When purchasing a car for personal use, the future owner considers one of the main selection criteria to be such a parameter as a manual or automatic transmission. There is a big difference between the first and second control systems.
The control system has one main parameter that divides cars into two groups: cars with an automatic gearbox (automatic transmission) and cars with a manual gearbox (manual transmission). Hence all the differences between these groups. And they, if you look closely, are very significant.
The difference between mechanical and automatic transmissions
Let us consider in comparison the first and second group of cars from the point of view of external differences in the controls used by any motorist.
In most cases, the automatic transmission is designed for two working positions: speed (forward movement) and reverse. Outside of working hours, when the vehicle is stationary, the gearshift lever is in neutral, which is located between the first and second. Accordingly, there are two pedals under the driver's wheel: gas and brake.
The manual transmission is designed for 5 or 6 working positions, plus neutral - located in the middle. A total of five or six forward speeds and one reverse speed. A clutch pedal is added under the driver's steering wheel to switch the gear stick between speeds. A total of three pedals: clutch, brake and gas.
What is the main difficulty in driving a machine with a manual transmission
The main difficulty of the manual transmission and the difference from driving a car with an automatic transmission is that one hand and one leg are constantly involved on the gear lever and on the clutch pedal, respectively. While the driver operating the automatic transmission has one leg free, and the gearshift knob needs to be moved only in case of a change in the direction of the car forward / backward.
The principle of speeds on a car with a manual transmission is as follows: when the engine is turned on, the drive shaft constantly rotates (when gas is added at a higher speed, when it decreases, at a lower speed). By engaging different speeds with the clutch pedal, different torque is transmitted from the gearbox to the drive wheels, increasing or decreasing the speed of the machine as a whole. To shift or engage speed, you must press the clutch and move the speed knob each time. At first, and in the future, this requires the driver to concentrate for the correct coordination of movements.
Undoubtedly, without financial constraints, many drivers would prefer an automatic transmission to a mechanical one. But since the price is in many ways decisive when choosing a vehicle (and an automatic transmission is slightly more expensive than a manual transmission), drivers daily face difficulties in driving a car mechanically. However, the manual transmission gives professionals the opportunity to drive a car more technically, and therefore they often consciously choose this particular option, not paying attention to the disadvantages and difficulties.
