Recently updated on September 22, 2023 at 12:45 am
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For many car enthusiasts, opinions always differ over the same discussion: automatic or manual gear shift? What are the respective advantages and what are the disadvantages? Is it really the case that the automatic gear shift is only something for Sunday drivers, as prejudice suggests? And how do you choose the right rental vehicle on vacation?
First of all, it must be said that it is not true that the modern automatic car is lagging behind the vehicle operated by hand. The development shows that these can even make things easier for the driver. This applies above all to people who want to focus solely on the traffic on the streets or even overcrowded parking lots and not on the various gears of the manual gearshift.
An overview:
The manual transmission is a transmission in which two transmission shafts are stacked with several pairs of gears. These can be moved sideways and two gears are then set in motion for each gear using the shift claws. The big advantage of the manual transmission lies in the low manufacturing costs for companies. This is of course also reflected in the price for the customer. This usually applies to both buying and renting a car.
The basic structure of the automatic gearbox is exactly the same as the manual gearbox, but the clutch and gearshift operations have been completely automated. Anyone who loves speed knows, however, that the disadvantage is that automatic shifting can lead to annoying interruptions in tractive power, especially in weak and smaller cars. In the meantime, however, there are solutions for this as well and such transmissions are often replaced by double clutch transmissions, for example, which usually shift much faster and more comfortably, as these transmissions consist of two independent partial transmissions. Depending on the gear, the two gears are alternately connected to the engine via the double clutch.
A big, if not the biggest advantage of the continuously variable transmission is the acceleration without interruption of tractive power. In addition, you can set the speed in advance - depending on how sporty or economical you are driving. Nevertheless, the engine can sometimes roar unpleasantly with spontaneous high acceleration.
Compared to the CVT transmission one can say that Automatic transmission converter are usually much more comfortable because they keep the speed at a low level. In terms of usage, this gearbox is below average compared to a conventional manual gearbox.
With regard to the transmission, that seems Double clutch- or Direct shift gearbox to be the favorite for many drivers. These are two manual transmissions that manage in the gears. This means that a clutch is connected to the right gear and the right drive wheels. When changing gears, one part of the clutch closes while the other opens. It is practical that there is no interruption in tractive power and leads to better acceleration values.
A comparison
But how does it look in an international comparison? According to data from Automobilwoche and PwC, converter automatic dominated in the USA in 2014 with over 73 percent. So if you should borrow a rental car in the USA, you will quickly notice the dominance of the automatic transmission, which simplifies the selection. So you can safely drive along Route 66 with automatic gear shifting. In the EU it was only 16,7 percent. A full 68,1 percent chose a manual transmission. According to experts, the use of automatic transmissions will continue to increase in many other countries in the future. More and more automobiles are being produced and sold worldwide. In the long run, this should also have an impact on the prices of the cars - regardless of whether they are rented or bought.
But which gearbox is better suited for everyday use or vacation? The following applies here: The current traffic situation and your own preferences are decisive. Due to the ever increasing traffic, it is definitely worth trying an automatic transmission, for example to guarantee greater driving comfort in traffic jams. Whether parking assistance or automatic gear shifting, all of this makes life a lot easier. It should be noted, however, that with small cars it is often better to select a manual gearshift, otherwise unpleasant incidents, especially when it comes to acceleration, can occur. Of course, you can easily test the various transmissions in your trusted car dealership before finally deciding on a principle.
What also needs to be considered is the use of the vehicle. If you often drive into the mountains, it is usually better to get an automatic transmission to guarantee a smooth ride. You should therefore choose your rental car depending on your intended use or travel destination. If you plan to explore large cities or even mountain ranges, the driver is more likely to benefit from an automatic vehicle. If the car is not driven much and the traffic situation is extremely favourable, manual transmission is particularly suitable. Sites like cheapemietwagen.at therefore offer many cheap rental cars from which you can choose both automatic cars and manual vehicles. If you book early enough, the price is not a big factor.
Automatic cars are far more practical than often claimed. Thanks to the lack of manual gearshifts, you can concentrate better on other things such as the traffic, speed limits, signs or pedestrians. Nevertheless, many drivers claim that only manual gearshifts provide the necessary driving pleasure. Ultimately, it depends on your own preferences and the purpose of the car.
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