The Right Gear: Should You Buy a Manual or Automatic Transmission Used Car?

Many drivers are familiar with putting a car in first gear and slowly releasing the clutch until they feel it is moving ahead. The right balance between car speed, equipment, and clutch control has been a part of the driving experience for years. However, with the popularity of automatic transmission cars, you can have clutchless driving. When in the market for a used car, which one should you choose?

The Right Gear

When paying the EMIs on a used car loan, you want the mental peace of knowing you got a vehicle that provided you with the most bang for your buck. Once you have decided to buy a used car and zeroed in on the best possible second-hand car loan interest rates, you will consider several factors – the model, distance clocked, year of manufacturing, etc. The kind of transmission is also something to consider here.

Here is a comparison to aid your buying decision.

Manual Transmission (Geared Car)

In a manual car, one of your hands will be engaged in shifting gears, the other will be used for steering, your left foot will operate the clutch, and your right foot will alternate between accelerating or braking. Since manual cars are more cost-effective, you should check your used car loan eligibility beforehand to compare the options in your budget range.

Advantages of a Manual Car

  • Manual cars provide an engaging driving experience. Driving a manual car gives you confidence while driving an automatic, while the reverse may not be true.
  • They give the driver complete control, a boon for experienced drivers.
  • A big draw of manual cars is that they are more fuel-efficient and easier on the pocket.
  • Since the gear-shifting mechanism is simpler, the maintenance cost will also decrease. Also, any issue with the gearbox will be easier to fix. When buying a car that already has some kilometers behind it, this could be an essential factor in maintaining it.
  • Depending on your used car loan eligibility, you might be able to afford a better manual car than an automatic car on the same budget.

Automatic Transmission (Gearless Car)

An automatic car comes without a clutch, meaning both your hands can be on the steering wheel all the time while only your right foot controls the speed of your vehicle. They may be more expensive, but if you get the right used car loan, you could well be able to fit your dream model into your budget.

Advantages of an Automatic Car

  • Automatic cars are a boon in city traffic, where constantly shifting gears and pressing the clutch could cause fatigue.
  • The possibility of stalling the car disappears since you are always in the right gear to move forward.
  • Less likelihood of wearing out your clutch or damaging your transmission since automatic gear shifts mean the possibility of gears grinding is lower.
  • They are easier to learn to drive on since you have fewer factors to focus on while driving.

Which is Best Suited for You?

Manual cars will help if you go for long drives on open roads. Driving in the mountains is also easier since you have more control. Automatic cars work better in city traffic and for beginner drivers. Factors such as your used car loan eligibility, used car loan amount, and second-hand car loan interest rates may also affect your decision, so it is best to check these first.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to your purpose for buying the car.

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Troublemaker. Wannabe music fanatic. Beer aficionado. Devoted food junkie. Twitter fan. Freelance thinker.Won several awards for analyzing sheep in Cuba. Spent 2002-2009 promoting action figures in the UK. What gets me going now is getting to know pond scum in the UK. Won several awards for investing in toy soldiers on the black market. Spent several months getting my feet wet with spit-takes in Gainesville, FL. Spent 2002-2009 testing the market for tobacco in the aftermarket.