a priority for many people. An automatic gearbox even makes it to the list of highlights in several cars sold in the Western markets. This is how cars with automatic gearboxes have become common in European countries. But is an automatic car meant for everyone and does it indicate the end of manual cars as we know it? Here, we are doing a comparison between a manual vs automatic car.
The most important decision one must take while choosing a vehicle is which one to buy. And once it is decided, many say that it is now the confusion between a manual and automatic gearbox that is now becoming the next problem for prospective customers. Even a rugged SUV like the Thar 2020, traditionally designed for enthusiasts and adventurists, is providing an auto transmission box. As such, the factors at play are many deciding on which transmission choice to fix. However, if you are confused between an automatic and manual car, then here is a comparison between manual vs automatic cars and the important factors to consider before making an informed choice.
Basics of a Transmission Gearbox- A gearbox moves gears to various levels to send power to the wheels which helps the car move backward and forward. Transmission in cars is generally of two types. These are automatic gearbox and manual gearbox. Among these, the automatic gearbox has various types of variations. The manual gearbox needs manual intervention to shift gears and the clutch pedal to send power to the wheels; however, with an automatic gearbox, mechanical parts help in shifting the gear and do not need much manual intervention. You can read more about the differences between the different types of gearboxes, comparison between manual vs automatic cars further here.
Various Types of Car Transmissions- Mainly, cars are sold in two types of transmissions, automatic or manual. However, the automatic gearbox has various versions like “Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), “Dual Clutch Transmission” (DCT), and now a cost-effective version, known as “Automated Manual Transmission” (AMT). There are many more, which are advanced and are costly compared to the popular transmission being sold around the globe. Below are some of the popular types of gearboxes in the automotive industry and how they get along when you compare manual vs automatic car:
What Is Manual Transmission (MT)?
Manual transmission or manual gearbox is operated by shifting the gear lever and clutch along with the acceleration pedal which sends power from the engine to the gearbox, which in turn sends power to the wheels. It is a hand-operated gear level.
What Is Automatic Transmission (AT)?
The automatic gearbox uses mechanical parts to change gears automatically without the need to use either the clutch or gear lever. It is being adopted in various countries because of its ease of use.
How does a manual car work?
A manual gearbox allows the driver shift gear ratios to drive the car. While the lower gear ratios offer much-needed torque and low acceleration, the higher gear ratios provide higher acceleration and low torque. These ratios are known as “speeds”; therefore, the tern “6-speed gearbox” or 5-speed gearbox”. The gearbox or transmission helps the engine of the car to transfer power to the car’s wheels at various speeds.
As far as a driver is concerned, there are usually two parts of a car that he or she should engage to propel the car from an initial point to the end. These parts include the clutch pedal as well as the gear shifter, which needs the input of the driver and cannot work on its own. When the driver inputs the clutch pedal, the friction clutch gets activated, which decouples the engine from the gearbox. While the clutch is engaged, the gearbox and engine start, but they are independent of each other. This helps the driver to move gears and draw the needed power to send to the wheels.
Manual vs Automatic car: Buy the Perfect One
Advantages and Disadvantages of Manual Car
The manual transmission type of car needs extensive driver input and the driver should select the right gear and is quite popular in Asia and Europe. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a manual car:
Advantages:
- Affordable
- Fuel-efficient
- Superior acceleration
- Low maintenance cost
Disadvantages:
- Driver must coordinate between different parts like the acceleration pedal, gear lever, and clutch pedal.
- Needs extensive training.
- Can be difficult while driving in stop-and-go traffic.
- Less resale value when you compare auto vs manual car.
How does an automatic gear car work?
The driver continues to play an important role in operating the car in an automatic car gearbox setup; however, it is much lower compared to a manual car. This is so because the number of mechanical parts used is less. Parts like the gear lever and clutch pedal are non-existent. The driver engages the shifter to the “D” mode which signifies the “Drive” mode, and the car will do the rest of the hard work. The gearbox changes gear automatically by using fluid pressure.
The main part of the automatic car is the planetary gear set, which creates various gear ratios to send power to the wheels. The pressure required to activate the gear and clutch ratios is performed by automatic gearbox fluid. It loosens and cools moving parts and helps the car to move. The change of gear changes automatically and the driver does not have to give his/ her input to move the car except the accelerator pedal.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Automatic Gear Car
An automatic gear car needs very little input from the driver and mainly depends on the automatic gearbox fluid and planetary gear set to push the car. Automatic cars are becoming popular everywhere. Below are some of the major advantages and disadvantages of an automatic gear car:
Advantages
- Easy to drive.
- Excellent for beginners
- High resale value
- The car is under the control of gear level and clutch.
- Perfect for a smooth and pleasant drive
Disadvantages
- Costly
- High maintenance cost
- Low mileage though the gap is reducing
While individual requirements and considerations may be different, here are some factors that one ought to consider before buying a manual or automatic car, or even the clutch-less transmission that is the recent fad of sorts:
Convenience- We cannot deny the fact that an automatic gear car makes driving less difficult. This is mainly true if one navigates through a web of other cars in too much traffic. An automatic car does the majority work of the driver and for someone with hectic regular commutes through congested roads, it could be a great boon.
Practicality- Gone are those days when an automatic car used to consume lots of fuel. Vehicles with auto transmission units these days are mostly as fuel-efficient as their siblings with a clutch and stick. Occasionally, they even provide more miles per liter of fuel.
Cost- Here is where the cars with a manual transmission option have a clear benefit. If a buyer is on a fixed budget, a manual transmission unit will have to be sufficient. And if the list of priorities places too much importance on safety or features or looks, then one can choose a manual transmission unit at the cost for which all these other highlights are available without spending too much.
Conclusion
With time, automatic cars will probably dominate- but this change will be slow. Unless you are ever going to buy or drive new cars throughout your driving career, choosing to take an autotest instead of a manual might restrict your vehicle choice. But still, automatics are becoming more common, so they are now as efficient as a manual car and do not cost significantly more.