Everyone has a different opinion on which is better between manual and automatic transmissions.
Some look for convenience when they drive.
Others look to be able to control a vehicle's performance.
In either circumstance, it is just a driver's preference that makes the difference.
However, in looking at the mechanics of this part of the car and how it works, there are some differences that you may not have given much thought to.
Fuel As soon as you hear that there is a problem with the transmission, you start to panic.
You know that the cost is going to be considerable because of the part's importance to how the car runs and its fuel efficiency.
A manual typically uses less fuel while the automatic uses more.
It has to do with the amount of control that the driver has in accelerating and slowing down using the gears.
Cost of a Vehicle A manual transmission costs less than an automatic.
It is considered to be less convenient because the driver is in charge of moving through the gears.
It requires one hand on the wheel and one to shift.
If you check out newer cars, you'll notice that the manuals are almost always less than the automatics.
But typically, the decision to choose a manual or automatic transmission is not made based on the cost of the vehicle.
Cost of Maintenance and Repair Because of the way a transmission is set up, a manual is easier to work on than an automatic.
This means that it will take a technician less time to repair and in turn, the cost will be less.
In older models, fluids need to be removed and replaced according to the manufacturer's specifications.
Learning to Drive When a person learns how to drive, there are so many different factors that need to be taken into consideration.
There are mirrors to check, a vehicle to steer, and navigating to the next location.
The easiest way to learn how to drive is using an automatic.
That way, shifting gears is taken out of the equation and allows the learner to concentrate on other aspects of driving.
A manual uses a stick shift to change the gears.
In order to make the transition, the driver needs to press down on the clutch, located to the left of the brake.
Every time the gears are moved, the pedal needs to be pressed.
It is not always easy to learn the timing between pressing and letting off of the clutch.
Some parents insist that their children learn to drive both automatic and manual vehicles.
That way, they are not limited in their selection of vehicles in the future.
Even if someone has not driven a manual in a long time, it is something that comes back easily, much like riding a bike.