Automatic VS Manual Transmission: How Do You Choose?

In today's automated age, the automatic transmission is always going to be the popular choice. But there are a lot of benefits to buying a manual car, as well.  Here, we lay out the facts to help you make the choice that is best for you.

First, the basics:

The primary job of your car's transmission is to allow the engine to operate in its narrow range of speeds while providing a wide range of output speeds. Without a transmission, cars would be limited to one gear ratio, and that ratio would have to be selected to allow the car to travel at the desired top speed.  A car like this would wear out very quickly and would not be drive-able.

Benefits of an Automatic:

Obviously ease-of-use is the best benefit to an automatic.  And that's no small matter. When it comes to driving a car, especially if you are driving long distances (or sitting in loads of traffic), ease-of-use is much appreciated.  Manual cars require use of both hands and both feet, while driving. This is just inconvenient and tiring (if you are sitting in traffic or going up steep hills). If you need to have one of your hands available while driving (not to do anything distracting, obviously) you should definitely think about buying an automatic.

Consider The Engine:

The engine that your car is equipped with makes a huge difference to which type of transmission should be chosen. If you want the most power from your engine, going with a manual transmission versus an automatic is most likely going to be your best bet. While some modern automatic transmissions allow for some excellent acceleration, there is still usually a substantial difference in 0-60 times between these types of automatics and a 5 or 6-speed manual transmission. •For example, an automatic equipped Dodge Neon has a reported 0 – 60 MPH time of approximately 10.5 seconds. The same Neon when equipped with a 5-speed manual has a reported 0 – 60 time of 8.1 seconds; a huge difference. While most cars do not have this large of a 0 – 60 MPH gap between auto and manual transmissions, 99% of the time you will receive noticeably better performance from a manual gearbox. Acceleration with manual transmission is usually superior for a number of reasons, most predominantly gear ratios and the availability of more precise shifting.

Fuel Economy:

If fuel economy is a concern, then going with a manual transmission is probably going to be your best bet. Some vehicles get better mileage (5 mpg or more) as an automatic compared to the manual, most notably in the PT Cruiser. But, for the most part, the manual cars will pull in the best fuel economy, saving you money in the long run.

 

Speaking of Saving Money..

Even though the automotive world has come extremely far with refining automatic transmissions, most automatic transmissions still need to be serviced far more often than manual transmissions (some auto manufacturers state that their manual transmissions never have to be serviced with fluid changes, etc. Manual transmissions are also usually slightly/much cheaper to fix when something mechanical goes haywire. This is not always the case, but on average, a manual transmission will cost you less to repair than an automatic in the same type of vehicle).

In Conclusion:

While it really just comes down to preference, there are many benefits to buying a car with a manual transmission. Besides being more engaging and fun, it pulls in better fuel economy, more power, and will save you money on repairs and maintenance. However, it is also nice to just "set it and forget it" with an automatic.  If you want the best of both worlds, consider a semi-automatic transmission. These transmissions are called different names from one manufacturer to another. Usually, they're found on the sport models. Basically, they are an automatic transmission with the option to go manual. If you go into manual mode, it won't be the common gearshift with five options, but one with a + on the top and a - on the bottom. You push the shifter towards the + mark to shift up, and pull towards the - mark to downshift. Not as much fun, but it does have the added benefits of both transmissions.

Here at Southern Auto Liquidators we have several of either transmission type to choose from. Check out some of our sporty manual cars and our reliable automatics at www.southernautoliquidators.com