In my experience it was this...

Do you drive much in traffic...
Do you talk on a cell and drive in traffic...
Do you listen to music, talk on the cell and drive in traffic...
Do you watch for other cool mustangs, listen to music, talk on the cell, and drive in traffic...
Do you watch for cops, cute ladies, cool mustangs, jam to music, talk on the cell, drive in traffic...

get an Auto....(with a CAI & tune) Life has enough to keep you occupied...

AND...you can still chirp in every gear just like the manual boys...

I do outside sales and live behind the wheel. I have a CDL and can legally drive nearly any vehicle on the road. I have done my time with "gear ramming" and while it would be fun in my 'stang, I think I will just wait till I have a '69 Mach 1 "project car" and make sure it has a stick and call it good!

 

I am 53. I have had a 96 Cobra with a manual. Got a 05 with an automatic and a great tune from Lidio @ Alternate Automotive. With the stock tires it hits 2nd and 3rd hard with chirps. No way on my best day could I out shift this auto. It is flat quick. Watch Don W.'s drag race vids. Tell me if you can out shift that car.
Scott

 

And I'm thinking it's only going to shift quicker with the new TC, boost valves and lockup solenoid.

 

Seems like a few of the auto guys out there are a little touchy. I must agree with those who say you have a better connection with a manual. There is nothing better then driving on a small backroad shifting between 3rd and 4th gear. I should know, this makes up my daily communte. And this is hard in Northern NJ. Try and get that feeling with an auto. It's just not the same.

 

I guess I am one of the "little touchy" guys. Okay. If it is your daily driver and you are stuck on the outer belt for an 1 1/2 hrs come back and tell me how great it is with your manual. In my 30's I'd agree with you 200 %. In my 40's I'd agree with you about 60 %. In my 50's and having been stuck in traffic with a manual for hours. I don't agree anymore. It is really interesting how our opinions change with time. P.S. I see you are 26. I was there once about a half a life ago.
Scott

 

Just to confuse everyone a little more...
My sister has never owned an automatic.
She has had many tough commutes in her 50+ years.
I think it is a personal question that only the driver can answer.
The original poster said he was used to an auto and had a hard commute.
I think he may be most comfortable with an auto overall.

 

Yep, I can vouch for Scott....... he's an old fart alright.

 

I guess this is where we agree to disagree. To me, there is nothing better than rolling into the staging beams and accelerating from a dead stop as quickly as possible. Pure G-force orgasm...

 

I still see my fair share of top and go traffic. I do live in the most congested state in the union. Doesn't bother me.

 

If you've never had a manual tranny then you probably don't want to get a manual and end up disliking it at some point. That said though it really is a pleasure to drive stick. I deal with traffic quite often and it's not that bad.

I test drove an auto first and decided not to even buy a mustang (the throttle lag was very noticeable). That's because at the time it was hard to even find a GT on any lot. But eventually I found a manual for a test drive and was all over it. If you do go auto make sure you get a tune. I've read that takes care of the throttle response.

 

Truth be told after I bought my '92 GT vert brand new with the AOD, I swore I'd never buy another auto Mustang so my '06 is a manual. BUT, after going to the track with a couple of auto cars with similar blowers and setups to my car, and seeing them run 11.9s while I measily shift my way to 12.4, at times I do regret not getting an auto.

Yes I know I need practice LOL!

 

I love the sound while under moderate acceleration and then getting off the throttle between shifts. That kind of growl you hear... can't get that in an automatic.

But that just means it's the right thing for me, for others the auto is the way to go and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

Meh, autos are ok, I guess, but I want as much control of my machine as I can get. I understand why autos are fastest on a drag, but you might as well be on autopilot for all your doing there. Between me and another stick, skill will be the decider in most ways. In an auto the car decideds it. I'd rather know I was slow cuz of me, not that the other guy had more stuff done to his car.

 

Forget which is faster, which is easier to drive, which gets more respect yada yada yada...don't let any of those comparisons/debates cloud your vision of the BIG PICTURE here, and read hard cause this is free: The fact that you have never owned/driven your own stick shift and are actually thinking about it is ALL the reason you need to get one.

Whether you realize it or not, you have already taken the first step toward getting a manual by merely pondering the idea, what it would be like driving etc, many people don't get as far as you have in their decision-making process, for whatever reason.

Besides, what's the worst that can happen if you get the manual and decide it's not for you? you trade the car for an auto and gain some experience on what it was like actually drving a stick for a while. I could on and on and on but I won't.

My personal preference, which should have NOTHING to do with what you decide, because you are getting a manual:

If traffic is not a concern, I definately opt for manual trans. If traffic is regularly bad, then I would honestly get a different car (w/ automatic) cause I just cannot picture myself owning a mustang that is not stick shift. And since I do own one, I'll let you put 2 and 2 together.

 

This is my first manual, and first Mustang. I specifically wanted a manual because it just seemed to fit what I thought a Mustang should be. It's a completely different car than what I was accustomed to driving and it took some getting used to. But I absolutely love it. Sometimes I'll just go for a joy ride on my lunch break. I like the fact that it takes some skill to drive this car well and it is fun for me to learn. My advice to you is to go with your gut, and don't let your friends pick your car.

 

I, too, was on the fence about getting a manual or an auto. I had never owned a manual before, so that made me a little hesitant to buy one. However, I went with the stick and never looked back. All I can say is...I love it!! It's a blast shifting from one gear to the next. It may be a pain sometimes in traffic, but so what? IMO you should go with the maunal...you won't regret it!

 

Thanks for all the help guys!! I think this will take some time to decide but its not the end of the world!

 

It's not too difficult to run an automatic at the strip. It does take a little more skill to launch with a manual and then power shift through the gears (w/o missing a shift).

Anyway, for me, driving on the street with the ability to shift gears to accelerate or decelerate is what I enjoy most. I use a bluetooth for my cellphone so that is not an issue. It really depends what you want type of enjoyment you want to get out of your car.

 

 

And lefts not forget the awesome burble you get when downshifting a manual. That sound alone should make the decision clear.