Which Transmission Type Best Suits You?

The automobile has transformed greatly from the very first Model T Ford to the latest and greatest models that are on the road today. Over the years, technology has allowed the consumer more than one way to propel their cars.  At first, the only method of transforming the power from the engine into movement was manual transmission. Now, there are three major types of transmissions available and these types are continuously being evolved into better and more advanced mechanisms that require the assistance of a knowledgeable and skilled mechanic to service them. You should make sure that your transmission, regardless of type, is operating in the safest capacity possible. 

The Automatic Transmission

The automatic transmission was invented to make it easier for more people to drive a car. This system uses a set of gears called the planetary gear-set to achieve different gear ratios while using those same gears. The name comes from the makeup of the part: a set of gears and rings that encircle and rotate around each other in the same manner as planets circle each other. The main part of the automatic transmission is the torque converter. This part serves the same function as a clutch in a manual transmission in that it multiplies the turning power of the engine, which is the torque. Several components inside the converter, the impeller and the turbine, face each other inside a metal round casing. Both parts have blades that propel transmission fluid along with a stator, causing a continuous flow of fluid that causes the power to multiply. Cars equipped with this transmission tend to be more expensive, are more expensive to maintain, and are not as controlled on slippery surfaces. 

The Manual Transmission

The manual transmission was the first available transmission on the first cars produced. This transmission requires you to use a clutch to shift between gears yourself. Therefore, you will have to become skilled in order to know when to shift gears and how to do it. Cars equipped with this system are less expensive to purchase and to maintain. A manual transmission car does not need to have the transmission fluid replaced as often as an automatic, and some do not require changing the fluid at all. Driving a manual transmission car requires practice, as you would have to get accustomed to using both feet for the brake pedal and the clutch, but such attention to these motions would mean that you would be less apt to become distracted by cellphones or other devices. 

The Best of Both in One System

A system that combines both automatic and manual attributes is called the continuously variable transmission, or CVT. This transmission system allows you to drive your car as an automatic but gives you the flexibility to be able to manually change gears on the fly. This gives the driver more control over the car and it combines the ease of driving an automatic with the precision of a manual gearbox. It would allow you to manually shift when traversing ravaged roads so that you will have better control and steering. This system is the most expensive and it is not widely available as standard equipment.