Automatic or Manual: Which Is Better?

If you wanted to get your driver's license in Switzerland, you used to have to choose: manual or automatic. After passing the test, the driving license of driving school graduates with an automatic transmission contained the so-called “automatic entry”. This meant that you were not entitled to drive a car with a manual gearbox without proof of training. This has been a thing of the past since February 1, 2019.

Since then, most driving schools have been advising their trainees to train on automatic vehicles, as shifting gears offers a number of advantages. For novice drivers, shifting gears in a car, coupled with the need to pay attention to what is happening on the road, can be overwhelming. It takes a while for the processes to become part of muscle memory. In addition, hill starts are a problem with manual transmission. But there are still advocates of manual transmission. We at CARIFY reveal the advantages of the individual transmission types.

Automatic or Manual: The Comparison

For a long time, vehicle manufacturers mainly built vehicles with manual transmissions for the European market, as automatic vehicles are more expensive to purchase and run and are therefore not as popular. In the compact class, installing the automatic transmission, which took up a lot of space, was also difficult and therefore unprofitable. And so learner drivers usually learned to shift gears themselves because they were then not restricted in their later choice of vehicle. This is changing - if only because of the increasing number of electric vehicles. These always have an automatic gearbox. There is now the smaller direct-shift gearbox (DSG), which is also used in compact cars. Recently, a number of manufacturers have only been offering new cars with automatic transmission, such as Mercedes. Let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages. Which gearbox is better?

Costs and Consumption

As already mentioned, you will have to pay more for a car with an automatic transmission than for one with a manual gearbox. The price difference also continues on the market for used cars. And there are myths about fuel consumption. This used to be higher for automatic cars because they require more gear changes. Thanks to improved technology, the difference in fuel consumption between the two types of transmission is now only marginal.

• Manual: less friction means lower fuel consumption.

• Modern automatic transmission: More gears ensure optimum engine speed, which reduces fuel consumption.

In addition to the higher purchase costs and the slightly higher fuel consumption, you can expect considerably higher repair costs with automatic transmissions.

Personal Preference

Whether you prefer to shift gears yourself or opt for the more convenient automatic transmission is nowadays a question of personal preference. Once you have mastered the hand-foot coordination of shifting and clutching, driving with a manual gearbox normally requires hardly any more attention than an automatic gearbox. Comfort versus control - we at CARIFY show you all the advantages and disadvantages of both types of transmission.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Automatic System

It is easier to switch from manual to automatic transmission than vice versa. If you have learned to drive an automatic and passed your driver's license test, you should therefore consider completing additional training for manual transmissions. The advantages of automatic transmission

Comfortable and Convenient

If you don't have to pay attention to the transmission, it's convenient and you can pay more attention to the traffic. The dreaded stalling of the engine - this cannot happen with automatic transmission. Starting off on a hill or in other difficult situations is easier. On the other hand, the automatic is less suitable for a fast driving style. There is also a risk of confusing the brake and gas pedal pedals.

Ideal for City Driving

City traffic is usually one thing above all: slow-moving. Traffic jams and traffic lights make for a constant stop and go. This is where the automatic comes into its own. You can relax your left foot.

Loss of Traction

For a long time, people said that cars with automatic transmissions were only for older drivers. The vehicles reacted too sluggishly to the accelerator and took too long to accelerate. With modern automatic transmissions, there is hardly any loss of traction due to the greater number of gear changes. You also hardly feel any jerking when changing gear.

→ Here you can find the most popular cars with automatic transmission on CARIFY

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Circuit

As the proportion of new vehicles with automatic transmission continues to rise and will probably account for 100% from 2035 with the EU ban on newly registered combustion engines, the end of the manual transmission is in sight. Fans of the stick shift regret this. Discover the pros and cons here:

More Control Over The Vehicle

With manual shifting, you have more control over your car and can live out your individual driving style. This makes driving much more fun. In extreme situations, manual transmission can have its pitfalls if you don't get the right gear under stress.

Lower Purchase Price

Cars with manual transmissions are cheaper, and they are still more common in used cars. Repair costs and fuel consumption are also lower. However, manual gearboxes are more susceptible to wear and tear and need to be replaced more often.

More Strenuous in City Traffic

Constant starting, braking, shifting and clutching makes driving in city traffic with a manual gearbox quite strenuous. You notice this after a while in your left foot. It also requires some of your attention, which you would be better off focusing on the traffic. As a result, you are even more stressed, which increases the risk of having an accident.

→ Here you can find the most popular gearshift cars on CARIFY

Choosing the Right Vehicle

When choosing a vehicle transmission, you should think carefully about what is important to you. After all, you are making a long-term commitment when you buy a new car. The price may play a role, but you should also consider other factors.

Consider Personal Driving Style and Preferences

• If you like to drive fast and want to be able to accelerate quickly, you are better off with a manual gearbox. Automatic gearboxes are said to be more suitable for pensioners with a leisurely driving style.

• If you have only ever driven automatic cars, switching to manual can take some practice at first. Finding the grinding point, hitting the right gear - the engine quickly stalls. Depending on the traffic situation, this can even be really dangerous.

• The reverse is also true: simply get into the automatic vehicle and drive off if you are used to manual transmission. First familiarize yourself with the change in foot coordination so that you don't confuse the pedals.

Observe Routes and Traffic Conditions

If you drive mainly in the city, the frequent shifting and clutching will tire you out in the long run. This is especially true on inclines, where starting off with manual transmission requires some practice. The need to change gear also increases the stress level in difficult traffic situations.

On long journeys without traffic obstructions, on the other hand, you can relax and take your foot off the clutch with a manual gearbox, but still have the freedom to accelerate quickly. Modern automatic transmissions now compensate for some of the advantages of a manual gearbox: They no longer consume fuel and pick up the pace smoothly and with high efficiency. However, these gearboxes are still very expensive.

Conclusion

The automotive world is undergoing a transition to electromobility and ever more economical vehicles. Modern technology is reducing the fuel consumption of automatic transmissions, and well-known manufacturers are now only supplying some vehicle series as automatics. Electric cars are not even available with manual transmission. So it's time for die-hard manual drivers to familiarize themselves with the “new” way of driving. Would you like to try out how a car with an automatic transmission drives or experience the freedom of a manual transmission? At CARIFY, we offer a huge selection of cars with modern automatic transmissions or manual gearboxes.

40 brands, numerous models and a full range of equipment - you're guaranteed to find what you're looking for here. True to our motto “Cars Made Easy”, you can choose between contract terms of 1 month to 4 years. Frequent driver or recreational motorist? Our flexible mileage packages adapt to your driving needs. And best of all: we offer full cost transparency. No hidden fees, no additional payments: All running costs for your dream car are already included in the monthly installment.

FAQs

Which is better: manual or automatic?

There's no clear answer to this question, as it depends on your personal preferences, your driving style and the type of transmission you've driven so far. If you mainly drive stop-and-go in rush-hour traffic, the automatic gearbox comes into its own in terms of comfort. On long journeys, however, the manual gearbox will give you better acceleration and more driving pleasure.

However, the automatic allows you to concentrate much better on the traffic. Accident statistics also show this: Automatic drivers have fewer accidents. For many car buyers, the higher price of automatics still plays a role. However, as more and more vehicles become available exclusively as automatics, this will change.

Is an automatic car more expensive to insure?

No, the type of transmission has no influence on the insurance premium. You may have to expect higher repair costs for automatic transmissions, which may be reflected in the deductible for comprehensive insurance.

Depending on the canton, the heavy and voluminous automatic transmission may be subject to a higher motor vehicle tax than the same vehicle model with a manual transmission.

Which consumes more: automatic or manual?

Depending on the automatic transmission, fuel consumption may be slightly higher than with a manual transmission. Modern transmissions such as torque converter automatics do not consume more fuel and are highly efficient. However, these are currently still very expensive.