Auto or Stick?
GT Member
Joined: June 2, 2008
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
I have auto in both mustangs I own. I put 4.10 gears in my V6 and a tune from American Muscle and I'm delighted with the way it drives. There's no way I could shift 1-2-3 up and down as fast as the auto does. The gears took care of the lag and it runs smoothly at highway speeds. It's ready to pounce at any speed. The auto and manual are both six speeds now. Test drive both and get what you like best.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: May 18, 2007
Posts: 830
Likes: 0
I haven't even done my intro post yet but I wanted to share a story about auto vs manual. (my "new" leftover 2010 is a manual)
I bought a new 2005 Pontiac GTO when I was stationed in Oklahoma City and it was an automatic. I tried to convince everyone that an automatic muscle car was fine and would show them the 1.9 60 foot 13.2@105 run as proof that loading an automatic on the line is better for the strip.
So one day I was coming off a highway ramp with the traction control off and going to make a fast sweeping left on a 90 degree turn onto a four lane road behind Tinker Air Force Base. I held pretty good speed and about mid turn I applied some (not nearly all) throttle at about 25-30 mph. Unfortunately the automatic decided now was a good time to grab first gear and the car attemtped to reverse directions as the tail came out under the cornering load. I swung back and while looking down the road out the driver window straightened the wheels for the inevitable trip over the curb. I could have done much worse if roadside obstacles were in the way but I escaped only with a bunch of underside scrapes and a trip to Hibdon's for a front end realignment after coming to rest completely in the grass.
I apologize for the long story but after owning everything from an RX-7 and Supra to the Goat or Lightning or even the Camaros and Trans Ams and the egg shaped civic Si in my short life (32) - I have always enjoyed and preferred the cars with a manual transmission over their counterparts. I resisted buying a Mustang of any kind this whole time and I have finally been converted and all of you who prefer autos should give a true clutch operated manual a chance!
I bought a new 2005 Pontiac GTO when I was stationed in Oklahoma City and it was an automatic. I tried to convince everyone that an automatic muscle car was fine and would show them the 1.9 60 foot 13.2@105 run as proof that loading an automatic on the line is better for the strip.
So one day I was coming off a highway ramp with the traction control off and going to make a fast sweeping left on a 90 degree turn onto a four lane road behind Tinker Air Force Base. I held pretty good speed and about mid turn I applied some (not nearly all) throttle at about 25-30 mph. Unfortunately the automatic decided now was a good time to grab first gear and the car attemtped to reverse directions as the tail came out under the cornering load. I swung back and while looking down the road out the driver window straightened the wheels for the inevitable trip over the curb. I could have done much worse if roadside obstacles were in the way but I escaped only with a bunch of underside scrapes and a trip to Hibdon's for a front end realignment after coming to rest completely in the grass.
I apologize for the long story but after owning everything from an RX-7 and Supra to the Goat or Lightning or even the Camaros and Trans Ams and the egg shaped civic Si in my short life (32) - I have always enjoyed and preferred the cars with a manual transmission over their counterparts. I resisted buying a Mustang of any kind this whole time and I have finally been converted and all of you who prefer autos should give a true clutch operated manual a chance!
Mach 1 Member
Joined: April 1, 2010
Posts: 841
Likes: 16
From: King City, Ontario, Canada
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: May 16, 2004
Posts: 5,206
Likes: 18
From: Bristol, TN
I dont know about the new A6, but I find using the throttle to steer around a corner with an automatic to be an exercise in frustration, with a manual I just select the gear I want to go through the corner and use the throttle, with an auto I either have to downshift with the less than precise crapola factory shifter on the A5 or settle for the downshifting drama of just squeezing the gas.
V6 Member
Joined: April 22, 2005
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
Manual all the way until I die. I simply do not care for automatics & every time I drive someone else's car (I don't own any automatics) I get really bored & really start to wish I was in one of my vehicles.
The GF doesn't drive stick, but she will before I'm through with her.
She's already expressed interest to learn, & I taught her a little bit in my old Mach 1. I think I'll break her in with my '89 GT. That way she can appreciate the nice clutch/shifter the 2011 has.
The GF doesn't drive stick, but she will before I'm through with her.
She's already expressed interest to learn, & I taught her a little bit in my old Mach 1. I think I'll break her in with my '89 GT. That way she can appreciate the nice clutch/shifter the 2011 has.
Member
Joined: February 3, 2011
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Hawaii
1) turn off the traction control/stability stuff
2) with your foot on the brake load the engine up with the gas until just before it starts to brake torque
3) release the brake and mash the gas to the floor and hold on
I did this on the regular with my automatic GTO at stoplights. That being said manual is still supreme. If you want a new transmission you can also do a "neutral drop" with an auto. Hold the gas to the floor in neutral then put it in drive while floored and hold on lol! Note: Neutral drops sheared my transmission mount in half on my old 1986 Trans Am.
Last edited by Kiloton10; Feb 11, 2011 at 10:51 AM.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: October 14, 2010
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
From: saskatoon
Originally Posted by Kiloton10
Mine is a 5-speed also but you can light em up with an auto with enough hp. My stock GTO with 400hp would roast first gear but you have to do a few steps first.
1) turn off the traction control/stability stuff
2) with your foot on the brake load the engine up with the gas until just before it starts to brake torque
3) release the brake and mash the gas to the floor and hold on
I did this on the regular with my automatic GTO at stoplights. That being said manual is still supreme. If you want a new transmission you can also do a "neutral drop" with an auto. Hold the gas to the floor in neutral then put it in drive while floored and hold on lol!
Cobra Member
Joined: January 30, 2011
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 2
From: Houma, Louisiana
Owned A mazdaspeed 3, 6speed, for 3 years.. i loved it, wife hated it.. The clutch in that car was really hard to press, hince why my wife hated it. She is short, 4'11'' , so we went with auto for ease of comfort for her. I dont regret it, especially after i just put the tune in it today.. that car is insane now.. Few months though i will look to put some 3.73s in the rear end.
Bullitt Member
Joined: February 14, 2008
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: South West Wisconsin
either is fine, if it is a car I want to play with I like a stick, if it is traveling across country I like an automatic except for a semi, then I want a stick but if I drove an automatic semi I might change my mind.
GT Member
Joined: August 30, 2007
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
My girlfriend tried teaching me manual in her '95 Accord...let's say that the car and I did not see eye to eye. I learned more on an '09 Focus Coupe at the Ford dealer I worked at which was nice but even in the Accord my feet and ankles felt on fire 0_o. The same happens to the right foot while driving my Crown Vic.
I'd like to get the manual down but if my feet and ankles keep hurting while doing so I wont be able to :'(. I do like how companies are making performance autos though.
I'd like to get the manual down but if my feet and ankles keep hurting while doing so I wont be able to :'(. I do like how companies are making performance autos though.