In North American, the shift towards automatic from manual transmission has been relatively steady for the past few decades. While auto enthusiasts and gearheads are dedicated to their manual transmissions and are adamant regarding their superiority (they are more fun to drive), the convenience and ease of an automatic transmission were enough to change the market to 96% of vehicles sold being automatic. Standard is no longer standard. With so many people passionate about their manual or automatic transmissions, there are a lot of myths surrounding the most impressive piece of machinery in your car. Here are three common myths we have encountered regarding transmissions, and the facts behind the truth.
Myth #1 – Manual Transmission Cost Less than Automatic Transmissions
It is true that most cars that have a manual transmission are less expensive than automatics. There can often be thousands of dollars in savings if you go with the manual option over the same model of car with an automatic transmission. This is not universal, however, and more and more models, such as BMW and GM, cost the same no matter what kind of transmission they have. You also have to take into account the maintenance that you will pay on your transmission throughout the life of the car. Most automatic transmissions last the life of the car, maybe needing small repairs here and there. Manual transmissions may need to be replaced upwards of two to three times in the lifetime of a car, and inexperienced stick-shift drivers can cause damage to the transmission.
Myth #2 – Manual Gets You Better Fuel Economy
This myth holds a grain of truth because it used to be the truth. Back when automatic transmissions were first introduced, thanks to their hefty bulk and the mechanical losses, manual cars get better mileage. Now, it truly depends on the car, but generally, automatics and manuals function about the same. The 2014 Ford Focus, for instance, got about 31 mpg with the automatic, and 30 mpg with the manual. With only 1 mpg difference between the two, it really comes down to personal driving preference.
Myth #3 – If You Want Performance You have to Go with a Manual Transmission
This is another case of “once was true, now not so much” as old manual cars used to be a lot more fun to drive and had power behind them in comparison to automatics. Part of the reason behind this was because of less effective automatic transmissions, but also because all the fun cars were strictly manual. Now, even Ferrari F40s come with factory automatic transmission options so that the high-performance vehicles can be driven by all. Another factor is that automatics have significantly improved, and can shift gears, delivering a better performance, faster than many manual transmissions thanks to being computer-controlled.
Transmission Repair with Alberta Drive-Line Rebuilders Ltd.
If you need anything to do with transmission, then come into Alberta Drive-Line transmission shop located atĀ Yellowhead Trail, Edmonton for high-quality, professional service. We will get your car in perfect working order in no time. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us.