Which would last longer, manual transmission or automatic transmission.?

Old Corollas were bullet-proof.

They would probably rust away before the manual gearbox needed work. Clutches must wear out.

It would still come down to driving style; but taxis (cabs) do, say, half a million km with auto trans and never have a problem. Ensure the fluid is kept up, and any band adjustments are made when they need to be,, and there is no reason why most auto trans should fail.

Manual transmissions are more fun to drive (especially 5 and 6 speed) and you always have as much control over the behaviour of your car's driving wheels as can be had (except for those maniacs who use angel gear - neutral). Automatics lose that "control" on overrun (when you back off) though that is not to say they are unsafe.

If you drive unsealed/dirt roads and tracks, progress is always more controlled with manual gearboxes.

So, in the end, your request for hard facts has not be complied with by me because there are so many variables that influence the end result.

BTW - the thirty something year old Datsuns and Mitsubishis are also bulletproof in drive train, though the younger these cars are the more likely they are to succumb to the red metal cancer - rust

Generally speaking manual transmissions are more trouble free than automatics. That is not to say that you may not have to put a clutch in a manual trans. at some point but overall manual transmissions are much more reliable if properly cared for.

Yes a manual transmission typically lives past the life if the engine. The problem tends to be the clutch but its cheaper to replace than to get an automatic trans rebuilt.

Automatic transmissions dont last as long because of the number of moving parts. If you shift a stick correctly, your manual trans will last forever

Im no mechanic but I think it depends on how you drive. Ive known both transmissions to have problems if not treated correctly by different drivers. Ive got a ute nearly 25 years old and had no problems ever. And its only the old three speed manual. I know of a toyota celica about 8 years old, auto and because the driver always used to put it into drive and reverse without waiting for the car to stop, it needed a major overhaul.

As the others have said, it depends on you and how you drive. Generally the manual will last longer provided it stays full of the proper lubricant. An auto may last as long or longer but there is more chance for failure. As an auto ages the seals eventually start to harden and cause some pressure loss before the fluid warms up and they soften. If you let the car warm up before driving it you may never have a problem. If, say, in the dead of winter you start the car cold in the morning and back out of your driveway. The you put it in drive and mash the pedal to the floor. The leakage will eventually fry the clutch pack and the unit will fail after doing this over and over. Changing the fluid helps keep the seals soft but nothing will prevent abuse.

Here's the hard facts. It all depends on the driver, and the drivers personal bias about what he drives. But if I was going to place money on a tranny, I would go with the manual tranny.

Less moving parts on a manual trans. Just lube the linkage from time to time and you'll have trouble free driving. With the manual trans, when the clutch starts to go, its not going to cost you an arm and a leg. Now automatic tranny problems can run into a couple of grand.

Hard facts are going to be really hard to get on this matter. It all depends on YOU, the driver, your driving habits and the type of driving you do. It all depends on the type and amount of maintenance that is given to the vehicle. Automatics need to have the fluid and filter changed in accordance with manufacturers recommendations. Failure to keep the filter and fluid clean will accelerate failure. Standard transmissions will need the clutch replaced every once in a while. The time will, again, depend on your driving habits and if you ride the clutch pedal or not.

In a manual you will be replacing clutches and that gets expensive, you are better off having an automatic where most of them last at least 140,000 if you change the fluid and filter at the 50,000 intervals.

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