How come on an auto 4 speed the RPMs are lower at highway speeds than a manual 5 speed. Shouln't the extra gear make it so that the 4 speed is louder and less efficiant at highway speeds? Also, you know that grumbling noise a lot of manual cars make, do the xB and xA manual do that or is it just as soft as the automatic. I'm in that stage where I can't decide if I want manual or automatic. Any suggestions, I'm 16 and this would be the 1st car that I own. I have never driven manual before but I could learn I guess.

 

Go manual, it's more fun.

As for the gearing, dunno. Suks though at times.

 

The gears in the automatic use completely different ratios. If the first four gears of the manual matched the 4 gears of the automatic, you'd be right, but in the case of scions its pretty much comparing apples to oranges.

Back in the day it was normal for the gear ratios to be about the same between automatic and manual, but not true on many cars anymore.

 

So that means that an automatic tranny makes the engine is less noisy and more efficient right? (I'm not talking about the 1 second difference in 0-60 times when I say "efficient")

 

I've read posts that the 5 speed manual pushes 3800 rpm in 5th gear @ 80 mph and an auto is around 3200-3250 @ 80 mph. I went from a 5 speed Focus ZX3 to an auto xB. I can confirm that i'am running around 3200-3300 rpm's @ 80 mph. I drive 300 miles a week back and forth to work and I prefer the auto. The mileage is a "little" better with the auto also. Whatever you choose, i'am sure you will enjoy it. Good luck.

 

To drive on the highway at a constant speed, it takes a certain amount of power (road hp + aerodynamic hp). The automatic engine will have to pump out more engine power to achieve this amount of hp at the road. This is because the lower efficiency transmission is sucking away some of the power that is generated by the engine. This is why automatics are typically less efficient. But, in the Scion, the rpm is less in the automatic which makes the engine more efficent because less engine power is wasted into mechanical losses (moving the engine parts around). The end result is about the same total fuel efficiency for the automatic and manual car.

However, because of the manual's higher efficiency transmission, there is more potential hp on the road. This results in a quicker, more responsive car. This is significant when you have a small, 108 hp engine.

Noise wise, there will be only a little difference. Most highway noise is from the road and wind, not the engine.

 

the manual tranny is so easy to learn on the xB. the box is the first car i've driven that has MT. the clutch is very forgiving and you'll pick it up an a few days.

took me a week before i stopped stalling and rolling on the mad hills in San Francisco, and after test driving both AT and MT, i'm sooooo glad i got stick.

puts the power down so much better when and where you want it with gear control. get MT, you won't regret it!!

 

the 5 speed tranny gets more MPG and has more torque and hp than the auto, however say the auto and the manual were both cruising at 80 on the freeway the auto would get a lil better mpg becuase toyota decided they didnt want to spend an extra 300 bucks on a 6th gear for us MT drivers

 

The automatics use a torque converter lockup and there are no losses (slipping) from the torque converter when the auto is cruising in 4th gear. The gearing is higher on the auto which allows for lower rpm's and better fuel efficiency.
The 5-speed has lower gearing and makes better use of the engines torque on acceleration.
Both trannys are setup to work well with the engine characteristics.
There is lots of engine noise at highway speed... mostly from the exhaust, but not from the muffler, from the collector which is right below the not so well insulated firewall...
mike

 

I can confirm the ~3250 RPM at ~80 on the interstates. I do massive amounts of driving, myself. Historically, I know that MTs get better mileage, but I have money and I'm lazy so I went with AT. I'm glad I did.

 

you are right on the first part... while it may cost the customer an extra $300 if it had a 6 speed, it would cost exponentially more to engineer a new transmission and parts, and to pay to make it, and to pay the people to design it..