If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, you should always start as broad as possible before narrowing your options down. As such, the first question to ask yourself should be whether to get a manual or an automatic transmission vehicle.
Learning the difference between manual vs automatic is helpful when you’re shopping for a new car, and when you just want to know more about automobiles as a whole.
So which transmission type is best?
It’s a matter of preference that you can decide when you have the right information. Let’s start with the points below.
Manual vs Automatic: The Basics
In terms of manual transmission basics, the main thing you should know is that the driver is responsible for using their understanding of speeds and the vehicle to shift gears on their own when necessary.
This differs from automatic transmission cars, which are built so that the car’s system knows when to shift gears on its own.
While an automatic vehicle only has an accelerator and a brake pedal, manual transmission cars also have a clutch pedal, which engages the transmission so that the driver can change gears with their hand.
What are the Major Differences?
Now that you see the basic differences between manual and transmission vehicles, you should consider the things you’ll need to know about owning either type. Consider these points:
1. You Have to Specifically Learn How to Drive a Manual Vehicle
Driving a stick shift is completely different from driving an automatic. You’ll have to put a little bit of time into actually learning how to drive one of these cars so that you don’t end up stalling or burning out the clutch.
It’s not incredibly difficult and the ability to drive a manual vehicle is something everyone should have, but bare this learning curve in mind before buying one.
Conversely, with an automatic vehicle, you can just sit back and enjoy the ride. This is particularly attractive if you are planning out long road trips and just want to put the car into cruise control.
2. Learn the Repair and Maintenance Differences
Stay aware of the repair and maintenance differences as well. Manual transmission fluid is checked underneath the car, while automatics are checked under the hood.
When checking under the hood, you should also get to know the transmission valve body and other parts.
3. Manual is About Control, Automatic is About Convenience
With a manual transmission car, you have full control over the power output, which is useful since an automatic transmission mechanism will always control veer on the conservative side.
With that said, the carefulness of an automatic transmission also means that the car will stall out less frequently. It’s all about whether you want the control of the manual transmission or the convenience of an automatic.
Take Care of Your Vehicle Transmission
If you’re making the choice between manual vs automatic, these are the points you should know. As a vehicle owner, it should be your goal to get to know all the little nuances of your transmission, so you can take great care of it.
Consider these tips and stay tuned for all things car repair.