Manual vs automatic transmission race

However, an automatic gearbox will upshift if it hits its rev threshold regardless of whether you are closing in on a corner or not. A post shared by design by beau designbybeau on Jun 2, at am PDT. Automatic gearboxes take away an element of control from the driver.

Mainly in terms of using the gears to control the revs and power output of the engine. It also takes away the engine braking element when the driver uses the brakes to slow the car down for a corner.

So, in this regard, a manual transmission gearbox is actually better than an automatic gearbox, since the driver can be more in control and engaged in the car rather than leaving the car to try and guess what is happening on track. We mentioned earlier the racing gearbox that can change gears faster than you can blink.

These gear changes can happen just by pulling a paddle behind the steering wheel. A post shared by Carsten L. These gearboxes still allow the driver to have the same amount of control over the gearbox as with the manual transmission, but it makes shifting much faster by utilizing that automatic gearbox.

The manual transmission gearbox is the main choice for every petrolhead and driving fanatic. This is because it is much more fun to drive, and it allows the driver to be much more engaged and in control of the car. Older automatic gearboxes were slow and ineffective, and back in the day, manual gearboxes could still compete with and beat automatic gearboxes.

However, technology has advanced a great deal since then through Formula 1 and IndyCar development. If you are looking at breaking lap records, the automatic gearbox is certainly the way to go. The modern-day automatic gearbox can shift gears in the blink of an eye, much faster than any driver could, professional or not. This gives the automatic gearbox a distinctive and clear advantage over the manual gearbox. Flow Racers is a reader-supported site.

With a special belt-and-pulley system, engine power is transferred to the wheels, which provides an infinite ratio gradient. For drivers that need to keep the price down on a vehicle, the manual transmission is a great option. This is also the best choice if you are looking for performance or you race your vehicle. On the other hand, the automatic transmission is simple to use and allows regular drivers to enjoy the ride more. With that said, it is going to cost more to get a vehicle with an automatic transmission included, and it will be a higher expense to have it worked on.

A good repair manual will save you both time and money. Check out the best options here. Magnus is the owner and main author of MechanicBase. He has been working as a mechanic for over 10 years, and the majority of them specialized in advanced diagnostics and troubleshooting.

Certified Automotive Diagnostic Technician. Comments are closed. Post your question in our community instead. Contents show. What is a Manual Transmission?

Manual Transmission Pros. Traditional automatic, dual-clutch, continuously variable or automated manual? Understanding those terms — and their advantages and disadvantages — can be confusing. And how many gears are enough gears? More about all that below. Today only about two-percent of the new cars sold in the United States are equipped with manual transmissions.

All new Ferraris, for example, are automatics and BMW no longer offers its 3-Series sedan with a manual. Most new cars are automatic only. But stick shifts are cool. And two-percent of The subject here is vehicles with internal combustion engines. Then as engine speed grows, the torque output grows until it peaks. After that peak, the engine keeps spinning but torque production trails off.

So, internal combustion engines need to operate in this narrow, torquey sweet spot — generally between about and rpm for every day piston engines — to be efficient. The variable ratio gear sets inside a transmission keep the engine in that sweet spot when the vehicle itself is moving at different speeds.

Plus, well, a reverse gear is a necessity too. Electric motors, on the other hand, make the same amount of torque no matter how fast they are whirring along. And electric motors can run in reverse. To shift the transmission into reverse, the transmission shaft rotation has to stop, and you will need to depress the clutch pedal to do this. So what are the pros and cons of having a manual or automatic? Let us start with a look at the pros of having a manual transmission vehicle.

Have you noticed that racing cars and sports cars come with a manual transmission? The reason is that the manual transmission offers you total control of your car since you get to decide which gear you want to drive in. This is a major difference between manual and automatic transmission. Increased control of a vehicle can reduce the amount of gas used up by the engine, so a manual transmission can have better gas mileage than an automatic transmission.

Cars with manual transmission are more cost-efficient. They require little maintenance and so the running costs are less. The manual transmission has a relatively simple design that does not require any complex repairs. Once you drive your manual transmission car the right way and do some regular preventative maintenance, the car can last for quite a while.

Manual transmission cars are relatively cheaper, plus they come with lower insurance costs. Having to change gears for an extended period of time can take a toll on the driver. Then there is the physical stress aches and pains that comes with changing gears with your legs and your hands for extended periods. Then there is the mental strain and possible loss of focus that comes with driving a manual transmission. Manual transmission is also quite challenging to learn, and there is the danger of not being able to effectively steer the car when you regularly change gears.

Cars with automatic transmissions have always sold better than manual transmission cars in the United States, and this is despite the benefits that come with manual transmissions. This part of the article will focus on the way automatic transmission works.

The automatic transmission uses gears to optimize the torque generated by the vehicle. This way, the engine can function at the right speed while offering a variety of output speeds. It does this with fluid pressure, so gear change with such vehicles is automatic. One major difference between the compositions of the manual and automatic transmission is the presence of a torque-converter. This component is linked to the drivetrain and communicates speed by exerting pressure on the transmission fluid.

The transmission fluid serves to engage and disengage planetary gears to move between ratios. This is possible because of a complex system that is built around the planetary gear set which creates the different gear ratios used by the transmission.

The planetary gear set is a system of gears that includes a sun gear, planet gears, and ring gear. All of these gears need to work simultaneously for the car to get into its different gear ratios. Although the automatic transmission fluid also helps to keep parts of the transmission cool and well-lubricated, its major function in this system is to power the vehicle.

Car lovers in the United States find cars with automatic transmission attractive because it is relatively easy to master and drive. However, the automatic transmission system is complex; driving one is extremely simple. It is also very convenient since there is no clutch, and all that you need to do is simply select D for drive and move.

Neither do you have to worry about driving uphill, moving in congested traffic, or having the car stall on you? This ease of learning and driving makes automatic transmission cars popular within and outside the USA.

Since it does not require manually changing the gears, driving a car with automatic transmission is relatively safe; you get to keep both hands on the wheels.

Automatic transmission requires less effort, which also means less mental and physical strain while driving.