Hmm auto or stick?

[Power4]

Well I'm finally almost ready to buy a new 'stang and the only decision I'm having a problem with is to get a stick or an auto tranny. The main reasons I'd opt for the auto is I've had limited experience driving cars with a manual transmission; just my friends' cheap Chevys or Nissans. Plus there aren't many Mustangs on the lots around here with a stick. Here's an outline of the reasons for each I keep thinking about:

Manual:
- It's a V8 muscle car, it's gotta have a stick.
- More fun.

Auto:
- Easier to drive in traffic.
- I'm not terribly experienced with a stick.
- Easier to negotiate a lower price with the dealer because of lower demand.
- Tons more on the lots than manuals so more choice and easier to negotiate price.

 

[PDXStangDude]

go stick... you will get better as you drive and the stange is a pretty easy clutch to learn on.

 

[Blaven]

I've also had limited experience with a stick but my current mustang that i'm trading in is an auto and the 07 i ordered is a stick. I didn't care how good i was at it b/c i know i'll get better, and like you said its a muscle car it has to be stick

 

[PSU2009]

Awesome choice, my 07 will be a stick indefinitely

 

[93GrunT]

Autos start at almost a grand more to start with so the ability to negotiate a lower price is kind of a moot point since there are dealers that will sell for 500 over invoice if you look hard enough. Perhaps even lower. I am getting a manual b/c then I don't have to have my wife trying to borrow my car, the only reason I would even consider going with an auto in my new stang is to make it easier on my designated drivers. I will sacrafice that if it's my only reason.

 

[nycstang37]

never driven a stick before, picking up my 06 next week, and its stick. gonna have some fun. i dont wanna regret nto gettign it later on down the road. and as others have said, its a muscle car, arent you supposed to bang through the gears yourself? had a quick lesson this past week in a 92 gt, pretty easy to get the hang of, just getting going is the hardest part, but after maybe 15 minutes i got it down.

 

[anthony05gt]

Manual!

 

[The Fang]

Yea get a manual cause your gonna want to rev it a lil.

 

[MFgrimm]

I got an auto and i regret it everytime im on an open road so i voted Stick.

 

[Unbrdld07]

I don't regret my auto, it goes thru it's own shifting at a rapid pace and I've had a lot of fun doing it, but to each his own, you'll have fun either way you go. Wait til you hit 120 in it........

Oh yeah, it was open road too.

 

[cowtown]

I agree with AC. I have a blast in my Auto and there is no way I could outshift it. These new 5 speed auto's are a real nice piece of work.

Whichever way you go I'm sure you'll love it. If I lived elsewhere with less traffic and perhaps wasn't at risk for occasionaly loosing the use of my left foot to a re-occuring ailment then I would return to the Manual fold. It is pretty nice being able to drive along briskly and drink my Starbucks without worrying about the shifting though.

 

[anthony05gt]

Mine was an auto, then I researched the electrical system and did the first ever auto to manual swap in a '05 mustang. I am so much happier with it now.

 

[Unbrdld07]

I agree with AC. I have a blast in my Auto and there is no way I could outshift it. These new 5 speed auto's are a real nice piece of work.

Whichever way you go I'm sure you'll love it. If I lived elsewhere with less traffic and perhaps wasn't at risk for occasionaly loosing the use of my left foot to a re-occuring ailment then I would return to the Manual fold. It is pretty nice being able to drive along briskly and drink my Starbucks without worrying about the shifting though.

Couldn't imagine not being able to drink mine while shifting, let alone the stop and go traffic thats around here.

 

[Notchbck93]

If it was the AOD, then ya grab a T-5, but if you sit in any kind of traffic on a daily basis, stick does get old rather fast.

Times have changed and that new 5 speed auto is sweetness. If you don't sit in any real traffic then opt for the 5-speed manual.

 

[don mergi]

stick

 

[Power4]

If it was the AOD, then ya grab a T-5, but if you sit in any kind of traffic on a daily basis, stick does get old rather fast.

Times have changed and that new 5 speed auto is sweetness. If you don't sit in any real traffic then opt for the 5-speed manual.

I rarely have to deal with much traffic so I'm thinking I'll go for the manual now. Hopefully I can get a good deal on one.

 

[cowtown]

Yeah that AOD was umm yeah we'll just leave it at that, heh. Enjoy Power4, make sure to post some pics.

 

[351CJ]

It's kind of silly to ask us.

The questions you have to ask yourself are:
"Which do you prefer to drive?"
"Have you test driven both stick and auto Stangs?"
"Do you have to drive in a lot of stop & go traffic?"

 

[shooterm1]

Stick for me >

but funny thing is Ford puts more Automatics in Mustangs than they do 5 spds!

in fact in some models (like V6 convertibles) its almost impossible to get a stick without placing a special order for it.

 

[cowtown]

Quite the opposite around here, there is a 3-1 ratio of manuals to autos. It was next to impossible to get the auto and colour combo I wanted, I could source just about any colour and interior combo with a manual I wanted. One of the sales guys was complaining that they just don't have enough auto's in the GT.

Guess I must not be the only one around here sick of the traffic.