Like I mentioned before, this doesn't mean that manual cars can't perform well on the drag strip, because I've seen plenty of stick cars that make great passes. In a lot of cases, your engine and transmission are toast and will cost you your entire savings to replace it, hence the "money shift" name. If you don't know what the money shift is, this is when someone accidentally shifts into a lower gear when they're booking it down the drag strip.įor example, if you're looking for 4th gear but land in 2nd, you're engine is going to make some scary noises. Plus, we've all heard of the heart-wrenching money shift scenario and NO ONE wants to be in that situation. Unless you're 100% confident in your shifting abilities, you'll probably lose some time when you shift it's inevitable. Talking about time slips, every tenth of a second counts when you're trying to set some records or beat your buddies. I've seen plenty of manual cars on the strip that absolutely kill it and get great times. First, the power most drag cars are making is at or well over 500 horsepower so it's easier to put down all your power and get the best time possible with an automatic. If your car is built for drag racing, you already know that an automatic is generally better. If you aren't concerned about how your car shifts or about having control over your RPMs, an automatic is probably better suited for your lifestyle. If you enjoy driving stick and value a raw driving experience, driving a manual, even in the city, is well worth it. It's annoying for the driver to be in control of shifting gears in the city and it's not great for the clutch, or MPG for that matter.ĭespite all of this, it really comes down to preference, lifestyle, and what kind of driving experience you want. In this case, an automatic car has the advantage. You're constantly on the clutch and going from 1st to 2nd to 3rd gear, then back down to 1st and then 2nd and 3rd, and maybe even 4th gear this time, but then the light turns red and you're back to 1st gear and neutral.again. driving somewhere less populated like the country, for example.ĭriving in the city, especially when traffic is bad, is a pain in the a$$ with a manual car. Those feelings are nonexistent in an automatic.īut, then you have the situation of driving in the city vs. It's about the driving experience, downshifting under a bridge (come on, everyone does it), and that feeling of control over your car. Manual cars give drivers more control over their power and the ability to hold the revs longer since they have full control over the gears. With a 500+ horsepower car, you'll be able to use your power better with an automatic because you won't need to worry about your RPMs or shifting gears-your car does those things for you.Īnything under that 500 horsepower mark, I think manuals are better. This question doesn't have a solid answer and truly depends on your preferences as a driver and how much power your car can put down.Īs a general rule of thumb, with a car making over 500 horsepower, I'd argue that an automatic transmission is better over a manual transmission. *To note, we're going to be discussing a traditional automatic transmission, not DCT or Dual Clutch Transmissions for simplicity's sake. If you drive a manual, you probably have a strong opinion on this and the same goes with automatic owners.Įach transmission has its own benefits and conveniences, but ultimately, it depends on what your car is used for that determines what transmission is generally better. This debate has gone on since the automatic transmission was invented back in 1921. BUT, with that being said, there are some applications and scenarios where an automatic transmission is better and even safer than a manual. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that a majority of the people who clicked on this blog are either one, genuinely interested in learning what transmission is actually better, or two, are upset that we would ask a question like this because the answer is obvious, right?įirst, let me point out that I am, and will always be, a manual-loving enthusiast. Is Manual Really Better Than Automatic? June 21, 2021
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