Automatic vs. Manual, Which one’s best?

Every driver on the road has an opinion on the great automatic vs. manual transmission debate with many finding fewer options when they shop for a car.

In the UK most people drive manual cars, in fact, it’s quite unusual to come across an automatic vehicle. Whereas here in the US quite the opposite is true, people tend to favor automatic transmission, and some car owners have never even driven a stick shift. So today we’ll explore which one’s best, why Americans choose automatic over manual and take a look at some of the main differences between the two.

What’s the difference?

So let’s start with the differences. A manual transmission car has a clutch pedal used to change gears, and a gear shift stick between the two front seats, allowing the driver full control of the car with the ability to change between 5-6 gears and reverse. An automatic has a simplified gearbox with four settings –Drive –D, Park –P, Reverse-R, Neutral –N.

Shifting gears!

When driving a stick shift the driver will need to change gears manually according to the speed of the car, which requires constant attention and action. With an automatic, all that work is done for you, and you only really need to pay attention to the transmission when putting your vehicle in reverse or park.

It’s a matter of taste

Which one you prefer to drive depends on personal taste and the type of car you own. Many drivers of sporty cars and vintage vehicles, for example, prefer a stick shift as it gives them more control and they feel like they’re ‘really’ driving. On the other hand, many prefer an automatic transmission because it’s easier to drive. The gearbox is simple and the driving experience is smoother, especially in stop-and-go city traffic, eliminating the possibility of stalling at lights for instance (it happens!) With a manual, it requires constantly changing gears in this type of driving. And driving on steep hills using a stick shift can be quite harrowing and requires some concentration to work the gears and clutch!

it depends on how you learned to drive

Some people choose to learn to drive automatic-only, finding it easier and safer. But the biggest drawback to this is that they won’t be able to drive a stick shift if the need ever arises, and would have to retake their test in order to drive both. It’s better to learn on a stick shift and then to switch to automatic if you find it easier to drive.

Pros and cons

Drawbacks with an automatic include the fact that they’re more expensive to buy and to fix and they’re also not as fuel-efficient as their manual counterparts. But the advantages seem to outweigh these issues, as automatic transmissions are very popular.

And the winner is…

So who wins? Looks like more drivers in the US favor automatic transmission for many reasons, including convenience. Since we drive more over here and therefore spend more time in stop/start traffic, an automatic is far easier. However, there are still many fans and lovers of the stick shift in the U.S. It takes more practice to drive a manual transmission car, and some love the feel of changing gears, being in full control of their vehicles –even in a traffic jam!