This is the mechanism by which the power is transmitted from an
engine to the wheels of a motor vehicle. You’ll probably refer to it as
the ‘gears’ or ‘gearbox’. A transmission is needed because there is a
redline – a maximum revolutions per minute (rpm) value – over which a
car cannot go without exploding and narrow rpm gauges where horsepower
(the power of the engine) and torque (the twisting force that causes
rotation) are at their maximum. The transmission allows the gear ratio
between the engine and the drive wheels to change as the car speeds up
and slows down.
What is manual transmission?
This can also be known as stick-shift, stick, straight drive or
standard transmission – in the UK it’s the gear-boxes we are most used
to, the ones that require a pressed down clutch pedal to change. These
have about several settings including first, second, third, fourth,
fifth, sixth and reverse gears plus neutral position in the middle.
However the arrangement pattern for these settings can vary depending
how many gears you have and in the case of the reverse gear. Mostly they
resemble a sort of ‘H’ format. In most cars you should be able to
select one of these gears at any time, as long as you hold the clutch
down. In manual cars you are shifting gears so that the engine can stay
below the redline and near the rpm of its best performance – you know
when this is, because the car makes a grating or impatient sound.
What is automatic transmission?
Commonly abbreviated as AT, this is an automobile gearbox that can
change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves. This means that
the driver doesn’t have to do it manually. Look on most automatic cars
and the ‘gear stick’ will have about four or five settings including
parking, reverse, neutral and drive. Some models have manual overdrive
but this is not often used. While some cars have continuously variable
transmissions that allow them to move over a range rather than between
set gear ratios. AT is very popular in the US – possibly because of the
long straight roads and the desire to ‘cruise’ along them. It has also
been poplar in Asia since the 1990s. While UK drivers traditionally
prefer manual cars, more AT cars are coming onto the market and being
snapped up – Nissan, Toyota, Citroen, Honda and Ford all do small
affordable models that don’t mirror the cliché of the big, corporate
automatic car. Some are even said to be more economical and better for
the environment too.
Which one should I choose?
It really depends on you: how you like to drive, where you drive and
for how long. An automatic transmission is said to be easier to operate
as you don’t need to use both feet or have a ‘tree’ of gears but some
say it’s not as satisfying to drive, especially on country roads. With
manual you may feel you have more control of the car, power and purpose,
moving up gears as you go faster. On the other hand, many city drivers
prefer automatic as it can alleviate the tiredness and strain than can
come from constant shifting of the gear and clutch while waiting in
traffic. However, automatic cars require more brake usage to avoid a
car’s tendency to creep forwards. On fuel consumption, automatic cars
are said to be less efficient as they require more power to operate.
Automatic cars may also need more regular and complex servicing plus if
the battery dies they are stuck – with a manual you can at least push
start it.
Can I drive any car in the UK with an automatic licence?
Do be aware that if you pass your test in an automatic car then you
will not be able to legally drive a manual car in the UK. If you take
your test in a manual car then you can drive a manual or an automatic
vehicle. This applies to drivers from other countries too. If you want
the choice of both, you can always retake the test.
