in a auto magazine it says 5 speed does that mean manual transmission? or could it mean automatic?
No, it just means the transmission type. It could be manual or automatic. The author should have specified 5-speed automatic or 5-speed manual.
Ok, it is commonly accepted that 5-speed is referring to a manual transmission. Generally if someone tells you that its a 5-speed, its going to be a manual. Granted that the correct term would be manual, or standard transmission, most people who say 5 speed mean its a manual. Alot of automatic transmissions are 4-speeds, but this is not always the case. If you are unsure, it is usually a good idea to ask.
A lot of automatics have 5 speed as well. It just means how many gears a car can get into. So 5 speed can be either automatic or manual.
