What are the differences between automatic and manual transmissions in Subject 3?
2 Answers
Here are the differences between manual and automatic transmissions in Subject 3: 1. Gear shifting: Automatic transmissions eliminate the gear shifting requirement. Among the 16 test items in Subject 3, gear shifting is one of the more challenging maneuvers. Many candidates fail due to incorrect gear shifting with manual transmissions, but this possibility is excluded with automatic transmissions as this item is not present. 2. Gear changing: (1) Manual transmissions require the driver to coordinate clutch operation for gear changes, necessitating sequential gear shifting. (2) Automatic transmissions operate based on preset gear ratios by the transmission system without manual intervention, making gear changes simpler and less frequent. 3. Clutch: Manual transmissions in Subject 3 require clutch pedal operation.
When I was getting my driver's license, I learned both automatic and manual transmission driving. Looking back now, the differences in the process of taking the road test (Subject 3) were quite significant. With manual transmission cars, I had to constantly worry about the clutch pedal. Every time I started, I had to slowly release the clutch while coordinating with the accelerator. If I got impatient or couldn't control it steadily, the car would easily stall, especially during hill starts, which became the biggest challenge in the test. Whenever the examiner gave an instruction, I would get extremely nervous and often made mistakes. Switching to automatic transmission was much simpler—no clutch to deal with, just press the accelerator to go and the brake to stop. The movements were smoother, and I made fewer mistakes. During the Subject 3 test for automatic transmission, the focus was more on basic operations like checking mirrors and using turn signals, unlike manual transmission, which also involved timing gear shifts. The entire learning period was shorter too—I could get the hang of automatic transmission in just two or three days, whereas manual transmission required over a week of practice. The pass rate for automatic transmission was much higher; my friend failed the manual transmission test several times. However, mastering manual transmission means you can drive all types of vehicles, while automatic transmission is mainly suited for daily urban commuting—convenient and effortless.
