5.0 V8 - Automatic vs Manual

[Potrillo]

I've driven manuals exclusively since 1995... and frankly I'm tired of it. Why do I need to fiddle around with that stick when all I really want is just drive and enjoy the ride? Well I don't

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[scottpe]

I've driven manuals exclusively since 1995... and frankly I'm tired of it. Why do I need to fiddle around with that stick when all I really want is just drive and enjoy the ride? Well I don't

Sounds like somebody is getting old... ;) I find myself having the same thoughts. I'm still fighting them off for now.

 

[RubyRacer]

Sounds like somebody is getting old... ;) I find myself having the same thoughts. I'm still fighting them off for now.

What's really sad is that I'm about a year away from 30 and I'm already feeling like making the switch from manual to auto. It's probably the constant urban grind of traffic that's wearing me down. After 10 years of living in urban environments, working the clutch is starting to annoy me greatly every day.

 

[UOP Shadow]

If you have ANY concerns, buy an auto trans. Also, if you ever break your foot or leg, you won't be able to drive a manual trans. Even if you only sprain your knee/ankle, it makes it very painful to clutch. And if the Mustang is your only car, you're not going to be able to drive. You'll have to borrow or rent an auto car. I learned the hard way when I tore my knee riding MX & had to shift all the way home.

 

[gojensen]

In all honesty, maximum allowed speed limit around here is 55mph - on the highways. I drive around 1km on the highway daily, the rest of my 1 hour in the car is spent in 30mph zones... with lots of stops and traffic. So...

There's also no tracks around here to test it out even IF the AmCar club hosts a "drag race" once a year (quarter mile or less I'm guessing, never had time to go... and don't know much about drag racing...)

(oh and I busted up my shoulder (torn ligaments and stuff) one time and had to drive my manual from the gym and home - that was NOT a fun drive )

 

[GMAN6]

What's really sad is that I'm about a year away from 30 and I'm already feeling like making the switch from manual to auto. It's probably the constant urban grind of traffic that's wearing me down. After 10 years of living in urban environments, working the clutch is starting to annoy me greatly every day.

I have several reasons for getting an auto

One, I'm just tired of manuals.

Two, there aren't many tracks around here that are affordable, so I won't be needing a manual for that. Even if I do go, I can test my driving skills against other automatic mustangs.

Three, I will be going to the drag strip and the automatic will be better for me.

Four, it will be much more convenient in traffic.

Five, I find when taking off in manual cars with this amount of power you have to switch gears extremely fast which forces you to focus primarily on shifting as opposed to sitting back and enjoying the ride, the sounds, and the feel.

Six, some people mentioned they prefer a manual because they can cruise in a lower gear and be ready to hit the power at any time. With the paddle shifters, I assume it will be like the select-a-shift in my focus where you can put it in any gear you want going down the highway and be ready to roll. Paddle shifters are really only put in the Mustang so you can have "fun" which I think is why a lot of people want Manuals. I like the paddle shifter because you can have it both ways.

I see so many people on here wanting an manual because it is faster around a track. The only way I would get a manual is if I were going to be going to be tracking it frequently or competitively. I mean, think about it, are you really going to pay 30 or 40K for a car and run it on the ragged edge around the track risking a wreak that won't be covered by your insurance? Are you a good enough driver to outrun a good driver in an automatic? Do you realize that even though a manual might be slightly faster than an automatic, a good driver in an automatic can still outrun you? Do you realize that a lot if not most cars at the track will be modified, so even though your 2015 stock manual Mustang may be slightly faster than a stock 2015 automatic Mustang, you will still get outrun by older mustangs as well as Camaros and Corvettes and Porches and lots of other cars.

So for me, the reasons to get an automatic far outweigh the reasons to get a manual.

 

[gojensen]

Hah... even if there were a track around here I wouldn't be competitive Loved my 5.5k mile road trip in the V6 auto last year (apart from double braking when I was going to brake and downshift on the first stop d'oh!)

 

[jimmypop13]

I look at it like this after having owned a 2002 trans am with 400hp to the wheels with a built tranny and 4400 stall torque converter, and later owning a 2002 z28 with 470hp to the wheels with a built manual transmission and 3.90 gears. I liked the z28 more. Why? Because a I rarely drag raced. I spent much more time driving around on the street and I loved shifting gears manually more than being fast at the drag strip.

So the choice has become fairly simple to me. Do I want a car that will go as fast as it can at the drag strip? If yes, automatic. If I want a car I'll mostly drive on the street and want to maximize what I call fun, manual transmission. Don't be scared to learn, its quite easy. I learned by buying that z28(stock at the time with a grinding 2nd gear, ugh!) 200 miles away from home and then having to get it home by myself. I currently drive an hhr ss and its a manual and so much fun.

 

[scottpe]

Also, if you ever break your foot or leg, you won't be able to drive a manual trans. Even if you only sprain your knee/ankle, it makes it very painful to clutch. And if the Mustang is your only car, you're not going to be able to drive. You'll have to borrow or rent an auto car. I learned the hard way when I tore my knee riding MX & had to shift all the way home.

I understand what you're saying, but I have to say generally disagree with this line of thinking. To make a car purchase decision based on the idea that 'some day' you *might* have an injury to your left leg/foot seems a little silly to me.

It's risk/reward. I'll take the reward of enjoying a more fun driving experience everyday and take the relatively tiny risk that some day I might fall into some bad luck, injure myself and be unable to drive it for a few weeks.

Now to be fair, I will concede that the risk/reward ratio for this particular decision could vary somewhat from person to person. If you're old or in an occupation that dramatically increases your risk of leg/foot injury, maybe it's more of a consideration... maybe...

Sometimes stuff happens in life that we can't control, and we can't live it in a way that covers every possible contingency... if you go too far with that philosophy, you're not 'living' at all!

 

[Nate408]

If you have ANY concerns, buy an auto trans. Also, if you ever break your foot or leg, you won't be able to drive a manual trans. Even if you only sprain your knee/ankle, it makes it very painful to clutch. And if the Mustang is your only car, you're not going to be able to drive. You'll have to borrow or rent an auto car. I learned the hard way when I tore my knee riding MX & had to shift all the way home.

This is something to take into account if you are old or have already / previously been injured for sure. Beyond that, I definitely don't plan on getting seriously injured. What if you broke both legs and couldn't drive your auto? Admittedly less likely...

 

[RubyRacer]

I think reviews might sway me. I know the car mags looooove their manuals, but if the auto trans gets even "okay" reviews from those guys then that'll likely be enough to push me towards an auto.

If the shifts are aggressive and/or brisk, I'm in. This way my fiance can drive it, I won't be bothered as much in city traffic (which I'm in easily 75% of my driving life), and fuel economy should be 2-3 mpg better than the manual if recent trends continue onto the '15 Mustang. Additionally, while I know some people hate them (Jeremy Clarkson!), I actually like the "floppy, flappy gear paddles." I think they're fun. I've never owned a car with them, just tested a few. Heaven forbid I like the idea of fresh tech in a Mustang driving experience.

Still, I'm not deciding right now. I'm simply stating some of the reasons I think an auto would be a good idea. My Focus ST is a manual-only car... I think having an auto Mustang may be a nice equalizer for the driving experiences for me and my fiance (again, she can't/won't drive manuals).

 

[Fenderaddict2]

Manual.

 

[Five Oh Brian]

Stalled Auto > Manual

 

[tbonez3858]

depressing thread is depressing...

 

[stang]

Why don't people purchase automatic transmission Mustangs? I'm planning on buying one in a country where everyone drives automatic cars but I would like to know why choose manual?

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