Which saves gas manual or automatic

Automatics now have a lock-up torque converter, which allows the transmission to lock into gear at higher speeds and unlock when you slow down, much like a manual transmission. There are other options too. Continuously variable transmissions constantly adjust the gear ratio, which leads to improved fuel economy. The Nissan Versa with CVT beat out both the automatic and manual transmissions with 35 mpg, compared to 30 mpg. In newer vehicles, automatic and manual transmissions typically get similar fuel economy.

But which is more fun to drive? The answer to that depends on the driver. Regardless of where you are headed, let Cenex help you chart your course and fuel your journey. Like the CVT. First Name:. Email address:. Except I still prefer a torque auto over cvt or dsg. Why should I have to re learn how to drive to avoid nasty consequences of driving a cvt or dsg?

Love the extra control of a manual but prefer the ease of driving an auto. Yep, I get that. Manual is manual, great for trucks and race cars but useless for the vast majority of cars today, you would be better off with a torque converter auto nowadays for off roading.

I feel DSG transmissions are pretty pointless in city cars such as Golfs. They are just demonstrably worse at crawling in traffic, which is going to make up a large chunk of the driving these cars do.

Sure, they will shift 50 milliseconds faster than a torque converter auto, but that is largely irrelevant for most driving. They certainly have a place in sports cars, but I feel the disadvantages especially the expensive clutch pack replacement when they inevitably wear out after prolonged city driving outweigh the advantages. Driving a manual for economy will always beat an auto driven with the type of jack-rabbit starts most drivers use — and vice-versa.

But the transmission has to be a good one. My test-drive of a DSG last year was woeful. I took it into a parking situation, 3 point turns, tight traffic — the thing would sit there — then suddenly lurch. I felt it was so unpredictable as to be dangerous — and handed it back. My wife would have refused to have driven it, it was so bad.

What vehicle were you test driving… sometimes DSGs can be a little clumsy at low-speed. Cheers Isaac. It was in stop-start traffic which was the worst, it would come to a stop and re-starting just did nothing, gradually increase revs and eventually it would move — like a tiger pouncing. Because of government subsidies, the price of gasoline is substantially lower in the U.

This gives drivers the experience of manual shifting without putting too much pressure on them as drivers. Is this the future of driving?

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