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We have a wide variety of used automatic cars for sale at Arnold Clark.
Our manufacturers range from Abarth to Volvo. There is a selection of petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric drivetrains for you to choose from. We stock everything from coupés to estates, two-seaters to seven-seaters, practical to performance models and everything inbetween.
Finding the perfect automatic car for you has never been easier.
Automatic transmission is a type of multi-speed transmission found in vehicles. An automatic car does not require the driver to change gear and does not have a clutch pedal. They also have a streamlined gearbox which typically comes with four modes. The four modes are Park (P), Drive (D), Reverse (R) and Neutral (N). Automatic cars have four main types of transmissions. The most common is hydraulic planetary automatic transmission.
Other types include:
Overall, the driving experience is much simpler. You do not have to think about when to change the gears as the car does it for you.
This makes for:
Automatic cars can make hill starts much easier, too. Quick and smooth transmission shifts also contribute to enhanced fuel economy when driving on the motorway. Choosing automatic if you are a learner can be beneficial for these reasons. It should be noted that you are currently unable to drive a manual car if your licence is for automatic vehicles only.
The creation of the automatic transmission is widely attributed to Alfred Horner Munro. Munro was a Canadian steam engineer. He pioneered the design of automatic transmission in 1921. Munro patented the transmission in 1923. In his design, the engineer used compressed air rather than hydraulic fluid. However, this method of automatic transmission was not powerful enough to be commercialised.
It wasn't until 1939 that automatic transmission was mass-produced. It was General Motors' "Hydra-Matic" four-speed hydraulic automatic transmission which was eventually commercialised for the masses. The first automatic cars were the 1940 Oldsmobile Cadillac and the 1948 Pontiac Oldsmobile.
Automatic cars were traditionally dominant in the USA. They began to rise in popularity and production in Europe in the 2000s. In 1997, automatic transmission was only found in 10-12% of cars in Europe. Since 2020 in the UK, many new cars are now produced with automatic transmission only. Manufacturers like Volvo and Mercedes-Benz have stopped selling new manual transmission cars completely. This comes as the majority of manufacturers prioritise electric powertrains in their model ranges.
Automatic cars work without the driver having to switch gear ratios. They have four gears: Park (P), Drive (D), Reverse (R) and Neutral (N). The type of automatic transmission will determine the way in which the car is powered.
Hydraulic transmission utilises planetary gearsets and hydraulic fluid to change gears. Planetary gearsets are used to control and reduce speed and torque.
A CVT gearbox is a type of single-speed gearbox which uses a pulley system to change gear ratios.
AMT is a manual transmission endowed with automatic propulsion to operate the clutch and shift gears.
DCT or dual-clutch gearboxes use two separate clutches for odd and even gear sets that work in tandem. DCT gearboxes are said to provide better fuel economy than some of the others mentioned.
Automatic cars typically require more advanced equipment and technology than manual transmission cars. The automatic gearbox is a complex system. Higher production costs in relation to equipment and technology impact the vehicle list price.
The first mass-produced automatic transmission gearbox was launched in 1939 by General Motors. The 'Hydra-Matic' four-speed hydraulic automatic transmission was hailed as 'ahead of the times'.
The first automatic car came out in 1940. The first cars to feature an automatic transmission were manufactured by General Motors. The first commercial automatic cars available were the 1940 Oldsmobile Cadillac and the 1948 Pontiac Oldsmobile.
Most of the manufacturers available at Arnold Clark offer automatic transmissions on their models. We have a range of automatic cars for sale, browse our stock to find one that suits your lifestyle and budget. Or you can contact us directly to speak to one of our product geniuses. They will be able to advise you on which cars in stock are automatic.
The price of an automatic car will depend on a number of factors. Prices vary depending on the manufacturer, model, trim, engine and fuel type chosen. Our automatic cars range from around £8,000 to upwards of over £140,000.
Manual and automatic cars both have their own individual benefits and drawbacks. Choosing an automatic will typically make for an easier driving experience. This is because the driver does not have to operate a clutch or change gears. This reduces driver fatigue, especially in heavy traffic. However, automatic cars tend to be more expensive than their manual counterparts. This is because of the complex equipment and technology they require. Which is better depends on your individual preferences, lifestyle and budget.
Automatic cars feature a Neutral mode so that the car is still able to be pushed or towed as neutral disengages the gearbox. This can help you to control the car in case of a malfunction or emergency.
Electric cars are mainly automatic because of the consistent speed and power delivered by this type of drivetrain. As a result, electric cars do not require a conventional clutch or gears for power.
Paddle shift in automatic cars refers to controls at the back of an automatic car's steering wheel. These controls are usually buttons or levers. The controls enable the driver to override automated gear shifts made by the transmission. Ultimately, allowing the driver to shift into a particular gear.
The reasoning behind paddle shifts was to increase speed whilst reducing strain on the transmission. They are commonly used in race cars. If you are interested in automatic cars with paddle shift, you can browse our stock.
Semi-automatic cars feature a combination of both manual and automatic transmission. Opting for semi-automatic offers drivers the best of both worlds. This is because you still have the option to control the gears. However, semi-automatic vehicles do not have a clutch pedal.
Automatic cars have become increasingly popular in the UK. See below for a list of the percentage of automatic cars for sale in the UK with automatic transmission. These figures are from the European Vehicle Market Statistics Pocketbook 2020/2021 courtesy of the ICCT.
| Year | Automatic |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 62.40% |
| 2020 | 56.20% |
| 2019 | 49.10% |
| 2018 | 43.20% |
| 2017 | 40.00% |
| 2016 | 35.00% |
'L' in an automatic car can be found on the gearshift. This typically stands for 'low'. You can use this mode when towing or when driving steep uphill roads. This mode enables high engine power whilst keeping speed low and subsequently limiting any strain on the vehicle's brakes.
In an automatic car, 'B' can stand for brake. However, not all automatics have this function. It is commonly found in hybrid vehicles. Toyota models are known for having the 'B' gear. It works as a regenerative braking system. You would use this function when driving downhill. This slows the vehicle speed, reduces engine braking and moves gradually down through the gears. This can prevent premature brake erosion and overheating. It's similar to using a lower gear in a car with a manual transmission when driving down a steep hill.
