But Which Is Bestmanual Or Automatic
At the end of the day, when it comes to choosing whether or not to drive an automatic or manual car, its still a matter of opinion and personal taste. There are many factors to take into consideration, which we will go into more detail later, but generally speaking it depends on a number of things, including what type of driver you are, the roads and conditions that you drive and your budget.
Lets look at the nitty gritty of automatic and manual transmission cars
The Different Types Of Automatic Gearboxes
Although any car which changes gears itself without the driver having to use a clutch pedal is generally considered to be an automatic, there are in fact a number of different types of automatic gearboxes.
Conventional automatic gearboxes
These use a torque-converter to do the job of the clutch, and are more refined than other automatic boxes, but will use more fuel than manuals.
Luxury cars such as the Range Rover and Volvo XC90 stick with a conventional automatic transmission – using as many as nine gears.
Continuously variable transmissions
CVTs are popular in hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius, as they do away with cogs in favour of a belt which acts as a single gear ratio.
As well as being more efficient and more reliable, they also make for a smoother drive as the car doesnt have to skip between gears.
A downside is slower acceleration than other automatic gearboxes, and a loud, strained engine sound can occur if you attempt to make rapid progress.
Here Are The Cons Of Using Auto Car Wash
CON: Using the wrong one can damage your car. As vehicle paint protection experts, we tend to focus on damaging your clear coat. But automatic car washes can also damage other parts of your car. In fact, there are some that have been known to tear off antenna, sideview mirrors, and even front or rear bumpers.
CON:Harsh chemicals and car soaps. As we discussed above, some automatic car washing facilities use an industrial strength alkaline enhanced degreasing shampoo. These formulations are great for stripping wax, paint sealants, and even bird droppings, bug guts, and tree sap. But that aggressive soap leaves a mark on unprotected paint. In fact, overtime, it can start to eat away at the clear coat, leading to oxidation of the coat, corrosion, and eventually rust.
CON: Water Spots. Even the auto car washing facilities with super hair driers are prone to water spotting. Most facilities use city industrial water which isnt filtered and contains higher calcium deposits or other minerals. As water dries on the surface, those deposits will dry rapidly, and leave dried mineral deposits that are difficult to remove.
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History Of Automatic Transmission
According to Auto Repair San Antonio, just over 100 years ago, manual transmissions were the only option for drivers until the Sturtevant brothers of Boston attempted the first automatic transmission in 1904. Weights and bands operated their two-speed “horseless carriage” gearbox. The automatic transmission they created was often unreliable since weights often flew apart, causing the transmission to fail.
An essential development that helped inventors arrive at an automatic transmission was the planetary transmission used in a vehicle’s gearbox. And the first used planetary transmission was in the Wilson-Pilcher. The transmission built between 1900 and 1907 operated using two epicyclic gear trains that allowed four forward gears to be chosen by adjusting a single gear change lever.
Alfred Horner Munro, a Canadian steam engineer, designed the first automatic transmission in 1921 and patented the transmission in 1923. He created the automatic transmission with four forward gears and no reverse or parking gears, and he used air pressure instead of hydraulic fluid. General Motors used the transmission in the Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac between 1937 and 1938.
Purpose Of An Automatic Transmission
Just like that of a manual transmission, the automatic transmission’s primary job 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. If you wanted a top speed of 80 mph, then the gear ratio would be similar to third gear in most manual transmission cars.
You’ve probably never tried driving a manual transmission car using only third gear. If you did, you’d quickly find out that you had almost no acceleration when starting out, and at high speeds, the engine would be screaming along near the red-line. A car like this would wear out very quickly and would be nearly undriveable.
So the transmission uses gears to make more effective use of the engine’s torque, and to keep the engine operating at an appropriate speed. When towing or hauling heavy objects, your vehicle’s transmission can get hot enough to burn up the transmission fluid. In order to protect the transmission from serious damage, drivers who tow should buy vehicles equipped with transmission coolers.
Let’s take a look at how the planetary gearset works.
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What Is An Automatic Car Wash Facility
One misconception in the auto detailing world is that all automatic car washes are identical. Thats simply not true. In fact, there are multiple types of automatic wash techniques and facilities, each offering a different way of accomplishing the same task remove debris from your vehicle.
There are basically two types of automatic car washes in North America touchless and friction-based.
Different Types Of Automatic Car Transmission
Automatic transmissions were considered expensive and owned by the affluent, and available only with luxury cars. However, that has changed in recent times. Car manufacturers have introduced innovative products, which offer automatic gearboxes in different types or avatars. The advancement of technology has made automatic gearbox affordable and one can buy automatic cars under Rs. 5 lakh. The automatic gearbox is especially helpful in countries such as India with its chaotic stop-and-go traffic. However, automatic transmissions are of many types and can be confusing sometimes. Learn about different types of automatic car gearboxes below:
1. Automated Manual Transmission
Known for its affordability and fuel efficiency, the AMT is the most affordable automatic transmission currently being sold in India. The AMT operates similarly to the manual gearbox. However, the clutch and gear change are automated either through hydraulic actuators or semi-electronic parts requiring lesser drive input to drive the car.
While they are affordable and fuel-efficient when you compare an automatic vs AMT, the latter has its disadvantages as well. They can be a bit jerky sometimes and may affect the comfort aspect. It is still excellent for those who are learning to drive a car and do not want to use the shifter and clutch pedal to drive the car. Some of the well-known models are Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Renault Duster, Maruti Suzuki Alto, etc.
2. Continuously Variable Transmission
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Facts About Amt Cars:
Cars fitted with the AMT automatic gearbox are comparatively cheaper and easier to maintain. The repair or cost of the parts being replaced is relatively cheaper compared to other types of automatic gearboxes such as the CVT, DCT or the Torque Converter. Below are a few facts about AMT cars:
1. AMT Cars Are Easier to Drive
Unlike the manual transmission cars, AMT cars come with the âcreepâ function, which propels the car at about 5 to 6 km/h without the driverâs input. This makes it easier to drive, especially in stop and go traffic conditions such as in India. There is no need to use the clutch pedal or shifting of several gears to drive the car as the AMT gearbox takes care of most of the work.
2. AMT Cars Are Easier to Maintain
The gearbox in AMT cars is essentially a manual gearbox with a hydraulic actuator performing the job of the clutch and shifting gears. Hence, there are no complex parts utilised in building the AMT. Therefore, the maintenance cost is cheaper than maintaining other types of gearboxes such as CVT, DCT or torque convertor.
3. AMT Cars are Fuel Efficient
Against popular belief that automatic cars return lower mileage, the AMT gearbox is highly fuel-efficient similar to the manual gearbox-driven cars. Since the AMT is a manual transmission with additional mechanical parts to assist it, AMT cars are fuel-efficient compared to other automatic versions.
4. AMT Does Not Hamper the Performance
5. AMT Cars are Affordable
Driving Automatic For The First Time
Now that you’re more familiar with the gearstick, it’s time to get driving. While automatics are easy to drive, stopping and starting can still be confusing.
When starting, put your right foot on the left-hand pedal and push down, starting the car with the key or start button. With your foot still on the brake, move the shifter to Drive or Reverse, depending on which way you want to drive.
Once you’re moving, the gearbox will select the correct gear for the speed.
When you’ve reached your destination and need to stop, keep your foot on the brake and move the gearstick Park. Turn the ignition off and exit the car.
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What Are The Cons Of A Manual Transmission
- Not the best for long commutes. While manual cars can be fun to drive, you may want to think about your daily commute, if you have one. It’s nice to have full control of the vehicle, but after hours on a highway, or in stop and go traffic, you might wish you had an automatic instead.
- Variety. There are fewer and fewer manual cars made each year, but the variety is wider than it used to be. You can find heavy-duty trucks, sports cars and sedans with manual transmissions. As of October 2019, just 1.2% of new cars sold for the year had manual transmission , according to edmunds.com.
- More difficult to drive. If you live in a hilly area, it can be challenging to operate the gears and a clutch. It involves more thinking, and you need to be careful, especially if stopped in the middle of a hill. You don’t want to drift back into a car behind you. You’re also likely to stall in a vehicle with a manual transmission.
Youre Still Responsible When Using Automatic Parking Assist
Any of these systems can relieve some of the stress associated with driving around in a crowded city and finding an appropriate place to park your vehicle. But they can also add to the pressure since they work slowly and deliberately and can hold up traffic.
Also, suppose something goes awry, and the car hits an obstacle, another vehicle, or worse, a pedestrian. In that case, youre on the hook for damages, not the automaker or the supplier of the technology.
Therefore, every driver must use their own best judgment when using automatic parking assist systems.
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Shifting In An Automatic And Manual Car
The primary difference between an automatic and a manual transmission is the method the car uses to shift gears. In an automatic transmission, the car decides when you shift and automatically changes gears for you. In a manual transmission car, you are responsible for shifting gears using the clutch and gas pedals.
Comparison With Manual Transmissions
In cars where either a manual transmission or an automatic transmission is available, the manual is usually the cheaper option and the automatic is the more expensive option.
Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions are not as complex to drive. Consequently, in some jurisdictions, drivers who have passed their driving test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission are restricted from driving cars with manual transmissions. Conversely, a manual licence will allow the driver to drive both automatic or manual transmission vehicles.
Compared with a manual transmission, an automatic can cause the following differences in vehicle dynamics:
Early hydraulic automatic transmissions caused higher fuel consumption than manual transmissions mainly due to viscous and pumping losses in the torque converter and the hydraulic actuators. However, modern hydraulic automatics can achieve similar fuel consumption to manual transmissions, and CVTs can be more fuel-efficient than their manual counterparts.
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‘traditional’ Automatic Or Torque Converter Automatic
The oldest and best-known type of automatic transmission is sometimes called a ‘traditional automatic’, but it’s more accurately named a torque converter automatic. It uses a fluid coupling between the engine and gearbox which transmits power under load. These have been in use since the middle of last century and since then have been endlessly refined and improved.
Torque converter autos offer very smooth but not necessarily lightning quick gearchanges, earning them the affectionate name of ‘slushbox’ in some cases. That reputation is changing though, largely thanks to brilliant torque converters like the ZF 8-speed auto, which is fitted in dozens of performance cars from BMWs to Jaguars.
What’s The Difference Between Manual And Automatic Transmission
Most people are familiar with manual cars. Traditionally, they’ve been the most common type of transmission in the UK. But in recent years, automatic cars have become more popular. This might be partly because people are buying more electric cars, which are automatic.
Manual transmission
Manual cars have a clutch pedal and a gear stick which usually has 5 gears.
To change gear, you press the clutch pedal down. That temporarily disconnects the engine from the transmission. You then select the next gear using the gear stick and release the clutch.
Automatic transmission
In automatic cars, the gearbox picks the right gear for the car’s speed without the driver having to do anything. It automatically disconnects the engine from the road wheels while changing gear.
Automatic cars dont have a clutch pedal or a gear stick. But they do have a shifter, which lets you choose between park, reverse, neutral and drive.
Whether you drive an automatic or a manual, we can help if you break down.
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Keep Your Options Open
It’s good to know the major differences between automatic and manual cars, but ultimately your buying decision will probably come down to personal preference. Both types of vehicle will get you where you need to go, and all it takes is a little practice to learn to drive a manual car. If you choose to buy an automatic, you may want to learn to drive a manual car as well. Knowing how to drive a stick shift is an important life skill that comes in handy in emergencies.
What Is The Difference Between Automatic And Manual Cars
When you shop for a car, you have many decisions to make, including body style, color, engine type, and transmission. As with any major decision, it pays to spend a little time researching your options, especially when it comes to choosing a transmission style. Wondering whether you will be better off with a manual transmission or an automatic transmission? Your driving habits and personal preferences will help you decide.
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What Is A Dsg Gearbox
DSG gearboxes have two clutches so they can preselect the next gear which cuts shift times, making the car accelerate faster than one with a conventional manual or automatic gearbox. For example, a Volkswagen Golf R with a DSG gearbox accelerates from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds two-tenths of a second quicker than a Golf R with a manual gearbox.
Enthusiasts tend to prefer DSG gearboxes because their quick changes make them feel more responsive and rewarding to drive and because gears can usually be manually selected using Formula 1 style paddles behind the steering wheel.
DSG gearbox do have some disadvantages, though. The biggest is that they cost more than a manual gearbox, but they also tend to be more complex and heavier. DSG gearboxes can also be a little jerky at low speeds making parking tricky and they dont usually have the crawl function youll get with a conventional automatic.
Purpose Of Buying A Car
You may buy a car to drive in stop-and-go traffic conditions or you may want to buy it because you want more control of the car while driving in different conditions. An automatic car is certainly easier to drive in a stop and go traffic since it does not require too much driver input. A manual car can be cumbersome in chaotic traffic and requires a lot of driver input. However, if you want to decide which gear the car should be driven, the manual car is a better option. Also, for the best performance of the car for racing purposes, several race drivers prefer manual cars over automatics since they decide the speed to drive the car.
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How An Automatic Transmissions Works
When you drive a vehicle with an automatic transmission, putting the car in Drive activates the system. By pushing on the accelerator pedal, the engine’s crankshaft begins rotating more rapidly and this, in turn, leads to more pressure within the torque converter. As the car moves forward, the transmission’s hydraulics and electronics sense its speed in relation to engine speed, and the transmission changes gears automatically in response.
In the classic automatic transmission, hydraulics within the transmission sense those speed changes. Those hydraulics then activate other hydraulics to change gears in the planetary gearset. Today, electronics supplement that sensing process, and the automatic transmission works in concert with the car’s other systems.
So, the next time you drive your car, you should be aware that millions of calculations go into the gear that your transmission chose at that moment. Your car is doing a lot of work every second to make driving much easier for you.
