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I've put this page on my website because many of my pupils ask for advice about buying a car. Some have bought a car with a different type of gearbox to my car and found it harder to drive, ruining their confidence to drive on their own.
The first thing to understand when looking for an automatic car is that there are different types of automatic gearboxes. You can't tell which type of gearbox a car has by looking at the gearstick. Neither can you base your selection on a manufacturer's name, because most manufacturers use more than one type of automatic gearbox. The way to tell them apart is to test drive them. Test number one: on a flat road in drive with the handbrake off and your foot off the footbrake, the car should move forward on its own without pressing the accelerator. This will ensure that the car will not roll backwards on hills or at junctions, making it an easier car to drive. Test number two: on a hill with the car facing downhill in reverse with the handbrake off and your foot off the brake, the car should either stay still or move backwards on its own without pressing the accelerator. This will ensure that the car will not roll backwards when parking or reversing on a hill, making it an easy car to park.
There are four types of automatic gearbox to choose. Each one will behave differently when you drive it. Some are easier to drive than others are. Some have lower fuel consumption than others.
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Double clutch gearbox or DSG
How it works
The gearbox is divided into two halves. The odd gears 1 3 5 in one-half and the even gears 2 4 6 in the other half. Each half of the gearbox has its own clutch. Before the car moves, the cogs are moved in both halves of the gearbox to select two gears, 1 and 2. When the car moves off, the car brings the clutch up for gear 1 so that it can start to move forward. As the car picks up speed, the clutch for gear 1 goes down and the clutch for gear 2 goes up, without the cogs in either half of the gearbox being moved. After the gear change, the half of the gearbox not being used will move the cogs to select gear 3 ready for the next gear change. As the car picks up speed, the clutch for gear 2 goes down and the clutch for gear 3 goes up, without the cogs in either half of the gearbox being moved. The process continues as the car picks up speed or slows down. The cogs are not moved during the gear changes just the two clutches. This gives a fast, smooth, efficient gear change.
My verdict
Buy one of these. This is best type of automatic gearbox. It does not roll backwards on hills, it is easy to drive, easy to park and it has the lowest fuel consumption. Manufacturers that fit this type of gearbox to their cars are Audi, Volkswagen, Seat, and Skoda.
Standard or traditional
How it works
This is the most common type of automatic gearbox. Each time the car changes gear, it moves the cogs during the gear change. The gearbox will only have one clutch instead of two.
My verdict
Buy one of these. This is the same type of automatic gearbox as my car. It doesn't roll backwards on hills and it's easy to drive and park. It has the highest fuel consumption of the four types, though.
Constantly variable transmission or CVT
How it works
This type of automatic gearbox is quite rare. The gearbox doesn't have cogs, but has a system of belts and pulleys. The belts and pulleys provide one gear that constantly varies as the car goes faster while the engine revs stay the same.
My verdict
Do not buy one of these, unless you learnt to drive in a car with this type of gearbox. It rolls backwards on hills making it difficult to drive and park. It has low fuel consumption.
Automated manual gearbox
How it works
This is a manual gearbox fitted with electric motors. The motors move the clutch plates and the cogs for you when the car changes gear. Even though it is based on a manual gearbox, it is an automatic without a clutch pedal. To prevent the car from rolling backwards on hills, some manufacturers fit an automatic handbrake in conjunction with this type of gearbox. The car will put the handbrake on its self when it stops, then release it its self when you press the accelerator.
My verdict
Do not buy one of these. Without an automatic handbrake, it rolls backwards on hills making it difficult to drive and park. Most people learn to drive in an automatic car, because they are easier to drive. A car with this type of gearbox and no automatic handbrake can be as difficult to drive as a manual car. If it has an automatic handbrake, it may be ok. Tests drive it yourself and make up your own mind. It has low fuel consumption.