something i dont get about autos

[streetstang03]

Why wouldnt manually shifting an auto be just as good as a 5-speed?? since u are manually telling the car when to shift, u can get the same shift points as a 5-speed. does it just take longer than a 5-speed to complete the manual shift if thats the case, wouldnt manually shifting the auto under WOT make the car shift faster???

 

[SonicGT04]

Instead of worrying about all of that, I just stick to ordering a car in manual transmission

-Dave

 

[2k3gt]

Consider that the transmission is the middleman between the power your engine is making and the driveshaft supplying power to your rear wheels. While programmed shift points do make somewhat of a difference, the real problem lies in the parasitic loss incurred by an automatic. In other words, it has to do with the actual mechanical construction of the transmission. Seamless shifts at the cost of a larger amount of engine power.

Aside from that, I'm pretty certain the 1-2 shift points on an auto were designed with engine braking in mind. Else they would have used a Tiptronic system (which I kinda like).

Other than that, I can't tell ya much. I hope this answers your question, 'cause I'm still learning myself.

 

[streetstang03]

Instead of worrying about all of that, I just stick to ordering a car in manual transmission

-Dave

I couldnt pass this deal up though....so i kinda got stuck w/ auto i love the car though

 

[85GTlover]

Um......er...........ah..........yea........well........no not really. Some
new cars are almost like both...... you can shift yourself......but
it....just is not the same..... i let someone else explain..

 

[streetstang03]

i understand the whole drivetrain loss between the auto and 5-speeds, but would manually shifting my auto kinda be like a less powered 5-speed??

 

[2k3gt]

Aside from the weaker gear ratios in the transmission itself, thats exactly what it would be. At least through first and second gear, then you're right back to a 4spd AOD.

 

[LouisianaZJ]

i understand the whole drivetrain loss between the auto and 5-speeds, but would manually shifting my auto kinda be like a less powered 5-speed??

yes, it would be a pussified 5spd

 

[QU!CK]

auto shifting is also a good way to kill your tranny...not trying to sound like a smart @$$ but if autos were meant to be shifted manually then they wouldn't be automatics now would they? (excluding newer "tiptronic" trannies)


-J

 

[Brisk281GT]

I'm with Quick, I always thought that manually shifting your Auto really wasn't that good for it in the long run.

 

[Dr. Wu 2000]

I agree. I don't manually shift my auto. If I knew that 5-speeds made more
power and were more fun to drive when I bought my car,(didn't know much
about gt's when I bought it) I wouldn't have paid $800 MORE to get an auto.
The good thing about an auto is you never miss a shift, but the fun factor
is lost. I am always grabbing the shifter anyway while I am driving. I thought
about doing a tranny swap but decided against it. My next mustang will
ABSOLUTELY be a stick. No doubt about it !!!!

 

[merc123]

We've had this argument on the Cougar boards a long time ago. A guy manually upshifted his cougar and it wound up blowing up.

 

[streetstang03]

i understood that manually upshift the 4r70w was ok for the tranny. Downshifting is another story though, i would never think about doing that. i had written a lettter to Mustang Monthly asking if it was ok for the tranny and they published it and responded saying that it was ok to upshift, not downshift. Oh, im not talking about shifting it all the time, just sometimes, like when im at the "drag strip" and some smart ass needs a beating.

 

[stangchef]

Thats pretty much how I do it...and if you are going to manually upshift turn off the OD. Also before banging thru the gears like that get a shift kit preferbaly a stage 2 so when you shift at high rpm's there is minimal to no tranny lag. Trans Go also makes a kit to turn your auto to full manual...although they still dont recommend hard downshifting. I know no one likes autos but I had a great deal too that I couldn't pass up ..I mean how can you say no to a black 96 GT with 38,000 miles for $8k? and thats was almost 4 years ago.

 

[00gtconv]

yes, it would be a pussified 5spd

In my pussified auto i'm able to make up for the loss of power through the trans by adding more hp at the engine.

At the track I am able to run very very consistant times; 7.78 to 7.91 at 87to 88mph in the 1/8th.

Although you do loose hp through the auto trans and miss out on the joy of shifting; you can run very consistant times at the track and talk on your cell phone !!!

 

[propellerhead]

I click my OD off the time... when exiting the freeway, when approaching stop lights, etc. It's just like engine braking and I get to hear the roar of the engine. Are you guys saying this is bad? I don't slam it into 2nd when I'm still going 50 mph or anything like that. Just the OD.

 

[WangoStango]

I click my OD off the time... when exiting the freeway, when approaching stop lights, etc. It's just like engine braking and I get to hear the roar of the engine. Are you guys saying this is bad? I don't slam it into 2nd when I'm still going 50 mph or anything like that. Just the OD.

Yep, that's hard on your OD band as well, especially if you do it a lot.

 

[new22003]

Why wouldnt manually shifting an auto be just as good as a 5-speed?? since u are manually telling the car when to shift, u can get the same shift points as a 5-speed. does it just take longer than a 5-speed to complete the manual shift if thats the case, wouldnt manually shifting the auto under WOT make the car shift faster???

A well built auto with a good stall is better than a manual for drag racing. The problem is the stock one is made for comfy daily driving. The shifts are not as precise and its a bit sloppier. Stock torque converters leave much to be desired also.

 

[streetstang03]

A well built auto with a good stall is better than a manual for drag racing. The problem is the stock one is made for comfy daily driving. The shifts are not as precise and its a bit sloppier. Stock torque converters leave much to be desired also.

Cool, that makes sense. thanks for all the responses everyone!! my brain just started thinking too deep into things the other night.

 

[Poopie D]

I just traded in my auto 02 for a 03 with a 5 speed. I too thought that I would just settle with an auto because it was such a good deal. I found myself holding on to the shifter, pretending it was a 5 speed, shifting it manually (which I think started to screw up the way the car ran). I was beginning to go nuts and just could not take it anymore.

The worst thing about the auto for me, aside for always wishing it was a 5spd, was the fact that I could not control the power. If I wanted to pick up speed I had to floor it, wait a half a second for it to downshift, then pray to god that the back end did not go out because it shifted down too far. I was also nervous about an unwanted shift in a cornering situation. With the 5 speed, I do not normally leave 3rd gear, always power at the ready without a downshift.

Just my 2 cents...