Once again, I think everyone agrees manual is the only way to go for road racing and such.

But, for the few that have said manuals are faster at the track---none have posted any 60' times except for JP. I know of 5 auto cars just at Irwindale (one of the tracks that I race at) that 60' in the 1.54 or less, with the best being a 1.43. Manual guys, come on, back up your claims with numbers. Where are you?

 

There are a lot of interesting opinions in this thread. There are advantages to both manual and auto depending on the person. I chose an auto because I have had two back surgeries and driving a stick causes me a great deal of pain. So, for me to enjoy my car, I needed to go with an auto. But, what I did was got my auto tweaked. It was strengthened by cryo-treating the internals and then we added a 2700 stall torque converter. When I hit the gas…it’s just like dropping the clutch. I can squawk the tires at 80 + MPH. That’s not too bad for an auto.

 

stickshift!

 

To some extent this is like Coke vs. Pepsi.

 

Interesting you should compare it to that.
I was having a discussion with my co-worker the other day and we both agreed.
We prefer Coke, but for diet soda we like Diet Pepsi best.

 

+1000...

Oh, and I'm the slowpoke of the local bunch.

 

My fastest 60' is 2.0.

It all comes down to what you like. This clutch is by far the lightest I have felt. Go get in a 03 Cobra and let me know what you think. Stop and go traffic is a non-issue. I drive in it every day and don't get tired at all. I have a lot of fun with it at the track and on the street. Sometimes I wish I would have gotten the auto. Especially when I see some of these guys doing what they do at the strip. These autos are by far much better than any in the past. But personally, I just like the manual better. I couldn't see myself driving my car any other way.

 

Is that new TC in yet? Maybe that will pull you up thru the ranks.
Scott

 

The bearing in the old converter was bad, and it damaged the front pump, so I needed to have new front pump and a couple other internal things done first. Adam was supposed to have gotten the trans back from the transmission shop on Friday afternoon. Hopefully, I'll be getting it back midweek.

Obviously, I hope the TC makes it quicker. A tenth or two in the 1/8 would be nice. But even so, I'm not going to be cranking up the boost like the other guys are, so whatever mine is going to run, it will do it on 12psi (at least for the foreseeable future).

 

Auto vs stick? It all depends on personal preference and pros and cons (as well as what you think is cooler!). So yeah, an auto is faster usually at the track but if you are not gonna take it there then that doesn't matter. If you can't stand driving in traffic then the auto might be better. Me personally, I am about to move to midtown in Atlanta where I'm sure driving a stick will such, but for now I am being stubborn and refusing to let go of my stick! I think that sticks are more fun to drive and that it is worth the hassle in traffic to be able to open the car up and run through the gears every now and again!

 

I see both sides of the coin here.

Mustangs are more than daily drivers though. They are not just transportation, they are driver's cars.

Mustang = manual.

 

Here we go again!.....

 

The first time I've felt obligated to post on TMS....here goes:

Don't be afraid of stop and go traffic with a manual...you quickly learn some tricks that mitigate riding the clutch to and from work (IE leave a couple car lengths ahead of you). My 07 is my daily driver, in mostly stop and go, but that one onramp where I get to wind it out every morning makes the stick all worthwhile.

I like the thought of each of my limbs having a job to do.

 

I think its great using your whole body when driving.

i think it prob could help a persons coordination and multi tasking abilities. Your mind has to do 4 seperate things at the same time. and you don't even realize you are doing it.

left hand steering, right hand shifting, left foot clutch and right foot gas or brake. A very satisfying experience.

 

Yeah, its better to me to get the whole body involved. Driving has become almost too simple. Personally though, go with the manual all the way, I feel like I have more control over the car, in auto's if you stomp it, some cars seem to lurch, with a clutch, you can avoid that and have a smoother power exchange

My preference: Manual

 

Not to rub it in....but I just 60' a 1.489 tonight at Irwindale with the 5R55S........

 

Around here, if you leave barely one car length ahead of you some idiot just HAS to cut into that spot, Never fails. Definately a personal preference debate. Both have there merits. Thank God they gave us a choice.

 

I agree that auto's are more consistent at the track,....

but really, how often are we there? I dunno, 3:55's vs 3:31's, different mufflers (meaner sounding),....more control over the power band,.....able to leap tall buildings.....

Did ya see Bullitt the other night????

Imagine McQueen in an automatic??? Hell, that movie is still one of the reasons I drive a 5 sp. Mustang! Sounds better, feels better, and IMHO is faster.

Ever power shift 1-4th before? Nothing like it. Nothing.
I made the fatal mistake years back, and got an auto GT....2002. Granted, it was the AODE, but talk about BOOOOORING. Drive the stick and the auto on the same day. You'll see.

BTW, I drove the new auto....better, but still lurched into gear before I wanted it to, still seemed to have some lock-up issues (shades of the 02 I had), and sounded twice as tame from inside the cockpit as the 5 sp. The minute I got into my car, rowed through 1-3......any and all thoughts of an auto were a distant memory.

 

Awesome Paul!!



Not only more consistent, but quicker, too.

And I don't seem to have any trouble getting off the line with my "slush box", either.








Depends on who you're asking. I'm there just about every week... sometimes twice. My car has made almost 600 runs in the past 11 months alone, and over 900 since I got the car in 2005.



There is a world of difference between the factory auto trans settings and one that has been tuned. Even a canned e-mail tune will make a huge difference, but a good dyno tune is amazing.



No matter what any of us say, we won't change each others minds... but at least don't think this 5R55S can't hold it's own. There are a helluva lot of guys proving otherwise.



.

 

Don,

Do you even REMEMBER what your stock "slushbox" Stang even felt like??


If I had had your 11sec. beast, I wouldn't care what sat under the hump!!

I was really just speaking more toward the "daily driver" guys.....stockers.
I think just from the fun perspective, normally aspirated, the car gives some more thrills via the stick.

And yes, for the record....the new auto. is light years better than the old "can't decide what gear I should be in,......oh yeah, third already....let me just shudder myself right in".....AOD. YUCK!!! Talk about ZERO intuition. The new tranny did a much better job of anticipating, and the extra gear/better gearing made a bid diff as well.