question about mazda 3 transmission!!!

[xXmazdaXx]

i plan on buying a 2005 mazda 3 and i was leaning more towards the automatic.
i know almost EVERYONE thinks manuals are better but as of right now im not comfortable enough drivings manuals to invest in buying one, but who knows, i might change my mind.
but anyways, i know that the automatic has a "manual mode" if you shift all the way to the bottom and i was wondering if i choose to drive semi-automatically will i at least somewhat save gas or no? also i was wondering if like a manual transmission will i accelerate faster using the semi automatic option.
thank you in advance.

 

[flash75]

It's still an automatic so I wouldn't think mpg will improve. It will probably will lower mpg if left in position to
a higher rpm. Leavin g it in each position a little longer may help acceleration a little. I'm guessing because I
haven't tried making any timed runs.

Clifton

 

[weatherdan822]

Running it in the "manu-matic" mode as I like to call it pretty much encourages you to drive a bit harder, so if you are thinking you want good fuel mileage, use the automatic mode, that's what it's there for - to shift at the lowest possible RPM when it can. So you can always do what I do and save the "manu-matic" for those special moments along some backroads where you really wanna crank it up!

 

[recon9]

Automatic transmissions tend to be a bit heavier than the manual counterpart. This is a factor in why the manuals rate a bit better in terms of mpg.

 

[DarkRyder]

i was told the manuals are geared a bit lower thats why the manuals are rated for 38mpg and the automatics are rated for 40mpg.