Auto Vs Manual 0-60

[Leeky]

Hello All,

I've been trying to decide whether to order my GT with the 6 speed Manual or the 6 Speed Auto but wanted to ask if anyone knows if there will be a difference in 0-60 between the two?

Trawling the forum and google hasn't provided me the information I was looking for and Ford don't provide 0-60 times on their website for the S197 for comparison.

I would expect the automatic to be slightly slower 0-60 than the manual, simply down to the auto's 3.15:1 differential vs 3.55:1 of the manual.

I really want the paddle shifters and the rev matching, but don't want a car that's slower 0-60.

Also does anyone know if the 3.15:1 is an LSD? As if its an open diff that's a game changer for me. I hate driving an Open Diff car, especially RWD.

Thanks!

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[marks]

Having owned a flappy paddle, I would still go for the manual even if it is fractionally slower. A manual is much more engaging and exciting!

 

[SLVRBACK]

Hello All,

I've been trying to decide whether to order my GT with the 6 speed Manual or the 6 Speed Auto but wanted to ask if anyone knows if there will be a difference in 0-60 between the two?

Trawling the forum and google hasn't provided me the information I was looking for and Ford don't provide 0-60 times on their website for the S197 for comparison.

I would expect the automatic to be slightly slower 0-60 than the manual, simply down to the auto's 3.15:1 differential vs 3.55:1 of the manual.

I really want the paddle shifters and the rev matching, but don't want a car that's slower 0-60.

Also does anyone know if the 3.15:1 is an LSD? As if its an open diff that's a game changer for me. I hate driving an Open Diff car, especially RWD.

Thanks!

I'd probably give it to the auto.

Also keep in mind that final gearing is not the end all of how your transmission is geared. You also have the gearing of the individual gears themselves in the transmission. That being said, the auto is geared much steeper than the mt-82. An auto with 3.31's would be equivalent to the manual with 3.55's.

From a dead stop you would need a very good driver to match the launching abilities of an auto, consistently. Lower gearing could actually help as well. If you can 0-60 in 1st gear like the GT500, you may get there " slower " due to the longer gearing but that absence of the 1-2 shift could save you time, and ultimately be the deciding factor.

And yes, all rears for this car will be an LSD.

Good topic.

 

[TungstenGT]

Well, I know you can't get the performance package with the auto. I'm also pretty sure launch control is only available on the manual, so I'm going to guess the best 0 to 60 times for the 2015 Mustang will come via a manual transmission.

 

[Leeky]

Cheers guys, exactly the info I was after. I didn't realise even the 3.15:1 was an LSD.

 

[scottpe]

On street tires, the manual *might* have a slight advantage because of the launch control. On stickies, the auto will be faster.

Regardless they are going to be very close in street trim, and I definitely would not use 0-60 time to decide which transmission you want. Get the one you will ENJOY driving the most. If you do that, you'll never care about the fraction of a second either way...

 

[ilkhan]

The manual might be slightly faster, but for most drivers the auto will be far more consistent.

 

[scottpe]

The manual might be slightly faster, but for most drivers the auto will be far more consistent.

For the current gen, I agree. For the 2015, there's a good chance the new Launch Control (only available on the manual) will help level the playing field as far as consistency goes...

But again, still talking street trim here. At the track, with sticky tires, the auto will still be faster and probably more consistent overall.

 

[Brent302]

Not bashing the Auto because its user preference but a manual is only as slow as the driver and their ability. I proved it with my Challenger R/T posting a 4.98 while Autos consistently run 5.1.

To me I love the thrill of knowing that I was able to achieve that 0-60.

 

[Mustang_Owner]

Not sure how accurate this is, but I've generally seen the manual model get faster times than the automatic because of the power-loss due to automatic transmission fluid versus the clutch. I think there is a percentage of HP lost in the auto that is not lost in the manual, but not sure what that typical percentage is. For the 0-60 calculator I use, it says the auto is generally 0.3 seconds slower than the manual at 420 HP / 3707 lbs. http://www.060calculator.com/

I think this assumes you can get the manual from first into second in less than 0.3 seconds, but I don't recall seeing the average manual shift times for an expert driver listed anywhere. You need to shift fast or you lose that time.

I found on my current manual from 0 MPH, I hold the gas at around 3000-4000 RPM, then let off the clutch until I get a very minor tire slippage, then as the car accelerates, I continue to let off the clutch while flooring the gas to the point where the tires barely slip from the road until my foot on the clutch is not applying any pressure. Somewhere around 30 MPH, I quickly press the clutch and drop to second, allowing the RPM to go slightly higher for that ~0.3 second it takes to push the clutch and shift into 2nd. Then, I let of the clutch much more quickly than I did in 1st gear - again just to the point where the tires don't slip. Second gear gets you up to around 60 MPH for a good 0-60 time. This requires finesse, concentration, and sometimes luck to get it just right. However, I think because your car has faster potential acceleration with the manual, if you mess it up a little, you are still no worse than the auto.

Note that when you are relaxing with a soda in your hand and some guy (sometimes girl) with a Challenger, Corvette, import, or Camaro end up next to you as they cut somebody off to get there, then the light turns green, the automatic could come in handy. You really don't have much time to prepare for the thought that goes into best-case manual transmission shifting (maybe the launch control button can be added to the steering wheel next to the Nitrous button) and sometimes are too relaxed to think about it. Getting caught off guard can be fixed by lots of practice with an accelerometer ('15 model comes with one in the dash) and trying to get the best shift technique at every acceleration, especially when nobody else is around. This way, you know what the car can do (under various outside temperatures, shifting, street conditions, and even engine temperature) and can plan to meet those acceleration numbers consistently. I think that is part of the joy, excitement, fun of driving the manual - driver preparation and performance.

Note that you get the option of 3.73 rear axle with the manual. 3.15 vs 3.73 is a big difference in torque. What can you do with 15% more torque? Accelerate faster. It does hurt the MPG when in the highway, but I am not paying extra $ for a GT because of MPG.

A possible advantage (sometimes) to a manual is that you advertise that you are ready to race. You need to hold the gas pedal in when the traffic light is about to turn green to get that horsepower ready. Other cars around you hear the engine rev and know you are ready for maximum acceleration. I think an automatic is more stealthy. I think they try to trick you into thinking they don't want to race, then they start accelerating a few seconds after the light turns green if they see you are not ready to race them (because you didn't hear their engine rev before the light changed and then you lose that fast start).

It would be great if the automatic was just as fast as the manual, but since I am almost certain it is not, I'd recommend the manual and the extra work that comes with it if you are really concerned about 0-60.

 

[Free Agent]

Note that you get the option of 3.73 rear axle with the manual.

Also note the 3.55 option of the automatic when combined with the automatics already HIGHER numerical 1st gear advantage gives the multiplier advantage to the automatic through 1st gear.

Auto 1st = 4.17 ratio w/3.55 gears = 14.80
Manual 1st = 3.657 w/3.73 gears = 13.64

Automatics are not the slush boxes of the 60's and 70's. Shift times and pressures can be increased as well. And remember an automatic will NEVER miss a shift at the track (barring breakage). Stock for stock with 2 GT owners of equal driving skill one with a 3.55 auto the other with a 3.73 manual, I would put my money on the automatic car every time 0-60 and in the quarter.

It is more than 0-60 and 1/4 mile times as well. As was said, buy what you enjoy and then go from there.

 

[scottpe]

It would be great if the automatic was just as fast as the manual, but since I am almost certain it is not, I'd recommend the manual and the extra work that comes with it if you are really concerned about 0-60.

In an impromptu race on the street, it will probably be close, but the automatic is likely going to be a bit faster most of the time, drivers and curb weight being (near) equal. As I said above, the Launch Control feature probably helps the manual, but it's not like that feature is available for use instantaneously. If you're caught off guard and don't have that set up and ready to go, you won't have that benefit... not that I recommend drag racing on public roads anyway...

On the track, with sticky tires, the automatic will be significantly faster and more consistent. The auto gets off the line quicker and can shift more quickly than any human. The lockup feature on the modern autos also substantially reduces or eliminates the torque converter efficiency losses that used to be a problem in the past.

If the OP's primary goal is drag racing, the automatic is the way to go, period. It WILL be better and more durable for that task. If he just wants the overall enjoyment of rowing the gears and being more connected with the driving experience, or leans more toward corner carving, the manual is the better choice.

The most important thing, again, is to get the one that you will enjoy the most. Don't fret over a fraction of a second here or there. Those can be made up with modifications anyway. If it's a daily driver, fun factor is what matters.

For me, it's manual all the way...

 

[Fulcrum]

Manual no questions asked.

I said it before and I will say it again, if you are buying a high powered RWD car that you plan to enjoy, manual is the only option to get.

Automatic is ONLY if you have a disability with your left foot and can't clutch. Also the auto will always have a greater parasitic loss, the only exception is DCT (which still has more loss but makes up for it in lightning fast shifts)

I understand people have preferences, but if you are a true gear head / enthusiast and the situation permits - manual is the ONLY option here.

Otherwise you might as well get yourself a ford fusion and call it a day.

 

[ilkhan]

Manual no questions asked.

I said it before and I will say it again, if you are buying a high powered RWD car that you plan to enjoy, manual is the only option to get.

Automatic is ONLY if you have a disability with your left foot and can't clutch. Also the auto will always have a greater parasitic loss, the only exception is DCT (which still has more loss but makes up for it in lightning fast shifts)

I understand people have preferences, but if you are a true gear head / enthusiast and the situation permits - manual is the ONLY option here.

Otherwise you might as well get yourself a ford fusion and call it a day.

Much as I agree with manuals being better; paddles do a good job of giving you back that control, you can no-lift-shift, and selling a stick car is getting harder and harder as fewer people know how to drive them which effects net cost of the vehicle.
Ideal? No. But paddles make the auto a damned good compromise.

 

[DarkKnightDant3]

Manual no questions asked.

I said it before and I will say it again, if you are buying a high powered RWD car that you plan to enjoy, manual is the only option to get.

Automatic is ONLY if you have a disability with your left foot and can't clutch. Also the auto will always have a greater parasitic loss, the only exception is DCT (which still has more loss but makes up for it in lightning fast shifts)

I understand people have preferences, but if you are a true gear head / enthusiast and the situation permits - manual is the ONLY option here.

Otherwise you might as well get yourself a ford fusion and call it a day.

Completely agree!!!

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