Difference between Automatic transmission and manual transmission

Difference between Automatic transmission and manual transmission

Both manual and automatic transmissions have distinct components. The stick shift or manual transmission is the older of the two versions even though automatic was introduced many moons ago it became prevalent among car owners in the 80’s. Over the years car owners have varying opinions of the two transmissions and many feel that driving automatic is easier.

If you plan to buy a car at Japanese auto auctions one of the first things to decide is the type of transmission you plan to buy. While some people are comfortable driving both types of transmissions there are some that has preferences.

The main difference between manual and automatic transmission

In simple terms the main difference is that manual cars have a clutch pedal while automatic cars only have the brakes and accelerator pedals. Automatic cars carry a simple gearbox system with four modes while manual cars have 5-6 gearshifts.

The gear system in automatic cars is pretty straightforward and they go as Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral (N) and Drive (D).

In a manual gear system the driver has complete control as to how the car performs while automatic car selects the correct gear according to the speed and condition of the road you are travelling.

Which is better – manual or automatic? Whether you are buying a car in Japan or anywhere else in the world, this solely depends on your style of driving and preferences.

Pros of driving a manual transmission

• The major plus point of driving a manual is that the drive is more in control over the vehicle. You can move the shift from 2 to 4 and speed your way through with that extra oomph.

• Manual cars are generally cheaper than automatic ones. The amount of demand for these two transmissions mostly depended on the country that you live in. Manual transmission is extremely popular in Europe while in the US, Australia, Japan and New Zealand automatic transmission is the preferred choice for the majority of people.

• Some drivers feel that they are more in control of the car when they get to change the gears. Most manual car drivers will tell you they love that whole ‘sensation’.

Pros of driving an automatic transmission

• When you get into an automatic transmission vehicle, the first thing you will notice is that it is easier to drive. There is not need to practice clutch controlling and you will never stall when driving upward a hill.

• Driving in slow moving traffic is simpler and there are no judders or sudden halts in the engine. Your ride will be as smooth as silk. This is one reason new drivers prefer automatic transmission or manual. Since the gears fall in place automatically there is less chance of the gears failing. But when it does fails it’s an expensive job to get it fixed.

While it is considered that manual transmission cars are more fuel-efficient than automatic transmission cars. The latter has been bridging the gap over the years by incorporating new technologies.

If you have more additional questions about related topic please ask any time Japan Motor staff.