Whenever someone chooses to buy a new car, there are a lot of considerations that go into how they make their choice. The amount of room inside the car, trunk space, mileage, how it is designed, how powerful its engine is, the level of technology, and its list of safety features are just some of the things that people think about when buying a new car. Safety features are particularly important to many, especially those with families. Features like lane-keeping assist, emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring are just some of the advanced safety features that are now standard in many vehicles.
One feature that many people do not think about is the type of transmission in the vehicle, but that is mainly because automatic transmissions are the default in most regular vehicles in America. It is mainly performance cars that feature manual transmissions but you can sometimes find them in other vehicles besides expensive sports cars. However, the type of transmission should also be a consideration since it is possible that they can decrease the likelihood of an accident for some drivers. That does not mean that automatic transmissions are inherently unsafe, but it does mean that there are meaningful differences between the two transmission types that are worth thinking about.
The Difference Between Manual and Automatic Transmissions
The transmission is the part of the vehicle that helps to control how much power goes to its wheels. A transmission system consists of multiple gears, each of which has a certain range of speed associated with it. This basically means that higher gears can achieve higher speeds and lower gears are for lower speeds. With a manual transmission the driver selects the transmission themselves in order to govern how fast they want their vehicle to go. So if the driver wants to go faster, then they need to select a higher gear; if they are driving up a steep hill, then they should select a lower gear to prevent the wheels from slipping. Manual transmissions are available on a wide variety of vehicles, from bicycles to motorcycles to automobiles.
With automatic transmissions, the vehicle chooses the gear for you depending on how fast you are going. So as you accelerate, the transmission automatically selects a higher gear in order to accommodate the higher speed. Cars that use automatic transmissions sometimes give you some control over which gear you select, aside from the reverse gear, you can also usually select a lower gear for help climbing steep inclines, but otherwise, the gear selection process is automated. There is also a hybrid option seen in modern vehicles called a dual-clutch transmission, which seems like an automatic transmission but is actually a manual transmission that operates without the use of a clutch pedal.
The Benefits of Manual and Automatic Transmissions
There are pros and cons to using either type of transmission that potential buyers should know about before making their choice. They tend to offer significant differences so it is worth learning about them.
The Benefits of Manual Transmissions
Fuel Efficiency – Cars with manual transmissions are nearly always more fuel-efficient than their automatic transmission counterparts. The fuel efficiency of vehicles with automatic transmissions is constantly improving but manual transmissions are almost always superior in that regard.
Price – Vehicles with manual transmissions are generally cheaper than the versions with automatic transmissions. That is because manual transmissions are easier for the automaker to install. The price differences are not huge, but they are noticeable.
Control – This is the main reason why many drivers choose a manual transmission over an automatic one. Cars that use a manual transmission tend to be able to switch gears whenever their driver wants, which gives them a lot of control over their range of speed. That is why you typically see manual transmissions in high performance vehicles.
The Benefits of Automatic Transmissions
Ease of Use – Manual transmissions have a high learning curve since you are not just controlling the gear shifter, you have to control the clutch pedal as well. That is in addition to having to control the steering wheel and the gas and brake pedals as well. That can be too much for many people, which is why they prefer the relative ease of an automatic transmission.
Reliability – It is nearly impossible to use an automatic transmission incorrectly so they are less susceptible to damage from misuse than cars with manual transmissions.
Better for Heavy Traffic – In heavy traffic you will be constantly braking and accelerating. That is easier to manage in a vehicle with an automatic transmission because you only have to worry about the gas and brake pedals. Whereas, manual transmissions can be arduous in heavy traffic because you need to work the shifter and clutch pedal as well.
The Safety of Manual and Automatic Transmissions
So which type of transmission is safer? That is not an easy question because, in both cases, the safety of the vehicle depends more on the driver than on the car. Some people believe that automatic cars are safer because they allow drivers to keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times, which gives them more control. There are others who believe that manual cars are safer because they keep the driver more engaged, which prevents them from using distracting devices like phones while they are driving.
The safety of the vehicle depends more on the nature of the driver rather than the nature of the transmission. So you should consider the other attributes of a manual or automatic transmission before deciding which one is right for you.
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