If you are still unsure which transmission you would like to choose for the driver education, please note the following:

Which transmission variant is available to you for private learning drives during driver education?

Practice makes perfect. Can you use an existing car from family or friends? Regardless of which transmission you choose for the driver education - if you can also practice privately with the same transmission, it's an ideal fit. If you choose a car with a manual transmission for the driver education and can practice with an automatic transmission in your private life, this also fits.

If, on the other hand, you choose a car with an automatic transmission for your driver education and can only practice privately with a manual transmission, it will be much more difficult for you - because how will you be able to drive a car with a manual transmission if you haven't learned it in driving school beforehand or your driving companion has great difficulty teaching you correctly?

 

What do you need the driver's license for?

Do you need a driver's license for your job? Today, many companies have mostly automatics in their fleet of vehicles. The exception is still the smallest cars up to the compact class and the light commercial vehicles, which mostly have manual transmissions for reasons of availability and higher costs. The same is true for most rental car companies, although there can be big differences depending on the country and sainonal availability.

Do you want to buy your own car or do you want to rent or borrow one when you need it, so that you remain independent? If you are sure that later you will drive exclusively with automobiles, you can choose freely without any disadvantage. If you prefer to buy a car with a manual transmission or if you only have such a car available for rent or hire, then this is more in favor of driver education with a manual transmission - this way you keep all your options open later on.;

 

 

Is learning with an automatic transmission easier than with a manual transmission?

If the goal is to obtain a driver's license as quickly as possible, driving education with an automatic transmission is certainly easier and can also be more efficient, but it is largely dependent on the skills and talent of the learner driver. Basically, driving with an automatic transmission eliminates the need to manually change gears using the clutch and shift stick, because the automatic transmission always has the appropriate gear ready, depending on the driving situation. This means that the engine cannot stall, which makes starting uphill, driving in hectic situations on level roads and driving in traffic jams much easier. Overall, driving with an automatic transmission is more comfortable and relaxed for beginner drivers than with a manual transmission, since the focus can be placed on driving in traffic and on the traffic partners rather than on vehicle operation right from the start of driving education.

 

Overview of the most important advantages and disadvantages of both transmission variants:

 

Manual transmission

 (+) switching to an automatic is uncomplicated and easy to do
 (+) less expensive to purchase and maintain
 (+) greater choice in the second-hand market (applies to commercial cars, small cars up to the compact and medium classes)
 (+) generally lower fuel consumption (depends mainly on driving style)
 (+) offers more control and driving pleasure to experienced drivers
 (-) Limited driving comfort due to manual shifting and clutching
 (-) engine stalling possible, e.g. when starting uphill, etc.
 (-) starting uphill and generally driving in traffic jams (applies to beginner drivers and inexperienced drivers)
 (-) no plug-in cars such as plug-in hybrids and purely electric cars
 (-) may result in minimally longer driving education for beginner drivers (strongly dependent on the skills and talent of the learner driver)

Automatic transmission

 (+) relieves the driver of the need to change gears
 (+) no engine stalling possible
 (+) more driving comfort (e.g. driving in traffic jams, in slow-moving traffic within built-up areas and when maneuvering, etc.)
 (+) better suited for towing a trailer (applies especially to the torque converter automatic transmission)
 (+) partly at least as efficient in fuel consumption
 (-) offers less control and driving pleasure for experienced drivers
 (-) more expensive to buy and maintain (prone to defects with age and improper use)
 (-) limited choice in the second-hand market (applies to small cars up to the lower middle class and to older cars)
 (-) availability at rental car companies abroad can be severely limited
 (-) changing to a manual transmission can be a big hassle

 

Where is the trend heading?

In Switzerland, more and more cars with automatic transmissions are being purchased every year. This trend is unbroken and will intensify in the coming years with the increase in electric and purely electric cars. Cars with automatic transmissions offer more driving comfort overall and can be at least as efficient today compared to manual transmissions. On the one hand, plug-in vehicles such as plug-in hybrids and purely electric cars are available exclusively with automatic transmissions, and on the other hand, manufacturers in the medium to higher price segments are offering fewer and fewer manual transmissions, if any at all. In the Swiss used car market, the share of manual transmissions is still very high, especially in the smallest cars up to the mid-range and in older cars.
 

Any questions?

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