Standard vs. Automatic Compare & Contrast Essay

Jacob Phaneuf 10-20-12 Eng 101 (Compare & Contrast) When buying a new car, many people do not stop to think about what kind of transmission that they would like. While most cars today come in automatic versions, there are also five and six speed standard transmissions available on most car models. While certain people may not even know how to drive a standard transmission, it is not the popular choice, but for the people who enjoy using both feet to drive there is always the option.

While most cars on the road today are automatics there are still ups and downs to both transmissions, standards may last longer, but automatics are easier to use and more convenient. Standards are usually sportier then the everyday persons automatic car, but they can also save on gas, and can be a little quicker compared to the same exact same automatic transmission model. While driving a standard can be a nightmare for some, others enjoy this feeling very much.

Being able to drive with two feet is a very odd thing to be able to get used to, and also having a third pedal. This added third pedal is called a clutch, and must be pressed every time the vehicle switches gears, where as in a automatic the transmissions switches gears unnoticeably and requires no action from the driver. While having the control to be able to tell a vehicle what gear to go into when ever you want too, gives the car a much sportier feel, but also makes the vehicle a lot more fun to drive and also a little quicker off the start.

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Driving a standard is only for certain people though, while to others it may seem easy, learning to drive a standard can be a difficult task and if not done right can result in stalling or even permanent car damages. Having many things to remember to do while driving a car can be a frustrating thing to have to do, but thankfully there are automatic transmissions, which has many more conveniences and is much easier to use and drive then a standard car.

Driving an automatic requires only one-foot operation and a computer does all the gear switching electronically. Automatics are the most popular choice when purchasing a car, because they are so simple, easy, and can also be fun to drive. While driving a standard can be a lot more fun, it can also be a lot more stressful considering there are things to always be aware of. Staling is something that is very easy to do and can happen for a few reasons, the clutch was released too quickly, or the transmission was left in gear when the clutch was removed.

Also traffic can be a very stressfully thing to deal with in a standard because of the constant use of two feet moving every time the car must move forward. Hills can also be a major challenge for even the most experienced standard transmission drivers. When on a hill, the vehicle will be able to roll backwards until the driver has successfully engaged first gear, but stalling is still a great possibility and can cause big problems for an inexperienced driver.

When it comes to choosing the right transmission, be sure you will be able to drive the vehicle the proper way, if not then at least have a person available to teach the proper ways. While both transmissions are great ways to drive, one driver may prefer one over the other, they both drive differences but will both get you to the same place. The only major difference to remember is that a standard transmission can be a lot more work, and the driver has to be ready to deal with the frustrations of a standard transmission. Happy driving!

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