Is this the first car where A/T MPG > M/T MPG?

[asndragonboii]

Is the 8th gen civic the first car ever where A/T MPG is better than M/T MPG?

[FG*SQUAD Nick]

no its not..

[IMTHEPUNISHER]

A buddy of mine has/had a C5-'Vette that was a 6sp. He said that he can leave it in 6th, and drive anywhere, whilest gettin' approx. 30 mpg. It won't "get out of it's own way" in 6th gear (in-town etc.), of course, but it beats the automatic mpg hands-down.

[Janizary]

There are some other models that are getting better HWY MPG in automatic trim vs. manual at this time. A few examples:

• All three Scion models
• Honda Element
• Nissan Versa
• Nissan Sentra

Principally it would appear this comes from taller gearing in the automatics (vs. their manual siblings), more gears in new automatics (many 5 speeds--or more--vs older 4 speeds), and simply more efficient automatic transmission designs.

[asndragonboii]

Originally Posted by Janizary

There are some other models that are getting better HWY MPG in automatic trim vs. manual at this time. A few examples:

• All three Scion models
• Honda Element
• Nissan Versa
• Nissan Sentra

Principally it would appear this comes from taller gearing in the automatics (vs. their manual siblings), more gears in new automatics (many 5 speeds--or more--vs older 4 speeds), and simply more efficient automatic transmission designs.

Those cars you listed... did the Automatic start to have better mpg than the Manual after the "gas price crisis" or have the automatics been better for longer than that?

I have to write a paper for my automotive class and I'm trying to think of a topic so im thinking of doing this gas mileage stuff

[ryanjacobson]

Automatics are becoming more and more efficient. In my class today we were talking about this. One example that i can think of off hand is the oil pump used. The old positive displacement pumps that most automatic transmissions used back in the day required almost 8 HP to turn them when they were operating at full speed. They have since replaced them with variable displacement oil pumps that require less power to operate. now that just 1 example but when they make many small improvements over a period of time those all add up.....

[Janizary]

Originally Posted by asndragonboii

Those cars you listed... did the Automatic start to have better mpg than the Manual after the "gas price crisis" or have the automatics been better for longer than that?

The two 'smaller' Scions pre-date the gas crisis of the recent years (as well as the Toyota Echo, upon which they are based). The Scion Coupe was right around, or slightly before. Not sure on the Element or the Sentra and the Versa is brand new (for the States, there was a 'version' in the EU for a while, Clio?)