What's the difference between an automatic and manual car?

-I have been doing my driving lessons in a Manual car and it just got me thinking whats the difference between Manual and Automatic. I know a manual has a clutch but unsure how u would drive a Automatic as never been in one or seen one before anyone know help me here? lolI guess it depends which automatics you are on about as automatics come in a mass of forms which differ per maker and per vehicle.A automatic setup also alters if you are going to compare a mpv 1.5l automatic to say a Ferrari Enzo Automatic the boxes will work differently and you will work them differently.

IE my car atm is an automatic which offers me extra controls to how and when the box changes to a town mode to a sports mode and even a bad weather mode all change gears for me but i can alter as and when with the use of extra control buttons and with the pedal IE kick down setups.

Last week i drove a tiptronic setup which was different again and also a semi automtic setup.

So you see automatics vary in so mnay ways in how they are used in each vehicle.
It is just like a stick without the clutch and gear shift. Basically, you just sit and drive and it automatically does the shifting for you. At stops it has a slip differential so you don't have to put it in neutral or anything. Those who learn and drive stick shifts and then get in an automatic will take a little time to adjust. You will find you keep going to grab a stick shift when there isn't any.
Like mostly everyone else has said, an automatic vehicle is one that does the shifting for you. You don鈥檛 have to manually shift gears.



Thanks,

Laura

GM Customer Service
In an automatic you don't have to change gears manually the car does it automatically
Automatic cars are easier to drive, 'cause there's no hassle about changing gears.