Why Buy Automatic Cars
If you are about to make a new car purchase and are undecided as to whether to buy a manual or automatic car, perhaps the following article will be helpful in making up your mind.
Manual versus automatic – what’s the difference?
‘Manual’ and ‘automatic’ refer to the method by which the power of the engine is connected to the wheels via the gears. This is the transmission system. Changing gears is about using the engine’s power in different ways to match changing driving conditions. A car engine is a very powerful beast and if it were connected directly to the wheels the moment you turned the ignition your wheels would turn at 75 mph and you would virtually launch yourself into the stratosphere! In an automatic system these gear changes are done for you.
To start a car you need a large amount of force to move that heavy chunk of metal and plastic. To do that you need a large amount of force and very little speed so a low gear is used. Once moving there is less resistance to overcome and a higher gear is chosen to convert more of the energy into speed. In an automatic vehicle the gear change is done by a ‘torque converter’. In a manual system you have to change the gears yourself using the shift stick, or gear lever.
In Europe, especially the UK, the majority of drivers have manual cars. Automatic cars are relatively rare but are now increasing in popularity as traffic conditions change and the technology improves. In the USA the situation is the reverse, with the majority if drivers using automatics.
The pros and cons of an automatic car
PROS
- Driving an automatic is easier. There is one less pedal to worry about (the clutch) and one less hand to worry about; you don’t have to worry about that shift stick . If you are doing a lot of town driving and constantly changing gears having an automatic car makes a lot of sense.
- Automatics have a higher resale value in the USA as many drivers shy away from the manual models.
- Learning to drive an automatic is easier so you can get your license quicker and cheaper. If you are learning to drive later in life or have physical problems which make using a shift stick difficult an automatic will allow you to get mobile.
CONS
- More control and power: a manual car relies on the driver to make the gear change and a skilled driver can change more quickly than an automatic. More acceleration is possible with a manual shift.
- Manual cars are cheaper.
- Manual cars use less fuel. The lower efficiency of the automatic results in an increase in fuel consumption.
- Manual cars are cheaper to maintain. Automatic transmissions require more frequent and complex servicing.
- If your battery dies you can bump-start a manual. This is impossible in an automatic.
It is now possible to buy a semi-automatic car which gives you the best of both worlds. For boring town driving you can et the car do the gear changing for you. If you need more control or power you can use the manual transmission.
Making the choice between a manual or automatic is really a matter of personal preference and may depend on price and your preferred driving style. Manuals require more skill, while automatics require a bit less focus on the mechanics of operating the car which, in theory, should allow you to concentrate more on the road.
Bear in mind that if you learn to drive in an automatic this will be reflected on your license and you will not be allowed to drive a manual transmission vehicle. On the other hand, if you pass your test in a manual you can drive both types of car and will have more freedom to chose your make and model in the future.
The ultimate Automatic Car
In the future the term automatic car may mean something completely different. Audi have recently developed a car that can drive itself! The aim is to take human error out of car driving to make it safer. It will take many years before they become commonplace but in the not-too-distant future you may be able to buy a genuinely automatic car and be reading the newspaper all the way to the office!
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