Manual Transmission Explained: How it Works and the Best Cars

A manual transmission is the most common type of gearbox that is present in Indian cars. It requires the driver to manually disengage and engage the clutch and change gears. Being the most common type of transmission, it is also relatively simple in its construction and operation compared to automatic transmissions or even an iMT. Manual gearboxes also offer the most amount of control to the driver over the transmission of power from the engine to the wheels of a car. 

What is a Manual Transmission?

A manual transmission, as the name suggests, allows for the manual operation of the gearbox in a vehicle. The driver has to manually disengage the engine from the transmission, select a new gear and then re-engage the engine with the transmission again. It requires a certain amount of skill to execute this manoeuvre successfully and precisely. It is often a great idea to first buy a second hand manual car to practice driving, before buying a new car with a manual gearbox.

How Does a Manual Transmission Work?

A manual transmission is relatively simple in its construction and easy to operate, and the clutch system is its most important component. It consists of four main components: 

1. Clutch Pedal - It is the third pedal in the driver’s footwell (one to the extreme left). Pressing the clutch pedal disengages the engine from the transmission, and stops the direct flow of power from the engine to the wheels. A clutch pedal is required so that a driver can smoothly change gears.

    

2. Clutch Disc - It presses against the flywheel of the engine and is responsible for transferring the rotational motion of the power unit to the transmission. In India, this part is often referred to as the clutch plate.

    

3. Pressure Plate - It holds the clutch disc in place against the flywheel, when the clutch is engaged, that is the clutch pedal is not pressed.

    

4. Release Bearing - A release bearing springs into action when the clutch pedal is pressed, to disengage the engine from the transmission. It releases the force that the pressure plate exerts over the clutch disc, allowing it to temporarily move away from the flywheel of an engine.

Another important part of a manual lever is the shifting rod or the transmission lever. This is the lever inside the passenger cabin that a driver uses to change gears. Manual transmissions generally consist of five or six gears, plus one reverse gear. The stick, also referred to as the H-pattern shifter, is responsible for selecting individual gears, each having a different gear ratio.

To shift a gear, a driver first disengages a clutch by pressing the clutch pedal. They then move the H-pattern shifter to the desired gear, such as going from first gear to second or vice versa. Then, once the new gear is selected, the clutch is smoothly released to allow the engine and transmission to sync up again.

Advantages of Manual Transmission

A manual transmission, although simple in its construction, can offer many advantages:

• Precise selection of gear - A manual transmission allows the driver to precisely select the right gear. For example, a driver can go directly from the fourth gear to second gear according to the situation.

   

• Precise slipping of the clutch - The clutch slippage in a manual transmission is controlled by the driver. This is highly beneficial over challenging terrain, especially in off-road conditions.

   

• Fuel efficient - Manual transmissions don’t incur many parasitic losses, and therefore they offer some of the best fuel economy figures among different types of transmission.

   

• Lower costs - Due to their simpler construction and economies of scale, the upfront cost of a manual transmission car is lower than that of an automatic transmission vehicle. This is applicable for maintenance costs as well.

   

• Highly robust - Automatic transmissions aren’t always able to handle the same level of rough use as a manual transmission. Some of the issues that arise include overheating of the transmission, a problem that isn’t prevalent in manual transmission cars.

Disadvantages of Manual Transmission

A manual transmission also has certain disadvantages over automatic transmissions:

• Extra fatigue - A manual transmission requires more physical effort to operate compared to an automatic transmission and thus causes extra fatigue.

   

• Stalling - The clutch engagement operation can be a tricky process, especially for beginners, and if done improperly, it can lead to the engine stalling.

   

• Learning curve - A manual transmission requires an additional physical coordination of your left hand and left leg to shift a gear. This movement needs to be precise and is often a big hurdle for those learning how to drive a car.

   

Best Cars with a Manual Transmission in India

Different car makers have their own manual transmissions and some are simply better than others. Let’s take a look at some of the best manual transmission cars on sale in India.

Apart from the mass-market cars listed above, the BMW M2, which is a high performance sports car also comes with an engaging manual transmission.

Is a Manual Transmission Right for You?

Picking between a manual and automatic transmission comes right down to our expectations. For those who are looking for an engaging driving experience and don’t mind making the extra physical effort to shift gears, a manual gearbox will be the right choice.

However, if you value convenience over the driving experience and often commute in high traffic conditions, then an automatic transmission will be the convenient choice.

Conclusion

A manual transmission is one of the oldest kinds of transmission technology, and the R&D that has gone into it over the years has made it a highly efficient form of transmitting engine power to the wheels. It requires a steeper learning curve but people who learn to drive on a car with a manual transmission understand the working of a car better.