Should I get the manual

[Supermans]

AUTO PLUS Hid's

MY 2 cents.

ACTUALLY my 2 cents is: GET WHATEVER YOU LIKE!!! Dont listen to anyone else. I live in FLAT south Florida and like to have a cup of coffee while Im driving in the traffic..plus Ive had 2 back surgeries. .Manual is a PITA for me, but that doesnt mean I tell everyone else they "should" get an auto.

And I think that they should give you in the military a $5000 discount and FREE SHIPPING oversees...THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
RC

Amen to that brother..

 

[mycaptainchris]

And I think that they should give you in the military a $5000 discount and FREE SHIPPING oversees...THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
RC

or at least cost. (Ford cost, not dealership cost.)

It sounds like you've ordered a really great Mustang. I like the look of the HID's and would also go Manual. Until Ford use the same sort of paddle shifter system they put on the Jaguars, I'd never go auto again. You can just put your coffee down to change gear.

 

[rebus]

I thought it was a "pony car"

I didn't know a Mustang was a sports car when I ordered it, so I went with an automatic. Has anybody heard anything about the new 6 speed auto? I had read that it was good for 800 HP out of the box. I'm in the too old and sore to shift category myself, however my automatic is certainly still a lot of fun to drive, acceleration is acceleration after all. The Chris Rose tune made all the difference on how the auto shifts and behaves, so I would recommend a tune as the stock tune is a bit mushy feeling. This argument has been going around since the advent of the automatic transmission, today's auto's are a far cry from yesterdays hydramatics. Decide for yourself, either way you can't go wrong, as well as there will always be some compromise either way you go. That said I'm personally very happy with my 5 speed auto, and the 6 speed should only be better. Good luck!

 

[94GTLaserRC]

Can you tell me more about the CHRIS ROSE tune?

 

[stanmckinney]

I used to drive nothing but manuals. A bad back and arthritis and other problems have forced me to drive only automatics. I will be driving a Mustang, even if it is an automatic, as long as my health permits.
I can actually get in and out of a Mustang easier than many vehicles. I guess it is the wide doors.
I have a handicapped parking permit and often get strange looks from people when I park my candy red GT in such a spot.
Where is it written that a disabled person can't drive a Mustang?

 

[cdog1157]

Manual all the way, but you can only get the remote start with an automatic, and don't really need a back-up camera on a smaller car.

 

[gashog]

I prefer to row my own boat thank you.

 

[wotfr]

The only down side to an auto is u can't dump the clutch and light the tires whenever u want. As a poor working stiff I can't afford to replace the Nitto's every 6 mos.anyway. With a good tune u can control the shift points w/ your right foot, if u are cruising it shifts like a Lincoln, but if u floor it pulls to redline and shifts HARD. Stop and go traffic where I live (Des Moines) isn't bad but a few weeks ago I went to Joliet for the NMRA event and was loving the auto. Another upside to an auto after a long day at work w/ a sore back u don't further strain it. I know hydraulic clutches are much easier to push than my old Fox was but still it is a consideration. My '06 is so much more enjoyable than my '90 was and that is partly because the '06 is auto. As for the 2-5 shift yes it is possible but it also takes the fun factor right out, it reminds me of the people who say my turbo or supercharger gets pretty good gas mileage when I'm not building boost. It just seems a little oxymoronical to me. Either way you'll enjoy your car and the new auto cars actually get better mileage than the stick. I hope you have fun w/ it on the autobahn when you get back. Finally as a Gulf War vet myself I really appreciate what you are doing for our country. Godspeed.

 

[eric n]

I love the manual transmission. I've been driving automatic for the last 4 years and this new (2011) stick is slick and smooth. Traffic in my town is not nearly as rough as Los Angeles and a manual is a workable option that I am enjoying tremendously. Perhaps if I lived in a major metropolitan center it would be a different story, but I'd defiantly vote for the 6m.

 

[STANGmole]

It depends on where you live and what kind of driving you'll be doing.

My 2010 is the first auto Mustang I've ever owned. For a daily driver (in often stop and go traffic in a major metropolitan area) I don't know that I'd ever go back to a manual...part of that decision though is due to how horrible (in my opinion) the Tremec was on my 2008. I've driven lots of manuals and the Tremec was by far the worst in shift quality, especially when cold and was the main reason I got rid of the 2008. Now that Ford has gotten away from Tremec I'd consider the manual again if it wasn't for how much I'm enjoying the convenience of the auto. The auto is also more manageable in wet weather and it's easy to take off slowly (opposite from the goal of most Mustang owners) from a light. I mean, seriously....with the 2008GT I'd have to allow some space between me and the slow moving car in front of me when taking off from a dead stop because I'd just end up having to push in the clutch and hit the brakes to avoid rear-ending them. It's easier to creep in stop and go traffic with the auto. Lastly, like I said I've driven many manual Mustangs over a 20 year period (so I know how to drive a stick) and it's near impossible to be able to outperform the auto in a drag race when it comes to consistency of launch and speed of shifts.

As for the HID lights, now that I've had them on a few cars (CTS, 2008 GT, and now 2010 GT) I won't go back to regular headlights. The older I get the worse my night vision is and the HIDs compensate for that. I also am in the minority...but I think they look cooler on the new Mustang. I like the modern projector look. It sucks that Ford ropes you into buying the security package at an added $500 if you choose the HID option though...

 

[willie2323]

here is a little out of the box thinkin...most all imports now have nice options on their auto trans cars...the 370Z auto i drove had both manual gear control on the stick and paddles on the steering wheel. My wifes 2010 camaro has steering wheel paddles on the auto tranny...Ford is falling behind not offering manual gear control on their auto tranny cars IMHO.

Bill

 

[mn12]

I'd say go for the Automatic if you can't choose. To me the 'fun' part of driving a sporty car is not moving a shift lever around and playing with a clutch pedal...but simply getting the simple feeling of getting pushed back in your seat when you hit the gas. To me, I don't drive a 'sporty car' to have to 'work' a bit more, I just want that feeling.

I will agree with the fact that Ford needs to put a manu-matic option on their automatic. That gives 90% of drivers the best of both worlds...the ability to shift if/when they want..or the ability to just sit back hit the gas, and focus on nothing else other than the road.

 

[jokergrin]

My last GT was a manual and had I not had to choose from dealer stock when my was lease was up, I would have gotten another instead of the auto in my '11. So without bias, I say this automatic is definitively fantastic. Performance surprisingly parallels a late model AMG sedan and with 6 gears, it feels like the powerband is ALWAYS readily available to attack. When you disengage the t/c and then tap the "hill assist" button, the car transforms into what I like to call "cannibal mode" where instantaneous triple digit speeds arrive before the comprehension of how fast you're going does. fun times

 

[bigboss]

This is my order. I am wondering people opinion on a few things. Should I get the manual and are the HID lights worth the extra money? This will be my everyday car and I know how to drive stick, but havent done so regularly for 4 years.

For everyday driving, your left leg will build up endurance! My first 5.0 was an everyday car (as long as there wasn't snow on the ground!) and even though most of the time seemed to be spent stop-and-go in town, I just accepted the clutch as a way of life and NEVER found myself wishing for automatic, even in NJ traffic jams.

The front seat has got plenty of room for tall drivers and long legs, but if you've got any kids, life is going to be tough for them. I don't know when Ford went to rear buckets instead of a bench, but it means that you can only get 2 kids back there instead of 3, and the only reason my kids tolerate it is because they are thrilled with riding in a Mustang. The older ones have to put their legs sidewise a bit. The toddler in the car seat has got his feet right up against the front seats, there's just no way around it no matter how far up you slide the seat. (It kills me to think of footprints on the seat of my new 5.0!)