Manual car or automatic? Read the pros and cons here

24 augustus 2021

Some people prefer a manual car, while others really prefer an automatic. In the Netherlands, most drivers opt for a manual car, although in America and Japan they seem to have already forgotten about the manual car. Are you also unsure which car to choose? Below you can read the advantages and disadvantages of a manual car and an automatic car.

Manual transmission car

Advantages

Many people feel that they are 'really' driving when they drive a car that they have to operate themselves. A manual car is an advantage, especially for sporty drivers, because they want to keep control of the car. You can simply accelerate a little longer, drive away faster from a traffic light and have more power if you want to overtake a truck on the highway. With an automatic this will be a bit more difficult.

Cons

Being stuck in a traffic jam with a manual car is no fun. We tend to constantly keep our foot on the clutch, while that is actually very bad for the car. The same applies when we are waiting at the traffic light until it turns green. When we keep depressing the clutch, there is constant friction between the clutch and the transmission. This will cause both parts to wear out faster. So try to remember to put your car in neutral while waiting.

Vending machine

Advantages

First of all, driving an automatic is of course very comfortable. You have your right hand and left foot free, so you can concentrate better on the traffic. In other words, you have to perform a lot fewer actions to achieve the same thing. This makes you much more relaxed behind the wheel and of course this brings a bit of safety.

Even if you often drive in traffic jams, an automatic transmission is very relaxing, because you don't have to shift gears that often. This also means you drive a lot more economically than when you drive a manual car. This in turn ensures lower CO2 emissions and a lower bpm. Moreover, an automatic is generally much more economical than a manual car. An automatic transmission shifts gears at the right time and therefore always runs at the optimal speed.

Cons

In the past, an automatic was quite dull. They were very slow to accelerate and were huge fuel guzzlers. Fortunately, we have left that image behind, but an automatic still has disadvantages. For example, an automatic is a lot more expensive to purchase than a manual car. However, this may outweigh the car's lower consumption.

In addition, it can be difficult to switch from an automatic to a manual car. If you have had driving lessons in an automatic transmission, you are not even allowed to drive a manual car. It is therefore advisable to take driving lessons in a manual car, because the switch from a manual car to an automatic car is a lot easier than the other way around.

The golden mean

If you cannot choose between an automatic and a manual car, you can opt for a car that has a double clutch or a semi-automatic, such as a Fiat 500. This way you can still enjoy the comfort of an automatic, while still You can always switch gears when driving in a hilly area, for example. Ideal!