What’s the Difference Between a Manual
Transmission and an Automatic Transmission?
That was easier to answer a few years ago, but there are more types of automatic
transmissions today than ever before. We’re not concerned with automatics here,
so let’s just say that a manual transmission is a simpler, singular entity. All work
the same way. When you move the shift lever, cables or rods beneath the console
change the engagement of gears on shafts within the transmission to yield
different ratios. The 6-speed format, as in the F-TYPE, is common these days.
Don’t be intimidated by the number of gears. Think of bicycles. Years ago, you
might have had a 10-speed bike (or even a 3- or 5-speed if you’re over 50). Then
you started riding 21- and 24-speed bikes. And didn’t you find that you enjoyed
riding more than ever?
Depending on your age, you might remember 3-, 4- and 5-speed manuals in cars.
“Three on the tree” and “Four on the floor” were the epitome of cool in the 1960s
and early 1970s. Then came more gears, mainly for better highway fuel economy
and quieter cruising (the higher the gear, the slower the engine runs for a given
vehicle speed).
manual transmission
automatic transmission