Automatic or Manual

YoungGun

Founding Member
Sep 10, 2001
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Ok guys im shoppin around hardcore. My only problem is my wife cant drive a manual. I know it sucks but if theres ever an emergency she might have to take my car. My question for you guys is...Is there any extreme performance issue's between the 2 trannys? Thanks for the input
 
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from what i hear, the auto might actually be faster because of the gearing in it. i have a manual and wouldnt trade it for the world. i suggest that you make the wife learn to drive a manual. this is the 21st century you know.
 
The automatic in these cars is great, but why not spend a pretty Saturday afternoon teaching the wife to drive a stick? I understand if it were intended to be a driver for her, but if you're talking emergency use only, anybody can learn to drive a manual.
 
YoungGun said:
Ok guys im shoppin around hardcore. My only problem is my wife cant drive a manual. I know it sucks but if theres ever an emergency she might have to take my car. My question for you guys is...Is there any extreme performance issue's between the 2 trannys? Thanks for the input
I've driven sticks for years but the Stang I found was an automatic and it was the right color. So I bought it! It is very smooth and fast!
 
66 BLAKE 96 said:
The automatic in these cars is great, but why not spend a pretty Saturday afternoon teaching the wife to drive a stick? I understand if it were intended to be a driver for her, but if you're talking emergency use only, anybody can learn to drive a manual.

I agree. A person should know how to drive a stick before driving an automatic so that they know how to drive one in the case of an emergency where the vehicle is only a manual.
Driving a stick is not that difficult once the car is moving.
The initial part that's the toughest, is when you're trying to accelerate from a complete stop or from a complete stop on a hill or slope.
Since clutches are different in every car, you have to have a good feel for them to know when apply it in coordination with the gas pedal so you can accelerate or deccelerate smoothly.
When someone is learning to drive one for the first time, they always have trouble coordinating their feet and almost always stall out or surge jerkingly. That happened to me when I was first learning so that will only come by time and experience.
 
The automatic / manual issue was a huge one for me. I prefer manual transmissions and have owned many manual performance cars over the years. I have driven both 05's and ended up buying an automatic. The automatic performs extremely well. I am very pleased with it. BTW, the automatic is marginally faster than the stick.
 
Quote: cdemot02 "Automatic is slower in the 1/4. If you plan on doing major performance mods (supercharging) the automatic could be questionable."

Respectfully disagree. Look at the numbers. The auto is faster than the stick from the start to the end of the 1/4 mile. :) Can you tell I love my auto?
 
And no one said any about "missed shifts w/a stick"..

An auto can shift on the fly (if you understand the dynamics of the tranny) just as quickly as any stick shift car...

True - the "hole shot" from a stick can't compare to an automatic, but I've driven both for many many years (I'm 53) and I can tell you that when you are in traffic or rush hour on a big city like Chicago, a person would have to be "nuts" to drive a stick...

Fun YES!!! A Pain in traffic YES!!! Faster than an automatic VERY CLOSE!!!

Your choice............

Dave :hail2: :hail2: :hail2: :hail2:
 
05Stangster said:
Quote: cdemot02 "Automatic is slower in the 1/4. If you plan on doing major performance mods (supercharging) the automatic could be questionable."

Respectfully disagree. Look at the numbers. The auto is faster than the stick from the start to the end of the 1/4 mile. :) Can you tell I love my auto?

Most stock autos are running slower than sticks. I'm just going by the numbers we've been seeing on the forums. It makes sense as well. Higher gear ratio in the Sticks should make it quicker. Now if you can't drive a stick the auto will be faster. The 60ft times on the auto have been disappointing but with a new converter that should be taken care of.

I have an auto as well, and love it as a daily driver. But, it is not going to satisfy my performance needs.
 
cdemot02,
If the auto does not "satisfy" your performance needs, then I have the answer ... you need a second car! Preferably the GT500! :drool: Ah yes, wouldn't that be sweet? The auto for the daily driver and the Shelby for when you have the need for speed :cool: God, I think I just jot a woody thinking about that one ...
 
The automatic in the new mustangs is actually weak. It uses the overdrive band to shift in second gear. By nature it can only handle about 450 to 475 horsepower. So if you are planning to do a lot of modifications then you should probably go with a manuel.
 
475 sounds pretty good to me :) If I exceeded that by much:

I'd be in jail for speeding or excessive excelleration
my insurance rates would go through the roof
I would have tires with no tread
no money in the bank
my wife would leave me because of all the fines
I would have to sell the car
all because I joined this forum! :rlaugh:

You guys crack me up. Just about every time I open up a new post - I feel the need for MORE SPEED, MORE HP, MORE TQ, MORE MORE MORE :) It's addictive, isn't it. :cheers:
 
kmatWhipple said:
The automatic in the new mustangs is actually weak. It uses the overdrive band to shift in second gear. By nature it can only handle about 450 to 475 horsepower. So if you are planning to do a lot of modifications then you should probably go with a manuel.


He is right the new autos are very weak. I work for Ford and this trany has a problem with eating its self with abuse. They also have to have a special additive added to them at every fluid change in order to keep them to together, this stuff is thicker than bearing grease but liquefies when hot.

That is why I went with a manual trany, plus its just fun to drive.
 
66 BLAKE 96 said:
The automatic in these cars is great, but why not spend a pretty Saturday afternoon teaching the wife to drive a stick? I understand if it were intended to be a driver for her, but if you're talking emergency use only, anybody can learn to drive a manual.

I made my wife learn how to drive a stick in case of an emergency. She's not too good, but can get the car from point A to point B.
 
05Stangster said:
475 sounds pretty good to me :) If I exceeded that by much:

I'd be in jail for speeding or excessive excelleration
my insurance rates would go through the roof
I would have tires with no tread
no money in the bank
my wife would leave me because of all the fines
I would have to sell the car
all because I joined this forum! :rlaugh:

You guys crack me up. Just about every time I open up a new post - I feel the need for MORE SPEED, MORE HP, MORE TQ, MORE MORE MORE :) It's addictive, isn't it. :cheers:

lol