Manual or automat - facts and myths

The answer to the title question is one of the most important decisions made when buying a new car. The choice of manual or automatic transmission can be supported by purely pragmatic arguments, but equally often the motives of the decision are subjective, and each solution has its fervent supporters and opponents.

The biggest advantage of a manual box is, first of all, a lower price of a car equipped with it and lower costs of possible repairs resulting from relative simplicity. Despite the fact that during the configuration of a car bought in the showroom, more and more Poles choose this solution for the automatic transmission.

Does the car with the machine smoke more?

Proponents of conventional gearboxes emphasize that cars equipped with them consume less fuel than the same models with the classic automatic machine. Drivers also appreciate the direct mechanical coupling of the engine with the wheels, allowing them to feel the car better. Critics of manual transmissions mention as the main drawback the inconvenience of continuous clutch engagement and jacking when driving in traffic jams. They shall also indicate the risk of a gear not suitable for the speed in question.

The advantages of automatic transmission are above all convenience, especially when driving in the city - frequent stopping and moving requires only the use of brake and accelerator pedals. The machine is also very tolerant for inexperienced drivers - it does not allow the engine to go out when starting and, by definition, eliminates problems with mismatch of revolutions with the selected gear. Opponents of automatic transmissions criticize the increased fuel consumption due to energy loss in the hydro-kinetic transmission, as well as the inability to take full advantage of engine dynamics caused by too early gear changes by an automatic transmission optimized for savings and slow gear shifting.

It turns out, however, that these circular opinions are outdated in the case of modern automatic transmissions - the mentioned defects were gradually eliminated by the designers. The use of electronic control has over time brought the machines to high-performance cars, providing a more dynamic driving experience than manual transmissions.

One example is the legendary Toyota AE86 "Hachi-Roku", which uses a four-speed automat with hydro-kinetic gear lock to eliminate its "slip" and the associated losses. The four-speed Aisin A340E transmission, developed for the flagship Lexus LS 400 limousine, also went to the sports Toyota Supra.

Automation also goes to manual transmissions

As automatic transmissions develop, the number of gears increases, allowing the engine to be maintained at optimum rpm for an extended period of time and contributing to further fuel savings. In 1998 the Lexus LS 400 gained a five-speed Aisin A650E with automatic downslope reduction. Five years later, the Lexus LS 430 received a six-speed A761E transmission with sequential mode and an AI-SHIFT system that adapts the gear shift mode to the driver's driving style. In 2007, the LS 460 uses the world's first eight-cylinder AA80E automatic transmission with a gear shift time of just 350 milliseconds, which is also used with the high-performance Lexus RC F and GS F. The record-breaking number of gears is the 10-speed automatic flag gearbox Lexus LC 500.

Meanwhile, automation also enters... manual gearboxes. Toyota has filed a patent application in the USA for a manual transmission equipped with a device that automatically switches off the clutch and switches to "backlash" when the vehicle is rolling freely on the road (which can reduce fuel consumption) and an intelligent lock that prevents the vehicle from turning on a gear that is not suitable for the speed in question.

How much do I have to pay for the automatic transmission?

Technological developments are making automatic transmissions increasingly better, more reliable and available in virtually every class of cars on the market - from urban vehicles to premium limousines and SUVs. With the latter, manufacturers have gone a step further and offer fewer and fewer manual transmission choices.

How much do I have to pay for the automatic transmission? Taking into account the most popular segment in Poland, C price lists predict an increase in the basic price of a given model by about 5 to 10 thousand PLN (with the price of a car at the level of 50 - 80 thousand PLN). It is worth mentioning that in the case of more and more popular in Poland cars with hybrid drive, automatic transmission does not require a surcharge, and the car costs as much as a similarly equipped car with diesel engine.