What is an MT transmission?
2 Answers
MT transmission refers to a manual transmission, which is a type of gear-shifting device. Its working principle involves manually moving the gear lever to change the gear engagement position inside the transmission, thereby altering the gear ratio to achieve the purpose of shifting. The gears of a manual transmission are divided into: 1. First gear is the starting gear, used for vehicle launch; 2. Second gear is the passing gear; 3. Third gear is the transition gear; 4. Fourth gear is the driving gear; 5. Fifth gear is the high-speed gear. Manual transmissions are categorized into: 1. Two-shaft manual transmission: where the output shaft is parallel to the input shaft; 2. Intermediate-shaft manual transmission: featuring a first shaft, second shaft, and intermediate shaft, with the input and output shafts placed on the same horizontal line and the intermediate shaft arranged parallel to both.
MT transmission is what we call a manual transmission. Operating it requires stepping on the clutch pedal and manually shifting the gear lever. When I first learned to drive, I chose an MT car because it allows me to directly feel the engine's state—like downshifting for a quick acceleration to overtake, which feels exhilarating. The shifting process is like a ritual: left foot on the clutch, right hand on the gearshift, giving a strong sense of control. Once you get skilled, precisely controlling the RPM on winding mountain roads is thrilling, and it also saves some fuel since the engine operates more efficiently. However, it can be a hassle in city traffic, as you constantly need to use your left foot, which can be tiring. Additionally, MTs have a simpler structure, lower maintenance costs, and replacing clutch plates or adjusting gears is relatively cheaper. Unfortunately, most new cars now come with automatic transmissions, so I highly recommend trying an MT when learning to drive—mastering it gives you more driving freedom!
