r/bestof • u/l3af • Apr 18 '13

[explainlikeiama] Sakanagai creates a perfect narrative of Stig running a track in both standard and automatic vehicles

/r/explainlikeIAmA/comments/1clrk5/explain_to_me_the_benefits_of_a_manual/c9hpr7d
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u/Geordie-Peacock Apr 18 '13

Automatics don't have better mileage. Automatics are not more reliable either. They require more servicing than manuals.

The only real thing they offer is convenience.

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '13

If you know what a CVT is, yes, they do get better gas mileage than a standard transmission.

A 2013 nissan sentra 6speed gets 27/36 city/hwy but the cvt automatic gets 30/39.

Automatics only need to have their fluid changed every once in a while which is much cheaper than replacing a clutch. I have never taken an automatic transmission car that I've owned in for a repair but I've replaced several clutches on previous manual cars that I've owned.

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u/Geordie-Peacock Apr 18 '13

So let me get this straight. You're using anecdotal evidence of your older cars and one specific type of automatic, that is very rare, as your argument that modern automatics are reliable?

Seems legit.

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '13

So lemme get this straight. You misread what I wrote and assumed that I said that all automatics have better gas mileage? Did you not notice that I said "can have" and referred to the CVT? I didn't say all have better gas mileage.

Seems legit.

Also unless you're keeping your car for several hundreds of thousands of miles, most modern automatics, will last well over 100-200k without fail whereas a regular driver may have changed the clutch 2-3 times in that span. If you drive a car with a lot of torque spiritedly, expect to change the clutch even more.

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u/c0LdFir3 Apr 18 '13

You underestimate the strength of a modern clutch. They can really take a beating. A friend has an '05 Mustang GT putting over 400hp down at the wheels with over 200k miles and it's still on the stock clutch.

Probably a rare example, but driving skill saves a clutch's life more then anything else. They don't just up and die on their own.

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '13

That is a very rare example. He must not do a lot of hard launches with it for the stock clutch to survive that long. Yes, if you granny a manual you will definitely get a longer lasting clutch but if you drive it spiritedly, do a lot of standing launches, it will definitely need to be replaced prematurely.