Hand on Shift Knob in a Manual vehicle

Two pedals, or three?

What is the difference between an automatic and manual transmission?

As you are looking to purchase a new vehicle, there are many different things that you have to keep in mind. Some of these things include make, model, color, engine, power, cargo space, passenger capacity, and transmission. There are two transmission options that a vehicle could come with. They are manual and automatic. What is the difference between an automatic and manual transmission? The simple answer is it has to do with how the vehicle shifts gears. Keep reading to learn more!


What does a transmission do?

The transmission makes sure that just the right amount of power gets to your vehicle’s wheels at the right speed. This is accomplished by changing gears at varying speeds based on what you are trying to do. For example, if you are taking off from a stop sign, the transmission will use a low gear ratio to give more torque so that you can begin moving again. In contrast, on the highway, the transmission will use a high gear ratio to move the vehicle at your high speed while using little RPMs.

There are two ways that the gears in the transmission can be changed. They are manually and automatically. Let’s take a look at the two options below.

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manual TransmissionHow does a manual transmission work?

Manual transmissions are also known as stick shifts because there is literally a stick between the driver and the passenger that the driver must use to change the gears. To change gears, the clutch, or the third petal to the left of the brake pedal, must be pressed to release the clutch disc that is between the engine and the transmission. The driver then needs to select the gear he or she wishes to be in, and the place the disc clutch back into its place.

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Automatic TransmissionHow does an automatic transmission work?

One of the biggest differences between having an automatic and a manual transmission is the number of petals. A vehicle with an automatic transmission only has two petals. The way that an automatic transmission works is by basically doing everything that the manual transmission does but with no input from the driver. The vehicle will automatically change gears based on the position of the petal, the speed of the vehicle and the engine’s revolutions.

Choosing to drive an automatic or manual vehicle is really a personal preference for the driver. If you would like to learn more or discuss your options, please stop out and see us at Carizma Motors! Our friendly team members would be happy to assist you however they can!

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