Unfortunately I did not get to drive the manual into third to find out. Orlando has hellatious traffic and there weren't any highways around. Anyway, I am a little confused by your comment about the gears. Those are final drive ratios 3.31 and 3.55???? So please elaborate the point you were trying to make because I wasn't following... And as far as I know the auto had 3.55 final drive ratio as well.

And I said "your not gaining much if anything" The only thing I can see is on the initial launch which you still have to feel the clutch for. Its not as easy to feather because it is so soft imo... The readline is the same I believe starting at 6k..

And both being stock... You will not drive it to the potential every time. You may gain a tenth or two in the quarter but not near what is suggested above ie 4.9 as opposed to 5.1 in 0-60 etc... When you mod all bets are off.

 

The 05 GT manual is the only one that has 3.55s
GT auto, V6 auto, V6 manual have 3.31s
TRUST me on this one.

a couple tenths is a couple tenths.

Bryan has proven the manual can hit 13.35 stock.
I have a hard time seeing the auto do that stock, even though MT got it to 13.6

The difference between 13.6 and 13.35 isn't significant?
Darn right it is.....

 

As I have said before I will reserve judgement on brians times.... Anyway those couple of tenths could easily be lost in the launch... Which really isn't that big of difference. I am not a rag racer but all i have seen here at osw so far is high 14's and low 15's @97mph. Anyway we could argue till we are blue in the face my whole point was the manual doesn't have much of an advantage if any stock... So unless your perfect every time you can be beat. People are thinking its the same difference as the sn95's were but its just not the case.

Roger

 

The manual barks in 3rd and blisters the tires going into second? Will the auto chirp going into 3rd?
[/b][/quote]
My manual does the same, blisters the tires going into second. I changed the rears to 255/50/R17 and have found little improvement. I am now looking at going with a wider wheel/tire for the rears and switching the 255/50's to the front.

 

correct me if I am wrong, but with a manual shifter you should be able to go into turns and exit turns better?

My auto 02 coup was lousy into and thru the turns. Is it me?

Straight launch drag racing may make the auto a better choice, but for all around driving, isn't the manual better?

Besides it makes me feel more in control.... :drive:

 

I know I have better overall control of the manual over the automatic. As far as straight line performance, knowing your car should get you pretty consistant times with the manual. The manual is still the most fun to drive IMO!

 

again thats a matter of opinion and all I am saying is your underestimating it. Guys do me a favor go drive one and discuss it with me again. As far as road racing is concerned yes but you can't do much more with the stock setup whether your talkin manual or auto... You will have more of an edge but again not that much and not near the difference that the sn95 had.

 

I am not underestimating the automatics and I basically agree with you about their straight line performance. The '05 stock auto is extremely quick and well over thirty years ago I was taught by autos that were set up right not to be too sure of myself. The paddle is a mighty teacher!

 

Don't concentrate on tire widths if you are looking for grip. Concentrate on a great tire for whatever you are trying to do (drag, turns).

Your 255/50-17's are not the same performance class as some of the tires available in other sizes. The "best" 255/50-17 is not (as tire rack likes to call it) a "Max performance summer" tire.

The tires available in the 255/50-17 size are very good tires, but not the absolute tops for performance.

In the stock size, the OEM tires are probably the best in the world, and are all season as well. But they are one notch down from the best summer tires around, and those aren't available in 235/55-17 or 255/50-17.

In the optional (later on) 18", 255/45-18, you have options like the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 and the BFG g-Force T/A KDW 2 (man, both of those are mouthfuls!). THese are a step up from the OEM tires as well as from the ones you've put on.

Don't get me wrong, what you've added to your car is a great set of tires. It's just that if you shop, you need to shop the make and model of tire, not the size.

 

Don't concentrate on tire widths if you are looking for grip. Concentrate on a great tire for whatever you are trying to do (drag, turns).

Your 255/50-17's are not the same performance class as some of the tires available in other sizes. The "best" 255/50-17 is not (as tire rack likes to call it) a "Max performance summer" tire.

The tires available in the 255/50-17 size are very good tires, but not the absolute tops for performance.

In the stock size, the OEM tires are probably the best in the world, and are all season as well. But they are one notch down from the best summer tires around, and those aren't available in 235/55-17 or 255/50-17.

In the optional (later on) 18", 255/45-18, you have options like the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 and the BFG g-Force T/A KDW 2 (man, both of those are mouthfuls!). THese are a step up from the OEM tires as well as from the ones you've put on.

Don't get me wrong, what you've added to your car is a great set of tires. It's just that if you shop, you need to shop the make and model of tire, not the size. [/b][/quote]
I appreciate what you are saying. I was trying at first to stay with the stock rims if possible. For one thing, I like them a lot and it seemed possible to "do everything". I am not trying to build a race car, however, the amount of spin hitting second gear is not acceptable. As I see so often, speed costs $$$, now how fast did you want to go, LOL.

 

I'm glad CD made those comments on the V6. When I drove one I was expecting good things due to the nice power ratings but it was really grumbly and hated revving.

 

The v-6 has torque, not high revs.....work with what you have, look into those that have experience with this engine......don't discount it off hand.