If a car is said to be semi automatic.....what does that mean?

Question

I only know manual and automatic. thanks in advance.

Thanks. Dont like the sound of that.

Answer 1

There are a number of different types. With semi automatic there is no clutch pedal for you to use, but you still have to change gear like you would on a manual gear box. On most ordinary semi autos when you touch the gear lever it operates the clutch so you can change gear, then the clutch re-engages when you take you hand off the gear lever. Over the years semi autos and fully autos have been put together so you can put it in 'drive' and let the gear box do everything for you. Or you can move the gear selector lever into a different position which allows you to manually select each gear as you want it. Gear boxes have improved a lot over the years and the sport type gear boxes now have a two clutch system which allows the gear box to have two gears engaged at the same time. This means that the second you touch the gear lever or paddle the next gear is used in the gear box thus allowing you to change gear in a split second, as they do in formula 1 cars.

Answer 2

semi automatic is a manual gearbox but with a computer controlled clutch. This means you can still change gear manually without worrying about clutch control. It will have an "automatic" function where the computer also change gears for you although they tend to be very jerky. Examples are Vauxhall's Easytronic, Alfa Romeo's sensodrive. Its a similar system as used in F1

Answer 3

what? Europe has to travel for work too, sometimes to other countries, Japan i don't know ive never been. the problem is public transport sucks and everyone wants to own their own car and using a bike is a option, but personally the way some people drive, i mean today i was going from a to b. a car from the opposit lane decided to cut infront of my moving car, no indicating and casually drove without even looking at me into a street. further along the road i saw a van decided to overtake a car while a oncoming truck was just down the road, he managed to get in just before hitting the truck head on. now if roads were safer and drivers were better then i would ride my bike everywhere, but as it is ive already been hit by 5 cars and almost killed by a truck because a car decided to play chicken with me when i was crossing a road. i also almost got hit crossing at a red traffic light because the girl rather than looking where she was going had both hands above her wheel starring into her phone screen while texting. or another i saw was a girl who disappeared under her steering wheel for about 2 minutes while driving. some people are too childish and dumb to drive.

Answer 4

it has the sport shift, where its automatic but you can move the shifter over to the left (or right) and shift up and down manually. OR it can have the sportshift paddle shifters behind the wheel. NOT the same as manual, still has the hesitation of a automatic trans but with a bit of a fun factor added.

Answer 5

It means that you can use the gears manually and also put it into drive on the gear stick on an automatic

Answer 6

It usually means that it has a manual shift, but an automatic clutch.

The driver changes gear, but does not have to operate a clutch pedal to do so.

Answer 7

unless you are talking about a tank, I have no idea how semi-automatic and car can go together.

Answer 8

it means that it still has a gear stick but no clutch, so there is no clutch to dip when you change gear, i dont like them personally, i drive automatics so i would keep forgetting to change gear, but each to thier own

Answer 9

it will have a torque converter not a clutch and will require you to change the gear by sliding the shifter up and down