Manual transmission and automatic transmission： the game between driving pleasure and practicality

Manual transmission and automatic transmission: the game between driving pleasure and practicality

Today in 2024, with the continuous progress of automobile technology and the change of consumer preferences, the choice between manual transmission and automatic transmission has become the first important decision faced by many prospective drivers. This choice is not only related to the learning of driving skills, but also to the expectation and adaptation of future car use scenarios.

From the data point of view, the global market share of manual transmission models is declining year by year. In China, in 2020, manual transmission still occupied 10.7% of the market share, but by 2021 it had dropped to 7.2%, and now it is less than 4%. The market share of manual transmission models in the United States and Japan is only 1% and 2% respectively. This trend reflects that with the intensification of urban traffic congestion and consumers’ pursuit of driving convenience, automatic transmission models are more popular because of their simple operation and easy to use.

Manual gear:

Advantages: high speed, good hand feeling, fuel saving, low maintenance cost and relatively cheap car price. For those who love driving, manual gear provides more driving pleasure and participation, and can shift gears according to the speed and engine sound in time to realize the driving experience of people and vehicles.

Disadvantages: In the urban congestion environment, frequent operation of clutch, gear, throttle and brake not only increases the driver’s physical burden, but also reduces the driving efficiency. For beginners, the learning cost of manual gear is high, and it may be more likely to cause tension and psychological pressure in urban driving.

Automatic gear:

Advantages: simple operation, especially suitable for driving in urban congestion environment, reducing the physical burden and psychological pressure of drivers. For novices, automatic transmission models are easier to use and reduce driving difficulty.

Disadvantages: Compared with manual transmission, automatic transmission models may have higher fuel consumption and maintenance costs, and may lack driving pleasure in some cases. Some drivers may feel that the throttle response of automatic transmission is too tight, which is not as light as manual transmission.

From the practical point of view, automatic transmission models are undoubtedly the mainstream choice in the current market. With the intensification of urban traffic congestion and the acceleration of people’s life rhythm, the convenience and comfort provided by automatic transmission models are more in line with the needs of modern consumers. However, from the perspective of driving pleasure and skill improvement, manual transmission models still have irreplaceable value. For those who love driving and pursue the experience of integrating people and vehicles, manual transmission models provide more possibilities and challenges.

The existence of manual transmission models is also of certain significance to the diversity of automobile technology and market competition. Although automatic transmission technologies such as dual clutch are developing continuously, manual transmission models still maintain a certain market share in some specific fields and consumer groups. This is not only the inheritance of traditional driving skills, but also the respect for the diversity of automobile technology.

To sum up, the choice of manual transmission and automatic transmission should be decided according to the individual’s driving needs, skill level and preference. For those who pursue driving pleasure, like challenges and sense of control, manual transmission is undoubtedly a better choice. For those who pay attention to driving convenience, comfort and efficiency, automatic transmission models are more suitable. In the future, with the continuous progress of automobile technology and the change of consumer preferences, the game between manual transmission and automatic transmission will continue to exist, and each will occupy a place in the market. Therefore, whether you choose manual transmission or automatic transmission, you should make a wise decision based on your actual situation and needs.