The computer has set gear ratios and knows exactly when to shift up or down – but it doesn’t factor in the road situation when it does so. However, a common criticism of automatic cars is that gear changes can be jerky or ineffective. The ease of slipping the car into drive and not having to worry about it appeals to many people. Many modern cars use electronic automatic gearboxes to change gear when the computer recognises that you need it most. You can even drive a semi-automatic car on an automatic licence – provided that the vehicle does not come with a clutch pedal. Semi-automatic cars can be more fuel-efficient that fully automatic vehicles. In an automatic, the car will change gears for you. What's the Difference Between an Automatic and a Semi-Automatic Car?Īs a semi-automatic car gives you the option of changing gears manually, this can give you extra control and a smoother drive. You may see the letters P, R, N, D & M or A, N, R & M on a semi-automatic transmission. You should put your car in drive when you want to move – otherwise the computer can’t change gears for you.Īutomatic works exactly the same as drive (D). The car will only automate the clutch in this mode.ĭrive keeps the car moving forward.
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Selecting manual puts you in charge of changing gear. You should not engage neutral for any other reason. Even if you have selected neutral, the car will still creep forward if you take your foot off the brake. If your semi-automatic car has a handbrake, you should engage this at the same time. Neutral is the mode you should use to stop the car for a short period of time, for instance whilst waiting at traffic lights. You should not put the car into reverse for any other reason. If you want the car to go backwards, you should select reverse.
You should engage park mode whenever you get out of the car. Unlike an automatic gearbox which has four settings (Park, Drive, Reverse and Neutral), a semi-automatic transmission is likely to show the letters P, R, N, D & M or A, N, R & M.Īcting as a handbrake, park locks the transmission and stops the car from moving. What Do the Letters on a Semi-Automatic Gearstick Mean? The computer always controls the clutch function, meaning you don’t have to worry about syncing it all up. If you take manual control, the computer will tell you when to shift up or down via the corresponding paddle. The automatic clutch connects to a hydraulic motor – a replacement for a clutch pedal – and changes gear for you when in automatic mode. Carefully tuned gear ratios control how fast or slow the wheels spin. The engine produces kinetic energy which helps to rotate the wheels. You can push a lever on the gearstick to change gears or use steering wheel paddles which allow you to go up or down by pressing the ‘+’ or ‘-’ buttons.
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Instead of cables and pipes running from the transmission to the driver to affect gear changes, actuators and computers do this for you in a semi-automatic car.
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This makes them easy to drive and means that you can choose how to control the gears as there is a selection of manual and automatic options.
Semi-automatic transmissions are manual transmissions, without the clutch pedal. You can drive a semi-automatic like a fully automatic car – with no need for manual gear changes – but you can also take manual control. In a semi-automatic car, you will have the option to switch between manual and automatic controls easily. Like an automatic car, most semi-automatic cars are not fitted with a clutch pedal as the clutch is remotely controlled.
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