What is better: manual or automatic and why?

Automatic or manual. What's better? Let's look at the main pros and cons

There is a lot of debate on this issue “automatic or manual”. Many people hate the automatic transmission - proving that there is nothing better than a manual transmission. On the contrary, many people say how convenient it is and I will never go back to a manual transmission. Everyone is right in their own way, as they say, it depends on taste and color. But still, if you throw away all prejudices and think, what is better? Let's think...

THE CONTENT OF THE ARTICLE

Mechanics (manual transmission)
Automatic (automatic transmission)
About the price
About the resource
VIDEO VERSION
VOTE

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To begin with, where did such a dispute come from? For example, I have many friends who believe that an automatic transmission is for girls and “dummies”, that they say, you don’t need to think, everything will be turned on for you. But the mechanical transmission option is, yes, for real men. Personally, I think each option has its right to exist. For example, a “handle” (manual transmission) is better in poor road conditions, for example on off-road - snowy roads. But an automatic transmission is better on smooth city roads, where you often stand in traffic jams, “push” if you want - the comfort from such a transmission is simply off the charts, again, new drivers learn automatic transmissions easier and better, feel more confident behind the wheel, and this means they will not create unnecessary emergency situations. However, I would like to talk in more detail. I will try to talk about each type of transmission separately. So, first in the question, I’ll probably tell you about mechanics, because I started with it myself.

Mechanics (manual transmission)

Mechanical transmission of a car. At the moment it is quite technically developed. It’s been a long time since we remember the mechanics in 4th gear, much less three. But at the dawn of the appearance of the mechanical transmission there were only two of them, then a technological breakthrough added another one, and in the 50s and 60s of the last century there were already three gears. Now the speeds are different, and technology has stepped forward, so the minimum number is five for mechanics. But now six-speed gearboxes are appearing, and I think that this is not the limit (here they thought that 5 or 6 gears were better). So why is a manual better than an automatic? Let's go point by point.

Pros of a manual transmission

1) The acceleration dynamics of a car with ordinary mechanics is better than that of an automatic. With it, you can rev the engine up to the “red zone”, but the automatic will start changing gears at certain speeds (unless, of course, you are driving in manual mode), so the acceleration dynamics are several seconds faster than with an automatic.

2) With a certain skill in driving and quickly changing gears, as well as with the skill of letting the car coast, you can achieve decent fuel economy; it will be difficult for your opponent to do this. An automatic transmission is generally not recommended to be switched to neutral speed when driving.

3) Requires less oil than the opponent. The automatic transmission needs to be filled with 6 to 10 liters of gear oil. The mechanical one has about 3 liters.

4) It is easier to start a car in winter. Firstly, there is less oil in the box, and secondly, when you press the clutch pedal, you seem to disconnect the gearbox from the engine, and accordingly the load when starting the engine is reduced.

5) Repair. The mechanical option is much cheaper to repair, and almost anyone can do it, even non-official companies.

6) Last, winter driving. In a manual car you can easily skid in the snow, but in an automatic car this is not advisable, as the transmission oil may overheat.

Mechanical disadvantages

1) So, the first minus is the ease of driving. Beginner drivers take a very long time to get used to the mechanics. They are especially bad at “starting off in a car”, as well as moving from a standstill to an incline.

2) Clutch. Novice drivers in cars with a manual transmission can easily burn out the car’s clutch due to inexperience. And this is already an expensive repair; this will not happen at a competitor’s principle.

3) Engine life. Engine life is significantly lower. All because the automatic machine will not allow you to “force” the engine, spin it to the limit.

That's all about mechanics, next in our article is an automatic transmission.

Automatic (automatic transmission)

These are very different transmissions. There are a lot, at the moment the types are known - robot, variator and automatic. It must be said that car manufacturers have also evolved with automatic transmissions. Firstly, the number of gears has also increased, from three to six, and eight-speed versions should appear soon. Secondly, they become more advanced, there are no longer large delays in car acceleration, and the fuel efficiency of cars with automatic transmissions increases. They also have disadvantages.

Disadvantages of an automatic transmission

1) The classic version accelerates slower than the manual version

2) It has only 4 speeds (classic version), and there are already five mechanics.

3) Again, the classic option, consumes more fuel

4) More oil in the structure

5) Starting is more difficult in winter

6) The cost of the car is more expensive, by 30 - 40 thousand rubles

6) The cost of repairs is higher.

Advantages of the machine

I want to talk about the advantages in more detail, because the machines are different and you shouldn’t lump them together, so to speak.

1) Overclocking is different. Yes, the classic torque converter automatic is slower at 4 speeds than a manual transmission. But now there are variators and types with 6 and 7 stages with two clutch discs, they are no longer inferior in efficiency, and sometimes exceed it. For example, a CVT is superior to a manual transmission, as is Volkswagen's DSG automatic transmission.

2) Classic (4-re gear) consumes more fuel, but if you take modern automatic transmissions or CVTs (6-speed or continuously variable transmissions), then their fuel consumption is much lower, sometimes even lower than with a manual transmission.

3) The convenience of driving a car is much higher. Even an inexperienced driver will be able to calmly move away without nerves and jerks, without creating an emergency situation.

4) The service life of the engine and transmission components is much higher - it controls the speed and will not allow the engine to overheat.

About the price

By the way, now automatic transmissions are growing in sales faster than manual transmissions, this is logical - after all, the first one is more comfortable for the city. People are even willing to overpay 40 - 50,000 rubles for the automated version. But those who don’t have any money at all, that is, they scraped together everything they could - they bought a manual transmission, they start throwing mud at their opponent, this is not right, that’s not right - and the resource is lower! Don’t tell me, an automatic transmission, especially in 4 gears, is a very practical transmission, I would even say in terms of service life it can outperform a manual transmission (a lot depends on driving style and maintenance). So the overpayment here is for comfort, and the design is more complex - so there’s no way around it.

About the resource

Now there is a lot of controversy that supposedly the manual transmission is indestructible at all, but the automatic transmission needs to be repaired - changed almost every 100,000 kilometers. There is some truth in this information.

1) To be honest, the mechanics often need maintenance, change the Ferodo (clutch) disc, change the oil, once every 30 - 40,000 kilometers you won’t be able to get there. That's why they last longer, the oil has been changed! However, the clutch disc is also replaced more often, especially for beginners, because it wears out really quickly, especially if you don’t get off so well.

2) An automatic, in turn, up to 70 - 80,000 will not give you any problems at all (I’m talking about a regular torque converter, after all, robots and CVTs are a little out of place). Then he simply changes the oil and again at 70 - 80 thousand. So why can they break down after 100,000 km? YES, it’s simple, some manufacturers are starting to assure that their automatic transmissions are maintenance-free and are designed to last the entire operation of the car! Maybe somewhere in Europe, on good roads, without snow, without a normal winter (always in the positive zone) - this will work! But not with us, even if the manufacturer assures that the oil does not need to be changed - it must be changed, at the same 70 - 80 thousand. And I would advise at 50 - 60, the more often the better. If you change it, breakdowns are practically excluded, that is, we ride and are happy. Even the Ferodo disk does not need to be changed. But if you don’t change the oil, then already at 100 - 120 thousand, problems may begin to appear, slipping, jolting, etc. It means that low-quality oil simply killed your automatic transmission.

So let’s remember - you need to change the oil, either in a manual (although it’s mandatory there), or in an automatic (even if the manufacturer doesn’t indicate it). The service life of the transmission directly depends on these replacements.

As you can see, the question – automatic or manual – is not very simple and unambiguous. Some people need the comfort and quick learning to drive that an automatic transmission provides. Someone needs a “handle” - you need to rev the engine to the limit in order to feel the speed and drive, this is provided by a manual transmission. In any case, both transmissions have the right to life.

Now the video version of the article.

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Manual or automatic: which is better and how to make a choice

The debate about gearboxes in cars is unlikely to subside. A manual transmission is very different from an automatic, so both types of transmission are subject to debate. Before answering the exciting question, it’s worth understanding them better.

Choose a checkpoint depending on your habits and needs

How both checkpoints work

The principle of driving a car with a manual transmission is independent gear shifting. First, the neutral speed is engaged, then the clutch is disengaged, and after engaging the gear, the car drives. You need to start from first gear, and, as necessary, shift them through neutral speed, disengaging the clutch.

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The engine indicates the need to change gear. If you overload it, that is, drive at high speed in the wrong gear, you will hear a characteristic sound. If you drive at low speed in the wrong gear, the car will stall.

A car with an automatic transmission has a different principle. The car, with a classic automatic transmission, changes gears on its own. You need to adjust the mode and, as necessary, press two pedals - “gas” and “brake”. If the type of automatic transmission is tiptronic, the driver has the opportunity to change gears independently. At the same time, the car adapts to the driving style of the person driving it.

There are hybrid cars with automatic transmission. They have the same number of gears as a manual, but they shift automatically. The problem with such cars is that gear shifts are less smooth than those of a car with a classic automatic transmission.

What is better manual or automatic and why: pros and cons

A manual transmission has many advantages:

Price. Here we are talking about the cost of the car and repairs. Such a car is much simpler and therefore cheaper to repair. The price will also be lower than the same one, only with an automatic.
Oil saving. A manual car requires no more than three liters, and to maintain an automatic car you need from five to ten liters.
Fuel economy. If a car with a manual transmission rolls at neutral speed, nothing bad will happen to it. This saves a lot of fuel. It is not recommended to drive like this in a car with an automatic transmission.
Length of service life. A manual car can last longer than an automatic.
Towing. A manual vehicle is moved using a tow truck and a rigid or flexible hitch.
Starting the engine even in severe frost. Automatic cars start worse in winter.
Excellent acceleration dynamics. It is faster than cars with automatic transmission.
Slippage in winter. It is highly not recommended to skid in the snow with an automatic transmission.

Manual transmission has disadvantages:

Inconvenience. Driving an automatic car is easier.
Short engine life. A car with an automatic transmission does not allow you to abuse the capabilities of the engine, and cars with manual transmission do not have this quality.
Risk of motor overload. If an inattentive or inexperienced driver does not change gears correctly, the engine will have to operate at higher speeds.
Risk of clutch damage. Frequent useless pressing of the clutch pedal causes damage to the vehicle.

Cars with automatic transmission are praised for good reason. Here are a number of their advantages:

Convenience. Driving such a car can rightfully be called easy.
Speed control. It is provided in cars with automatic transmission to prevent the engine from overheating.

There is also a lot of controversy regarding acceleration and fuel consumption. Facts can destroy them. A classic automatic transmission is unlikely to accelerate faster than a manual transmission, but a car with an automatic transmission with six or seven gears and a pair of clutch discs will easily show its advantage over a manual transmission.

This also applies to fuel consumption. A car with a classic automatic transmission requires more fuel than a manual one, but a car with an automatic transmission with six or seven gears will be more economical.

Here are the disadvantages of an automatic car:

Problems with starting the engine in winter. Even expensive cars with automatic transmission start worse than budget cars with manual transmission.
Oil change frequency.
High cost of cars and repairs.

Manual or automatic for beginners and everyone else

Please note the list of driver features and recommendations for choosing a gearbox:

Newbie. It is comfortable for a novice driver to drive a car with an automatic transmission. It is especially suitable if a person purchases a personal vehicle with an automatic transmission and does not intend to drive another.
A driver who rarely gets behind the wheel. Those who drive infrequently periodically get “lost” and forget what they taught in driving school. Automatic is a great option.
Driver driving around the city center. Traffic jams, congestion and a frantic pace are combined with a car with an automatic transmission.
A driver living in a region with a cold climate. To avoid daily problems starting the engine in cold weather, it is worth purchasing a manual car.
A driver who often has to drive on country roads. A manual car is suitable for such a person.

Drivers who are not yet familiar with an automatic gearbox should know about its features. When driving a car with an automatic transmission, the speed is felt worse, so it is not recommended for beginners to accelerate.

Another interesting fact is that it is easier to adapt to an automatic transmission than to a manual one. If you drove a car with the first transmission option, be careful when “transferring” to the second.

Make your own choice, taking into account your requirements and preferences. The question cannot be answered unambiguously, because both manual and automatic transmissions have advantages and disadvantages.

Do you want it with or without a pen? Pros and cons of manual and automatic

A long time ago (but not last Friday), when I was working on a Talmud about car theft, I came across this message - so to speak, from the section “Their Morals.” I quote:

“Two armed teenagers from the US state of Georgia robbed a man, taking his wallet and keys to a Honda Accord. However, they couldn’t steal it because they had never seen a box with a manual gearshift in their life! The only thing they could get to work was the radio.”

- Mikhail Vladimirovich! So what, it really wasn’t possible to get the mechanics?

At this point I found myself in a stupor. The colleague was not joking - he quite sincerely did not understand how one could voluntarily “drive an automatic machine”? True, later he nevertheless “changed his orientation,” although he was an athlete to the core. But then another colleague, also a “racer,” supported him. Say, I want me to drive the car, and not the car to drive me!

Personally, such arguments seem far-fetched to me. Of course, you can transfer manual control of all mechanisms to the driver - there were once cars with manually controlled ignition timing. But this was done due to poverty: today such decisions are only appropriate for an attraction. The auto industry, it seems to me, has also made its choice. In any case, the conventional price level, beyond which only the automatic machine reigns, is falling lower and lower. But the A- and B-classes still allow for “pluralism” of opinions - there are both mechanics with handles and automatic machines. Solaris, Logans, Rio - you never know...

Mechanical or automatic

Let's try to put together all the pros and cons of manual transmissions and automatic transmissions. Let’s clarify right away - we will mainly talk about the most modified and most widespread hydromechanical automatic machines today. These are the boxes that are still installed on prestigious and expensive cars. We will deal with robots and CVTs in a separate article.

Manual or automatic: which gearbox is better?

Content

Sad news for manual transmission lovers. Drivers who are used to taking control of their driving are being harassed. For the fourth year in a row, the share of cars sold with automatic transmission has been increasing and has exceeded the 50% mark. Now there are fewer mechanics than automatic machines.

Expert statistics

Autostat published data that in the first quarter of 2019, the number of sold automatic cars (including robotic gearboxes and CVTs) amounted to 58.7% of the total number of all cars sold.

It’s sad but true: automatic transmissions have long been replacing manuals in car markets. In most models, the maximum configuration with “leather” is simply impossible to buy on the “handle” - only with automatic transmission. Automakers believe that driving a car using your left foot (to depress the clutch) and being distracted by manual gear changes is a thing of the past. And maybe they are right. Let's figure it out.

Pros and cons of manual transmission and automatic transmission

One of the main advantages of mechanics is lower fuel consumption. After all, the driver himself chooses whether to rev the engine up to 3,000 rpm to shift to the next gear. You can push forward in third gear without lowering it if you expect that you will soon need to accelerate again. The automatic machine does not provide such an opportunity. You drive the way he wants, not the driver.

In second place is the cost of repair and maintenance of a manual transmission. Often the oil is filled in for the entire service life and does not require expensive replacement every 15-20 thousand kilometers, as in an automatic transmission. And the cost of automatic transmission oil is wow! And the cost of repairs is many times higher than with a manual transmission. For the restoration of the same variator they can charge a price of 25% of the cost of the entire car.

The third most important advantage of a manual transmission can be considered simplified engine starting in cold weather. In this case, there is no need to warm up the oil for a long time, as in an automatic transmission. Again, you can save fuel by not forcing the engine to idle for an extra 10 minutes.

And, of course, we cannot fail to mention the freedom to choose the driving style of the lucky ones with a manual transmission. They are allowed to skid as much as they like in the mud/snow, roll out of traffic lights before the rev cut-off, and drop gears to increase acceleration potential when overtaking on the highway. The automatic transmission lacks all this. At least its classic version. We won't talk about sports cars with cool robots.

Leaders among models with automatic transmission

If you pay attention to the secondary market for fresh foreign cars, the picture with machine guns becomes even brighter.

For example, the 4th generation KIA Rio with automatic transmission has shown an increase of 6% since the beginning of the year compared to the same period in 2018. The secondary market offers us 5862 options, of which only 1422 are manual. The rest is all “soulless” automatic transmission.

The increasingly popular Hyundai Creta crossover shows an even greater increase in sales of automatic cars - plus 8%. The secondary market offers 4841 cars, of which 3616 are with automatic transmission.

The situation with Toyota Camry is even worse. Or better. The XV40 generation was the last one where a manual transmission could be found. Starting with the XV50, produced since 2011, only automatic transmission is available on the model. Just like that, without the right to choose.

Only the Hyundai Solaris II remains relatively affordable with a manual transmission. But there is also a trend towards displacement of manual transmissions - plus 3% compared to the first quarter of 2018. There are 8,088 used cars sold, but only a little less than half of them are with manuals - 3,449, rounded - 42%.

The pedantic Germans didn’t have much love for mechanics before, and even more so now. Thus, the popular Volkswagen Tiguan II is no longer easy to find on the “handle”. Of the 5470 secondary copies, only 555 are equipped with manual transmission. Only 10%! What should residents of small cities do? In Samara, the official dealer offers only two cars with not the most popular configurations, but with a manual transmission. If you want, take these, if you don’t want, go for Solaris... There are no mechanics at all on the secondary ones.

One disappointment

If this continues, then it’s time to open a club of anonymous mechanics lovers. Being a fan of manual cars, I personally am categorically against the fact that some automakers voluntarily and forcibly deprive drivers of the right to choose their driving style. Automatic machines, robots, CVTs - all this, of course, is good. Still, classics are classics, and progress is on schedule. But in the modern world, you don’t want to feel like an “outside minority” among other motorists.

Author: Maxim Golenetskikh

Are you for manual or automatic? Share your opinion in the comments below the article.

Which gearbox is better, automatic or manual: pros and cons

Automatic or manual – which is better to choose when buying a car? This topic has been discussed since the release of the Oldsmobile Custom 8 Cruiser with automatic transmission in 1939. Automatic and manual transmissions are constantly being improved and become more complex. Comparing units according to priority parameters will help you make an informed choice of machine.

What is the difference between an automatic transmission and a manual transmission?

To move a car from a standstill on a flat area, you need to overcome the force of inertia and create the greatest traction on the drive wheels. Useful engine torque is only achieved within a certain frequency range. If the power unit is directly connected to the wheels, the efficiency of the motor will decrease. In order for the engine speed to work at maximum efficiency, an intermediary is included in the scheme - an automatic or manual transmission.

Automatic and manual transmissions perform one function: they convert engine energy and transmit it to the drive wheels. Thanks to the gearbox, the car moves at different speeds, going backwards and uphill. At the same time, the operating principle and design of the units are different.

When faced with a choice: automatic or manual, each buyer evaluates the difference based on the criteria of cost, reliability, and convenience. To make an objective choice, you need to understand in detail what a manual transmission and automatic transmission are, what are the advantages and disadvantages of their operation.

Operating principle of manual transmission

The mechanical box consists of gear blocks located on 3 shafts: input, intermediate and output. The input shaft is connected to the engine crankshaft and intermediate shaft. The gear wheels of the intermediate shaft are engaged with the wheels of the output stationary shaft.

The gears rotate independently of the output shaft. The diameters of the wheels are selected for a gear ratio sufficient to transmit torque to the wheel drive in different driving modes. If the gear is rigidly connected to the shaft, their speeds will be equal. For this purpose, synchronizers are used, which include an engagement clutch, a hub with nuts, and a locking ring.

The principle of operation of a manual transmission is to manually switch the output gears, which mesh with the engine and wheel drives. To control the gearbox, the driver uses a lever and a clutch pedal.

A mechanical clutch is a set of friction discs that separates or engages the engine and transmission through friction. By pressing the pedal, the driver stops transmitting torque to the input shaft. At the same time, the speed decreases and a push occurs. The decoupling dampens torsional vibrations and prevents gear shift shock.

By moving the lever, the driver actuates the rod. The rod with the help of a fork controls the engagement clutch. The movement of the clutch affects the position of the hub nuts, which press the locking ring against the gear. Under the influence of friction, the ring stops and the coupling splines engage with the gear.

A hydromechanical automatic transmission was able to solve the problem of interrupting the supply of torque. Accordingly, the principle of operation, design and control of the machine differs from mechanics.

Operating principle of automatic transmission

The automatic transmission is based on a planetary mechanism. It consists of a set of gears that rotate around a “sun”. The planetary gearset has 2 inputs and 1 output. Changing the input speeds using clutch packs allows you to control the rotation of the output shaft.

Unlike mechanics, in an automatic transmission the gears are switched according to a signal from the electronic unit. To engage the gear, the required channel for the passage of transmission oil opens in the valve body. Fluid pressure acts on the piston, which compresses the clutch discs. At the same time, the clutch pack of the previous gear is released. In this case, there is no loss of power during switching.