With automatic cars becoming cheaper, most of the new age drivers are switching to cars equipped with automatic transmissions. There are many AMT cars available till 5 lakhs. Ease of driving and hassle free operation of automatic is one of the major reasons why people are switching from manual transmission cars. Here are 10 things about automatic cars that few people actually tell you
There is a difference between an automatic and a proper automatic transmission. The automatic doesn’t work like other automatic cars, due to which it can feel like a downgrade, as the experience is not the same and some people might even find the driving experience sluggish. For those who are the first time owners of an AMT in the name of an automatic transmission vehicle, you will be pleased to see how comfortable these cars are.
There is no clutch, unlike a manual transmission car where you have to manage the clutch on a regular basis, in an AMT, the car takes care of the clutch for you. AMT stands for Automated Manual Transmission. The transmission function remains the same, it simply removes the clutch and the hassle of manually changing gears, making it much easier for you to drive. It’s actually a lot easier than riding a gear-less scooter.
Easy to buy, easy to maintain In the automatic segment of cars, AMTs are the more affordable option. AMTs are basically cars that have some automatic transmission functions added to a manual gearbox. Considering the fact that adding it is not such a complicated thing, AMT gearbox is available in many budget hatchbacks. There’s no need for an entirely new transmission, just a few extra features that help keep costs down. These added features actually make AMTs more cost-effective in terms of maintenance as opposed to cars with manual gearboxes.
Good fuel efficiency Compared to conventional automatic transmissions, AMTs are more fuel-efficient. Considering that AMTs are partially manual, they do not affect fuel efficiency; They are giving the same average as their manual counterparts.
Characteristics of Manual Transmission There is always another side to every coin and it is the same in the case of AMT. While AMT vehicles are easy to drive and provide fuel efficiency similar to manuals, they do not offer features such as parking mode, hill descent and hill hold. So if you are planning to buy an AMT equipped car make sure you develop the habit of using the handbrake.
Control your car and change gears Most AMT cars get a simple stick which you can use whenever you feel the need to control your vehicle manually. This option to take things into your own hands is generally not offered in many conventional self-driving cars. There is clearly an advantage to having a car that gives you the option of upshifting and downshifting as per your wish, which AMT equipped cars provide.
AMT is getting better day by day, technology is developing at a tremendous pace in all walks of life, and cars are a big part of technological development. You can buy AMTs which offer features like hill hold (this is available in cars like Tata Nexon and Renault Duster). Apart from improving the driving experience, it also allows the driver to relax when the car is parked on an inclined surface/terrain.
driving in traffic? There is no need to increase the speed, driving in traffic is a nightmare for the driver, however, atm cars sold in our country now come with a feature called ‘Creep’. This ‘creep’ feature allows your car to move slowly during traffic without having to put your foot on the accelerator. Just imagine how much easier heavy traffic situations are now. Your car will not lock up in first gear, your car will automatically move slowly, you just have to keep one hand on the steering and that’s it.
Driving downhill is a bit tricky Manual cars have engine braking system and many people rely on it while driving downhill or stopping the car in short distance. The funny thing is that in AMT cars you don’t get clutch control, which means you don’t get engine braking system. While driving on slopes or flat surfaces, EBS keeps your car in a lower gear which eventually reduces the speed of the vehicle. You can switch to manual mode but different cars may behave differently so you need to understand your car and adjust accordingly.
Think before overtaking When it comes to AMT cars, overtaking takes some planning. Even when you have the option of switching to manual mode, overtaking in an AMT is a troublesome task considering the fact that no matter how advanced/evolved they are, they tend to be sluggish Are. Even in manual mode, they cannot match the gear shifting speed of a real manual car or other more advanced automatic transmission vehicles.
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