Manual vs automatic top gear2/11/2024 Many automatic gearboxes enable you to make manual gear changes, either through the gear selector lever or paddles mounted on the steering column. The use of hydraulic transmission fluid makes for very smooth changes and explains why traditional automatic gearboxes are sometimes known as ‘slushboxes’. Changes up or down through the gears are handled by this hydraulic clutch, which is essentially a fluid, spun at speed, that makes the connection between engine and gearbox. In a traditional auto, on choosing a gear position complicated electronics, coupled with a hydraulic ‘torque converter’ clutch, select and engage the correct gear. Some hybrids and electric cars have a B mode, which increases the amount of engine braking when you lift off. You select from Park, Neutral, Reverse or Drive (normally abbreviated to P, N, R and D) using a gearlever, control knob or occasionally buttons. Automatic gearboxesĪutomatic gearboxes have been around for over 70 years and although significant refinements have been made in their technology, the principle of how they work remains the same. Some carmakers are moving away from manuals, offering an automatic as standard on some of their models or with some of their engines this is often for reasons of economy, as the latest dual-clutch and automatic gearboxes can help cars use less fuel and produce less CO2 than those with a manual transmission. Some learners also find the added complication of gear selection and clutch control daunting and take their driving test in an automatic vehicle - with an auto licence, they can't drive a manual legally. On the other hand, this also means a manual requires more effort than an automatic, which becomes most apparent in heavy traffic. In some cars, a manual gearbox can also be useful for towing and off-road driving, where you want to hold a low gear. This can provide more driver involvement, giving the feeling of a direct connection between human and machine, with a mechanical feel to each gearchange, instead of a computer taking care of it for you. Manual: advantages and disadvantagesĪdvocates for manual gearboxes tend to enjoy the control they give over the car, as only you can choose which gear to use. However, it has increasingly come to mean an automatic gearbox that has a mode to allow the driver to make gear changes manually, usually using paddles behind the steering wheel. ![]() It has traditionally meant that you change gears with a gearlever as you would with a normal manual gearbox, but the clutch is taken care of for you, leaving only an accelerator and brake pedal for the driver. The phrase 'semi-automatic' has come to mean different things in recent years. Your vehicle’s manual will be able to advise you. Others require you to lift a collar below the gearknob as you move the lever. With a six-speed gearbox you might have to push down the stick and move it sideways and forwards as if you were selecting a gear next to first. On cars with a five-speed gearbox, reverse is often selected by pushing down and pulling back. The gears are selected according to an H-pattern and this is usually etched on the gearknob. A few manual cars even offer seven gears – the Porsche 911 and Aston Martin Vantage coupe are two examples – though both are expensive. These days, many manual gearboxes have six forward gears (sometimes referred to as 'speeds') in place of five or, just a few decades ago, four. Many cars at the 'affordable' end of the market have a manual gearbox as standard, while many enthusiasts prefer this type of transmission even when buying an expensive sports car. ![]() If the huge number of manual cars sold is any indication, a manual gearbox is the default choice for most drivers in the UK. Read on if you're buying a car and need to choose between manual and automatic. Yet for the ones where there is a choice, you'll want to know which one is right for you. Plus, some cars are only available as an auto or manual. ![]() Some people can only drive an automatic on their licence, which restricts their choices. ![]() You can find out what we think of each car's gearbox in their respective reviews on the rest of the website. Not all gearboxes are the same even of the same type, either - for example, Mazda's manual gearboxes are more pleasant to use than Peugeot's. Automatics are often more expensive than manuals if both are available on the same car, so it can be an important decision.
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