Auto Tranny Regrets?

9thpony · Apr 19, 2005

I just picked up my '05 GT Friday with an auto tranny 4 days ago. At first I was really stoked - the car is awesome. But the more I got used to it the more I started regretting my decision to by the auto instead of the manual. My original justification was that I commute about 70 miles a day and about half of that can be in traffic on average. I was getting a little tired of pumping a clutch in my '02 GT and I'm also not big on power shifting so I thought the auto would be the way to go. Unfortunately, I have now found out that this was the wrong decision. I am too used to being in complete control of what gear the car is in and the instant throttle response of the manual.

At this point I am not sure what to do. I plan on keeping this car for 10+ years so I don't want to settle for something that isn't what I really want.

Anybody else with an auto having similar regrets? Anybody have any good suggestions for what I should do?

I have thought about selling it with 600 miles and placing an order for an '06 GT. I should get a decent price since the car is brand spanking new. This is going to kill my mod budget plus some though and I would be paying sales tax twice, I would have to keep the new car almost stock for a few years. I'm not sure I could afford this option.

The other thought I had was checking into whether the car can be converted to a manual and what it would cost. Maybe selling the almost new auto tranny would help offset the cost a little, but not much. Plus I don't even know if this can be done. If it can be done I would think this route would be cheaper, but maybe not as desireable.

The last option would be to just stick with the auto and live with it. Unfortunately every time I drive the car I will wish I got the manual.

What do you think?

Doug

GTJade · Apr 19, 2005

Not good. I'd find a way to get happy w/the auto rather than take the hit to the ole' pocketbook.

But for my very yucky stop-n-go commute, I would've opted for a manual. So whenever I find myself longing for that stick, I do one or more of the following: remind myself how bad it sucked to drive in traffic with a manual; commence to multi-tasking; kick back and enjoy the ride; stomp on the gas and see what the auto tranny can do (look ma, no hands!)...

Mark05GTVert · Apr 19, 2005

manually shift the heck out of that AT... it's fun.

Look ma, no clutch!

kevins05v-6 · Apr 19, 2005

This is my first car with an automatic tranny. and I am "spoiled" by it now, will be selling my 02 Altima that is a 5speed, cause no one wants to drive it!!
I love the automatic, its so smooth..

9thpony · Apr 19, 2005

Update on tranny impressions...

Hey guys,

I think I just figured out what has really been bothering me was that the car was constantly shifting into O/D. I didn't know you could disable the O/D until I took it out for a spin at lunch today and looked through the owners manual. DOH!!! This makes a huge difference and might be the reason for my dissapointment. It seems that in trying to save gas mileage that the computer shifts to the highest gear possible when your are not accelerating. This quickly becomes annoying when driving on city streets because it feels like you are coasting everywhere you go. Great for gas mileage, sucky for fun!

After disabling the T/C and O/D it feels much more responsive and seems to downshift much quicker, especially if I manually downshift. I'll have to drive it for a while more now with O/D off and re-evaluate my opinion. I do have to say that being able to nail it from the line and have perfect shifts is nice also. Maybe it wasn't such a bad decision after all. I think I'll have to make my next mod a new set of 3.73 or 4.10 gears before I do the CAI though to help make it a little more snappy.

Doug

Mark05GTVert · Apr 19, 2005

oh yeah, don't forget to turn off the OD and TC....

007 · Apr 19, 2005

I regret getting an auto. My wife has back problems though so it made sense. She doesnt drive it now though. I'll do the TKO swap one day... (unless I can find a cheap T56)

BradC · Apr 19, 2005

Since I got the V6 most people will say it doesn't really make a difference, but I got the auto as well. I did my time in manual transmission cars, and after my first automatic I never went back.

I live in L.A. so I know all about stop-and-go traffic. Auto was the only choice for me and I wouldn't even consider a manual (unless of course you're talking about the '07 cobra where you don't have a choice.)

9thpony · Apr 19, 2005

Auto to manual swap?

Is it possible to swap the auto for a manual? I wonder how much something like this would cost?

Doug

Aipaloovik · Apr 19, 2005

kevins05v-6 said:
I love the automatic, its so smooth..

That's funny because the one thing I hate about the automatic is that it's so smooth! Durn it all, I thought I bought a sports car!

I'm happy that I got the auto, but as someone stated above, driving in and around LA, a manual is quite brutal in the traffic. Frankly, if you are disappointed with your purchase, I think you should take the hit and get the car you want. You don't want to drive around with regret for 10 years! When I’m bored in traffic I drop the top (yes, LA traffic actually stops long enough to put the top down), crank up the shaker and just cruise and watch the people in their SUVs turn green with envy.

ExCon · Apr 19, 2005

2 times I bought a brand new car with an automatic and sold it within 60 days. I HATE automatics, I just can't seem to have any fun driving them. Some people LOVE them but I for one will NEVER own another automatic. I test drove a 300 C Hemi and I never bought the car since it only comes in auto. I can't control the power bands on the engine and there simply is no substitute for rowing a manual tranny. I owned an M3 with an SMG Tranny and even a Sequential Manual Gearbox just does not have the "fun factor" of a manual.

Doc GTO · Apr 19, 2005

007 said:
I regret getting an auto. My wife has back problems though so it made sense. She doesnt drive it now though. I'll do the TKO swap one day... (unless I can find a cheap T56)

Get your wife a good Chiropractor and then get the 5 speed/6 speed swap
!

96vert · Apr 19, 2005

I got the auto (the reason was daily stop-n-go commute). I started to get tired of it, but then I started manually shifting it. It is actually really great! Give the manual shifting a try. On these cars, you can choose 1,2 or 3 and it stays only in that gear. Turn O/D off, and it will shift 1st -4th gear. Further, I have found that just keeping O/D off helps the "fun factor" too.

Alamo · Apr 19, 2005

Aipaloovik said:
That's funny because the one thing I hate about the automatic is that it's so smooth! Durn it all, I thought I bought a sports car!

I'm happy that I got the auto, but as someone stated above, driving in and around LA, a manual is quite brutal in the traffic. Frankly, if you are disappointed with your purchase, I think you should take the hit and get the car you want. You don't want to drive around with regret for 10 years! When I’m bored in traffic I drop the top (yes, LA traffic actually stops long enough to put the top down), crank up the shaker and just cruise and watch the people in their SUVs turn green with envy.

I might be wrong but I think a sports car only has two seats.

doublestang · Apr 20, 2005

I have an automatic with 5000 miles on it...I drive it like I stole it....0-60 between two light poles at least three to five times a day... the more I drive the more responsive the engine gets.
The computer in this car really learns with your driving habits, the harder you drive it the better it responds.....

It's like a wild pony that has to run!

Pretty tough sometimes at these gas prices though to justify a lead foot....

Blk'05 · Apr 20, 2005

I live on Guam..where its all stop and go traffic (no freeways)and I still wouldnt get an auto.

QCStang · Apr 20, 2005

Alamo said:
I might be wrong but I think a sports car only has two seats.

Porsche 911 Targa, Jaguar XKE 2+2, RX-8, Datsun 240Z, MGB GT all have back seats.

The Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky both have 2 seats. So does the old 3 wheeled Messershmidt from the '50s.

Shelby Cobra. 2 seats - Most people call it the "original " muscle car.

Which of these cars are REAL sports cars? I don't think you can judge a sports car by how many seats it has. 2 seats is a Purist approach. I think that a 2 seater should be called a "roadster". Some people say that to qualify as a roadster, a car has to be a convertible.

In the truest sense, a 2 seat car is a "roadster".

QCStang · Apr 20, 2005

96vert said:
I got the auto (the reason was daily stop-n-go commute). I started to get tired of it, but then I started manually shifting it. It is actually really great! Give the manual shifting a try. On these cars, you can choose 1,2 or 3 and it stays only in that gear. Turn O/D off, and it will shift 1st -4th gear. Further, I have found that just keeping O/D off helps the "fun factor" too.

If you really want to "get on it", try a high stall torque converter, valve body, slap shifter and a chip tune (You can change all your shift points with electronic automatics). Roast 5 speeds all day, and never miss a shift!

although I do not have an '05, (I have a 95), I have seen some pretty amazing things done to electronic automatics - they also seem less prone to breakdown than the sticks. Helps to have Lentech in the area.

"Hockey knees" have done me in for a long time. Auto is the only option for me.

ExCon · Apr 20, 2005

Since everyone is such a stickler about specifics: Datsun 240Z has 2 seats. They did make a 2+2 model which sold poorly and had back seats. The Datsun was truly a MILESTONE in automotive history. It was the first truly affordable sports car that didn't break down every 30 miles. You could actually run the A/C for as long as you wanted at a stop light without the car overheating. Things we take for granted today regarding reliability were FIRSTS with the Datsun 240Z. A fantastic affordable automobile that changed everything.

QCStang · Apr 20, 2005

Carbs on it were notorious - body was a blantant copy of the jag at the time. I found the engines frightfully underpowered and breakdown repairs and part costs were brutal. Sometimes it would take up to 6 months to get a part!

Yup, it was a milestone - more time spent in the garage than Brit roadsters at the time.

It didn't take Canadian winters at all, most of them rusted away in one winter.

But yeah, it was cheap compared to any other sport or muscle car of it's time.

2 seats? I've only seen them in Canada with the teeney back seat (makes a Stang seat in the back look like a sofa!)

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