I am purchasing a 2005 Black GT Vert with IUP and IAP. Trying to decide between Manual or Auto. Does anyone know what sells more and can provide feedback on either transmissions

 

They are both great transmissions, the auto one of the better auto's out there and the manual is pretty easy to drive. Not sure what you are asking when you say what sells more and not sure how that would influence your purchase.

 

I was trying to guage the popularity of Manual vs. Auto. I like the feel of Manual but at sometimes like the convenience of auto. Dont want to jeapordize performance though.

 

I bought an automatic because I don't know how to drive a manual (pure laziness perhaps). My friends, whom most have older mustang models make fun of me for choosing it. They soon found out that not only does my car look better, more sleeker, it is also faster.

 

As a forever mustang fan, 5 speed is the way to go.

John

 

Faster than what? For the most part the manual and auto are getting the same performance times. Motor trend got a 5.1 0-60 with both. It's not that difficult to learn how to drive a manual. I learned in a few hours of driving.

 

Faster than his buddies cars, or atleast thats how I read it.

Auto probably sells more, guaging from the fact of all the GT's I've seen on lots only one was a stick.

For resale the auto makes the car more appealing to a larger range of people.

The auto is very nice and convienient, but it loses some of the sporting feel of the car for those who like to run through the gears themselves. I miss having a standard transmission maybe about 10% of the time, while the remaining 90% I'm thinking how I lived for so long without an auto.

Throw away any perceptions you may have about performance issues with the auto, for any type of driving your likely to do, you will find no performance loss.

If you have plans on running the car around a track or just love the feel of a manual transmission, then obviously thats the way to go. Will save you $1k on the MSRP also.

For every day driving in real world situations, the auto is great.

One other thing to consider, the manual trans is very heavy duty. It will probably handle boost much better than the auto. There usually is a 25-30% over engineering of components to handle hp/tq modifications but the auto is from the Thunderbird and Lincoln LS, which have less HP/TQ than the GT 05's, so it may not be able to handle the same streeses the manual can.

 

not sure why you care what sells more......you would actually buy one over the other because of popularity?????

Both perform really well and what it always comes down to is an automatic will always been someone using a manual if they have no idea on how to shift properly. If the guy with the manual knows what he is doing it would be hard for the auto to beat him.

I'm guessing either your friends cars are no comparison or they don't know how to drive. My 97 GT (auto) didn't stand a change against my 90 LX (manual)

 

All about personal preference. Ask a purist and they will most likely tell you Manual. Can you have a day long debate on what is better... of course.

I feel like I get more enjoyment out of driving by having a manual. Automatic was not an option for me.

IT's about the little things too like revving the engine without putting the car in neutral. MY opinion is that just pressing the gas and pointing the car in a direction is not driving. BUT, before I get attacked, I have to say you should buy what makes YOU happy. heck, I have to admit, my left foot gets tired sometimes in traffic... but to me it's worth the pain.

On a side note, It IS easier to re-sell an automatic to the masses.

My 2 cents.

 

Although, I don't think it would be hard to resell a GT with a manual.

 

I guess I was speaking in general car terms. Most people right now would love to have an 05 Mustang GT ... no matter the transmission. (whether they want to admit it or not)

 

I wasn't talking specifically about the '05, any year Mustang GT shouldn't have a problem selling with a manual. That goes for any sports car though really.

 

I wasn't talking specifically about the '05, any year Mustang GT shouldn't have a problem selling with a manual. That goes for any sports car though really.[/b][/quote]
Ok, just to clarify my point. No mater what kind of car it is, if part of the population cannot drive it, it will be less likely to sell than its counterpart which can be driven by anyone with a right leg. I didn't say it WOULDN'T sell. Just that there is a smaller buying audience. When daddy goes to buy his little princess her first car that all the kids at school will envy, he is more likely to buy her an automatic.

This is always something to consider.

I personally think every guy should be required to know how to drive a manual transmission and quite frankly every female should too.

 

I agree with you Matt but a sports car is normally the opposite. I know that will all of my mustangs, the ones with the manual trannys sold a lot faster than the ones with the auto trannies. Most people that look at my 97 said "Sorry, I want a standard transmission"

 

It is not less likely to sell. There's also a larger selling pool of automatics.

If you have auto and they're common, a potential buyer can go somewhere else. With a stick, even though there are fewer buyers, you have fewer competing sellers.

It's almost a wash, but the stick being a rarer desired car will be worth more by a little.

 

Thanks I know it is personal preference. I am just looking for some feedback from the Pro's. On what you guys have bought and see what you all prefer. I can drive both Manual and Auto. I like the features of both but ultimately I know I have to choose. I tend to lean toward the manual. I am sure some days I will regret it.

Too bad no Steptronic Shifter

 

Hi, I debated this as well, because my wife will also drive I went with the auto.
But I am very surprised by the great performance of the tranny, it may be the same shell as the other ford cars, but there must have been some changes in the internals to beef it up. The shifts are very fast and firm, no slippage that I could notice. I've had some autos that I had modified by performance shops that were
not as good as this one. I have never driven any other Fords with this trans but
I refuse to believe this one is the same other than name.

Either way this car is the best performance vehicle I've had, makes great use of 300hp by matched components.

Happy new owner!

Jim

 

performance car + manual tranny =

 

ok no point arguing. Let's call it a draw. I guess my experiences aren't a good basis for the overall trend. Does Ford publish the number of Mustangs produced in each version? Just curious.

Back to the topic at hand...

Jeff,
GET A MANUAL. Chicks dig em.

 

Hard to believe MT got the same 0-60 #s on both trans. Although the vette almost always is w/in ..1 sec or the stick version-maybe the big torque helps.

The M3 boarders always lamented my automatic and they thought it was like a different car with about .5 sec penalty.

And the forester turbos guys (yeah, watch out for those especially modded ones) think the auto Forester xt loses a full second over the stick.