Why is it that Automatics are usually one speed (gear) lower than a manual?

Ex, Prelude AT is 4 gears but the MT is 5.

 

same thing with all cars. gear ratios

 

I don't quite understand why a manual needs 5 gears but an auto only needs 4? I'm not too good with tranny's.

 

Manual trannies have closer ratios, and with that in mind, it's only been recently that auto manufacturers have engineered five speed auto trannies. Four gears were sufficient for people who didn't know how to drive stick, so they cared less about performance. However, the trend is shifting in that people want the performance, but they are still lazy bums who don't want to hassle with rowing their own gears. Remember, I don't know how old you are, but I can remember when three speed autos were the norm, and if you had a four speed overdrive automatic, that was COOL! Now, any car that is even remotely performance oriented offers a five speed automatic. It used to be only on the likes of MB and BMW. But now, the five speed auto is in the new Accord, Cadillac CTS, most Lexus and Infiniti models, and you will see a trend to shift towards five speed automatics on most cars. Now, if you have, say, a Buick LeSabre, where your main concern is driving Miss Daisy, then a four speed auto will still suffice. Catch my drift?

 

hey fastball, did u notice that yur lude shifts a little rougher when its cold? is this just the way it is or is it because the ludes use a cable shifter instead of a linkage bar to the gears? someone said that the prelude synchros suck and break a lot, is this true?

 

I don't know if they break alot. I have changed my tranny oil twice (with Honda MTF) just to be on the safe side. I do know that when it is cold (like it was today in Cleveland, 26 degree high), it does tend to shift a little hard at first. Doesn't grind or anything, its just a little stiff untill it warms up. I was at my parrents for turkey day, and the car was outside all day (it's garaged most of the time), and the shifting on my way home took some time to get smooth, but no major problems. Been like that since I bought it.

 

yea thats how mine is.... when the car is cold, it doesnt GRIND but it feels like you have to fight through things to shift when its cold, jus feels awkward, when you changed yur tranny oil did it make a diff or not? cause someone suggested that to me but I only have 50K miles on mine.......