Automatic vs Manual

[Backorder]

Yes, reviving this thread after about a week right?

I'm in a bit of a conundrum...I want a manual whether it be the GT350 I want or a GT pp if I have to settle (which I may have to do now...).

My problems are:
I've never driven a manual as a DD
My wife thinks I'll wreck it because of point 1
I live in houston and I'm a bit worried about driving my first DD manual in heavy traffic.

I really want a PP or a GT350 but still have reservations...how do you manual guys handle heavy traffic? Any tips/suggestions?

Also, are autos more likely to overheat on a track? I probably won't track a LOT but when I do since I live in Houston it'll be HOT and I would t want to have things overheating on a track day...especially the trans.

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[OppoLock]

Yes, reviving this thread after about a week right?

I'm in a bit of a conundrum...I want a manual whether it be the GT350 I want or a GT pp if I have to settle (which I may have to do now...).

My problems are:
I've never driven a manual as a DD
My wife thinks I'll wreck it because of point 1
I live in houston and I'm a bit worried about driving my first DD manual in heavy traffic.

I really want a PP or a GT350 but still have reservations...how do you manual guys handle heavy traffic? Any tips/suggestions?

Also, are autos more likely to overheat on a track? I probably won't track a LOT but when I do since I live in Houston it'll be HOT and I would t want to have things overheating on a track day...especially the trans.

It's actually not bad at all. These cars have an auto-crawl feature in 1st gear, so the car can be controlled really easily just easing the clutch in and out during congestion.

 

[Asharus]

traffic is not an issue at all. i barely use my brakes and just let the engine slow the car down while "rubber banding" the car in front.

been DDing a manual since 2008 though. 100 miles a day. it just comes natural now.

 

[Backorder]

It's actually not bad at all. These cars have an auto-crawl feature in 1st gear, so the car can be controlled really easily just easing the clutch in and out during congestion.

So it's like using the clutch as a bit of a brake?

 

[DeepImpactGTny]

So it's like using the clutch as a bit of a brake?

Basically you let out the clutch slowly, and the car keeps the RPMs slightly up so you don't stall out.

 

[Asharus]

Just demonstrating "rubber banding" in traffic. Note that the brakes were never applied once during the entire video even when required to slow down. Leave space in front of you and use engine braking to slow down.

With experience you can judge how much room you need by paying attention to what's on the road ahead and keep people from cutting in between you and the lead car.

Excuse the unnecessary small bursts of throttle. I haven't driven the car in over a week and wanted to hear the exhaust.

[ame]

 

[DeepImpactGTny]

Just demonstrating "rubber banding" in traffic. Note that the brakes were never applied once during the entire video even when required to slow down. Leave space in front of you and use engine braking to slow down.

With experience you can judge how much room you need by paying attention to what's on the road ahead and keep people from cutting in between you and the lead car.

Excuse the unnecessary small bursts of throttle. I haven't driven the car in over a week and wanted to hear the exhaust.

Sunken Meadow How is the mustang doing in this long island weather? Getting mine in a month so hopefully wont need to get snow tires for this season.

 

[Asharus]

correct sir! you'll be fine in a month, this weather should be over soon.

i had to come off the OEM p zeros a few weeks ago. but i drove on them even with temps down to 7F and was fine, until one day i had to park in my barber's parking lot with half an inch of slush. got stuck twice but easily got out of it by shutting traction control off and rocking the car out.

i sold the p zeros and bought the new yokohama advan sport A/S tires. haven't had issues since. the tail end still gets happy with the right amount of throttle, which is normal for a car with this amount of torque.

edit: pic for reference, ok maybe it was more than half an inch of slush. that's how i parked the car while i got my haircut, i couldnt get into the parking space without getting stuck.

 

[Backorder]

Basically you let out the clutch slowly, and the car keeps the RPMs slightly up so you don't stall out.

Sooooo forgive my lack of knowledge...you are keeping the car in gear and working the clutch to either move forward or slow down? Would that put wear on the clutch?

Just demonstrating "rubber banding" in traffic. Note that the brakes were never applied once during the entire video even when required to slow down. Leave space in front of you and use engine braking to slow down.

With experience you can judge how much room you need by paying attention to what's on the road ahead and keep people from cutting in between you and the lead car.

Excuse the unnecessary small bursts of throttle. I haven't driven the car in over a week and wanted to hear the exhaust.

Thanks for the vid! Honestly looks like what I do even in my auto...good ole coasting and then moving forward and coasting. And it seems that you don't have to stop often doing that so u aren't even using the clutch are u? I think I could handle that. As you said, just a little bit of practice.

I'm having a TON of trouble getting the wife on board...she learned to drive standard in Chicago traffic and doesn't want anything to do with it. Tells me she would want to take it out every now and then on the weekends which is fine...but she wants an auto. My main goal is the GT350 but it looks like we have to get a car replacement soon and if I'm going to settle I want a manual PP w recaros and no other options...keeps payment down and would be fun to drive. I don't know how to convince her...I'm either screwed now without a manual or if I try to wait for the gt350 I'm screwed then...arg...lucky I love that woman lol I don't want to compromise though!!!!

 

[Asharus]

no, i only used the clutch to upshift. let go of the gas while still in gear and the engine will slow down the car for you (more than it slows down in an auto). you'll get the hang of it.

my wife cannot drive a manual either and refuses to learn. sucks for her, but hey that's why she's got her own car right?

 

[Backorder]

Thanks for the guidance.

Just have to convince her that if the car is damaged or I die in it it'll be due to my stupidity and not the Trans lol

 

[Asharus]

ive said it before and i'll say it again.

it's better to ask for forgiveness than for permission

LOL

 

[LICobra]

I've been driving a stick ever since I got my license in 71'....wouldn't have it any other way.

Shifting without the clutch (up and down shifting) is a good thing to learn....as you never know when you'll need to do it...hopefully not at all.....although I had to several times in the old days....also heel-toe shifting is art if done correctly....those are some of the fun things that the "strictly auto" guy's won't experience....well if your a real manual trans guy and if your stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, , then it's just a labor of love.

 

[JimmyTwoTimes]

correct sir! you'll be fine in a month, this weather should be over soon.

i had to come off the OEM p zeros a few weeks ago. but i drove on them even with temps down to 7F and was fine, until one day i had to park in my barber's parking lot with half an inch of slush. got stuck twice but easily got out of it by shutting traction control off and rocking the car out.

I actually -- shock of shocks -- got momentarily stuck on my Michelin XIce Xi3's the other day. There was a snow berm where the plows had plowed a big pile, maybe 18 inches high, where I was trying to parallel park, and I tried to get over it but got stuck. Took me about sixty seconds to be able to back-and-forth my way out. Was really surprised because before that my snow tires had handled everything I threw at them.

Figure it'll be about another month / five weeks before I take the winter tires off and go back to the OEM wheels... I'm debating on what to do about tires, though. I have a summer NY - San Diego - NY trip planned, and I'm not sure if I should use the stock PZeroNero A/S the car came with for the trip, or get a set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3's (which, by all accounts, are just as good as most summer tires in warm, dry weather, and can handle wet or temperatures down to 30 degrees with no problems). I'll see when I get there!

 

[Asharus]

i would rock the OEMs until you need a new set. i think the pirellis have a really short tread life anyway, the ones that came with my car at least. i was going to try to wear thru them in a year since i do about 20k a year anyway. i heard they last 15-20k. the p zero neros may last a bit longer.

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