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.

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.

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)

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For me manual gear is always advantage except for convenience.On the terrain you can choose gears to reduce engine revolution to avoid overheating.During decent you can use low gears to slow down the vehicle.And on rapid acceleration M/T engage mechanically which result in quick accel A/T engages by oil so take time to propell.-Herman of UAE

If you have only driven an AT a couple of times then you have no idea what its actually like. One must also "learn" to drive an automatic. The claim that an AT will "hunt" for the right gear is completely wrong. The AT behavior is actually quite predictable and with a little practice you can keep it in the gear you want by the way you interact with the accelerator. The AT responds not only to the position of the gas pedal, but also to how quickly you are moving it. For example to downshift quickly, push down on the gas pedal quickly--then you can back off a bit if you don't need all that power right away. I have never, never been surprised by the AT making a shift and usually I can predict when it will occur a few seconds in advance by listening to the engine sound and watching road conditions. Traffic isn't the only problem for the MT. There is also hills. ATs don't roll backwards on hills. ATs are much easier to parallel park on any sort of incline. The claim that fuel economy is worse with cruise control is completely false (by an earlier poster). Fuel economy of an AT improves about 10% with cruise-control (I have one and I've measured it). Keeping the same speed is more efficient than keeping the same RPM (which is what most drivers do without cruise control). The principle is the conservation of momentum, basic physics. Unlike a manual, the AT on cruise control can go up hills because it can shift as needed. Some people on here seem to think that first and second gear are not available on an AT. Also incorrect, they are labeled "L1" and "L2" on the shifter. This mode keeps the car in that gear only. Finally, engine braking is not universally accepted as a good idea. Engine braking puts stress on the engine. New brake pads are cheap, but new engines are not. However, engine braking is a good idea for long descents where brake pad heat might be an issue, in which case you can do this on an AT by selecting overdrive-disable, L2 or L1.

I'll tell you my story. When i was 17 I visited family in Greece and everyone was driving stick. My cousin taught me the basics on his car and i promised myself that when i get back to NYC my first car would be stick so that when I visit Greece again I could rent a car and drive a manual. I get back I buy a 1988 mazda MX-6 Turbo. For the first month i was cursing myself for getting it. I hated it to no end. After awhile I got used to it and I learned to love it. You have so much control over ur car. Nothing feels better than zippin around a turn in low gear as the engine inertia keeps your drive wheels in constant motion. In auto the road controls your wheels in stick your engine controls your drive wheels. That makes a huge difference in control.. Especially in bad weather conditions. If you're stuck in snow for example, you can ease off the clutch really slow applying just enough pressure to prevent the wheels from slipping and then use the clutch to remove power when necessary. If your battery dies you can push start the car. Mountainous terrain, stick shift is essential for power in the upgrade and engine breaking in the downgrades. Automatic scares me, it feels like the car is just floating when you let go of the gas. Traffic? I dont even feel it. I just leave plenty of room in front of me and let the car roll in first gear at 2mph just like the truckers do. I owned one automatic and i destroyed the tranny because i was constantly manually shifting the car. I just couldnt help myself. Launching off a start with stick is the best, rev to 6k pop the clutch. The power is there when you want, just downshift to the gear that would put the revs in the power range you want and there you go. I too hate to hold my foot on the brake at a light or in traffic, to me thats more annoying than anything. I also believe learning stick makes you a better driver all around and a safer driver because you acutally learn how to drive a car. The list goes on and on and honestly this post would be 10 pages long if i listed all the benefits of stick. As far as automatic is concerned, I'd only buy one if I was getting a range rover, cadi or something like that. But a sports car,.. hell no!!! Guys drivin a 350Z with tiptronic is soo gay man.. come on. I have a bit of a pet with with this whole issue because i recently was in the market for a new car and i had to pass up on so many cars because they are no longer offered in manual. I finally ended up with a G37S and even that was so hard to find with a manual. If your a real man and you are buying car that is not a luxury sedan do yourself a favor and buy a stick... please!! At this rate there wont be any sticks left to buy at all!!! PS girls think its hot when a guy drives stick.. peace.

I'm 23 and just learned to drive stick. MAN! I will never drive an automatic again, not for cost or fuel efficiency, but just for the plain fun and experience that comes with it. Long car rides are no longer dreaded, I find myself driving around for no reason other than to perfect my shifting and clutch release. Driving manual IS driving as opposed to moving around fast. And you can do many things while driving stick, it just takes coordination which comes naturally after a week or two.

I would like a statistic of how many folks drive manual vs. automatic in the US, Canada and Japan. I know in most European countries it is majority standard, but here in Canada I couldn\'t say, although I drive stick as do most of my mates, and most of anybody I encounter has had extensive experience, or drives regularly with a stick.

Manual Versus Automatic Transmission

Costs

Maintenance

Operation (driving)

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