Finalizing my order. Auto or manual? EU

[Glenn G]

Autos are faster, no doubt, and I'm sure the paddles can be fun. I'm getting older now and figure this will be my last manual car so I went for it. The $1200 I saved went to mods. The final advantage is that many people can't drive a stick severely reducing the people who want to borrow it. It's nice when someone at work wanted to borrow a car to go get lunch for the office because hers was in the shop and I didn't have to say no because she couldn't drive a manual :lol:

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[JamesinLittleSilver]

You are in Europe I would think the manual will be better for resale. My wife, Italian, will only drive a manual, which is fine with me but it makes finding cars harder.

That said I say go manual lot more fun to drive. Unless you are drag racing or driving in a city 100% of the time.

 

[Hashbrownn]

Manual is easy to control with all the nannies on. Does the auto option still come with summer tires in EU?

 

[QRK]

It's all about personal preference. Some people can extract the same amount of fun out of a car whether it has 3-pedals or not. I am not one of those people.

I drove the GT with an automatic and walked away pretty bored and unimpressed. Just stomping on a gas pedal to go fast does nothing for me, I need to be involved.

Obviously I'm going to tell you to go with a manual. I haven't heard of anyone trading in their manuals for automatics like someone else said, and it may be true but one of my mom's neighbor's bought an automatic and regrets it everyday of his life haha.

 

[wireeater]

Manual for cruising/street fun. Auto if you plan on making it a drag car. Cars are becoming so linear in power that it's hard to feel completely connected to it in the first place. By having a manual at least it's putting you somewhat in control of the car and giving you a somewhat connected experience. Nothing beats the ability to control your shift points, and getting to downshift going into turns, or just to hear that engine make lots of great noises as you throw the gears into place. The difference between autos and manuals are miniscule when drag times mean nothing to you. A second time difference to a person not chasing benchmark times means nothing in the real world. If you are chasing benchmark times to compete with others then automatic will always keep you in the better powerband. I just haven't hit that point in my life where an automatic could provide the convenience or fun I am looking for but everyone has different goals. You can't go wrong either way honestly.

 

[Hack]

Here's my advice: Go with a manual if safety concerns are the only reason you are considering an automatic. Take your time getting accustomed to the car and don't drive crazy right away. Gradually build up to driving harder. If it's wet or icy be especially careful until you get used to the car. In low traction situation the car can lose grip more quickly and violently than in normal weather. Spend some time in a parking lot somewhere learning what the car does when you step on it. Have fun!

 

[cbrookre]

I have also never driven a car of this power, and have no trouble with the Manual. With >400HP any car can get you into trouble, regardless of the transmission. Just use your head and do not treat the throttle like a light switch. Squeeze the throttle, if you feel the tires slip, squeeze less and it comes right back to you. I chose Manual and would not go back!

 

[Stormtrooper5.0]

Just my 2 cents. Driving manual is an experience over another experience (driving a v8 muscle car). I started off driving auto when I first got my license and there were so many times I nearly fell asleep at the wheel because auto never forced me to do anything else other than steer and gas. The past 3 cars I had, 2015 V6 Mustang, 2014 Nissan Sentra, 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 were all manual transmission and I don’t ever recall ever having fell asleep at the wheel with any of those 3 cars. Even that 140hp Sentra was fun to drive because of it being a manual.

When I rented a 2015 Dodge Charger RT for a vacation trip I nearly fell asleep driving that I had to have my cousin drive the rest of the way….and that’s a V8 muscle car.

Unless you are a serious drag racer and live at the tracks, I would say get the manual. Theres something about rowing through the gears yourself that is just so therapeutic and addicting.

 

[emix]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

On the European GT version, the 3.55 rear diff come as standard to the car. But, the engine's power of the car is reduced to 420HP for European market.

As far as I understand our Mustangs have the same power as US ones, but EU regulation mandates they quote HP and torque figures on standard 95 gasoline. It makes 435 on premium 100 gasoline.

You are in Europe I would think the manual will be better for resale. My wife, Italian, will only drive a manual, which is fine with me but it makes finding cars harder.

That said I say go manual lot more fun to drive. Unless you are drag racing or driving in a city 100% of the time.

Mustangs over here are a dead 50/50 split between manual and auto. Resale is not an issue.

Manual is easy to control with all the nannies on. Does the auto option still come with summer tires in EU?

Comes with Pirelli p zero afaik.

Manual for cruising/street fun. Auto if you plan on making it a drag car. Cars are becoming so linear in power that it's hard to feel completely connected to it in the first place. By having a manual at least it's putting you somewhat in control of the car and giving you a somewhat connected experience. Nothing beats the ability to control your shift points, and getting to downshift going into turns, or just to hear that engine make lots of great noises as you throw the gears into place. The difference between autos and manuals are miniscule when drag times mean nothing to you. A second time difference to a person not chasing benchmark times means nothing in the real world. If you are chasing benchmark times to compete with others then automatic will always keep you in the better powerband. I just haven't hit that point in my life where an automatic could provide the convenience or fun I am looking for but everyone has different goals. You can't go wrong either way honestly.

I don't plan on doing drag races, I have some of the greatest driving roads in the world (imo) in my backyard. Also 0.1 seconds to 100 kph difference does not matter to me. The car will be used as my daily driver, 40/60 highway and town driving, and probably for touring in summer.

I've always wanted a proper American muscle car, and I'm looking to get the muscle car experience. I always thought they were traditionally automatics.
I'm so happy I can buy one with a warranty and with dealer backup now, only grey imports were available up until recently. If you needed any kind of spare part, it would take at least 3 weeks to get it. Friend of mine who used to own a Corvette, waited 2 months to get a front bumper replacement and a headlight.

Here's my advice: Go with a manual if safety concerns are the only reason you are considering an automatic. Take your time getting accustomed to the car and don't drive crazy right away. Gradually build up to driving harder. If it's wet or icy be especially careful until you get used to the car. In low traction situation the car can lose grip more quickly and violently than in normal weather. Spend some time in a parking lot somewhere learning what the car does when you step on it. Have fun!

Thanks.
Ofc I will be taking precautions and learning the car first, but you know, sometimes humans make mistakes. A mistake in such a powerful car can cost you your life. That's another issue, I'll be driving it in bad weather as well, as it will be my daily driving car.

I guess it's simply up to the person then if safety isn't such a big issue as I thought. I've got to talk to my dealer about an AT test drive. Sadly they have none available atm.

 

[KevinG]

Manual. I'll leave out my opinions on automatics as it'll hurt a lot of feelings.

 

[15wile]

Advantages: Cheaper. Just as fast as the auto if you're on your game when you shift it. More fun. Because stick.

Disadvantages: Won't hold as much extra HP as the auto, you'll need to beef it up if you want to go supercharger or something. If you're not on your game, you'll lose to the auto.

Verdict: go stick unless building a drag car, in which case go auto.

 

[mustang1]

The Auto is stronger and faster with better warranty coverage. With a manual, you can burn a clutch or damage a sync and Ford may or may not fix that under warranty. But I still prefer the manual.

As for safety, I feel more confident with a manual transmission. If the back end starts to break loose, I can clutch and immediately pull power from the wheels.

In either car, you will mostly want to point the car in a straight line before giving it gas. That applies to nearly any car with RWD and limited slip differential.

 

[15wile]

In either car, you will mostly want to point the car in a straight line before giving it gas. That applies to nearly any car with RWD and limited slip differential.

You mean you don't grab the ebrake, break the rear end loose, throw it sideways, then give it as much gas as possible when you have no traction?

Doh!

 

[MikeyV]

Bottom line: Do you want to be a man, or a vag?

{flame suit on}



Unless you're only dragging the car, get a manual. You can thank me later.

 

[wireeater]

You mean you don't grab the ebrake, break the rear end loose, throw it sideways, then give it as much gas as possible when you have no traction?

Doh!

Only when there is a crowd in sight.

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