Hi guys and girls, begging for help here. I've just been told i have to do a 10minute presentation for an interview i have tomorrow (yes, it is 4:30 the day before!!) on "The advantages & disadvantages of a manual transmission over an automatic". So, any help greatly appreciated Thanks in advance.

Have you driven both?

Personal experience of autos (which I like for a tin-top):
Pros:
Good in heavy traffic - easy to drive as you're not in and out of gear all the time.
If you're going for a gap, it's nice to know that you're always going to be in the right gear.
Cons:
Uses slightly more petrol than a manual - presuming that you pay attention in the manual and are always in the right gear. Otherwise there's nothing in it.
Servicing can cost more, as fewer UK mechanics have experience with autos.
You need better brakes, as there's no engine braking.
You can't select the best gear for a corner (the auto's gear select doesn't really do it properly for fast driving).

But as I say, I like autos for day-to-day driving.

David

[Edited on 19/2/07 by David Jenkins]

Auto better if you only have one leg/arm,
Manual generally better on fuel/acceleration
No clutch to worry about on an auto
Auto generally smoother gear change
Manual better for drifting
Manual generally lighter

My tin top is a manual but i drive my gfs car while at uni and that's an auto so i know which one i prefer and it's not my gfs (and the steptronic is sh*te too)

He presure concentrates the mind.

here are a few pointers ( maybe ballcocks - but hey )

Automatic against

Power loss through transmision
due to limited 3 /4 gears tend not to be as fuel efficient ?
Fluid needs changing more often ?

Automatic For

stop start comuting
Smoth ride
Less transmision wear / engine wear
No clutch ( wear and tear part )

Manual For

Very rarly loose all gears due to wear and tear
Sports car feel
Driver feels envolved ( can select a gear before a situation / corner roundabout )

Manual against

Disabled Drivers

Sure there is more but thats what I came up with in 5 mins

Auto fewer gears (generally) in the box so need a bigger engine with more torque to cover the gaps.

Easier for beginners (1 less thing to worry about, can't stall), but need to be wary of getting an auto only license.

Autos typically cost a bit more to buy. Depending on market for vehicle auto can be essential to resale.

Manuals a lot more fun on B roads, Autos a lot more restful on long drives and driving through London.

Engine braking in a manual if your brakes fail and you need to slow down?

Manual is more manly

p.s. good luck at the interview

Thanks for all the help (and luck) so far. Servicing is the same after phoning a few garages...! How about choice of cars? More selection if getting a manual?

I'm sure you cannot bump start an auto... therefore if you have no battery power and you cant start your engine your fooked!

Steve

quote:

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Originally posted by arrybradbury
Thanks for all the help (and luck) so far. Servicing is the same after phoning a few garages...! How about choice of cars? More selection if getting a manual?

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My parents tried to get an manual merc (vaneo) as a family car (my youngest bro is disabled so wheelchair needed) and there wasn't one in the country for them to test needless to say, they didn't order one and got a caravelle instead!

Seems there's plenty on a popular search engine to get you enough material>
http://tinyurl.com/255hdu

Having over the years owned both types, I would make the following observations.
Auto. The ideal for the city, far more relaxed style of driving, very little stress as you don,t have to keep gear changing. High cost of replacement box, (should you ever need to) Servicing is about the same, auto/manual.
Manual, Best for the open road, (if you can find one), more sporting, with more driver involvement. Better fuel ecconomy, slightly less cost for a replacement box.
What it comes down to is you pay's yer money, and takes yer choice. Some people love auto's, others hate them, although exactly why is beyond me. HTH Ray

In my experience of big V8's with ton's of torque and power it's much easier to control wheelspin on launch with an automatic with the right torque convereter and hence get better 1/4 mile times but I think this only really applies when you have an excess of power - is that possible

Couple of more things....

You cant tow a automatic if it breaks down, as the pump will fook the geabox. I did this on my Auto VW many years ago.

Other good point, is that you can always get Max torque applied to the wheels before stalling / stopping.
You cant do this with a manual, as you dont have such good control over the torque with a manual clutch, its in, slipping or out, torques converter has more control in finer increments.

Good luck with the talk.

I drove a auto Rover 216 with the steptronic box for a while and thought the auto was pretty bad. It was good for motorway journeys and heavy traffic but you felt so detached from the engine. You would put your foot down and the car would respond a couple of seconds later.

Also the CVT gearbox was weird, you can put your foot down and accelerate without the revs rising, a very wierd sensation.

For a drivers car you have to have a manual. For wafting about in a big engine soft riding car an auto wont be so bad.

How'd it go then?

ATB

Simon

Blimey, give him chance to do the thing first! He only started this today (Monday).

Depends on the purpose of the interview and the seriousness of what you will gain, but i suspect the purpose of the presentation is not so much if you can determine the pros and cons etc but more about how you will deliver a presentation on a topic that has no right and wrong answers.
A novel and interesting approach will probs be what they are looking for whilst getting over the points already raised. Confident delivery, good visual aids, introduction, main content, summary, opportunity for questions at the end.

I had to do one once on the advantages of a good project management system when there was going to be a redundancy in our department - 2 project engineers, 1 vacancy. Luckily i delivered the best presentation but then left anyway.

Manual - If you stall on a railway line and the car won't start put the car in first and don't touch the cluth and move the car on the starter motor

You must use Benzine's line in there somewhere.

Oops, I seem to have lost track of time

ATB

Simon