Basically I believe there are a few matters which have a distinctive advantage for manuals over automatics
- Obviously manual gears are much more fun to drive for aggressive driving. Because the driver has much more control over to redline the acceleration and RPM. Automatics dont allow that in the D mode. The S mode or the sport mode does allow that but still at some point the electronics take over and upshift or downshift. Automatic gear boxes are designed with the best intention of not pushing the car into limits. However some gear boxes like DSGs of Volkswagen and skoda series are a pure gem and are as good as driving the manuals.
- A majority of drivers who drive in long distances, prefer manual by default. Because most of the budget hatchbacks and sedans dont offer Diesel automatics. And its a no brainer that ppl with frequent long drives buy the diesel cars. Nowadays all the manufacturers are overcoming this drawback by providing diesel automatics in budget segments too.
- However in continuation to the above point, a diesel automatic is obviously the most expesive variant of any car model. And diesel engines already command a high premium over petrol engines. Most diesel engines are atleast a lakh and a half more expensive than their petrol sibling. A diesel automatic simply makes it even more hard on the pocket. Coming to the petrol automatics, most of them are priced extremely close to their diesel sibling. So it makes more sense to go for a diesel car which is more efficient and more fun to drive.
- The diesel automatic offered in most budget segemnt cars are not exactly automatics. They are AMT which stands for automated manual transmission. In laymen terms it simply means that the gear box takes the additional duty of applying the clutch on your behalf. Regardless of their great convenience, they are still not smooth shifting compared to the higher segments conventional automatics. Which means you will feel a very terrible lag during the upshifts and that adds even more inconvenience to the diesel engines which already are known for their low end turbo lags. So it simply robs the fun for most enthusiastic drivers.
- Conservative and relaxed drivers wont feel much of a difference, but that said, they are extremely inconvenient for executing quick overtaking maneuvers in the highways especially if there is incoming traffic. Consider this situation, you are driving your automatic car on a highway, and you are behind a truck. You start making an overtaking maneuver by flooring the pedal. Your RPM slowly rises and arrives at the turbo zone and suddenly your turbo kicks in sending your car on a take of mode. But then half way through your overtaking maneuver your car hits the RPM limt and upshifts sending you back to the non turbo zone and it leaves your car stranded in half way in no mans land. Add an incoming truck into the scenario and a time limit of say 3 to 5 seconds at most. The fact is you have landed in a danger zone. Now an experienced driver may be able to wriggle out of that situation. But an inexperienced or a conservative and safe driver may panic and it leads to a high possibility of an accident. Now if it was a manual, its a whole different story, you have the liberty to keep it running on high rpm till your overtaking maneuver is complete and then safely up shift later. Yes i know conventional wisdom says shift into the sport mode, still its no match for a manuals endurance.
- Last but not the least, they are surely more expensive to repair and in the wrong hands they are prone to more damage. Also if not used properly the automatics are notorious for being fuel guzzlers. So it robs most of the fun what enthusiasts aim for.
Nevertheless both transmissions are manufactured with best intentions by manufacturers and in the right hands, an automatic is really a convenient boon. In the city drives, no manual gearbox can beat the advantage of an automatic and the added benefit of no fatigue.
So select your car wisely and drive them safely and wisely.
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