Gear Up!

AUTOMATIC ADVANTAGES

1. Hill starts are easy and there is no more revving the engine, flying starts, stalls or rolling back into the car behind you
2. If you're a nervous driver, you now have one less thing to think about (changing gears), and you can focus more on traffic and the road
3. If you sit in crawling traffic every morning and evening, an automatic is an absolute must-have
4. If you're disabled or elderly, an automatic is much easier to handle

AUTOMATIC DISADVANTAGES

1. Your control is reduced as an automatic determines which gear you should be in. Unfortunately, it might not always be the best gear.
2. Fuel consumption is higher since the driver doesn't control the gears
3. You can pick up bad habits, like being too heavy on the brakes. Driving requires less attention, so you're more likely to lose concentration or nod off.
4. If you learn to drive in an automatic, you will struggle to handle a manual
5. Automatics are a lot more expensive than manuals
6. When they break down, automatics can be pricey to repair, but the transmission should last the life of the car, unlike manual vehicles
7. If the battery goes flat, you can't push your car; you'll have to jump start it

MANUAL ADVANTAGES

1. You have more control over your car
2. Gear-shifting demands constant attention, so you're more aware, and have greater control over speed and acceleration
3. If you learn on a manual, you'll be able to drive trucks and bikes too
4. They're cheaper
5. Manuals are fun to drive-interactive and exciting
6. You consume less fuel if you use the gears correctly, but if you're speeding maniac, an automatic might be better for you……

MANUAL DISADVANTAGES

1. Manual vehicles generally have lower resale value
2. The clutch can go, and a new one costs a lot. It's more likely to happen if you do a lot of city driving and stop-starting.
3. Traffic sucks