SonicGT

thanks guys for all ur inputs and ima get it manual. its going to be my first and will be my daily driver.i just wanna have fun here and there. hopefully i dont regret it after buying it

orthoguy

.....Anyway, I bought the 5 speed and I find that it is an extremely easy manual to drive....Son had no prob at all.

Mike

GhostTX

With as much power as the GT has, learning a stick won't be that hard on it. I second though practicing on a friend's/rental before you take delivery.... especially on hills! (yes, e-brake is your friend there)

SonicGT

why is the e-break my friend? how would i use it on a hill?

GhostTX

Gravity. Not only do you have to overcome friction to get your car moving, you're also fighting the weight of the car. This takes more power to get the car moving. People not used to a manual on hills more often then not, stall on the hill because they don't give enough gas to get the car moving. Further, people will also cause the car to roll backward while engaging the clutch. Remember, the car is out of gear, and when you take your foot off the brake to use the gas pedal, the car will start rolling downhill since there's nothing to fight gravity.

Engaging the e-brake keeps the car in place on the hill. It also takes some of the weight off the engine. On the hill, engage the e-brake. Then when you start letting off the clutch and feel the engine taking over, disengage the e-brake and away you go.

Found this with a quick Yahoo! search:
How to do hill starts

SonicGT

Thanks GhostTX, it makes sense to me now about the ebreak. now i have untill the dealer receives another stang for me to get. yesterday they had a black on black gt and it looked sweet. went this morning to buy it n found out it was sold yesterday. i just hope the next one they get is a black one, which i doubt

vwAirCooled

Or just move to texas, and you wont have to worry about hills at all!

I lived in Houston for a while and never saw a hill anywhere.

I will be in California when I get my mustang, so I may have to get an auto because of the insane traffic. It will be a daily driver... I cant really decide yet. I dont race... well, not seriously anyway... decisions decisions....

Giddyup

It's gonna be interesting to see the final production #'s between Manual & Automatic transmissions after all '05's are built.....

jtmears

Definitely go for the manual. My first car was a 93 lx 5.0 vert w/auto. and while I loved the car the constant badgering from friends convinced me to sell it and get a manual, so I got a 97 WS-6 T/A 6-speed. I will never go back to an auto again (in a sports car) You just have a better sense of control with a manual, and it's a plus when you want to sell it.

05GT-O.C.D.

I'm not saying anyone else is wrong, but don't focus too much on the e-brake. I've driven stick for years and have never used it but to park and take an agressive corner. I'm not saying you can't, just don't let it become a distraction.
Anyway, stick is definately the way to go. Just don't try to learn where there's a bunch of other people/traffic around. The hardest part to learn is the first time you stall going into first on a busy street. The person honking behind you doesn't help you concentrate.
Get it, practice first, you'll be fine... I tought my wife in a couple of hours.
Good Luck!

lodom

My first stick car was a 1984 Mustang GT350 edition, and I don't think I hurt it a bit learning to drive the stick. I had to drive it 15 miles home in heavy traffic on a Saturday by myself after I bought it. Sure, I stalled it a few times, and small hills were fun for a few days. People always pull right up behind you on a hill, and you don't want to roll back into them.

I will admit that I prefer the 5-speed automatic trans to the stick for heavy traffic. This whole stick vs. 5-speed debate will go on forever. I doubt I'll ever own another manual trans.

sqweak

i disagree. The parking brake is invaluable for a beginner who hasn't gotten the hang of holding a manual on a hill. As your skills progress and you learn the point at which the clutch engages, you'll stop using it.

I learned the majority when i bought my sportbike without knowing manual OR how to ride a motorcycle. That prepared me for buying my m3 and learning on it. Some people think/thought I was crazy to learn on a m3 (not to mention in Traffic Capital USA, Los Angeles), but honestly, I can handle pretty much anything now. The stang is a breeze compared to the M3. Tons of torque meaning you can leave a dead stop with almost 0 effort. The Tremec is a forgiving, notchy transmission, and handles novices and aggressive drivers with ease.

go stick. I almost walked away from the stang after driving an auto, it felt so lethargic and detached.

05GT-O.C.D.

Like I said, I wasn't saying anyone else was wrong. I never used it, not when I was learning either. Maybe it'll help him, I just find it a distraction.
People think I'm crazy too, I bought a Kawi Vulcan brand new and learned to ride, never even been on a dirtbike or moped.
Sticks are great, it changes from 'riding in the drivers seat' to 'driving the car!'

Enfynet

I just learned 3 days ago... in about an hour. 1st gear from a dead stop kinda stinked until I got the hang of it, but shifting gears (either up or down) was so simple. I can't wait for my GT to get here.

RaGsHoCkEy88

stick baby stick....im new at stick AND I LOVE IT....i drive it everyday tho

Giddyup

Jason....I agree with the 'sense of control' with the manual.......but when it comes to selling the car (if ever), then the automatic would probably hit a wider spectrum of suitors.... B) ....just my .02 worth, and I really love sports cars and shifting gears......as long as it's a weekend warrior & not an every day driver, especially in traffic

Mongoose

Don't let these guys talk you into something you are not sure about after all its your car not theirs. I have both in my driveway and everyday driver is an automatic. I purchased a redfire GT 05 with a stick and after two trips gave it to my son and will order the auto for myself. This car has very fast steering and will do 80 in a flash so it must be driven meaning you can't go half asleep like in a Town Car.
Cup holder is in the wrong place for a stick but they are deep. Been there done that.

GhostTX

I have yet to have a manual with a reach-able cup holder that is not in the way of the stick.

I, too, do not need the e-brake now, but being a novice with a manual at red lights on hills with people who like to stop on your rear bumber made it an invaluable tool.

Good luck, chevy!