South Wales Echo

Manual vs automatic: So which gearbox is right for you?

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WHEN it comes to choosing a scheme car, one of the things customers should consider is whether to go for a manual or automatic gearbox. Generally, an automatic gearbox means less work, because the transmissi­on changes gears for the customer, but there are other factors that might influence their choice.

Here are some points to consider to help you make the right decision for your needs now and in the future.

Where will you be driving? Thinking about driving conditions is a good place to start when deciding between manual and automatic. If you’re mostly going to be driving in a town or city, driving will involve continual gear changing due to regularly stopping at junctions, roundabout­s and traffic lights. If you are likely to get stressed with these changes, or find them difficult, a vehicle with an automatic transmissi­on might be better.

If you live in a more rural area, you may prefer a manual car because the ability to change gears is handy when driving on different terrain. steering wheel.

This set-up usually comes fitted to premium cars or models that are at the top of their trim line-up, but may well trickle down to more affordable models in the future. The big advantage of dual-clutch technology is that it provides quicker gear-changing than a similar model with a normal manual gearbox.

Riding the clutch A drawback with a manual gearbox is that some drivers may find it hard not to ride the clutch. Compromise­d clutch control will affect the customer’s ability to go from gear to gear smoothly without crunching.

This may be improved by adjusting your driving position or being more aware of what your left foot is doing. Some customers may benefit from choosing a model with a foot rest so they can use this rather than resting their foot on the pedal.

With the Motability Scheme, customers have a big choice of both manual and automatic cars

Money matters. Cars with a clutch and gearstick are nearly always less expensive than those with an automatic gearbox. An automatic is more complicate­d than a manual to build, and if the auto gearbox goes wrong, then it’s possible the repairs could take longer. Additional­ly, automatics will often need to be serviced more regularly than a vehicle with a manual set-up.

These factors should be considered for customer affordabil­ity and the impact of continuous mobility.

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