auto vs. manual

01ragtop

Member
May 20, 2004
88
0
7
San Diego
Hey guys clear something up for me: all other things being equal is a stick that much faster than an auto? I always assumed this would be a drivers race and of course a good driver could make the manual go faster. What about if the auto has chip with the more aggressive shift points. Those of you who KNOW please help... I am not trying to start an arguement here just curious!
 
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hey 01ragtop heres the main points between the 2

the manual is of course more fun to drive and stock will out perform the auto if both cars have equal drivers, its also lighter.

now if you throw on a torque converter, jerry mod, and a transmisson cooler the auto will perform alot more consistent at launching.... and modded will out perform the manual tranny....

but you cant row gears and have fun :(....

do a search i remeber a long time ago there was a huge debate on the 2 and which is better for what application...
 
also driving stick in traffic blows and gets old REAL quick....

the only reason i have an auto was it was my first car so i didnt want to complicate things, but the real reason was i found it at a good ass price. lol.

but theres nothing like a manual tranny... got to love rowing the gears :drool:
 
An auto with 4.10s with revised shift points and line pressure will run on an stock or 3.73 geared stick.

I sometimes wish I had a stick, but for city traffic and wot and auto is where it's at for ME.

I like mine. Stock for stock an auto is about .2 off a 5 speed. Get a torque convertor and gears, an auto will own a 5 speed at the track. It's great for spray too, no missed shifts, no having to powershift.

In the end it is a preference. I like mine because it is what I recieved. Some hate it some love it. In the performance dept, any difference between a 5-speed and an auto can easily be made up.

Good luck in your decision.
 
01ragtop said:
Hey guys clear something up for me: all other things being equal is a stick that much faster than an auto?-
A little bit, you are more likely to do better against a 5speed from a dig as many drivers cant launch well at all as compared to on the highway where anybody can mash the gas.


01ragtop said:
What about if the auto has chip with the more aggressive shift points.
No, you need a stall converter to really compete, but if you actually do go with a stall converter you have a transmission that is much better suited to drag racing then a 5speed. It will be efficient and handle more power and be consistant.
 
01ragtop said:
Hey guys clear something up for me: all other things being equal is a stick that much faster than an auto? I always assumed this would be a drivers race and of course a good driver could make the manual go faster. What about if the auto has chip with the more aggressive shift points. Those of you who KNOW please help... I am not trying to start an arguement here just curious!





it related to the applications/modifications and your skills, i'll leave at that
 
This topic is brought up again and again.

Basically Ford autos suck, In a F-Body it doesn't really matter. I can still remember the old Fox bodies the auto was really a dog. Besides more taking up more power (Converter) they also have numerically lower gear ratios. So 5 spd stock vs Auto stock 99% the 5 spd will get the better numbers.

But like others have said higher Stall, shift point adj. and more line pressure will make the auto about par to a manual but it's street ability goes down the tubes. Some may argue but with these mods to any auto it is not a real plesure drive of the track.
 
I have an automatic and would rather have it than a stick....although the sticks tend to see more rwhp numbers as their drivetrain is usually lighter weight. However, the automatics tend to be more solid built and have less rear-end trouble.

I'de like to see any manual on this board whoop me with close or eqaul power once I get my "to come" mods put in.:D
 
Dark Knight GT said:
I have an automatic and would rather have it than a stick....although the sticks tend to see more rwhp numbers as their drivetrain is usually lighter weight. However, the automatics tend to be more solid built and have less rear-end trouble.

I'de like to see any manual on this board whoop me with close or eqaul power once I get my "to come" mods put in.:D
taker on that challenge
 
codyGT said:
This topic is brought up again and again.

Basically Ford autos suck, In a F-Body it doesn't really matter. I can still remember the old Fox bodies the auto was really a dog. Besides more taking up more power (Converter) they also have numerically lower gear ratios. So 5 spd stock vs Auto stock 99% the 5 spd will get the better numbers.

But like others have said higher Stall, shift point adj. and more line pressure will make the auto about par to a manual but it's street ability goes down the tubes. Some may argue but with these mods to any auto it is not a real plesure drive of the track.

I have an auto and sometimes wish I had a manual, but not for the reasons you list. First, it only appears that the retios of an automatic are numerically lower than those of a manual, but when you consider that the torque converter also has a ratio associated with it (I think its around 2:1 stock, PI converters advertise a 2.53:1 ratio), it raises the individual gear ratios. Second, I have a reflashed computer by Jerry W. with higher line pressures and shift points. Day to day driving, you wouldn't notice though. At WOT youdefinitely notice, especially when you go sideways on the 1-2 shift and the 2-3. I know this is with a supercharger and 4.10 gears but I also only have a stock converter. I hope this clears up some misunderstanding. As far as which one is better... they each have there place and everyone is entitled to their opinions. Manuals are more fun on the street, but autos are more consistent on the track and hands free in traffic. Your choice.

Troy
 
I got a stick because I feel like I have more control of my car. A couple years ago, I was in my mom's corvette (auto) and floored it in a turn. The car really got sideways, and in a stick, I feel like I can keep it in a gear in which I don't have to floor it to make it through a turn to exit quickly. Plus stick is a little cheaper, and the mileage is a couple MPG better.