Difference between Stick Shift and Automatic Transmission
All cars come in various shapes, sizes and colors, but only a few things truly set them apart from one another. One of those major differences is how the car actually drives. This is determined of course by the parts, but sometimes more importantly, by whether it’s a stick shift or an automatic. Each one has its pros and cons and some people are better off with one over the other. An automatic car is one that you simply press your foot on the gas and go, while a stick shift is a bit more complicated to drive.
Handling
One of the most important factors when choosing a car is how you feel in the car, as well as you well you can handle the car. For more passive drivers who are not interested in learning how to coordinate the clutch and stick shift, an automatic has better handling for you. The stick shift has a lot of different gears and speeds so the handling is tougher to grasp and requires more attention while driving. It also requires a stronger set of hands to control the wheel while driving. The automatic is likened to driving like a kitten because you have a normal handling on the wheel, even when going at a faster speed.
Gears
An automatic car drives by itself with out the need to shift from one gear to another, no matter how fast you go. The transmissions are built differently when comparing an automatic to a stick shift transmission. With a stick shift you have to switch gears while you’re driving. After you start driving, you change into second gear as soon as you can, once approaching 15 – 20 mph you will shift into third gear. Continue in third gear until 25 – 30 mph then switch into fourth gear. When you are slowing down you will have to reverse this process.
Transmission
There is an automatic or manual (stick shift) transmission (thus each option for a car.) The different between the two we have basically discussed and both come with separate prices. When you are putting in an automatic transmission you may be looking at a few hundred dollars cheaper then a manual transmission. This is because a manual transmission has less parts then an automatic transmission. However, if you are switching from an automatic to a manual, you may end up covering the difference by paying for the conversion of the car (the transmissions).
Summary
- When using a stick shift you have to be able to control the steering wheel more then with an automatic. It moves more and happens to be more powerful.
- An automatic does not require you do much other then keep your foot on the gas, while with a stick shift you need to learn to shift between a few different gears (1-5)
- A stick shift requires more focus and paying attention to the speed to see when you need to shift into the next gear, or focus on the sound of the car as you’re driving.
- The price of a manual transmission is cheaper by a few hundred or more than an automatic transmission.
