metroplex

what are the drivetrain losses between the 5R55S and the TR-3650?

The guy on our Crown Vic boards that had a 05 GT w/ the TR-3650 ran 13.47 @ 103.82 with 247 miles on the odo, and 13.28 @ 101.72 about 9000 miles later (bone stock).

I can't imagine the automatic being significantly more durable than the manual, so it rolls down to preference. I'd steer away from a manual for stop and go city driving (like New York City, Detroit, Los Angeles, etc...) but for a weekend cruiser or a fun car, go with the manual.

Mustangfreak

the 5R55S may not be more durable then the TR-3650, but its a hell of alot better then the 4RW70 from what I read.

neil07gt

I seem to remember that the old hemi muscle cars often came with auto trans because it held up better than the manual gearbox. True or not? However, I don't know if there is any advantage one way or the other with the modern transmissions.

SteelTownStang

If you want a stick, don't settle for an auto. I guarantee you'll regret your decision.

Rebel73

same here, man. Price you pay for being one of the first !

RKNMACH

Nothing beats the sound of the engine and the exhaust when you downshift and then the torque when you punch it out. Again, whatever floats your boat.....

metroplex

Check the current rebates for automatic 2006 GTs... I believe there is $2500 cash back, PLUS you can use the X-Plan PIN for [(0.996*Invoice) + $75].

My dad always said, a sports car should always have a manual transmission.

I do not like the gearing on the 4R70W. The 1-2 kills my 1/4 ET because I'm sitting there well below peak torque at the start of 2nd gear.

eci

No they are not. The auto is not geared as favorably as the manual. ( tranny gears not rear )

metroplex

Tuning with a manual should also be much easier:
no more having to deal with the gosh darn shift schedules, shift line pressures, and torque converter schedules.

It looks like the 5R55S gives better gearing for the lower gears: 1st gear shift at 6500 RPM puts it into about 4600 RPM for 2nd gear with a ~200 RPM drop into 3rd gear after a WOT 2-3 shift. However, since stock 05-up GTs are crossing the line at 100+ mph, the 5R55 would have to do a 3-4 shift right before the line, which can slow down the car just a tad.

On the TR-3650, the spreadsheet shows a WOT 6500 RPM 1-2 shift putting it at around 3800 RPM in 2nd gear, but the way I understand it is with clutch slip and other real world factors, it isn't anywhere below 4000-4300 RPM by the time it gets into 2nd gear. However, 3rd gear should allow up to about 110 mph so a bone stock GT won't have to shift right before the line (which should count for something).

neil07gt

JMO, If you do bracket racing get an automatic. If you don't do bracket racing then get a manual.

lodom

I'd drive both of them before making a decision, but the throttle response without a tune is not great, so the auto may feel a bit more sluggish. There is no comparison between the 5R55S and the 4R70W gear spacing. The 5R55S is an impressive trans and has held up better to performance mods than was initially expected. I've owned a lot a cars, and prefer auto cars, but I wouldn't let a deal sway me from a stick if that is what I had my heart set on.

34124231user

Drive BOTH, then decide.

StangFreak

I think you hit the nail on the head with your post, for a road course the manual is better but for the QM the auto rules. For me personally it's going to come down to the best deal I can get. My reason is because it seems the performance difference that once was with the older Stang's is now been all but elminated with the 5R55S.

Oh by the way, 11.30's and 450+ rwhp on an all but stock trans save for the torque converter is dam impressive. Since Whipple won't sell their HO kit to auto trans owners I'm going to have to look at the Saleen. Lucky for me JDM is only a half hours drive away.

traffic142

I think autos are maligned as not performance. If I had to do it over again, I would go auto, swap out to 3.73 and put in the new torq converter to make it rock. If you read MM & FF or 5.0 most test with a auto is faster than a 5 speed. I know I am a sorry shifter, so a decent auto could take me early on, till my 4.10's and poweradders kick in.

sodaman

well gearing is one thing, but if the automatic can shift it quicker, then it could make the difference. With these new trannies, they shift so **** good, its hard to believe that with a tune, there not beating the manuals out.

metroplex

They have to shift an extra gear before they cross the 1/4 mile line, and the 1-2 shift comes very quickly due to the 1st and 2nd gear ratios. These account for some extra time spent shifting.

HOTLAP

I'd use that price to shop other dealers for a stick and save an additional $800.00 over the auto equipped stang. Also, I didn't see the 3:55 gear option in your specs.....does the auto come with the 3:31 and the stick the 3:55 in '06? Just my opinion - but you are going to have this car a long time and I'd get what I wanted now and not regret it later. Personally, a stick is the only way to go with the V8.

Good luck!

Centurion96

Man that local dealer friend must not have looked very far. Up until mid September there were a bunch of manual GTs all over Florida, did your friend use the fordvehicles .com dealer search engine? Even now there is a premium 2006 GT coupe, manual, torch red with light graphite interior, and IUP sitting at that Orlando dealer at the 417 & E SR50 for 27,500 and -$1500 for a total of $26,000. Now if you get a X-plan pin it's only $24.098.
I was looking for a manual vert which unfortunately most dealers don't order. I had one sales manager state that 90% of his GT coupe sales were manuals and only 5% of his convertible sales were also manuals. So I ordered a '07 and then heard that the '07s were beefed up through the entire product line for the GT500s. It was cheaper to just tool one frame and 2 bodies (vert & coupe) rather than one for each of the three engines, 4.0, 4.6, and 5.4.

BB
Not as lean, not as mean, but still a Marine.

mot250

Auto's on the 1320 may be consistant but I wouldn't say they "rule". I've got faster times in my manual than a freind and his auto before we did any mods, after we did similar mods and even after he went to 3.73's (vs. my stock 3.55's). He may beat me in any given race due to the potential for me to have a bad time shifting but my best in my manual (13.362)is better than his best in his auto (13.420).

silverbull1tt

Regarding the Whipple H.O. kit for automatics, I contacted Whipple a few weeks back, they told me they do not have a tune from Ford for the automatics so until they do they only offer it for the manual transmission.