Update:
Maruti and Gajra Gears seem to be working on the Antonov transmission(Automatic) from what I read in the press sometime back.
https://hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/09/27/stories/0627000c.htm
Supposed to be fuel efficient and cheaper than the conventional automatic.
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Nice to see so many opinions. Having driven both manuals and automatics, I must say I prefer automatics, though with the fuel costs being what they are I would stick to stick shift;-). I quickly got tired of the gear changing’fun’. If you live in a city its like you have an assistant helping you drive the car.
I have yet to try the auto clutch from’Hand in Hand’ available in Bangalore. My brief trial indicates that this is what I would go for in India. You only change gears, no clutch and no hassle of gently releasing the clutch etc. The clutch remains in place in parallel if you wish to use it.
Also, Opel has a new Automated Manual gearbox that gives you better fuel efficiency than a manual!(Ask your Opel dealer for Easytronic - I can’t afford an Opel).
Why dont these econoboxes in India have the CVT like the Kinetic Honda? All that complex Automatic Transimission is more suited to powerful cars. Honda sells a very fuel efficient Civic with CVT, and any Kinetic mechanic would be able service it.
Final words: Preference a)Automated Manual Transmission b)Auto Clutch c)CVT d)Manual e)Automatic
d) and e) interchange where fuel is cheaper than water, oops., which is which after a course of antibiotics?
Automatics dont give you more than 7-8 km per litre.
Automatic Transmission Repair -> They cannot be rebuilt to work like new. They cannot be repaired in India, period!