Here is my deal. I have never owned a manual tranny car (69 Mustang, 97 F150, 98 GrandPrix GTP, 04 MPV) but have driven a few (87 Supra Turbo, 87 RX-7, 94 Toyota truck) for a few months at a time. I am going to purchase an 07 or 08 Mustang and it will be a manual. The reasons why are:

1. Manual should be more satisfying to drive sporty
2. Not my daily driver
3. Sports car must have a manual trans
4. $1,000 cheaper than automatic trans
5. Don't like the look of the automatic gear selector

That's it.. enjoy your purchase!

 

As soon as I heard about the new mustang body style coming I knew I would be getting a GT and wanted it with a manual tranny. My last car that I still have was an auto and I hated it. I feel like it gives me more control over the car and just makes it more fun to drive. Everybody's first question after I told them I was getting a Mustang GT was whether or not it had a stick! Most people thought the stick was the only real way to drive it and I have the car for almost a year and have not even started to get tired of it yet!! Just remember it's your car and to get what you want, not what other's want you to get!

 

As of today, I've been through 14 vehicles. Tie score 7 auto 7 manual. I commute into Boston daily. And frequently NYC. Driving a manual can be a real pain in the left leg in stop and stop traffic.

But the Mustang GT is a true drivers car. The thrill and extra control that comes with using a stick is a major component of a sports car. To put it in perspective, I could have bought an auto in May. I couldn't find a GT stick I wanted within 500 miles. As you can see, I ordered my car over 3 months ago and status is still C/U. And I still have no regrets that I didn't buy the automatic.

 

Having grown up in Asia, I've owned nothing but MT cars. The first time I drove an AT car, I hated it. My left foot's trying to step on something that's not there; instead, I end up hitting the oversized brake pedal. That's why I'll always drive stick for life.

And if you think traffic in your town is bad, try driving in Manila.

 

Do they even make high performance vehicles in auto? I consider the Mustang GT a high performance vehicle (well, it's high performance in my eyes at least). I was considering auto for a luxury car or mid grade sedan, but once I decided on a Mustang GT, I didn't even take auto into consideration.

That's just my opinion, I don't mean to get into it with auto owners, I just think manual is a must for any "sporty" car.

Just outta curiosity, how do you auto guys downshift when you wanna pass on the highway? My friend has a G35 Coupe (auto) and he uses the tiptronic shifter when he wants to downshift, but the Mustang doesn't have that...?

 

I will have to agree with a lot of people here... I live in LA and the traffic here is among THE WORST in the country and I drive a stick... wouldn't drive anything else.

BUUUT I will admit that driving a manual has it's good points.. in stop and go traffic. That said... I'd still drive a stick

 

Unfortunately, that's where all the supercars are going. Does Mercedes-Benz even make MT cars anymore? And I don't care if paddle-shifting is faster than stick; it takes the fun out of driving Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston-Martins.

 

[attachmentid=35411]If you have a GT... no other way to go other than a stick.. With a fast car, if you want more control, more stopping power, better cornering, beautiful down shift rumble, chirpable second and third gears, and to become a better driver, get a stick. heck....whenever I drive an automatic I feel like Im not in total control of the car....and Im not!

 

Almost all of those categories can be argued for an automatic....

More stopping power? You can downshift from D to any gear...
Better cornering? Comon now...
Beautiful downshift rumble? Even though you cant rev match with an auto, you can down shift with the level...
Chirping from 2-3? Possible with an auto...

 

Your dad is drunk and so is mine. His friend, who is a car enthusiast (BMW) thought i was dumb for getting a 5M. They talk poop to me about 5-speeds, every time i see those clowns. This is my second stick car and i love it.

Lemme say this: An auto tranny does not belong in a sports car. Period. That said, GT=grandtouring, i.e. not farting about with gears all day long. Many, many people have said this car is not a sports cars, otherwise must be a GT car or a muscle car. I honestly think the 2005 stang has a bit of each.

So, I would say, do you see yourself using the vehicle as more of a sports car or grand touring?

As for the 5-speed Manual experience itself? Its the proper way to drive and you are more congnisant of operation of the vehicle simply because it involves more actions, and control over function. Purists will say its the only way. As an example of how good 5M/6M is, look at how BMW is reducing the volume of sequential (paddle op.) gearboxes in certain models (6-series, M5). Its because they have been getting complaints from customers that don't wanna take the F1 route; they want to experience the whole car, row thru the darned gears in a car they paid 80-100K for.

Enjoy your 5-speed whatever. But Manual is the way to go.

-Christian

 

[attachmentid=35415]The fact remains. You are in much more control with a manual. Its a blast to manipulate the gears and place precise power (mixture of mph, rpm, gear choice) when and where needed. Just my preference. I figure Ill buy an automatic when I retire and learn to play golf...maybe,,,lol

 

Have you read the reviews on the Z4? What were the BMW engineers thinking when they came up with the SMG?

 

SMG, DSG, etc. I read the comparo.

The S stands for sucks, or something (Sucky Manual Gears, Dumb Seq. Gearbox). Hehe. Question is "what were they thinking when they decided to mass market this fad in the US?"

F1 is boring. US consumers agree with me. Why anyone would want to shift like that is puzzling to me. It'd get old after ther first month. The stupid thing is soooooo many models have this option now, and you can see a dude dropping $3000 on this option for his Golf or whatever. Lame. More lame than autostick or straight auto.

Ferrari started this lame fad for F1 wannabees that have more money than sense. If i remember corectly, this is a $10,000 option on their 575M

$10,000 to say you drive like Schuey? Geez louise! Why don't they throw in an automatic Fiat with the purchase insated of the sequential. You can drive like M. Schuwackers's grandma.

 

Ive always driven a manual since I was fifteen, and will never drive anything else, I love driving and never find it a nuisance, always a blast and even in traffic it is great, actually everyone should get one because it would keep them focused in traffic on what it is that they should be doing and thats driving instead of daydreaming or on the phone, or putting on makeup or reading or whatever it is they are doing to cause more traffic. Anyone that complains about a stick in traffic is a wimp and not a car person and doesnt know how to drive, its not hard, not annoying and if you know how to drive its no more effort than stepping on the gas or breaks. get a manual if thats what you want, its your car, you will be the one driving it and stuck with it, make sure you are happy.

 

The arguments for a manual have been well stated, so ditto.

For the argument against, here is my .02.

I am in sales. I drive between 150-200 miles per day.

I have taken the mustang once with me just because it had been about 3 weeks since I had driven her. I have a different car for everyday driving.

I am in and out of customers all day long. Traffic, both stop and go and everything in between. I am in my 40's and feel no ill-effects of the clutch. Personally, I find it exhilarating.

To say that somehow you would hate the manual is a bit sophmoric in my opinion. I believe for some this is true. But it is definatley a personal preference. That is why they offer an auto.

I can't imagine having an auto. That is something that I would hate.

 

in the long run....ull be happy. its personal preference

 

With all the pro-manuals, I think I can safely say everyone here thinks your dad is a wuss.

Go manual! Its the way a sports car should be driven!!

 

I learned on a stick, then went to automatic and missed it the whole time. Now I finally have a manual again- its the only way to fly

Automatics are good if you're car is going to be a mobile office or cafeteria- which I don't plan on doing.

I definitely did not buy my Mustang for practicality.

 

Do these paddle shifter things use a clutch at all (I mean one that you step on)? Or is it just like tiptronic (dunno the generic name)?

GhostGT, funny cartoon.

 

SMG - Sequential Manual Gearbox
Does not use a clutch pedal

Its a computer controlled clutch.
Its a true manual transmission hooked up to a computer.

Tiptronic is basically an auto transmission with computer controlling the shifts with your paddles.