Piano Guidance
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Why is manual more fun than automatic?

More engaging The number one reason to choose a stick shift is that you like the feeling of being engaged with the car. You have more to do, and drivers who enjoy being behind the wheel often feel that manual transmissions are more fun than automatic ones.

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Basics of stick shift vs automatic transmission

The transmission in your car connects the engine to the wheels — the piece that transmits the power. Like a bicycle, it has multiple gears appropriate to different speeds, inclines, and driving conditions. For most drivers in America, that's all they need to know. Automatic transmissions change gears for you automatically based on driving conditions, meaning you never have to think about which gear to use. If you drive a manual transmission, you choose which gear to use and when to shift.

Manual vs. automatic pros and cons

Automatic transmission technology has improved over the decades, making some of the old arguments against it obsolete. If you're considering a manual transmission — or you're a stick shift lover and wondering if you should switch to automatic — it comes down more to what kind of driver you are and what type of experience you want. Learn more about the benefits of driving a stick shift car.

Pros of manual transmission

More engaging

The number one reason to choose a stick shift is that you like the feeling of being engaged with the car. You have more to do, and drivers who enjoy being behind the wheel often feel that manual transmissions are more fun than automatic ones.

More control

Choosing which gear to use gives you more control over the ride. A skilled stick shift driver can provide a very smooth ride, limit the car's speed in adverse conditions, and more.

Vehicle security

With fewer manual transmission vehicles on the road and automatics becoming more common, stick shift vehicles may be less desirable as targets for car theft.

Versatility abroad

Despite accounting for a minuscule percentage of sales in America, manual transmissions are very popular abroad, especially in Europe and Asia. Being comfortable with a stick shift is helpful if you want to drive a car internationally.

Cons of manual transmission

More work

A stick shift requires more attention and physical effort to drive, especially in heavy traffic or hilly areas. If you take long trips or do a lot of city driving, you may see driving a stick as a hassle.

Trouble finding a car

Today, very few new cars in America offer a manual option. That means you'll have to choose from a limited selection or look at older models.

Difficulty lending or sharing a car

Not everyone knows how to operate a stick shift. A manual transmission can be a lousy fit where you expect multiple drivers, like families with driving-age children, to use the vehicle.

Automatic transmission pros

More convenient

For most people, the learning curve for driving an automatic transmission is more approachable. press the accelerator and go without worrying about shifting or evaluating which gear to use.

Lots of options

Nearly every car in production in America is offered with an automatic transmission, meaning you have your choice of vehicles.

Less tiring

Because an automatic transmission requires less input from the driver, they are typically less tiring to drive, especially in situations like city driving that require lots of shifting.

Automatic transmission cons

Less fun

For those interested in performance driving or who like the feeling of control behind the wheel, trading control for convenience may not be worthwhile.

More complicated to repair

Automatic transmissions are more mechanically complex than manuals and may require more expensive maintenance over time.

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What does banging gears mean?

Float shifting or floating gears, also called "slip shifting", "dead sticking" or "bang shifting", is the process of changing gears, in typically a non-synchronous transmission, without depressing the clutch.

en.wikipedia.org - Float shifting - Wikipedia

Float shifting or floating gears, also called "slip shifting", "dead sticking" or "bang shifting", is the process of changing gears, in typically a non-synchronous transmission, without depressing the clutch. [1] Shifting in this manner is also used with synchronous manual transmissions, particularly after a clutch failure, to prevent destroying the syncromeshes with the power of the engine. The most skillful drivers can shift non-synchronous transmissions without using the clutch by bringing the engine to exactly the right RPM in neutral before attempting to complete a shift. If done improperly, it can damage or destroy a transmission. Some truck (lorry) drivers use this technique with the higher gears when at work. The technique is sometimes also used on motorcycles,[2] but has largely been replaced by quickshifters for competitive use.[citation needed]

Technique [ edit ]

To upshift, the driver should first bring the engine up to speed. They must then shift to neutral and apply moderate pressure to the gear stick, and when the RPMs are low enough, the shifter will slide into place. The same technique for shifting down is used except that the accelerator must have some pressure applied to it to bring the RPMs up to match the speed of that gear at that wheel speed.[3]

Pros and cons [ edit ]

Float shifting can reduce clutch and synchromesh wear because they are simply not used in the process of selecting a gear. Contrarily, improper engagement of a gear (when the engine and transmission speeds aren't matched) can cause damage to the gears by physically grinding them together due to a difference in speed. Float shifting also takes longer due to the engine RPM needing to decrease and but can be more rewarding since it requires more skill to accomplish successfully.

References [ edit ]

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