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SPOTiCAR automatic

BUYING A USED AUTOMATIC CAR 

 

Automatic cars appeal to a variety of road users. Drivers uncomfortable with the manual gear stick, for example, and city workers fed up with the clutch work needed in heavy traffic jams. SPOTiCAR explains why the automatic gearbox is becoming increasingly popular among modern motorists. 

 

ESSENTIAL POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A USED AUTOMATIC CAR 

 

Automatic cars were once synonymous with overconsumption, skidding and unbearable noises when changing gears. However, today’s carmakers have made huge strides in fixing the most common faults associated with automatic vehicles. Are you looking for a used automatic car? Follow the SPOTICAR guide below to help you in your search. 

 

ADVANTAGES OF USED AUTOMATIC CARS  

 

Automatic cars have many enticing features that appeal to all sorts of drivers, such as: 

 

  • Low fuel consumption: Contrary to popular belief, second-hand automatic cars are efficient vehicles. Able to control speeds and adapt to the road (in terms of elevation, acceleration, etc.), you can actually save money in the long run.  

  • Precise gear changes: When driving manual cars, the driver must remain alert and shift gears at the right engine speeds. With an automatic transmission, however, the car does it for you at the optimum time. 

  • Better driving comfort: You can forget about the clutch pedal when driving a used automatic car – it doesn’t exist! Give your left leg a rest and let the car do the hard work for you in terms of acceleration speeds, hill starts and gear changes. Stalling will be a thing of the past. 

 

DIFFERENT VARIANTS OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 

 

Automatic gearboxes can be separated into three main groups: traditional, single- and double-clutch robotic, and continuously variable. Each model has many positive aspects, including : 

 

  • Traditional automatic transmission: While there is no clutch for traditional automatic gearboxes, there is a torque converter, and the gearbox is regulated by this hydraulic control. Together, they manage the vehicle’s speed, pressure on the accelerator pedal, driving mode (sport, eco, mountain, etc.) and a host of other parameters. This technology is featured in particular on the EAT6 and EAT8 gearboxes, used on many models, like the Peugeot 308 and Peugeot 3008, DS 7 Crossback and Vauxhall Grandland X, to name a few. 

 

  • Dual-clutch transmission: Featuring a double clutch, these gearboxes are as efficient as traditional automatic gearboxes, with lightning-fast gear changes, and are often found in high-performance cars. There is no torque converter; instead, the two clutches divide and conquer – one manages the even speeds (2, 4, 6) and the other the odd speeds (1, 3, 5). For efficient gear changes, when one speed is engaged, the next or previous one (as required) is pre-engaged, resulting in zero latency and no violent shifts in speeds for controlled consumption. The names of these gearboxes vary between manufacturers; for instance, they’re known as EDC transmissions at Renault and DSG at Volkswagen

 

  • Continuously variable transmission: Also called CVT, these gearboxes enable seamless gear shifting with varying ratios dependent on engine speed or RPM – resulting in the feeling of never changing gears. They benefit from a simplified technology, which streamlines both comfort and driving pleasure. They are most often found in small capacity vehicles and on Japanese branded car makes, such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan

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