Okay, this has been festering in my head for awhile now..

I have a 2008 GT that has 3.55's, but it's an automatic. Before that I had a 2007 V6 auto.. I ordered a 2011 GT with 3.73's and finally made the transition to manual, not that there is anything wrong with having an automatic, I just needed something new. Problem is I haven't really had much practice. I've messed around with my friends car in first to second in his neighborhood and reversing a bit. Will it be even more difficult for me to get the hang of it once I get the car since I ordered 3.73's or will it not matter much?

Thanks.

 

I don't think the gearing will matter much. If you don't have much experience with a manual, I recommend either taking a manual driver with you to get her to a practice lot, or trying not to get stuck at a red light pointed up hill anywhere, less you be one of those poor embarrassed souls who kills their car at the green light over and over and over with lots of people behind them honking.

 

I have an 07 GT manual with 3:31's. You have to try really hard to stall these cars, the clutch transition is very smooth and forgiving. And it's even possible to get the car going without pressing on the gas.

 

3.73's will make it even easier to get the car going. The lower the gearing the less fussy the clutch and throttle are to setting you in motion (more torque multiplication). Just think of the low gear in a truck transmission, you generally can "drop the clutch" at an idle and putter away. The '11's have a really low 1st in the trans as well that will help things further. This is the argument I made to my wife to convince her it will be no problem for her to learn to drive a stick in this car!

I wonder if starting in 2nd will be a realistic way to beat the ship-shift during normal driving...

 

Best way to beat the skip shift will be to disable it.

Taking off in 2nd would be tough as an all the time deal with the 3.31's, a little easier with the 3.73's but still no fun.

 

2nd gear in the new trans is still steeper than 1st in an old close ratio top-loader. Second gear starts will depend on how badly the 5.0 is lacking in off-idle grunt. With the technology in this engine, I suspect it to not be a problem. Can't wait to find out! 3.73'd 5.0 stick on order...

 

Get the 3.73's.. you'll have no problem learning. Like others said, it will make it easier if anything.

If it matters, I learned on this car too (08 GT, 3.55's). I drove my friend's manual Kia around for about 20 minutes about 2 years before I got the car. I stalled another Mustang 2-3 times on the test drive. Then stalled my own mustang about 10-13 times on my own test drive, because I was trying really hard to be nice on the clutch.. and also because I couldn't drive for crap.

 

As Brian would say, don't fear the gear!

 

Thanks for all the input! Now for more waiting...

 

The hardest thing about learning to drive stick is feeling the clutch. The way I did it was to go to a local parking garage late at night. Go halfway up an upramp and try to keep the car stable with just the gas and brake. I would start in second (had no problem with this on the 06) and eventually you will get the hang of it. You will stall but the 3.73 is a torque multiplyer which will help your cause.

Roger

 

Yes if your very easy on it. Can even get it going in 2nd. But its a little hard on the clutch. And thats with 3.31. With the 3.37s, its even easier. The real trick is to get the car moving with out reving it and making up the difference with the clutch. Gas and clutch balanced so it takes off sounding much like an automatic. Granted a skill which takes a bit of practice to prefect.

 

yes learning clutch is not the hardest thing ever, I had a 84' Chevette that I had to learn on...or no car....so school parking lot or somewhere big....you will get the hang of it....just listen to the engine and press clutch, shift gas and release....it's fun..

 

My uncle has an '05 Jetta TDI. I told my younger cousins if they can learn to drive stick on that thing, they can drive any stick in the world. That gearbox is atrocious.

 

Hey bud, just give me your adress when you get the car and i'll show you a thing or two about 5.0's and 6 speed shifting. It's on me.

 

The 3.73 and 5.0 should be sweet!!! You could almost ease out the clutch and it'll creep by itself. My CS does in traffic. Even easier with the .73

I learned on a '67 Goat that me and a few buddies bought for $500 with what seemed to be a 3.08 gear and a Muncie M21. It was tough!!! Once you get it, it's cake. I have not owned an auto in 25 years, if you don't count the wife's car.

 

haha, it's a date.

Thanks for all the info. I was just afraid that I might have a hard time with the gears and being new to manual. Like I said before, I messed around in my friends integra, wasn't too hard but the car went nowhere. I'll definitely try the mall garage thing when I get the car for the hill test, I didn't even think of that.

I'm not too worried now, i'm glad I made the choice for 3.73's.

 

IMHO, 3.73 were the best all around gear in 5.0 Foxes. Haven't put one in the '08 yet.

Looks like the 1st gear in the new trans is pretty steep. I had a .73 in a T-5 with a 2.95 1st and it was nice. The new Getrag is a 3.66 so 1st might be a bit much but the car has a 7k redline.

 

I thought the '11 came with Hill Start Assist?

 

No, automatic cars come with "Hill Assist" that is a shift optimization program to keep the tranny from gear hunting on steep grades.

 

Driving up grades is one of the most annoying things about the autos. Can't decide what gear it wants to be in. So it had to be taken out of O.D. My Ranger seeks on grades. The transmission wants to be in O.D. but the engine does not have the torque for it. The speed slows down until it drops down a gear then picks up speed again only to kick it back up into O.D. only to repeat the cycle. Ugh. But then that is what the O.D. off button is for.