Is it possible to convert a manual transmission car to an automatic transmission?

[Beerzerker]

15 hours ago, Godlygamer23 said:

I don't know if this is actually true. I have a manual car, and an automatic. They both behave similarly when engine braking - I'm usually downshifting in the auto, so I have a direct comparison. Modern cars also do not consume fuel when coasting(unless necessary to keep the engine going), so the 'pulling' effect is nonexistent, since the effect is derived from the torque converter input side spinning against the output side due to the engine and there always being a 'link. Even in my 2000 Civic, if you put it down to a lower gear at a higher speed(say going from 3rd to 2nd), I still feel like I had the same braking effect. Many modern cars with a torque converter will also use a locking torque converter, so the mechanical link is there.

Most of the time this is true, esp as long as the converter is locked in but that's not always the case either.
With a manual, it is if the vehicle is moving in the first place more or less so that will always be there no matter how fast or slow you're going, with an automatic it depends on vehicle speed but under most circumstances it is.

For autos that do not have a locking converter then it's obvious, you won't have it to the same extent.

Alot of, if not most autos these days are CVT's instead of autos with "Gears" so those change ratios, not gears when shifting up or down.
I've noted with mine it actually does a fair job of holding speed in check when going downhill but at the same time a CVT isn't too durable either - I've already replaced the original in mine before and will sell the car if it ever goes out again.

CVT's:
Efficient - Yes.
Durable - Hell naw!!

[Bombastinator]

On 3/24/2023 at 8:26 AM, consumer said:

I hope it is. Because i can do that instead of buying a 2nd hand car.

Yes, but don’t. It won’t ever really work right.   Really want to avoid driving manual THAT bad?!
Think of it this way:  someone is going to pay you $300-$1000 (or possibly give you a new gaming computer, depending on the value of the car). to learn to drive manual.

 

IT’S NOT HARD. after a few weeks you’ll forget you’re even doing it.  The only rugged part is teaching someone to drive manual on a given transmission is a bit hard on that transmission.  There will be some grinding.  It’s your car though, so that can be ignored.

 

 Learn how to drive manual.  [adds insulting expletive impugning the poster’s manhood]

Edited March 29, 2023 by Bombastinator

[dalekphalm]

On 3/26/2023 at 11:42 PM, airborne spoon said:

Manual transmissions are more fun to drive

I'll give you that they're fun to drive, yes.

On 3/26/2023 at 11:42 PM, airborne spoon said:

and easier to repair.

This might be true, but the vast majority of car owners won't need to worry about repairing their trans, as it doesn't fail that often in modern cars.

On 3/26/2023 at 11:42 PM, airborne spoon said:

Also manuals get better MPG

This is no longer true. Almost all modern Automatics are either equally as efficient as Manuals, or some of them are actually slightly more fuel efficient than the Manual variant.

 

Frankly, this hasn't been true since like the 90's or early 00's. Modern automatic transmissions are excellent on fuel.

On 3/26/2023 at 11:42 PM, airborne spoon said:

the brakes last longer too

As noted, this might be "technically" true, but from a practical standpoint, it's not going to make a huge difference for the average driver. And also as noted, modern automatics with manual shifting (such as my 2014 Jetta) can use the exact same technique to engine break by downshifting. I use it all the time in my Jetta (6-spd Auto).

On 3/26/2023 at 11:42 PM, airborne spoon said:

and are just all around a better way to drive.

This is 100% subjective, and therefore not a fact, but an opinion.

 

"Better" in what way? More fun? Sure. For some people anyway.

 

Better in stop and go traffic? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha no. You'd have to hate yourself to prefer driving a Manual in stop and go traffic.

On 3/26/2023 at 11:42 PM, airborne spoon said:

There is nothing about an automatic transmission that makes it better than a manual

Factually incorrect. Most of the "advantages" of a Manual transmission these days are 100% subjective to the personal tastes of the driver. There are very few objective benefits to a Manual over a Modern Automatic.

On 3/27/2023 at 4:52 PM, RollyShed said:

I tend to say, those over 60(?) 70(?) should drive a manual as you have to switch your brain on.

I never bought these arguments. A lot of people would simply be even more dangerous if you had to force them into a Manual. Having the additional gearing and clutching they need to do, would simply be one further distraction for many drivers.

On 3/27/2023 at 4:52 PM, RollyShed said:

Those instances of people driving into shops because they put their foot on the wrong pedal because they were not thinking.

 

On 3/27/2023 at 4:52 PM, RollyShed said:

If you can't drive a manual then you don't really know how to drive.

This is such a false statement. Most likely a European mindset due to the high popularity of Manuals over there, or someone whos REALLY into driving manuals.

 

Take me. I'm objectively a pretty good driver. I drive defensively most of the time. I keep good space and don't tailgate. I check my mirrors frequently, I know how to drive through a roundabout (A rare thing where I live, despite the abundance of roundabouts), etc. I drive an Automatic. I've never driven a Manual.

 

Conceptually I know how a Manual works, and I'm confident that I could probably figure it out if I had no choice, but technically I "can't drive a manual". I do know how to drive, and the notion that I don't simply because I can't/don't drive a manual is kind of absurd. I live in Canada. There's literally no reason for me to ever learn Manual. The vast majority of cars sold here are Automatics, and that's been the case for decades. Maybe it would come up if I traveled to certain countries and got a rental, but for life in my country, knowing how to drive a manual is quite simply not a requirement.

On 3/28/2023 at 9:51 AM, Beerzerker said:

Alot of, if not most autos these days are CVT's instead of autos with "Gears" so those change ratios, not gears when shifing up or down.
I've noted with mine it actually does a fair job of holding speed in check when going downhill but at the same time a CVT isn't too durable either - I've already replaced the original in mine before and will sell the car if it ever goes out again.

CVT's:
Efficient - Yes.
Durable - Hell naw!!

IMO the hate for CVT's likely tends to come mostly from "car people", who want to drive their cars aggressively. I've driven multiple CVT vehicles before - our previous 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid (owned for about 2 years) was a CVT and that was about the only reliable thing in the car. We replaced it with a 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid, also CVT, and we've had zero issues so far.

 

Obviously longer term that could be an issue, but the 2013 Ford had the original CVT in it, and it still worked flawlessly, so I'm not yet convinced that CVT's are still garbage.

 

Now, if I was driving a performance oriented car, I might have a different attitude about CVT's.

 

I will say, I hate CVT's with artificial gear shifts. I know they're doing it because that's what many drivers expect, but why? You're just making the CVT less efficient.

[RollyShed]

6 hours ago, dalekphalm said:

 I've never driven a Manual.

So when I said driving a manual it needs the driver to switch their brain on you don't know what I'm saying or talking about.

 

There is also the question of your age. Are you old enough for what was being talked about?

 

I've driven manual and auto for years, decades. I've also driven under powered manual cars long distances and the time taken was about the same as today with upgraded roads and more powerful cars. Basically knowing how to read a road and not as so many do, put the brakes on because a corner can be seen way up ahead.

[dalekphalm]

13 minutes ago, RollyShed said:

So when I said driving a manual it needs the driver to switch their brain on you don't know what I'm saying or talking about.

I challenge the notion that you need to "switch your brain on" when driving a manual. Yes, it takes more concentration. That doesn't inherently mean you're paying more attention to the other aspects of driving, such as looking where you're going, driving defensively, etc.

13 minutes ago, RollyShed said:

There is also the question of your age. Are you old enough for what was being talked about?

I'm in my 30's, so, I'm really not sure how to view your question.

13 minutes ago, RollyShed said:

I've driven manual and auto for years, decades. I've also driven under powered manual cars long distances and the time taken was about the same as today with upgraded roads and more powerful cars. Basically knowing how to read a road and not as so many do, put the brakes on because a corner can be seen way up ahead.

I'm not sure how to read this paragraph.

 

You can read a road and drive with the upcoming sections in your mind while driving an Automatic. I'm not sure what you mean when mentioning underpowered cars and driving them over long distances. Your point here isn't very clear - can you elaborate or clarify?

[RollyShed]

3 minutes ago, dalekphalm said:

I'm in my 30's, so, I'm really not sure how to view your question.

I was talking about people more than twice your age so it is obvious you wouldn't know their problems.

 

They are the ones who tend to switch off their brains and drive into shops etc.

3 minutes ago, dalekphalm said:

I'm not sure how to read this paragraph.

 

You can read a road and drive with the upcoming sections in your mind while driving an Automatic. I'm not sure what you mean when mentioning underpowered cars and driving them over long distances. Your point here isn't very clear - can you elaborate or clarify?

What I was saying, and not specific to automatics, is reading the road, "reading" the car's requirements, thinking about what is actually needed and not simply steering in the general direction and thinking about something else.

Full concentration on the car and road.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

It'll probably be a damn easier than what these mad lads did. 

[Levent]

IIRC, it will require reengineering for your car otherwise it won’t pass inspection (pretty sure I know where you live so…) meaning you can’t drive it legally. 
 

plus this whole process is much more involved than someone doing their oil change for the first time. Tool costs alone would make you shed couple of tears.

 

learn how to drive/live with a manual or look for an auto car.

[Monkey Dust]

10 hours ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

It'll probably be a damn easier than what these mad lads did. 

And that's on a car where there was a manual version (but sadly not for the UK market). Also, the autobox in question was a single clutch one, so mechanically pretty closely related to a manual box, not a torque converter or one of those unholy CVT things.

 

This kind of swap on anything post 2000, is going to be a huge, very specialist job. With the price tag that goes with that, so probably only worth doing on very special cars.

[Neroon]

On 3/27/2023 at 5:42 AM, airborne spoon said:

Manual transmissions are more fun to drive and easier to repair. And if you wanna talk racing then that is more about driver skill than the transmission but I'll still race with a manual.

Also manuals get better MPG, the brakes last longer too, and are just all around a better way to drive. There is nothing about an automatic transmission that makes it better than a manual

More fun to drive... based on what? Is driving in a traffic jam fun in a manual? Because I can tell you from experience, that I didn't enjoy that. I switch to an automatic half a year ago, and traffic jams have become much less tiring. Also did you know there are automatics that still lets you manually shift? You just don't need to use your clutch.

 

Manuals getting better MPG is at best true if you are a very efficient driver. More likely than not, you won't see an improvement or it gets worse.
A manual is usually a 5 or 6 speed, automatics go beyond that, making the cars more efficient. Not to mention that if you forget to shift, or you're a lazy shifter, the car will be much more optimized. 

 

Why would the brakes last longer? Also based on what car? My gf's Honda Insight had to do some replacing because of rust. That's right, they are used so little due to regenerative braking, that they were rusting. To be clear, they still last way longer than on most cars.

 

 

There are definitely areas and moments where I enjoy driving a manual, but for the day to day stuff, an automatic has been great. Oh and my car does have manual shifting, but I rarely use it.

[Beerzerker]

On 3/30/2023 at 9:40 AM, dalekphalm said:

IMO the hate for CVT's likely tends to come mostly from "car people", who want to drive their cars aggressively. I've driven multiple CVT vehicles before - our previous 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid (owned for about 2 years) was a CVT and that was about the only reliable thing in the car. We replaced it with a 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid, also CVT, and we've had zero issues so far.

 

Obviously longer term that could be an issue, but the 2013 Ford had the original CVT in it, and it still worked flawlessly, so I'm not yet convinced that CVT's are still garbage.

With so many unrelated folks saying the same thing about the same thing there has to be something to it.
BTW had to bold that since somebody went and made the forum all Italic, all the time for who-knows-what-reason (April fools?).

I wasn't so sure at first myself but the same happened to this one others experienced with it.
I'm a "Car Guy" yet I'm not because I've had to make a living behind the wheel more than once in my life so I understand the importance of reliabiliy in one, plus in how to treat one for it to last and since it is mine, you betcha I'll take good care of it. 

The original trans didn't make it to 150,000 miles before it had to be replaced with an entirely different unit (Used, not new) and the original had been properly serviced throughout it's life since new - I know that because I've known the car since it was new due to a family member being the original owner of it, I'm the 2nd and hopefully last in that line.
Did a used one since the car's current BB value (2010 Altima) does not justify the expense of a new/rebuilt unit, instead found one in a wreck with way less original miles on it than this one had at the time and went that way with things.... Which is also why if it goes out again I'm selling the car.

 

On 3/30/2023 at 9:40 AM, dalekphalm said:

Now, if I was driving a performance oriented car, I might have a different attitude about CVT's.

 

I will say, I hate CVT's with artificial gear shifts. I know they're doing it because that's what many drivers expect, but why? You're just making the CVT less efficient.

The design of a CVT is both, boon and bane for it. 
It's inherently weaker yet more efficient at the same time so there is a trade off between the older and newer trans types in those terms.

What that was done for was due to people at the time they were introduced being "Used" to feeling the bump of a gear change and it gave them a feeling of control and familiarity too.

All it's really doing is telling the transmission controller to change the trasmission ratio to a given value on demand so it has a gear-change feel to it when you shift it yourself.

I also noted your list of experiences have been with hybrids, 2 to be exact.
Hybrids all tend to have a smaller engine with less power than their more standardized counter-part models and that's for it to be what it is by name in the first place. 
It's why those lasted as long as they did due to the design's inherent weakness vs the older types which can handle power more easily.

CVT's mated to a stronger engine will simply not live as long, an older style trans mated to a weaker engine will have an excellent chance to live a really long, happy life - The opposite to this applies as you'd expect.

 

[Bombastinator]

On 3/30/2023 at 9:40 AM, dalekphalm said:

I'll give you that they're fun to drive, yes.

This might be true, but the vast majority of car owners won't need to worry about repairing their trans, as it doesn't fail that often in modern cars.

This is no longer true. Almost all modern Automatics are either equally as efficient as Manuals, or some of them are actually slightly more fuel efficient than the Manual variant.

 

Frankly, this hasn't been true since like the 90's or early 00's. Modern automatic transmissions are excellent on fuel.

As noted, this might be "technically" true, but from a practical standpoint, it's not going to make a huge difference for the average driver. And also as noted, modern automatics with manual shifting (such as my 2014 Jetta) can use the exact same technique to engine break by downshifting. I use it all the time in my Jetta (6-spd Auto).

This is 100% subjective, and therefore not a fact, but an opinion.

 

"Better" in what way? More fun? Sure. For some people anyway.

 

Better in stop and go traffic? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha no. You'd have to hate yourself to prefer driving a Manual in stop and go traffic.

Factually incorrect. Most of the "advantages" of a Manual transmission these days are 100% subjective to the personal tastes of the driver. There are very few objective benefits to a Manual over a Modern Automatic.

I never bought these arguments. A lot of people would simply be even more dangerous if you had to force them into a Manual. Having the additional gearing and clutching they need to do, would simply be one further distraction for many drivers.

 

This is such a false statement. Most likely a European mindset due to the high popularity of Manuals over there, or someone whos REALLY into driving manuals.

 

Take me. I'm objectively a pretty good driver. I drive defensively most of the time. I keep good space and don't tailgate. I check my mirrors frequently, I know how to drive through a roundabout (A rare thing where I live, despite the abundance of roundabouts), etc. I drive an Automatic. I've never driven a Manual.

 

Conceptually I know how a Manual works, and I'm confident that I could probably figure it out if I had no choice, but technically I "can't drive a manual". I do know how to drive, and the notion that I don't simply because I can't/don't drive a manual is kind of absurd. I live in Canada. There's literally no reason for me to ever learn Manual. The vast majority of cars sold here are Automatics, and that's been the case for decades. Maybe it would come up if I traveled to certain countries and got a rental, but for life in my country, knowing how to drive a manual is quite simply not a requirement.

IMO the hate for CVT's likely tends to come mostly from "car people", who want to drive their cars aggressively. I've driven multiple CVT vehicles before - our previous 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid (owned for about 2 years) was a CVT and that was about the only reliable thing in the car. We replaced it with a 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid, also CVT, and we've had zero issues so far.

 

Obviously longer term that could be an issue, but the 2013 Ford had the original CVT in it, and it still worked flawlessly, so I'm not yet convinced that CVT's are still garbage.

 

Now, if I was driving a performance oriented car, I might have a different attitude about CVT's.

 

I will say, I hate CVT's with artificial gear shifts. I know they're doing it because that's what many drivers expect, but why? You're just making the CVT less efficient.

My experience is CVTs are fine up to about 90hp. Then they start to have problems.  They’re best at the 60-70hp range.  A seriously rootin tootin snowmobile might have 70hp.  For those 5 feet in the air and skimming across lakes photos.  A not-so-fancy one might have more like 15hp.  The only car I ever had with a CVT hat 110hp.  I gave away the car at 30,000mi.  The transmission got out of alignment” and destroyed both itself and the engine.  13k in repairs for a car worth 9k.  I wrote it off and will never buy another car with a cvt. My current car has no transmission at all.  It’s a Nissan leaf.  Electric. Possibly the least cool car sold in America.  Totally not a “car guy’” car.  I expect to get 10 times the life out of this car though.

Edited April 1, 2023 by Bombastinator

[starsmine]

1 hour ago, Bombastinator said:

My experience is CVTs are fine up to about 90hp. Then they start to have problems.  They’re best at the 60-70hp range.  A seriously rootin tootin snowmobile might have 70hp.  For those 5 feet in the air and skimming across lakes photos.  A not-so-fancy one might have more like 15hp.  The only car I ever had with a CVT hat 110hp.  I gave away the car at 30,000mi.  The transmission got out of alignment” and destroyed both itself and the engine.  13k in repairs for a car worth 9k.  I wrote it off and will never buy another car with a cvt. My current car has no transmission at all.  It’s a Nissan leaf.  Electric. Possibly the least cool car sold in America.  Totally not a “car guy’” car.  I expect to get 10 times the life out of this car though.

CVTs got banned from F1 because they were too good. (f1 does things like this a lot)

BASIC Car CVTs are fine up to 200hp, Better built ones go way higher. 

The hate for CVTs is Absolutly unhinged because its most often found in econoboxes. the perception is what keeps them out of up-scale cars, not the technology. 
 

 

 

 

[Issac Zachary]

All I can say is I really miss driving a manual car and have lost interest in cars since I can't seem to find one that's both practical and fun for me.

 

Also, yes, a manual transmission car can be converted to an automatic in one form or another. Anything is possible with enough money, time, and knowledge.

[mr moose]

Every time there is a debate about manual versus auto I find myself wondering why people get so invested in such a thing,  Drive what you like, you don't need to go making excuses just because you like driving something that is technically worse.

 

Also many of the manual arguments are akin to defending Nvidia or apple products, they are either personal opinion presented as general fact or completely misrepresent the truth.

 

EDIt: also we've been calling them autogomagics since the 80's, because try eating a hamburger and driving city traffic in a manual.  It's fucking messy and not much fun at all. 

[MadAnt250]

On 3/31/2023 at 11:43 PM, starsmine said:

The hate for CVTs is Absolutly unhinged because its most often found in econoboxes. the perception is what keeps them out of up-scale cars, not the technology. 

It's because they are put in cars and SUVs that should not have them in the first place(talking about the typical CVT). They are fine in light weight cars, like econoboxes, but wear out too much in the heavier cars and SUVs. Can they be made reliable for SUVs? Maybe, but it will cost more.

Really it was Nissan that messed up people's views of the CVT.