Although both of these types of transmissions remember the dawn of the automotive industry, the question in the title is still relevant. In fact, it is impossible to give a clear answer to it - it is enough to know the features of each design in order to correlate the pros and cons for yourself. Naturally, we do not touch on extreme applications of cars: let's say, see a dragster Top class Fuel without a two-speed automatic or a jeeper "cutlet" not on the mechanics is unlikely to work, but here the whole car is built for a specific purpose.
Mechanical transmissions: pros and cons
Historically, this is the oldest type of transmission in general, multi-stage gearboxes were invented even before the advent of cars as such. Having gone through a certain evolution and weeded out all unviable ideas, the classic layout of a manual transmission has not changed for several decades.
The basis of the manual transmission is two shafts with gears on them: the primary one connected to the engine through a clutch or, as an exotic option, through a torque converter (about them below), and the secondary one connected to the differential or cardan shaft, depending on the selected drive. The fundamental difference between the shafts is that on input shaft all gears are fixed rigidly, and on the secondary they rotate freely. When a certain gear is selected, one of the gears is connected to a clutch, which is rigidly connected to output shaft, the rest continue to rotate freely.
From the obvious simplicity of such a solution, it follows that main disadvantage such a transmission: at the moment of gear shifting, the clutch rotating at the same speed as the output shaft must engage with the gear, the speed of which may be completely different. Therefore, the rigidity of the shift can be overcome either by a clear alignment of the speeds of the gears, that is, by shifting gears at strictly defined revolutions, or by introducing an additional unit - a synchronizer that helps to align the speeds of the gears until the gear is engaged.
Due to convenience, at least all forward speeds on cars necessarily have synchronizers, but they are one of the most weaknesses manual transmission. Not without reason on heavy american trucks, where only the passport resource of the transmission is a million miles, there are no synchronizers in mechanical boxes: they inevitably wear out, making gear shifting more and more difficult.
Video: 5 things to NEVER do with a Manual Transmission!
But the advantages of manual transmission are obvious:
- Firstly, a minimum of transmission links between the engine and the wheels provides cars with "mechanics" high efficiency.
- Secondly, even in the event of a breakdown, the manual transmission can be easily sorted out: it is not difficult to understand its structure.
- Add to this the ease of changing gear ratios (it is enough to change just a couple of gears), the ability to work on oil Low quality and tolerance for rough handling: it is very difficult to "kill" a well-designed manual. And at the same time, manual transmissions are the cheapest, which makes the choice of transmission in budget segment and completely non-alternative.
Automatic transmissions
Hydromechanics
Speaking of "automatic", we usually mean a hydromechanical planetary transmission - the oldest type of automobile "automatic" comes from the 30s. Such transmissions are based on the property planetary gear change its gear ratio when one of its elements (sun gear, pinion gear or driven gear) is braked. Since all gears remain in constant engagement, the gear ratio changes smoothly and without shock - which is why automatic transmissions began to develop actively in those days when the “mechanics” did not have synchronizers and required considerable skill in handling the “poker” of gear shifting and clutch .
From the principle of operation of the planetary gearbox, it is clear that only three gear ratios can be obtained from it - it is not without reason that all “automatic machines” were three-stage for a very long time. In reality, the gear ratio at each speed in cars changed more. How so? The fact is that to connect the box with the engine without a clutch, a torque converter was used - a device of two wheels (forcing and turbine), closed in the volume of oil. This mechanism allows turbine wheel rotate at a speed lower than the speed of the blower, that is, in fact, the speed varied even before the three-stage gearbox.
Video: Automatic or mechanic. Which is better, pros and cons. Just about complex
Selective braking and connection to the output shaft of the gearbox of one or another planetary gear assembly is performed by a set of friction clutches and brake bands - in old automatic transmissions they were controlled purely mechanically, now the oil pressure in the drives is distributed by valves controlled by their controller. But the essence of hydro mechanical transmission, although now receiving up to 8 steps, remains the same: alas, high losses in the torque converter cannot be avoided, and fuel consumption with such a box will be higher than with mechanics.
The mechanism itself is very demanding on the quality and quantity of oil - even a viscosity deviation is already capable of disrupting the operation of control mechanisms, causing familiar “shocks” and “thoughtfulness” to many. This does not mean the unreliability of automatic transmissions: with proper care, they are able to demonstrate a huge resource. But the convenience of such a box is obvious, especially in city traffic jams, and the introduction of additional stages and forced blocking of the torque converter makes it possible to bring their efficiency closer to “mechanics”. A clear contraindication for hydromechanical machines is harsh operation (aggressive driving, off-road) - if overheating or constant riding swinging (back and forth without a pause between switching on) is not terrible for a manual transmission, then the “automatic machine” in such conditions will have to prepare for an accelerated replacement of friction clutches and brake bands.
robotic boxes
Attempts to automate gear shifting at manual transmissions have been made for a long time, but they all ran into one pitfall: if low-power and slow hydraulic drives could control the clutches and automatic transmission belts, then manual transmissions needed high-speed drives. Therefore, actually workable designs appeared on the market only in the 90s, and in essence they were ordinary “mechanics”, where powerful electromagnets controlled the gear shift clutches and the clutch drive.
Alas, it was these "robots" that spoiled the reputation of the idea: "thoughtfulness" and bumps when shifting gears only progressed with time, since the clutch release mechanism could not adequately adapt to the wear of its discs. To this were added regular problems with the solenoids.
Only preselective DSG boxes were able to somehow correct the situation - in them the next gear was selected before the current one was turned off, and two clutches worked simultaneously: the first broke the torque of the current gear, the second connected the next one. In terms of comfort and speed, such boxes have already been able to compare with "mechanics", but in terms of complexity they have already caught up with hydromechanical machines. Problems with reliability have remained the scourge of "robots" to this day.
In this article, we will try to consider all the advantages and disadvantages of automatic transmission, compare cars with automatic transmission and cars with mechanics, and also try to answer eternal question: "What better manual transmission or automatic transmission.
Price.
A car with an automatic transmission costs more than a car with a manual transmission. The difference in price is about $ 1000, depending on the class of the car, the cost can fluctuate both up and down. Here, of course, the advantage is undoubtedly on the side of a car with a manual transmission.
Ease of management.
In ease of control, a car with an automatic transmission is superior to cars with mechanics. When driving on the highway, the difference is not particularly noticeable, although there are also some differences here. When overtaking in a car with a manual transmission, you need to switch to downshift to gain acceleration when overtaking. For cars with automatic transmission, when accelerating on the highway, you don’t need to switch anything, it will be enough to sharply add gas, and the automatic transmission will automatically switch to a lower gear, as if “realizing” that you are going to overtake (the so-called kick-down turns on). It seems to be a trifle, but still nice. The biggest plus of a car with an automatic transmission is driving (well, of course, if you can call it driving) in traffic jams, sometimes it seems that automatic transmission was invented for this. No need to constantly press the clutch pedal, pull the gearshift knob, pressed lightly on the gas pedal, drove up, let go. Riding in traffic jams with automatic transmission is a pleasure. It is also very convenient to start uphill in an automatic transmission - let go of the brake pedal, press the gas and go, there is no game for you with the clutch. In ease of control, the machine is many times superior to the mechanics.
Fuel consumption.
In cars with automatic transmission, fuel consumption is higher. But this expense does not significantly change the situation. The difference in consumption between automatic transmission and manual transmission per 100 km is up to 1 liter. Some extreme drivers during sharp accelerations and on mechanics in terms of fuel consumption can even surpass automatic transmissions. How to reduce gasoline consumption? No need to sharply press on the gas, all movements should be smooth. With proper driving, fuel consumption in cars with an automatic transmission will be almost like a car with a manual transmission.
In cars with a manual transmission, maintenance is to fill the oil up to the level, tighten the plug and check the level from time to time, and that the oil does not leak anywhere. An oil change in a manual transmission is done every few years, which can be done at almost any service station. With an automatic transmission, everything is more complicated. As for the automatic transmission, here it is necessary to explain some details. The fact is that there is no oil in the automatic transmission, but the role of the “oil” here is played by the so-called ATF (automatic transmission fluid). What is the difference between ATF and oil? Oil is usually called a substance that is designed to lubricate the rubbing surfaces of parts. ATF fluid, unlike oil, in addition to lubricating parts, performs a number of functions and works in harsh temperature conditions. In cars with automatic transmission, there is no rigid coupling between the gearbox and the engine, as in mechanics. Here the clutch function is performed by the so-called torque converter. As the name implies, a hydro torque converter is a liquid, a transformer transforms, that is, the liquid transmits torque from the engine to the automatic transmission. The fluid here is of course ATF. Under such harsh operating conditions, the ATF resource (no matter how manufacturers try) is too small from overheating, it evaporates and loses its technical properties. It is recommended to replace ATF approximately every 50 thousand km. When replacing the ATF, the filter must also be replaced. It is not recommended to perform such work at a conventional service station, you need to look for specialized services, which of course incurs additional costs for car maintenance. Automatic transmission repair is the most painful topic. If you look at the statistics of search queries on the Internet for a month, 34 thousand users searched for "automatic transmission repair", and only 5 thousand users searched for "manual transmission repair". But this does not mean at all that automatic transmissions break down seven times more often. Most likely, this suggests that in Russia and the CIS countries there are few high-quality services and specialists. So people have to look for where you can repair automatic transmissions with high quality and inexpensively. As a rule, the cost of such a repair is about $ 1000 with a guarantee of 10 thousand mileage or half a year of driving. In the cost of maintenance, automatic transmissions lose to mechanics in many ways.
Small resource.
There is an opinion that automatic transmissions have much less resource compared to mechanics. This is of course not true. With proper operation of the car, the resource of automatic machines can surpass the mechanics at times. Keep an eye on your ATF level. For automatic transmission it is critical as small ATF level and its excess, since with an excess, the liquid foams, which also has a bad effect on its work. Do not use the vehicle as a tractor. Do not make sudden jerks when starting at a traffic light. If the car is loaded in a swamp, or you don’t need to slip for a long time in the snow, this is critical for the automatic transmission. The fact is that when slipping, the box, as it were, "thinks" that you are accelerating, and starts to shift into higher gear. Another disadvantage of cars with automatic transmission is that it is impossible to get out of a snowdrift or swamp with the help of a swing like on a mechanic (turned on first gear, then sharply reversed). When shifting gears, the machine has a delay of several seconds, which does not allow making sharp jerks. In order to pull the car out of the snowdrift, it is better to use a tow.
Problem starting and towing.
If the battery is dead on a car with automatic transmission, then it will not work to start it from a pusher or from a tugboat. The thing is that, as mentioned above, the machine does not have a rigid clutch with the engine. The revolutions from the engine to the box are transmitted through a torque converter. For the gearbox to work, it is necessary that the ATF fluid be supplied by a pump under pressure, and since the pump is powered by the engine, the gearbox will not work, respectively, when the engine is not running. Another important point is that you cannot tow a car with automatic transmission over long distances and it is advisable to start the engine while moving at low speed.
From personal experience I can say that the first car should be with mechanics. Now there are many driving courses in a car with automatic transmission, but we must not forget that the ability to use mechanics allows the driver to transfer to a car with a gun without any problems, but on the contrary, alas, no. Over time, you can change to a car with an automatic transmission for comfort, it is better, but you need to choose a car with low mileage, and ideally this is a new car.
When choosing a car, they usually pay attention to the type of its body, engine power, equipment ... Not the last role is played by the type of transmission that the car is equipped with. If the harsh Soviet motorists were deprived of the choice of the type of gearbox and, in best case, the whole "choice" in the late 80s was reduced to a four-speed or five-speed "mechanics", then our contemporaries can choose between a traditional manual transmission, an already familiar automatic transmission and some of its subspecies - stepless variator and robotic "mechanics".
There is no ideal type of transmission that suits all cars and all drivers equally. The main thing is to clearly understand the differences between different boxes gears and make a choice based on your own preferences, operating conditions and the purpose of the vehicle.
Mechanics
The oldest type of transmission is, of course, the traditional "mechanics". The driver himself selects the desired gear, guided by road conditions and traffic intensity. Gear changes are carried out "through neutral" when the clutch is disengaged. Gear ratios are selected in such a way as to ensure normal work engine over the entire speed range. On most cars, starting from a place must be done in first gear, and then sequentially switch up. Initially, the "mechanics" differed from modern box design and control method. For example, the legendary Ford Model T planetary gearbox was a two-stage and actuated with a pedal, which had three positions: neutral, first, second gear. To enable reverse gear and the brakes used the other two pedals.
Over time, mechanical transmissions became three-speed, and in the 60s, most manufacturers settled on a four-speed design (four forward gears and one reverse gear). In the early 80s, five-speed gearboxes came into mass use, and at the end of the 20th century, six-speed mechanics began to be installed on cars. And this is not the limit: BMW is working on a seven-speed manual transmission, and Porsche is already equipping the new Porsche 911 with such a box.
As a rule, the fourth gear is made “direct”, that is, its gear ratio is close to one, and the fifth (sixth) is an overdrive, for economic movement at a uniform speed. A large number of"steps" allows designers to bring together gear ratios and make the first gears more “short”, and the last ones, on the contrary, “long”. This gives the car good dynamics in urban traffic while maintaining the required efficiency outside the city on high speeds. For the same purpose, several gear ratios (gearbox rows) are sometimes used, depending on the type of engine and its power. Sometimes designers do not change the gear ratios, but use a different main pair - on modifications with a weaker engine, a “short” pair is installed to provide acceptable dynamics, while on powerful versions they use a “long” (high-speed) main gear.
In addition to increasing the number of gears, the "mechanics" were also improved "qualitatively". Over time, all transmissions forward received synchronizers, thanks to which gear shifting is easy and smooth, without requiring the driver to perform special tricks with overdrive and double squeeze clutch. With each new generation of cars, the manual transmission has become quieter and more durable, which has allowed some manufacturers to bring its resource to the total life of the car even without a regular oil change!
 |
| The latest Porsche 911 is equipped with a seven-speed (!) ITUC |
The "mechanics" have only one drawback - it requires constant attention from the driver, because he must constantly change gears depending on the speed and road conditions. That is why the "mechanics" for a long time remained a "stumbling block" for most drivers of the weaker sex, for whom the "automatic", on the contrary, has become a real salvation. However, many male drivers in our time do not really favor “mechanics”, especially if they live (and drive) in megacities with eternal traffic jams and heavy traffic.
Today, "mechanics" is the lot of only the most affordable (budget) cars, and is also used on sports cars. But in most cases, manufacturers offer the potential owner an alternative in the form of an automatic transmission.
Thus, we have:
Pluses of mechanics (manual transmission)
1) The accelerating dynamics of a car in ordinary mechanics is better than in an automatic one. With mechanics, you can spin the engine up to the “red zone”, but the automatic will start shifting gears at a certain speed (unless, of course, you are driving in manual automatic mode), so the acceleration dynamics is several seconds faster for mechanics than for automatic.
2) With a certain driving skill and fast gear shifting, as well as with the skill to start the car overrun, you can achieve decent fuel economy on the mechanics, it will be difficult to do this on the machine. The automatic transmission is generally not recommended to be included on neutral speed when moving.
3) Mechanics in comparison with the machine requires less oil. In the machine you need to pour from 6 to 10 liters, transmission oil. In mechanics about 3 liters.
4) In winter, a car with mechanics is easier to start. Firstly, there is less oil in the box, and secondly, when you press the clutch pedal, you kind of disconnect the gearbox from the engine, respectively, the load when starting the engine is reduced.
5) Repair. A manual gearbox can be repaired much cheaper than an automatic transmission, and almost any, even non-official companies can make mechanics.
6) Last, winter driving. On a car with mechanics, you can safely slip in the snow, on a machine it is not desirable, the transmission oil can overheat.
Cons of mechanics
1) So, the first minus of the mechanics in our article " automatic or manual» - driving comfort. The most significant minus of the mechanics is the ease of driving. Novice drivers get used to a manual transmission for a very long time. They are especially bad at “starting off in a car”, as well as moving from a place to a rise.
2) Clutch. Novice drivers on cars with a manual transmission can easily burn the car's clutch due to inexperience. And this is already an expensive repair, on the machine this will not happen according to the principle.
3) Engine resource. The engine resource on a car with mechanics is much lower than on a car with a gun. This is because the machine will not let you "force" the engine, spin it to the limit.
Machine
The main feature of an automatic transmission for the driver is independent gear shifting. This is ensured by the use of special mechanisms - for example, a planetary gear and a hydromechanical drive.
The torque converter has three impellers and is less efficient than the "pure mechanics" or intermediate version with a fluid coupling. However, thanks to the tricks of the designers, the losses in the transmission of torque in the hydromechanical transmission decreased over time and almost reached the level of the traditional transmission.
The torque converter itself cannot provide the entire required range of gear ratios, as a result of which, together with hydraulics, they began to use a gearbox with friction clutches and hydraulic drive. Sophisticated hydromechanics allows you to change gear ratios when shifting gears without interrupting the power flow. Thanks to this, the machine works smoothly when switching and does not require the participation of the driver - it is enough to turn on the “drive” mode at the very beginning of the trip and no longer be distracted by switching.
The “intellectual role” of a classic automatic machine with a torque converter was performed by a hydraulic control unit and a hydraulic system pump. At first, the need for gear shifting was determined by readings centrifugal regulator, which "measured" the speed of the car and by the power regulator, which different ways determined the load on the engine.
For all the progressiveness and complexity of the design, the classic "hydroautomatic" had a number of shortcomings, the most significant of which were slowness and low efficiency compared to traditional mechanics, which was especially felt on small cars.
Therefore, over time, the torque converter with "mechanical" control gave way to more advanced and complex types of automatic transmission.
The pioneer in the “smart machine” category was the German Porsche company, the first to implement semi auto mode AKP work with electronic control.
Today, "tiptronic" is often called all kinds of such "machines" on any car, although this name is a trademark of Porsche. The key difference between "tiptronic" and a conventional machine is the ability to manually switch. In the M (manual) mode, such a box allows you to select the desired stage forcibly both "up" and "down", so that the driver can shift gears on his own if desired. In addition, this type of transmission is "adaptive", that is, it seems to "adjust" to the driver's driving style and shift gears in accordance with his driving style.
However, for most automatic transmissions, fuel consumption is still slightly higher than that of the analogue “on the mechanics”, and the acceleration time to 100 km / h is a couple of seconds longer. However, for most adherents of automatic transmission, its main advantage - independent gear shifting - covers all the shortcomings. Therefore, when choosing a transmission, many drivers prefer the “automatic”, which does not require constant attention from the driver and does not make you distract from the actual driving.
Like "mechanics", automatic transmissions "do not like" aggressive driving style with sharp accelerations, especially when cold, and constant "violence" on the machine significantly reduces its resource, which is especially important for powerful cars. In addition, "machines" require not only careful operation, but also proper maintenance- in particular, oil and filter changes in strict accordance with the regulations.
Robotic mechanics
The further development of automatic transmissions led to the invention of quite interesting hybrids- the so-called "robots". Such a transmission, in fact, is a conventional manual transmission with a clutch, but the shifting process is not controlled by the driver, but by smart electronics.
At first, such "robots" began to be used on compact urban runabouts, for which the traditional "hydraulic" is not suitable due to weak engine. Different manufacturers called this transmission differently: Opel - Easytronic, Fiat - Dualogic, Citroen - Sensodrive, etc.
Since the electronics in this case are entrusted with a very difficult task, even a fairly advanced robotic mechanics did not work very smoothly due to a sharp interruption in torque. Roughly speaking, the “robot” shifted gears in much the same way as not very experienced driver. In addition, such a transmission was not very reliable, which is why the “robots” with one clutch have practically disappeared from the market.
The second generation, called the preselective transmission, has become more advanced. Each manufacturer calls "preselects" differently: Volkswagen - DSG, Audi - S-tronic, Porsche - PDK, Ford - PowerShift .... The design feature and the main difference from the first "robots" is a pair of clutches, each of which "serves" its own range of gears with separate shafts for even and odd "stages". Such a scheme allows instant gear shifting without a break in torque, which ensures high smooth operation at the level of a conventional “automatic”, and in terms of dynamics and fuel efficiency, preselective transmissions are at least as good as “mechanics”.
The only drawback of "robots" is not the most high reliability and unstable resource. Unfortunately, some boxes fail even during the warranty period, and also behave strangely - they work with jerks when shifting gears.
Variable speed drive
The most unusual version of an automatic transmission is a variator - a mechanical transmission based on the transmission of rotation (torque) by friction through an intermediate body (belt, roller), which can be transferred to any point of the variable radius of the driving and / or driven wheels, obtaining a change gear ratio. On cars, a V-belt or chain variator is used, and the continuously variable transmission itself is called CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).
Thanks to the design, the variator is able to smoothly change the gear ratio (the ratio of rotational speeds and torques of the engine and propulsion) in the entire operating range of speeds and traction forces.
For the driver, this design feature of the variator means the smoothest possible operation of the engine and transmission - after all, gear changes, in fact, simply do not occur! True, in order not to “scare” drivers with such stepless operation and avoid the boring howl of the engine during acceleration, the designers came up with “virtual” steps.
The variator is good for everyone - and it works smoothly, and its efficiency is even higher than that of traditional "mechanics". However, in the actual application of such a transmission in automobiles, the designers faced the problem of transferring significant torque from the engine to the wheels. The belt drive is suitable for mopeds, scooters and weak cars of a special small class, but for more heavy vehicles chain is used.
The CVT is ideally combined not only (and not so much) with a traditional internal combustion engine, but with a hybrid power plant and an electric motor. Therefore, most automakers are cool about CVTs - in particular, after some experiments, the "Germans" chose a preselective transmission as the most promising, and most American and Asian companies use a classic torque converter automatic. But the Japanese use the variator not only on small-capacity two-wheeled vehicles, but also on cars - for example, Nissan serially equips many of its cars with the Xtronic CVT transmission, and Toyota actively uses the variator on the Prius hybrid (Hybrid Synergy Drive - hybrid synergistic drive).
Minuses automatic box gears.
1) The classic automatic accelerates more slowly than the mechanics
2) Again classic machine consumes more fuel
3) The need for an oil change in an automatic transmission
4) Starts harder in winter
5) The cost of a car with a gun is more expensive
6) The cost of repairing an automatic machine is more expensive than mechanics
Advantages of the machine
I want to talk about the pros in more detail, because the machines are different and you shouldn’t lump them together, so to speak.
1) The acceleration of the machine is different. Yes, a classic torque converter automatic transmission for 4 gears is slower than mechanics. But now there are CVTs and automatic transmissions for 6 and 7 gears with two clutch discs, they are not inferior in efficiency to mechanics, and sometimes they surpass it. For example, the CVT is superior to the mechanics, as is the automatic. DSG box from Volkswagen.
2) A classic automatic (4-re gears) consumes more fuel, but if you take modern automatics or CVTs (for 6 gears or continuously variable transmissions), then their fuel consumption is already much lower, sometimes even lower than on the mechanics.
3) The convenience of driving a car with a gun is much higher. Even an inexperienced driver will be able to calmly move away without nerves and jerks, without creating an emergency.
4) The resource of the engine and transmission units is much higher, the machine controls the speed and will not allow the engine to overheat.
Transmission Selection Tips
Which transmission to choose depends on specific preferences, driver experience and the type of vehicle you choose. After all, the choice is far from always possible, and sometimes it consists of a couple of options - “mechanics or automatic” and “mechanics or robot”.
If you have to operate in urban traffic jams, then the “automatic” (regardless of its subspecies) will be a good choice. When driving on country roads, the usual “mechanics” do not bother. It must be remembered that for most vehicles up to 100 hp. the presence of an automatic transmission means an increase in price by 2000-3000 USD. and a noticeable deterioration in dynamic performance. For powerful cars (over 200 hp), the type of transmission is not of fundamental importance, and starting from a certain price category and displacement, “automatic” is included in the list of standard equipment, while “mechanics” is offered far from everywhere and only as an exception.
Oleg Polazhinets
The choice between mechanical or far from idle. And often the point here is not at all the cost of the car. Each unit has its own strengths and weaknesses. One smart person answering the question - what is better or the mechanics gave an equally interesting answer - what is better than a DSLR or soap dish (meaning cameras). It is difficult to answer, because a SLR camera allows you to achieve almost perfect photo clarity. However, for this you need to be able to use it, configure its parameters correctly. And the soap dish is easy to use, and gives an acceptable quality. Likewise with gearboxes.
What is the difference in a nutshell
So, what does an automatic transmission boast of in front of the mechanics. First of all, it is simplicity and convenience in driving. Therefore, automatic transmission is an ideal option for cars that move along the streets of large cities with many intersections and traffic lights. However, on the other side of our conditional scales, there is complexity and high cost in, as well as significant losses in dynamics and a shorter service life.
Automatic transmission or mechanics ... Which is better?
A manual transmission, unlike a competitor, is much cheaper to operate, and the service life is an order of magnitude longer. However, urban traffic (traffic jams, congestion) makes driving a car with a manual transmission just a torture, since every few minutes you have to pull the lever. Such a driving mode cannot but affect the duration of the operation of the box. Due to frequent shifts, low gear synchronizers do not take care of the deadlines set by the technical documentation. Yes, and such a ride does not affect the condition of the clutch elements in the best way.
Pros and cons of automatic and manual transmission in operation
Let's take a closer look at the features and nuances of operating a car with an automatic and manual transmission. After that, everyone will be able to make a choice for themselves, what is better for him a mechanic or an automatic machine. To do this, we compare each separately according to various indicators.
economy
The undoubted advantage of an automatic transmission over a mechanical one is their economy. After all, due to timely and fast switching, even in urban mode, automatic transmission cars consume from 5 to 15% less fuel. In the suburban cycle, this indicator is leveled off. But this figure is only valid for moderate and non-aggressive driving.
Ease and comfort on the move
The advantages of an automatic transmission according to this criterion are undeniable. After all, the comfort of driving a car with automatic transmission in a city multi-kilometer toffee cannot be compared with mechanics. In the case of a manual transmission, you would have to pull the gear shifter every minute, while the automatic does not require this. The automatic transmission is also different. high performance when overtaking. If with mechanics, sometimes for acceleration you have to switch to a lower gear, and then back again. The machine automatically performs this procedure. In automatic transmissions, this function is called "kick-down".
Another positive argument in favor of automation is the capabilities of the automatic transmission when starting uphill. If on a mechanical box this procedure requires a certain skill in choosing the value of engine speed and effort on the clutch pedal, then the machine is much simpler. I just shifted the shift lever to move forward, pressed the gas pedal and drove off. But there is one nuance in the operation of gearboxes automatic type– restrictions on the use of the car as a tractor. It's connected with design features boxes. And if you often tow a trailer with a large mass by car, this can significantly reduce the life of the automatic transmission. Also, recently, most automatic transmissions are designed according to the so-called sequential scheme with two clutches.
Almost all new models of the last spirit of years are from such as: Volkswagen, Audi. Porsche, etc. equipped just like that. Their superiority over mechanics lies in the fact that these boxes have several preset driving modes and the ability to independently configure the user mode. So, most cars in the "sport" box mode have all the advantages of mechanical boxes: fast, and most importantly, timely gear shifting when accelerating or decelerating. And most importantly, the vast majority of these gearboxes have the ability to manually shift gears using a lever or paddle shifters (buttons). This allows the automatic transmission to be used for combined braking. This is probably one of the most serious disadvantages of manual transmissions.
Towing and starting the engine
Only a person who is far from cars does not speak about this fact when choosing between an automatic machine and mechanics. And here opponents, or opponents of automatic boxes hit the nail on the head.
The fact is that in order to turn on an automatic transmission, unlike mechanics, a working engine is needed, which drives oil pump. Without its operation, oil will not be supplied to the box under pressure, and accordingly it will not work (transfer force from the wheels to the engine shaft). Same with towing. It is forbidden to tow cars with automatic transmission for long distances with the engine off. Start the engine and carry out the procedure at low speed.
Winter operation
In this matter, it cannot be said that a manual transmission is much better machine ical. But there are still advantages to a manual transmission. And probably the most significant of them is the ability to slow down the engine ice. Unfortunately, this cannot be done with an automatic. You can only release the gas pedal, allowing the gearbox to slow down on its own, shifting gears down. Naturally, in an emergency, such braking is clearly not an option.
In addition, one of the most powerful arguments against an automatic transmission is the opinion that it is bad if the car is stuck in a snowdrift. To refute such a statement, it is enough to recall that almost all cars with automatic transmission have special anti-slip electronic systems that will not allow the wheels to slip. By the way, if the locks did not work, and the wheels of the car are slipping, do not rush to put pressure on the gas. Since, unlike mechanics, the machine can switch to overdrive, defining the slip as an accelerating section. And this is a direct road to costly repair of the gearbox due to its overheating. But you should know that most modern machines has a special work setting - " winter mode". Therefore, to some extent, a modern automatic transmission is not much inferior to a mechanical one. But, nevertheless, you will not be able to rock the car in a snowdrift, or a puddle, with an automatic transmission. Therefore, do not tempt fate, it is best if the car is stuck, call another vehicle for help and tow the car.
Maintenance
The next disadvantage that opponents of automatic transmissions cite is their expensive service. This is partly correct. Since an oil change, or more correctly called special liquid(automatic transmission fluid) with a filter, in automatic transmission it is produced much more often than in mechanics. The reason for this lies in the fact that the automatic transmission does not have a rigid connection to the engine. For these purposes, it is equipped with special torque converters. Where the same ATF is used as a working tool. Naturally, such harsh operating conditions very quickly lead to the fact that the fluid loses its properties, and therefore requires replacement. The recommended resource between ATF replacements in an automatic transmission is on average about 50 thousand km.
Maintainability
According to statistics in our country, automatic transmission repair services are used 5-6 times more often than manual transmission repair services. However, the statistics of the EU countries are quite different. There, the number of repairs of automatic and manual transmissions is not much different. This proves the fact that automatic transmissions are quite reliable, and can also be used for a long time.
With untimely maintenance, the cost of repairing an automatic transmission can cost a pretty penny ...
However, unlike developed countries with a well-established service and maintenance infrastructure, we have too few specialists in this field. Therefore, there is a certain shortage in the provision of high-quality, and most importantly, the correct services for the repair of automatic transmissions. Components for are an order of magnitude higher than those for manual gearboxes. Repair of an automatic transmission on average reaches a value of $ 1000.
Driving dynamics
Opponents of automata talk about the fact that the accelerating dynamics of an automaton is clearly inferior to a mechanical box. This assertion is debatable. Since in last years cars of more expensive classes are equipped with boxes that are not only not inferior to mechanical ones in terms of dynamics, but in many respects are ahead of them. Therefore, it is definitely impossible to call this criterion as a minus of an automatic transmission.
Issue price
It is impossible, talking about automatic transmission and manual transmission, not to mention the cost. Yes, indeed, a car with an automatic is more expensive than a car with a difference of 1 to 2 thousand US dollars.
Expert opinion
Many driving instructors, and even road safety experts, have noticed one nuance. As it turned out, a person who first mastered a manual transmission at an acceptable level can easily transfer to a car with a gun. But on the contrary, it can be extremely difficult, after the machine to master a manual gearbox. Therefore, if this is your first car, it is still better to have a mechanic, and then you can transfer to an automatic one.
Results, which is better mechanics or automatic
By considering the possibilities various types gearboxes, you can take stock and say what is better mechanics or automatic. We formulate this with several main conclusions.
Firstly, the machine is effective for the bustle of the city. For drivers who primarily use the car, really, as a means of transportation, and do not experience any satisfaction from the driving process. They just need to get there faster and with less physical effort. For those who enjoy driving, it is better to use a manual transmission.
Secondly, if you still have not decided what suits you best, use a compromise solution - a “smart machine”. That is, a car with so-called sequential robotic boxes, with manual control function. Thus, in normal driving mode, all control will be taken over by the machine. But in emergency cases you can always control the situation manually. There is no need to use the clutch pedal and spend precious seconds shifting gears when decelerating, or vice versa when accelerating.
Video about the advantages and disadvantages of gearboxes
- News
- Workshop
Study: Automobile exhaust is not the main air pollutant
According to the participants of the energy forum in Milan, more than half of CO2 emissions and 30% of particulate matter harmful to health enter the air not at all because of the operation of internal combustion engines, but because of the heating of housing stock, reports La Repubblica. Currently, in Italy, 56% of buildings belong to the lowest environmental class G, and ...
New generation Ford Fiesta: already in 2018-2019
The appearance of the novelty will be made in the style of the larger Focus and Mondeo current generation. This is reported by OmniAuto, citing sources within the company. Based on the information received, the publication's artist also created an image on a computer showing what such a car could look like. Mondeo-style headlights and grille aren't the only things...
KamAZ banned employees from swearing in social networks
This became possible thanks to the introduction of netiquette and the adoption of a document called “Temporary procedure for providing information to the media about the activities of PJSC KamAZ”, reports the corporate publication Vesti KamAZ. As the head of the press service of KamAZ Oleg Afanasyev explained new document is a revised order on the provision of information to the media, ...
Mercedes factory in the Moscow region: the project is approved
Last week it became known that the Daimler concern and the Ministry of Industry and Trade are planning to sign a special investment contract, which involves the localization of production in Russia Mercedes cars. At that time, it was reported that the site where it was planned to launch the production of Mercedes would be the Moscow region - the Esipovo industrial park under construction, which is located in the Solnechnogorsk district. Also...
Princess Diana convertible to go under the hammer
The price of a car produced on March 7, 1994, and having covered 21,412 miles (34,459 km), is estimated at 50,000 - 60,000 pounds sterling (approximately 55,500 - 66,600 euros). Audi Cabriolet was an open source Audi models 80. Green car, ...
Self-driving taxis coming to Singapore
During testing, six modified Audi Q5s capable of autonomous driving will hit the roads of Singapore. Last year, such cars easily covered the path from San Francisco to New York, according to Bloomberg. In Singapore, drones will move along three specially prepared routes equipped with the necessary infrastructure. The length of each route will be 6.4 ...
Video of the day: Electric car hits 100 km/h in 1.5 seconds
An electric car called Grimsel was able to accelerate from standstill to 100 km / h in 1.513 seconds. The achievement was recorded on the runway of the air base in Dubendorf. The Grimsel is an experimental vehicle developed by students at the ETH Zurich and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences. The car was built to...
The iconic Toyota SUV will sink into oblivion
The complete cessation of production of the car, which has so far been produced for the markets of Australia and the Middle East, is scheduled for August 2016, according to Motoring. First serial Toyota The FJ Cruiser was shown at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. From the start of sales until today, the car was equipped with a four-liter gasoline ...
The Mercedes-Benz E-class coupe was spotted during tests. Video
The video featuring the new Mercedes-Benz E Coupe was filmed in Germany, where the car is undergoing final testing. The video was posted on the walkoART blog, which specializes in spy footage. Although the body of the new coupe is hidden under protective camouflage, we can already say that the car will receive a traditional appearance in the spirit of Mercedes sedan E-class...
Traffic police fines to be used for road construction
The draft of the relevant amendments to the Budget Code was developed by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation. According to Izvestia, thanks to the changes, the subjects of the federation will be required to transfer road payments and fines to local road funds. The Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Maxim Sokolov announced the preparation of an appropriate initiative back in April. The project involves 10 types of payments directly...
Every car owner strives to protect himself from emergencies related to road accidents or other damage to your vehicle. One of the options is the conclusion of a CASCO agreement. However, in an environment where there are dozens of companies providing insurance services in the insurance market, ...
What you need to know to take a car loan? Buying a car, and especially at the expense of credit funds, is far from the cheapest pleasure. In addition to the principal amount of the loan, which reaches several hundred thousand rubles, you also have to pay interest to the bank, and considerable ones. In the list...
The device and design of the car rack
Whatever the expensive and modern car, the convenience and comfort of movement primarily depend on the operation of the suspension on it. This is especially acute in domestic roads. It's no secret that the most important part of a suspension is the shock absorber. ...
The most stolen car brands in St. Petersburg
Car theft is an age-old confrontation between car owners and thieves. However, as noted by law enforcement agencies, every year the demand for stolen cars changes markedly. Even 20 years ago, the bulk of thefts accounted for the products of the domestic auto industry, and in particular the VAZ. But...
Test of four sedans: Skoda Octavia, Opel Astra, Peugeot 408 and Kia Cerato
Before the test, we can safely say that it will be "Three against one": 3 sedans and 1 liftback; 3 supercharged motors and 1 aspirated. Three cars with automatic and only one with mechanics. Three cars are European brands, and one is ...
The rating of the most stolen cars in Moscow has remained almost unchanged for several years. Every day about 35 cars are stolen in the capital, 26 of them are foreign cars. The most stolen brands According to the Prime Insurance portal, the most stolen cars of 2017 in ... HOW to choose and buy a car, Buying and selling.
How to choose and buy a car The choice of cars, both new and used, on the market is huge. And not to get lost in this abundance will help common sense and a practical approach to choosing a car. Do not give in to the first desire to buy the car you like, carefully study everything ...
- Discussion
- In contact with
There are many decisions to be made when buying a new car. Starting from the choice of trim, and ending with the engine size. But all this costs extra money. One of the most important decisions what you will need to take is to choose between manual or automatic transmission. Each option has its pros and cons, and understanding the basics of these two types of checkpoints will be key to making the right decision. So which is better: automatic or manual? With this we will try to understand in this article.
When buying a new car, it is recommended to test the drive with both manual and automatic transmissions. While a manual transmission will give you more control over your car and can improve your driving experience, an automatic is simple and easy to use. The choice will depend on a number of factors.
In order to finally decide on the choice in favor of the machine or mechanics, you need to familiarize yourself with the device and the principle of operation of the gearbox as a whole. Let's consider these types separately.
Machine
The automatic transmission includes:
- connecting drum;
- friction clutch;
- overrunning clutch;
- torque converter;
- planetary reductor.
The main feature of the automatic transmission is that the driver does not need to perform any actions to switch the speed. IN right moment electronic actuators give a signal for the interaction of the hydromechanical drive with planetary mechanisms.
Mechanics
The mechanical transmission includes:
- synchronizer;
- switching mechanism;
- blocking device;
- shift lever;
- drain plug;
- reverse gear;
- forward gears;
- body (some call it crankcase).
A fairly strong alloy is used to make the crankcase. It is there that almost all the components of the device are located (only the shift lever is located in the passenger compartment of the car). When you press the clutch pedal and shift into gear, the input shaft is disconnected from the engine. At this point, the gears are in contact with each other. After that, the driver smoothly releases the clutch pedal, after which the drive shaft, picking up torque from the car's engine, transfers it to the secondary shaft. This is what makes the drive wheels turn.
On a note! In order to shift gears without shock and smoothly, there are synchronizers in the gearbox. Their job is to equalize the speed of rotation. The health of the box itself depends on the state of the synchronizers.
Checkpoint costs
There are some very significant differences between manual and automatic transmissions, and depending on what you're looking for, they can be advantages or disadvantages. Let's quickly go over just a few of the major differences between the two systems so you can decide which factors are important to you.
Initial costs
In almost all cases, mechanics will be cheaper when buying a new car. The savings vary by car model, but the cost will be less than $1,000 when compared to buying the same car with an automatic. For example, Honda Accord A 2017 LX-S Coupe with a 6-speed manual starts at $23,775, while the same model with an automatic starts at $24,625. The savings also extend to used vehicles.
Start-up costs also need to be taken into account. Note! Cost savings should be seen as a rule of thumb, not a hard and fast fact. Especially when it comes to high-end or sport cars, where a manual transmission will cost on par with an automatic or even a little more.
Operating costs
The manual transmission is the winner in this category. A manual will almost always save fuel better than an automatic. For example, chevrolet cruze Eco consumes 8 l/100 km s automatic transmission, and with mechanical - 9-10 liters. According to statistics, savings in fuel costs during the year are about $100.
Maintenance costs
Automatic transmissions are complex and contain many moving parts, and for this reason they tend to be more expensive to maintain. Expect more regular maintenance costs as well as repairs if the device stops functioning properly. For example, replacing or reconfiguring an automatic transmission will cost tens of thousands, while the cost of replacing a clutch will be much less.
Note! In the end, the automatic transmission must sooner or later be replaced or reconfigured. This is a matter of time, because they will almost never work throughout the entire operational period of the car..
Manual transmissions are much simpler, so they can work flawlessly for the life of the vehicle. In most cases, the clutch disc only needs to be replaced once in the life of the vehicle, but overall maintenance costs are lower than on an automatic.
Whether we are talking about start-up costs, operating costs or even maintenance costs, manual box gear is the winner.
vehicle power
There are some differences in how automatic and manual transmissions transfer engine power to the wheels. In most cases, you get maximum power from a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission, but there are exceptions. You also need to consider some compromises in the choice, for example, driving comfort.
Vehicles with low energy consumption
If you're opting for a low-energy vehicle, it's often best to go with manual models. The base car with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine will be best combined with a manual transmission. This will allow you to make the most of the limited power the car has to offer.
Once you upgrade to more powerful vehicles like the V-6 or V-8, the automatic option may be more appropriate.
Vehicles with a high load
Powerful sport car it is usually also equipped with a manual transmission, although many exotic models are successfully produced with automatic transmissions. The manual allows you to crank out every bit of power before shifting, while the automatic often shifts too soon. This is why there is a significant difference in acceleration times between manual and automatic transmissions, so if acceleration is important to you, then manual transmission is the best option.
Powerful cars (cars) Is not complicated rule, but if you are buying an exotic car, the system automatic switching should be programmed to get the most out of all gears, but this will definitely affect heavier vehicles.
Lifestyle
The truth is that an automatic car is easier and more comfortable to drive. When choosing between manual and automatic system you must carefully consider your lifestyle and driving habits.
A manual transmission can be a real hell for people who have to spend a lot of time in traffic jams. The constant shifting of the lever and depressing the clutch pedal can become tiring. It is known that some car models are equipped with a heavy clutch, so regular gear changes can turn into pain in the legs or joints for the driver.
Traffic in traffic jams creates its own conditions Education
Driving with an automatic transmission is very easy, so learning to drive with an automatic transmission will be much easier. Inexperienced drivers may run into problems while planing from a standstill if they are driving a manual. Also, pulling off on a hill can be a little scary until you learn how to use the clutch properly. Automatic transmission in this regard is best suited.
Learning to drive an automatic is much easier. Driving fun
There is no denying that driving a car with a manual transmission is fun, especially on a wide road free of other participants. traffic. A manual transmission provides a level of vehicle control that is simply not available in automatic mode. Unfortunately, most of us don't drive day in and day out in these conditions, but if you do, a manual transmission could be just the car you need. Mechanics or automatic: eternal confrontation
While it's illegal in most countries, if you're using your cell phone while driving it would be a terrible idea with a manual transmission. Controlling your phone, steering wheel and shifting gears can create a really dangerous driving scenario. You can solve this problem by choosing a car with an automatic transmission.
Consider a semi-automatic transmission
If you still can't make up your mind, there's a special option that allows you to manually shift whenever you want and put the car back into automatic mode. A semi-automatic transmission (PKP) has several different names: semi-automatic, tiptronic, and so on.
Regardless of what it's called, the control panel is a system that allows you to change gears whenever you want, but there is no clutch pedal. It is equipped with a system of sensors, processors, executive mechanisms and pneumatics for gear shifting. Most of these vehicles default to an automatic transmission with the ability to move into a special mode.
Now you should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages various options PPC, which means it's time to make a decision. Always inspect and test your vehicle before buying as many times as possible to make sure you are comfortable not only with the vehicle, but also with the transmission. Not a nail, not a wand, dear motorists!
Video - Automatic or mechanic. Just about complex
