Lugging is not just a function of rpms. It's also a function of load. You can drive the car all day long at 1200 to 2000 rpms in any gear as long as you're easy on the throttle. It won't be very satisfying, but it won't hurt anything either.
What Intrepid175 said, which I'll note is dependent on both your temperament and the circumstances of the moment.
I think you'd really like to see a console shifter with a +/- feature like some other cars have. Maybe the aftermarket will come up with something.
I agree Norm. Have power on demand just in case a split second decision is needed to avoid an accident, deer, etc. I try not to shift below 2k rpm in any car that I drive that's a manual. My shifting range is 2k-3k rpm depending on flow of traffic. Because my GT has 4.10 gears, I actually end up starting in 2nd most of the time and skip shifting to 4th then 5th then 6th. Theoretically, the car can be started in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd from a stoplight.
Understood completely wrt the GT - AFAIK, you can do that no problem with a naturally-aspirated engine. But I'd worry about attempting that with a turbo, and I think that's what I'm trying to suss out. But yeah, it looks like above 2k is a good place to be; lower if you're highway cruising in overdrive and low load.
I'm a purist too, so I agree - to a point.
While I agree manual is more fun...I present the following reasons:
All good reasons, but...
this is where the manual transmission is the most fun! No traffic on the highway with the cruise set you might as well have an automatic. Manuals are great to play with in stop and go.
Very true, but Mustangs have light clutches and pressing it is good physical therapy. You should be doing light exercise to improve your injuries if possible.
It's harder to be consistent and fast with a manual, but that also makes it more fun.
Do them a favor and teach them to use a manual. They will thank you later.
Not a good enough reason to pass on all the fun that you could have shifting your own gears.
Been there, done that, had to wait out the recovery period, still have a couple of SS screws in my left knee and it does get a little sore from time to time for no apparent reason. Sometimes you can get past this one.
I get the reason why here, but it's really an individual thing rather than a universal requirement.
Most people really can learn to drive stick, including wives, daughters, and granddaughters. It's probably easier for that to happen if they can at least observe how it's done and see that it's not all that hard to do. If they're already driving, they at least wouldn't be trying to learn everything else about driving along with the MT skills.
No basis for comment here.
What's a gym?
FYI my current 18 (automatic) and my previous 15 (manual) were both purchased primarily for autocross. The 18 already has 9K miles with 7K from to/from distant SCCA Pro Solos and Tours on RE-71R's.
You must be a younger person or never drove older performance vehicles with a clutch if you think modern Mustang clutches are not light. Heck, it seems like 1/2 the people on this forum remove the assist spring or put a lighter one on because they believe it improves the clutch feel.