I will be purchasing a 2007 GT later this year and am (currently) having to order an automatic. I'd like my fiance to be able to drive the car and she won't drive the 5-speed (she had a SN-95 GT and was nearly killed in an accident with two semi's a few years back, which she blames - right or wrong - in part to having a manual trans car). I have never owned a performance oriented vehicle with an automatic (always stick) and am worried about ordering this car with the auto.

How much control will I really have with the AT?

I've driven a few S-197 GT's but all have been standard shift, none automatic.

Can anyone (everyone [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] ) who has an auto or has driven one extensively give me some insight?

Thanks!

 

All i can say is, this is the best shifting auto i have ever driven. And i have been driving since 1969.

 

It's all good. No problems and the thing moves.

 

Its good. I say test drive one if your not sure. I believe the GT and V6 have the same auto tran, so even if you can't find an auto gt on a lot, you should be able to find a V6 to try out.

 

I got an auto for the same reason... well because of my wife needing to drive it and refusing to drive a stick. I have owned a few Mustangs in the past... all have had a manual tranny. I was a little worried at first, but this is by far the best automatic transmission I have ever driven in. I mean bone stock, there was very minimal delay in throttle response... and the car shifted hard and often. Tuned correctly and this auto will beat a manual any day... even with a pretty decent driver. All you need is a good CAI with a tune from Doug at bamachips. He owns an auto and specializes in tuning them- ask anyone with an auto who has his tune and they will swear by him.

Today... knowing what I know now... I wouldn't trade my auto in for a stick even if the wife could drive it. I like it that much. And keep in mind that B&M is 2-3 months away from coming out with some trick new ratchet-style shifters for this car that will allow you to shift through the gears similar to that of a manual transmission. That way you can have the best of both worlds.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(yur1279 @ March 1, 2006, 12:48 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
...if you can't find an auto gt on a lot, you should be able to find a V6 to try out.
[/b][/quote]

I wouldn't recommend test-driving a V6 auto and judging that before getting a GT auto. They are two completely different transmissions. And just the extra hundred HP the GT's have will make the tranny shift a whole lot differently. I can tell you this though... if you buy the GT auto and don't like it, I'll give you the thousand bucks or whatever it is. Don't hold me legally to that. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/lol.gif[/img] But you get my point... no need to test drive it. Especially if you can talk the wife into letting you get a couple upgrades. Afterall, she's making you get the auto, right? That worked on my wife for at least a few performance mods. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/04.gif[/img]

 

I agree! I bought my auto for wife's driving abilities.
However this thing shifts better under load than any auto I have had.
I have owned 3 mustang GTs prior to this (1968,1985,1987) and all with stick shifts.
I can powershift and speedshift a five speed just fine but I don't think I would have any advantage with a five speed in this car except for initial launch, and if you know how to torque up an auto, you won't lose much there either.
You don't see any six second cars with a manual trans/clutch - they use powerglide autos, lencos and pushbutton shifting!
Stick is lots of fun but not really an advantage in my opinion.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(uberPony @ March 1, 2006, 1:10 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
You don't see any six second cars with a manual trans/clutch - they use powerglide autos, lencos and pushbutton shifting!
Stick is lots of fun but not really an advantage in my opinion.
[/b][/quote]

This is true. All the bracket racers have automatic trannies. The autos might not be quite as "fun" to drive, but they have their advantages. One distinct advantage in this case is to make the wife happy. And that is everything when it comes to having a car like this... trust me.

 

when I bought my car I had the same concern. My dad, having great skill with a stick, still refuses to drive a car day to day with one. I, being younger and not quite as lazy, wanted a manual trany for everyday use. We struck a great deal. I got the car and he got his auto. Stories aside, the 5 speed auto in this car is smooth, extremely fast and does not rob the car of any power. My one complaint is that the computer is not very willing to downshift, requiring more imput to the accelerator than would otherwise be neccessary. This problem can be solved with aftermarket tuners, but the truth is that if you get used to the peddle and the shift points, you will haul massive hiney. You'll have a blast, I promise.

 

I agree wholehearedly with Ian and everyone else...

I have the auto, and it's the best auto equipped car I've ever driven. I've got as much control as I want or need when I need it.

The selectable O/D works great. When I'm carving canyon roads, I can hold it in the powerband for engine braking and fast acceleration.

When I'm a lazy S.O.B. it does that fine too [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/04.gif[/img]

I guess my only complaint is the "learning" ability of this transmission. Every once in a awhile you have to show it who's really the boss [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumb.gif[/img]

 

I bought the car as a daily driver through the city and traffic jams, but this auto tranny sure can respond very quick when I step on it.
I've owned MB, BMW and Volvo cars with auto trannies and I can say that the one in the GT is right up there with the rest of them!

Go for it!

 

I've test driven 5 S-197 Stangs, 3 GT autos (2 conv, 1 coupe), 1 GT std (coupe), and 1 V6 auto (coupe). I was really impressed with the auto transmission, best one I've driven, but being only 22, I can't say I've driven that many. Was really solid, nice firm yet smooth shifts. The V6 auto was still pretty good, but definitely a different driving experience. I drove the GT auto (coupe), the GT std , and the V6 auto all back to back in the same day, and I gotta say you can't test drive a V6 to get any kind of feel for the GT. They're two very different cars.

I didn't try manually shifting through the gears on the auto, so I can't say much for control, but it does have an O/D on/off switch built into the shifter for some control. Compared the response of the auto to the stick, very close, the stick is of course a little snappier. Basically, I wouldn't see any real disadvantage of getting the auto, except it's not as fun. Being a single guy, I don't have to worry about appeasing a wife, and I'm a bit of a purist so I went with the stick. Plus any friends who want to drive the car and can't do stick can't drive it!

 

When I first was looking at the GT's the Auto was the only choice.True my wife can not drive a stick nor would I want her to. But I wanted the auto for the pure get-up and go. Shifts great under hard conditions and smooth during regular driving. If you shift manually and time it right it sounds like a stick. Watch out for the manual shifting though,keep an eye on the RMP's don't go above 5K or it will dead throttle on you. Believe me it's not fun and the first time it happens it freaks you out. The auto is the only way to go for great all around driving.

 

I ordered an 05 GT back in december of 2004. Car arrived as a stick. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon24.gif[/img] I was mad at first but decided to take it anyway since I waited almost 5 months for the car to arrive. Owned the stick for about 5 months and got fed up with the notchy shifting and noisy tremec tranny.

Traded it for an 06 AUTO GT and I am so happy with it. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/worship.gif[/img]

I have no regets at all about leaving the stick. What everyone says above is true. It really is that good. Go with the auto you'll be happy with it.

 

Oh man, I currently own an automatic and was considering trading it in for a manual. Some of these posts have me reconsidering though. Such a hard decision. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/banghead.gif[/img]

 

Mine is awesome..Have not spilled one drink yet!!!!!!!!!! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/04.gif[/img]

 

^^


What he said also! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/lol.gif[/img]

 

Well in my case I test drove an automatic first and didn't like it, there was too much throttle delay and didn't seem like a whole lot of power. The tranny was very smooth and it was still a pleasure to drive. About a month later they finally had some manuals and I ordered one after one test drive. Maybe it was just the auto I drove but I noticed a big difference between the auto and manual. I hear however that you can get a good tune for the auto and get much better throttle response and torque.

 

It's sick...throw down some 4.10's/chip/exhaust and you will be quite happy.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Nick85 @ March 2, 2006, 1:39 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
It's sick...throw down some 4.10's/chip/exhaust and you will be quite happy.
[/b][/quote]

I agree with the above statement. I have an auto with 4.10's, x-cal II, and c&l intake, tuned by Alternative Auto. Huge difference over stock. My best run so far on street tires is 13.2 @ 104. A few times at the track, I made a few runs with car in dirve, and a few runs manually shifting, exact same times.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(withinavoid @ March 2, 2006, 2:31 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Well in my case I test drove an automatic first and didn't like it, there was too much throttle delay and didn't seem like a whole lot of power. The tranny was very smooth and it was still a pleasure to drive. About a month later they finally had some manuals and I ordered one after one test drive. Maybe it was just the auto I drove but I noticed a big difference between the auto and manual. I hear however that you can get a good tune for the auto and get much better throttle response and torque.
[/b][/quote]


You can't judge the Auto by a test drive. The CP is factory set for the best overall conditions performance. It has to learn how you like to drive and of course the T/A has to be off. Mine responded just fine within a short time and is even better with A/A's Tune.

My Cobra has the same hp with 4:10's but I feel the Auto GT will hookup and for sure shift way better than the Cobra. Had the chance to find out once, but the wife was driving the GT. I need not say any more. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]