Automatics vs. Manuals

TJMAudio · Dec 11, 2004

I was talking to my friend the other day about the 2005 Mustang I am getting in January (GT Coupe), and I am probably getting an Automatic. He called me a dumbass for it and said to get a manual, they are quicker and faster. Now, what is your input on this? From what I recall a redone Automatic is basically a manual with perfect shifts...
Please put in your opinion.

YellowMach69 · Dec 11, 2004

i love the manual better, Plus i hope wife would drive it less

coupe302 · Dec 11, 2004

I have had 5 Mustangs and only one of those was an auto.(91 LX 5.0) which I eventually converted to a five speed. Although this new auto. tranny may be a huge improvement over previous models, you can't beat the fun factor of a 5-speed Mustang.

Zedoc · Dec 11, 2004

The automatic is a FIVE speed and is suposed to be excellent. In 99% of driving it will shift faster and be in the proper gear more often than the five speed. You would be a faster driver in the automatic except in an absolute drag race from 0 to top speed.
That said, I'm getting a manual just because it's more involving and gives you more feel for what the engine is doing. It's more traditional too, but the automatic is better for almost everything (but cost).

Scot_94GT · Dec 11, 2004

A manual is more fun to drive. I couldn't car less about 1 or 2 tenths in the 1/4 from either type of tranny.

alan519 · Dec 11, 2004

depends on where you live, and how you drive

TJMAudio said:
I was talking to my friend the other day about the 2005 Mustang I am getting in January (GT Coupe), and I am probably getting an Automatic. He called me a dumbass for it and said to get a manual, they are quicker and faster. Now, what is your input on this? From what I recall a redone Automatic is basically a manual with perfect shifts...
Please put in your opinion.

if you live in a congested city, and drive everyday, an automatic is the only way to go...shifting back and forth gets old real fast in congestion. If the car is only used occasionally and to have fun, then get the standard.

351CJ · Dec 11, 2004

From the horse's mouth (a Ford engineer that is), MOST drivers will be faster in an auto. It will take a very good driver to be faster in the manual.

Note that M/T ran 13.6 first try with an '05 GT auto, but took them a while to beat that time with a manual. So far they've only been able to run a manual 0.1 sec faster.

Get what you think is the right trannie for you, not what your "friend" says. What kind of tranne does your friend have in his car?

bandgod · Dec 11, 2004

im getting the manual becuase i had more fun, it gives you more feel to the car. its just more fun

351CJ · Dec 11, 2004

bandgod said:
im getting the manual becuase i had more fun, it gives you more feel to the car. its just more fun

That's great, I have a manual trannie in my 2001 GT.

But what's right for you and me may not be the best choice for the person asking the question.

So I'll say it again, get the trannie that you want not the trannie that your friend thinks you should get nor the trannie that anyone here on Stangnet has or thinks you should get.

66Satellite · Dec 11, 2004

I haven't driven it yet but all the reviews have been going nuts about how nice the manual shifter and clutch are in the 05. Plus, it's cheaper...

new22003 · Dec 11, 2004

Either way for me. I like a manual sometimes but an auto is sure nice.

66Satellite · Dec 11, 2004

new22003 said:
Either way for me. I like a manual sometimes but an auto is sure nice.

Yeah, when you have that much torque either is fine. It's the buzzy high reving engines where a manual is the only real choice.

TJMAudio · Dec 11, 2004

Having that much torque? What does torque do to contribute to a manuel? Smoother shifts or something?

corey796 · Dec 12, 2004

TJMAudio said:
I was talking to my friend the other day about the 2005 Mustang I am getting in January (GT Coupe), and I am probably getting an Automatic. He called me a dumbass for it and said to get a manual, they are quicker and faster. Now, what is your input on this? From what I recall a redone Automatic is basically a manual with perfect shifts...
Please put in your opinion.

your friends wrong the manual is quicker but not faster or is it faster not quicker

bandgod · Dec 12, 2004

So I'll say it again, get the trannie that you want not the trannie that your friend thinks you should get nor the trannie that anyone here on Stangnet has or thinks you should get.

the best advice anyone can give. get whatever you like and what will be convenient for you. people that get manuals usually get it because you just get more involved with the car gives it a more racer like feel. but definately get what works for you and what you like.

Amstung · Dec 12, 2004

I agree with alan519. I really miss the fun of a manual, but it was not fun in traffic. It was also harder to shift while my arm was in a cast.

hobbyhorse · Dec 12, 2004

I haven't driven the 05, automatic or manual, but if in runs thru the gears and shifts like an auto lincoln LS it will probably be fun in a kinky sort of way.

120rir · Dec 13, 2004

I agree with much of what is written above. All of my previous vehicles were manual and then we got an automatic a couple of years back....regretted it ever since. In a Mustang, it just seems like heresy to have an automatic. However, if you do a lot of stop-n-go driving an auto wouldn't be such a bad thing to have.

Mach428 · Dec 13, 2004

The diffrence between the AUTO and Manual is the drivetrain loss. Your stang In manual looses 15% of it's power through the drivetrain, an AUTO looses about 20%.

Manual RWHP 270

Auto RWHP 250

spencerod · Dec 13, 2004

Mach428 said:
The diffrence between the AUTO and Manual is the drivetrain loss. Your stang In manual looses 15% of it's power through the drivetrain, an AUTO looses about 20%.

Manual RWHP 270

Auto RWHP 250

Am I missing something? I thought the GT had 300 hp at the crank, thus therefore and always you meant 255 hp and 240 hp manual/auto respectively. Now that I am finished being a jackass I have a question. Do you know if he drivtrain loss #'s you quoted are specific to the '05 Mustang, or are you quoting generally held notions of drivetrain loss.

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