As the years go by, it becomes less and less common to find cars with manual transmissions. That is too bad. If you love to drive, there is nothing like a manual transmission. Once you get in the rhythm of manually shifting gears, you feel like you are one with your car. You become more aware of how the vehicle moves, what the car sounds like and how the road feels. But on the other hand, driving a manual requires more concentration and coordination. For people who only drive an automatic, the concept of needing to use both hands and both feet to drive is as foreign as only having six television stations to choose from and yelling, "It's back on" to the people who ran to the bathroom or to get a snack during the commercials.
If you drive sports cars, manual transmissions are still widely available, and on some models, even finding an automatic transmission would be difficult. In addition, some would say that an automatic transmission in a sports car defeats the purpose of driving a sports car. However, not too long ago, you could get a manual transmission on practically any vehicle you wanted. You could even get a van with the manual gear shift on the column. For those of us of a certain age, we can also remember the school buses with the gear shift stick that was as tall as we were, and we will never forget the sound of the gears grinding as the driver tried to move the gears into place.
There are pros and cons of a manual transmission, as with anything else. We are going to discuss a few of them.
Pros of a Manual Transmission
Manual transmissions are easier to maintain. Since you are doing most of the work, there are fewer parts and fewer things the engine has to keep track of. Today's electronics also means there are fewer sensors to worry about. The part that most often needs repair or replacement is the clutch, and even that can go over a hundred thousand miles if appropriately used.
Less maintenance. Fluid in a manual transmission breaks down less often and doesn't need to be changed as often.
Better fuel economy. Automatic transmissions require more parts and need the engine to do more work. The torque converter and hydraulic pumps add extra strain to the engine. Manual transmission vehicles increase fuel economy by about 15%
More control over the vehicle. When you drive a manual, you are more in tune with the car and road. Between the additional attention being paid to the road and the absence of extra parts such as the torque converter, braking and reacting become much easier.
Manual Transmissions are generally cheaper. Manual transmissions are most often available in sports cars, so you will be paying more for those cars anyway. However, if you opt for the automatic transmission, you will be paying even more. Also, the maintenance of a manual transmission is significantly less expensive.
While we love a manual transmission, there are some disadvantages.
Hard to learn to use efficiently. If you are learning to drive a manual after years of driving an automatic, it is essentially learning how to drive all over again. It is not easy and takes time and experience to deal with all possible situations you can find yourself in as you drive. Circumstances you would deal with without thinking now require you to relearn how to keep yourself and those around you safe.
Difficulty on hills and in most urban areas. Stopping a manual transmission car on a hill can be scary as you can wind up rolling, hitting other cars or people, and even stall the vehicle, leaving you in a hazardous situation. Driving in an urban area with lights, stop signs, poor road conditions, and pedestrians can also become stressful.
Getting clutch-leg. Driving a manual gives your left leg a workout and can lead to issues with your knee. In addition, if you are not used to driving a clutch, the muscles in your leg can also become quite sore.
Some say that driving a manual transmission is the only form of actual driving. Of course, that is a matter of opinion, but if you learn to drive a manual vehicle, you will love it and not want to go back. However, before you make the switch, you should be sure it is what you want to do. There is a steep learning curve, and it's not like you can flip a switch and go back to automatic if you wish to go for a leisurely drive through the countryside. When it comes to your car, it is as big a decision as you will have to make. Choose wisely.
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