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.

If you are too lazy or don't have time to read all that's on this site here's the one sentence executive summary: manual transmission (MT)cars use less fuel and give you more control over the car but are less convenient, while automatic transmissions (AT) burn (a little) more gas, provide 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 version of the same model is about a thousand bucks cheaper. Sometimes 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 extra $1000.

In the long run, manuals require less service, thus making maintenance cheaper too.

Maintenance

Any mechanic can tell you that working on a manual transmission is much easier than working with automatic gear boxes. So the repair costs for automatics are significantly 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 frequently as in automatics. (Some cars use special transmission fluids that do not need to be replaced at all.)

Operation (driving)

Standards are harder to drive. Say the North Americans. Huh. Ask a European taxi driver who talks to the dispatcher and zig-zags 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.

6-speed manual gear shift

With ATs, at stop lights you have to keep your foot on the brake pedal otherwise the start keeps rolling forward. Just how uncomfortable is that? This was so strange to me the first time I drove an automatic that I slowly rear ended the car in front at the lights:) (In case you are wondering I spend 6 years driving standards and 7 years driving automatics.)

The main difference in operating a car with a stick shift vs. one with automatic trasmission is that you need to shift gears based on the vehicle's speed and this requires 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. Gears can be selected at this time or the car can be stopped without stalling.

Automatic gear selector

It's not depressing the clutch pedal that takes practice - releasing it requires practice to ensure a smooth start and gradual transition between gears once the vehicle is in motion. If the clutch pedal is not properly used the car will "jump-start" (much like an angry donkey) and often stall. Learning to control the clutch pedal is the single most frightening part of driving standards and many people become discouraged after a few unsuccessful trials. But once you learn how to use properly use your left foot to control the cluch-pedal the "muscle memory" becomes permanent and you won't forget it again - much like riding a bicycle.

Automatics also have a clutch except instead of a clutch pedal a torque converter is used to seperate the engine from the transmission - and it all happens automatically without the need of driver input. Speaking of driver input: manual enthusiasts need all their pride and discipline in traffic jams when they need to shift gears every minute for hours. (hint: if you commute in bad traffic, buy an automatic and forget about control- it's just not worth the stress driving a stick shift through traffic jams)

           

Latest Comments

View all comments (archives)

2010-06-29 - n/a n/a

cat061@gmail.com Hi! my name is clare. I am about to buy a car on thurs and i would like your opinion. I drive on a very hilly windy roads where i have to dodge amish buggies and other things throughout my drive. is it a bad idea to buy a manual car? Thanks! Clare

2010-05-22 - n/a n/a

I disagree with this article. The AT have come along way and their costs in maintenance and up-keep are significantly lower than before. True they may be cheaper to buy when buying a new car, at the start, but I will always put computer- guided systems above human operated ones, any day, any time! In Urban areas MT are a menace. Especially for people who do not know how to properly drive one. They roll back when not in gear (like at a stop sign or stop light). A auto coalition has studied AT and MT and proves that since 2006, AT can match or lower fuel consumption versus MT (in a 200 Km test trial). And to put a finishing touch on your cost accent, a lot of people do not know how to properly drive AT. The do not come to a full stop before changing gears which increases the "wear and tear" of the AT function. This is a one view point article.

2010-04-27 - n/a n/a

hey that info was really like eye opener for me, one of friends said AT do not have maintainance problem at all, and that they give a good mileage, thank u for the right stuff, u are doing a great job. regards-pravin, goa.

2010-04-26 - n/a n/a

after reading all of this things and having a 10 years experience in driving i find it that having a manual transmission is better less cost in a lot of ways especially repairing.. the only good thing about automatic transmission is its a user friendly but you know whats the bad part of having this automatic type of car is everybody can drive it. so you will have less objections of not letting somebody drive ur car hehehe... Manual for me is good what do you think? Am i correct? im planning to buy avanza is it a good car?

2010-04-07 - n/a n/a

I agree with the arguments against the old step auto 4-AT but you have missed a fundamental type of gearbox here. the CVT. That's the gearbox that's going to become dominant for economy driven cars since they're more economical than a 6-MT manual. It's already prevalent in all hybrid vehicles and petrol cars on the Japanese market. And for sports, I'd recommend the double-clutch 6-sp or 7-sp like all the supercars. You simply cannot switch as fast with a manual gearbox, that you'd end up accelerating slower than a DC-6 on a 500hp+ car. And about 4x4 SUV's, just check out all the luxury brands over there, they're mostly on 6-AT. Times change...

2010-04-05 - n/a n/a

manual transmissions are alot better for 4x4ing. i used to own a 1986 Subaru gl wagon with a 4 inch lift, and some big mud tires, and i could easily outclimb v6 and v8 powered jeeps and trucks that had automatic transmissions, even though i only had a 60 HP 1.8 liter. having a manual tranny gives your engine more torque, because it has more speeds to choose from, and therefore can distribute power more evenly among the gears. my current car, a Subaru xt6, is also greatly aided by having a manual transmission. i get 5 mpg better then the EPA ratings for automatics, and my 0-60 time is over 1 second faster. furthermore, dealing with stop and go traffic really doesn't bother me. if your really so lazy that you cant move the gearshift a few times when you come to a stop, ride the bus. and for people who say that that learning to drive stick is too "hard", be realistic. once you overcome your fear of stalling the car, the driving becomes easy. start by just practicing shifting between 1'st and second, preferably in an empty parking lot (that way you don't block traffic if you stall). i learned this way, and after a few hours practice, i was comfortably driving on the freeway.

View all comments (archives)