When you buy any car these days, regardless of its age, you have the choice of opting for a manual or automatic model. Many people enjoy the freedom that driving a car with a manual transmission offers. These days, there seems to be a shift in the trend of what gearboxes people prefer in their cars.
Growing numbers of motorists are heading over to the “dark side” and getting automatic vehicles! There used to be a stigma attached to autos. Many people stereotyped them as getting driven by Americans or the elderly.
These days, even the Generation Y motorists are opting for automatics!
The big question is this: does it makes sense for you to buy an automatic today? Here are some surprising facts about today’s autos:
They are more advanced than the slushboxes of yesteryear
Do you remember when some cars came with three-speed automatic gearboxes as standard? They were jerky and seldom offered gear changes at the right time. Nowadays things are much different.
Today’s automatic transmissions have more gears (some as much as ten!) and are computer-controlled. In general, the more gears an auto box has, the smoother the gear changes. It’s not uncommon for some auto models to outperform their manual brothers in terms of power delivery and fuel economy!
They let you change gear like you would in a manual
Take Volkswagen’s DSG (direct shift gearbox) units, for example. A simple look at any VW for sale on sites like motorlinedirect.co.uk reveals “+” and “-” options next to the standard gears.
They allow you to shift up and down the forward gears as if you were driving a manual! It’s great news for people that want more control out of their cars on the road. And it means that you don’t have to use a clutch pedal. The gearbox is also intelligent enough to change down a gear if you forget, so you won’t end up damaging your car’s engine.
They make your car more valuable
Many people are concerned about the future value of their vehicles. They want to make sure that their cars don’t lose much value as they age.
The great thing about cars with automatic gearboxes is that they help to increase your car’s value! It’s especially true if the model you want is rare if it has an automatic transmission.
They are more reliable than manuals
If you own a manual car, you will doubtless be aware that you have to change the clutch on it every so often. The clutch is a component that sits between your engine and the gearbox. Automatic gearboxes have torque converters, and they don’t need to get replaced for the life of your vehicle.
That means they are more reliable than cars with manual gearboxes! Owners of manual diesel cars often have to pay for expensive dual-mass flywheel replacements. But, as an automatic owner, you won’t have to suffer from such expensive costs!
So, do you still think manual cars are a good idea?
Photo credit : Flickr
