KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- There are many various kinds of automatic transmission options.
- AMTs are more commonly seen on budget mass-market cars.
If you have lived for long enough, you will remember a time when automatic transmissions were uncommon in mass-market cars, and they were seen mainly on high-end premium cars. The Hyundai Santro and Maruti Suzuki WagonR were among the few to offer this option. However, over the years, automatic transmissions have been gaining widespread acceptance, and for good reason; they are fairly affordable and they are far more convenient for daily driving conditions, especially if you live in Tier-1 or Tier-2 cities.
With the introduction of automated manual transmissions (AMTs), cars have become far more convenient for a wide range of people. If you want to learn how to drive a car with an AMT, fret not, for we have a detailed description that will teach you how to drive one. But before going further, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community to keep up with the latest news and automotive updates.
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Understanding The AMT Gearbox
First we shall understand what exactly is an AMT. The term stands short for 'automated manual transmission', and are more commonly referred to as clutchless manuals as well. The gear lever on these cars typically follow a R-N-D pattern, with a manual mode on the side featuring '+' and '-' slots for upshifts and downshifts respectively.
These transmissions are fairly common in cars below the Rs 20 lakh-price bracket. The Renault Kwid and the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 are among the most affordable cars in the market to offer an AMT option.
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Starting And Driving An AMT Car
To start an AMT gearbox car, one must first make sure that the gear lever is in 'N', or neutral, as the car will not start if it is left in reverse or neutral. This is helpful, as buyers won't be prone to receiving surprise jerks if they aren't careful enough.
After making sure that the car is in neutral, apply the brake pedal before twisting the key or pressing the starter button, depending on which car you have. If the brake pedal is engaged, the gear lever is in neutral, and the handbrake is also engaged, the car should then start up successfully. Now, to move forward, keep your foot on the brake pedal and depending on the direction you need to go in, you can select from reverse (R), or drive (D). Then disengage the brake pedal and let the car crawl forward on its own for a few seconds before finally setting off.
As mentioned before, AMTs also have a manual mode which can be engaged by sliding the gear lever down towards D, and then sliding it left towards manual (M). The manual mode can be operated by pushing the lever towards '+' or '-', depending on whether you need to upshift or downshift. Manual mode proves to be useful when going up inclines or when driving in hilly/mountainous regions, or even when you simply want to indulge in some spirited driving.
These gear shifts take place depending on your input at the accelerator pedal; the RPMs of the car will be higher if you are mashing the accelerator pedal hard and heavy, and the system will sense that you are looking to extract as much performance as possible. Similarly, the RPM levels will be lower if you are driving with a light foot and not pushing the car to its limits.
AMTs are typically not meant to be driven hard anyway, as they rob the engine of its full potential due to the delayed gearshifts. Rather, they focus more on convenience and ease of driving, especially in high-traffic conditions where you just don't want to deal with the hassle of a manual transmission.
Parking And Coming To A Halt In An AMT Car
Once you are done driving, simply come to a halt by engaging the brake pedal, keep your foot there, slide the gear lever towards neutral, and pull up the handbrake. That last bit is super crucial before turning your car off, especially if you park your car on an inclined surface. While you can also turn your car off in reverse or drive, it is not recommended to do so, as this can damage to the gearbox and the engine.
Verdict
The fact that AMT gearboxes have risen in popularity is proof that today's buyer is more aware and knows what to look out for when buying his/her first car. With AMTs, your driving experience becomes a lot more fuss-free and convenient, and if you don't push your car too hard, you can still end up having some amount of fun.
