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Selection of Car Transmission Systems – Auto or Manual?

September 3, 2010 by vignes
Filed under: Helpful Tips

When we speak of transmission systems in cars, our choices are basically down to two, either automatic or manual transmissions. The choice of transmission becomes even more important when you are looking at purchasing a used car, as they become used units, and you are not aware of how well the previous owner has looked after the unit.
Automatic transmissions are advantageous in the sense that your driving experience would be a lot simpler and more comfortable. It is also easier to drive a car with automatic transmission, something that most new drivers would attest to. Nevertheless automatic transmissions are more difficult to maintain, and not to mention more expensive as well. Automatic transmissions are also more prone to failures as they utilize a lot more components and electronic parts than manual transmissions. And on the whole, a car with an auto-transmission system would be priced more expensively than one with manual transmission system, and would consume more fuel as well!
On the other hand, a car that comes with manual transmission may be more difficult to drive, but it would provide you with less headaches in terms of maintenance of the vehicle. It is also less prone to breakdowns, as it is made up of more straight-forward mechanical components with little reliance on electronics. Fuel efficiency would also prove to be better with manual transmission cars, thus you save on this portion as well! You would also discover that manual cars are priced slightly lower in the second hand market compared to auto cars.
Always ensure that you purchase a used car that comes with a good transmission system, or you would face plenty of complications later. There are two ways of determining this, either take the car for an extensive test-drive, or make sure that you bring along a certified mechanic that would be able to assess the condition of the transmission system when you are evaluating a vehicle. Auto or manual, the choice is yours!