Battle of the Transmissions: M/T vs. A/T

**woohoo** · July 6th, 2009 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by Wh1stl3r

True, it's harder to destroy an A/T than an M/T. Unless you use "D" all the time on steep inclines. My old car has 244TKm on it and still doesn't need an A/T repair kit. I just have the ATF replaced and the filter cleaned every 40TKm.

There's nothing wrong with using D on steep inclines, as long as the tranny doesn't go gear hunting back and forth.

Well, at least for modern A/T's...

**Wh1stl3r** · July 7th, 2009 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by woohoo

There's nothing wrong with using D on steep inclines, as long as the tranny doesn't go gear hunting back and forth.

Well, at least for modern A/T's...

Sir my cousin recently burned his Starex's A/T while in "D" going up Quezon province national park. What you say is true but you still have to be sure the tranny is in the right gear (RPMs not so low) to make sure the clutches aren't partially engaged for long. It's hard to tell if you are in the right gear if you are just in "D".

But I agree with you that using "D" will not damage your tranny if you are conscious of what gear it's in.

**woohoo** · July 7th, 2009 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Wh1stl3r

What you say is true but you still have to be sure the tranny is in the right gear (RPMs not so low) to make sure the clutches aren't partially engaged for long. It's hard to tell if you are in the right gear if you are just in "D".

Right, but if you observe your car and remember at what RPM and speed it switches when:

1. accelerating slowly
2. accelerating very fast
3. accelerating moderately fast

then you won't have difficulty figuring that out. Experience is the best teacher, isn't it?

Originally Posted by Wh1stl3r

Sir my cousin recently burned his Starex's A/T while in "D" going up Quezon province national park.

Sa manual naman ng Toyota vehicles, laging nandun yung "Do not continue to climb uphill in 2 or L, to prevent your transmission from overheating." (I paraphrased). Seems inconsistent with what happened to your cousin's Starex.

**oj88** · July 7th, 2009 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Wh1stl3r

Sir my cousin recently burned his Starex's A/T while in "D" going up Quezon province national park. What you say is true but you still have to be sure the tranny is in the right gear (RPMs not so low) to make sure the clutches aren't partially engaged for long. It's hard to tell if you are in the right gear if you are just in "D".

But I agree with you that using "D" will not damage your tranny if you are conscious of what gear it's in.

Without knowing the actual condition of his A/T, we can never really say that going uphill destroyed his A/T. Yes, going uphill will heat up the A/T, but these things are designed already with that in mind. It may just be possible that your cousin's Starex have an already-dying A/T... it just took one more uphill trip to finally put it to rest.

"D" is usually sufficient for most driving conditions. It should be able to handle occasional uphill and downhill grades with ease. There are situations however, that you need to intervene, hence, the lower gears are provided. Additionally, the Starex I believe has three A/T modes; normal, power, and lock (cmiiw). Then there's also the option to turn on/off the OD gear. That said, the driver should know how to use these settings properly depending on the road condition. The normal "D" can only do so much. Misuse of these settings can potentially destroy your A/T.

Modern A/Ts have gone away with the different modes mentioned above to take the driver's decision about which one to use out of the equation. Instead, the system relies on a bit of AI and fuzzy logic to determine the proper gear/mode to use for a given situation. However, the lower gears are usually still available in case the driver senses a need for them.

**RTS** · July 10th, 2009 10:14 AM

Comparison M/T vs A/T
For many many years we drove the stick transmission, lately we decided to get A/T due some members of our clan advice us to
shift to A/T bcoz of we are getting younger anymore, so we did & bought 3.2 A/T strada. The transition period from M/T to A/T is not smooth bcoz of our adaptation to stick driving which sometime pag nasasanay kana sa A/T & we drove the other car w/ M/T ,we do things not intended not to do so (force of habit).
One thing I can assure you in A/T driving in the city, you feel at ease & minimize foot movement, the feeling is your engine control you, contrary to M/T that the engine is under your control at all times.
Okey it is true that excitement is less in A/T compared w/ M/T but a comfort for young age in senior citizen bracket, he he he.

Rgds. RTS

**isa1023** · July 11th, 2009 05:23 AM

OT:
Buti nalang uso na ang manual override at paddle shifts ngayon...

Tried one on semi-automatic (Lancer MX),.. sarap ng +/- para ka lang naglalaro ng Battle Gear simulation

Never tried one with paddle shifts, though...

**KERSMcRae** · July 27th, 2009 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by willvill

Ganito na lang.

If I were young, I would choose MT.

But since I am old now, I prefer AT.

Manuals (M/T) have lot of benefits to the body, most especially if the driver is same batch as the author, Mr. CDQ!

http://www.topgear.com.ph/drives/no-poor-cousin-this/page/1

much better if you have a hard copy of this issue.

:peace:

**Wh1stl3r** · July 27th, 2009 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by woohoo

Right, but if you observe your car and remember at what RPM and speed it switches when:

1. accelerating slowly
2. accelerating very fast
3. accelerating moderately fast

then you won't have difficulty figuring that out. Experience is the best teacher, isn't it?

Sa manual naman ng Toyota vehicles, laging nandun yung "Do not continue to climb uphill in 2 or L, to prevent your transmission from overheating." (I paraphrased). Seems inconsistent with what happened to your cousin's Starex.

Sir woohoo I know that. Just wanted to post for the newbies. I find that entry in the Toyota manual odd. My Innova's clutch started to smell at 3rd gear while going up at about a 45% incline. The next time I went to the same place I slowed down and stayed in 2nd. The smell was gone.

*oj88
The Starex had 20Tkm on it, spent mostly on long drives in the South. Granted they were 80Kg each and there were 7 of them, hehe. If you use your a/t properly I don't think it should conk out that early. My oldest car has 240TKm on it and it still shifts smoothly.

**p_borj** · July 31st, 2009 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by RTS

One thing I can assure you in A/T driving in the city, you feel at ease & minimize foot movement, the feeling is your engine control you, contrary to M/T that the engine is under your control at all times.

Rgds. RTS

very well said hehehe. but if you guys are more into acceleration and speed, M/T is preferable.

**oj88** · July 31st, 2009 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Wh1stl3r

*oj88
The Starex had 20Tkm on it, spent mostly on long drives in the South. Granted they were 80Kg each and there were 7 of them, hehe. If you use your a/t properly I don't think it should conk out that early. My oldest car has 240TKm on it and it still shifts smoothly.

I agree. Something went definitely wrong in that A/T. Anyway, warranty should cover it.