The long-lived debate as to which type of transmission is better may be in favor of automatics, but just because most people prefer them doesn’t mean they’re perfect. There are just some things that manuals do better, but we’ll cover all of that in this list of the pros and cons of an automatic transmission.

Pro: Easier To Learn

While some young teens pick up driving like it’s second nature, some struggle greatly to learn how to drive. Since automatics are much more simplistic, it takes a lot of unnecessary struggles out of it for those who have trouble figuring it out.

Con: Not as Engaging

While two people could argue all day over which type of car is more fun to drive, it’s hard to dispute that automatics aren’t as engaging as manuals. When you have to use your right hand and left leg to shift into the next gear, you will inherently be more engaged in the driving process. This leads to stick-shift users having an easier time paying attention to the road since they’re already heavily involved in the process.

Pro: Safer To Drive

Despite that, automatics are still the safer option as long as both drivers pay attention to the road equally. This is due to the fact that automatic users can keep both hands on the wheel at all times. On top of that, being able to leave your left leg firmly planted on the ground allows for more stable control when behind the wheel.

Con: More Expensive Overall

Another downside to automatics is that they are more expensive overall. Due to the complex nature of automatic transmissions, they are much harder to produce, which leads to increased costs. Some car companies reflect this difference in the car’s price upon the initial purchase, but it’s more noticeable when you need to replace your old transmission. To make things worse, automatics aren’t as fuel-efficient as manuals, leading to paying more money at the pump.

Pro: Better for Day-To-Day Use

Probably the most notable upside in this list of the pros and cons of an automatic transmission is the fact that they’re much easier for daily use. While a stick-shift can be fun to race down the highway with, they can become quite annoying when they constantly slow down and speed up at stoplights or in intense traffic. While these things can still irritate those in automatic vehicles, it’s noticeably less tedious for them.

Con: Harder To Maintain

Due to the previously mentioned complexities of automatic transmissions, they are more challenging to maintain than manuals. Plus, they tend to break down more often as well. Despite that difficulty, it’s certainly not impossible, and if you want to save money by fixing problems yourself, it’s definitely possible to learn how to. If you decide to fix yours on your own, we have the automatic transmission parts for sale that you’re going to need. Be sure to peruse our vast selection to find the components you need to bring your transmission back to life.