Finalizing my order. Auto or manual?

[emix]

Hey everyone, I'm about to finalize my order on a V8 coupe. Last question is auto or manual. Let me explain a bit why:

I've had manual cars before, but never one so powerful as the V8 Mustang, I drove an ecoboost manual and even that felt lively in the rear and wanted to slide all the time. My sole concern is safety. Seems to me that I need both hands on the wheel all the time with this car, and having to change gears might cause me to loose control of the car. Is my concern an exaggeration?

I've had fast, tail happy cars before but not with a manual. What do you guys think? I would prefer a manual, and while I do consider myself a fairly good driver, I'm not a professional. The automatic has paddle shifters with which I'm comfortable, but I haven't driven one as my dealer doesn't have one available at this time. TO those of you who've driven both how do you feel about the automatic? Is it a good one? Does it change gear quickly, or is it laggy like other run of the mill autos? Does it compare with say BMW's 8 speed auto which I found really good and fast shifting?

Thanks for reading.

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[Ace]

I drive the GT MT for a year soon and I am totally happy with it. I never had a problem with a loose rear too, I really think the Mustang really has a soft line between clean driving and drifting, so it really warns you long time before your rear would spin.

But with the Pirellis always drive carefully when it's cold or wet outside, they are not the best for bad weather but totally awesome if you get them warm on a sunny day.

Only thing you really have to change is the clutch assist spring. The stock is way too hard (so the clutch gets way to easy) - you have no feeling then the clutch really engages. Change it to the steeda one (costs about 15€) and you will have a great feeling for the clutch.

 

[emix]

I drive the GT MT for a year soon and I am totally happy with it. I never had a problem with a loose rear too, I really think the Mustang really has a soft line between clean driving and drifting, so it really warns you long time before your rear would spin.

But with the Pirellis always drive carefully when it's cold or wet outside, they are not the best for bad weather but totally awesome if you get them warm on a sunny day.

Only thing you really have to change is the clutch assist spring. The stock is way too hard (so the clutch gets way to easy) - you have no feeling then the clutch really engages. Change it to the steeda one (costs about 15€) and you will have a great feeling for the clutch.

Thank you for your input. I noticed the clutch is hard too.

Is the Mustang your daily driving car? I plan on driving mine all year except when it's snowing. I think I'll be fine even in winter with the manual.

 

[Ericc B]

Manual or automatic is a very personal choice. I only drive a manual because the automatic is 23.000 euro more expensive here and I cannot afford that. Otherwise I would drive an automatic all day long.

But if you really enjoy the manual than that's what you should get. The money you save on not getting the automatic is best spent on a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports, to replace those gawd awful Mexican POS Pirelli's and vastly improve your safety.

 

[Ace]

I drive my Mustang every day, even if it's snowing and freezing (of course on good winter tires)

 

[John577]

I drive now for a year an AT GT and since the beginning I had some "trouble" with the AT gear box.
Let me explain, I don't want to say bad things, but for me, Ford's AT gear box on the mustang is not good enough for this car.

It's nothing like other manufacturers like Audi or BMW, the gears doesn't change as quick as I expected and you can clearly notice some jolts when the box change a gear. It's more noticeable when you're stuck in the trafic and more when you put the sports mode and hit the gaz pedal.

So I'm happy and not happy at the same time. It's a good and not a good gear box at the same time. I know I already spoke about this few months ago and seems that I'm the only one with the problem...

An AT powershift gear box would be amazing on this car

 

[Voodoo077]

The auto is so bad it is not even an option in my mind. If you are used to drive with an auto from Audi or BMW and then you try this one ...
But this is my opinion.
Furthermore nothing nicer than to change the gears yourself all of the time on the Mustang!

 

[Ace]

I drive now for a year an AT GT and since the beginning I had some "trouble" with the AT gear box.
Let me explain, I don't want to say bad things, but for me, Ford's AT gear box on the mustang is not good enough for this car.

It's nothing like other manufacturers like Audi or BMW, the gears doesn't change as quick as I expected and you can clearly notice some jolts when the box change a gear. It's more noticeable when you're stuck in the trafic and more when you put the sports mode and hit the gaz pedal.

So I'm happy and not happy at the same time. It's a good and not a good gear box at the same time. I know I already spoke about this few months ago and seems that I'm the only one with the problem...

An AT powershift gear box would be amazing on this car

On the german forum some people are reporting that there's a new update for AT Mustangs since a few days. According to reports it comes with a huge improvement in the responsiblity of the automatic and finally gives you the opportunity to switch back to the 5th gear in abover 180km/h

 

[John577]

On the german forum some people are reporting that there's a new update for AT Mustangs since a few days. According to reports it comes with a huge improvement in the responsiblity of the automatic and finally gives you the opportunity to switch back to the 5th gear in abover 180km/h

Can you tell me more about this update ?

I think I need to put my car to the Dealer to solve the cooled seats issue and to do a lot of update : gear box, navigation, ...

 

[MustangMustHaves]

The auto transmission on BMW you say, is that the Steptronic system or the sporty version? Cause I hate the steptronic :frusty:

Haven't driven the Mustang's auto yet, but if you love the manual I'd go for that for sure. It's personal preference indeed! The only advantage the auto had over the MT imo was the rev matching. But Cobb's flat foot shifting on the Ecoboost can be set up so you basically get rev matching on the MT under WOT anyway. Works brilliant too. I'm sure the same is possible for the GT. Would save you a lot of money too.

Also, if the rumors are true that they will change the auto transmission in the next model years to that new 10 speed, Ford themselves probably thinks it can be improved. :shrug:

Anyway, here's the gear ratio's differences between the auto and MT. Sooo if the Euro GT has the 3.73 gears (has it?) the auto should be more tail happy in 1st gear but less acceleration in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th because of the taller gears than the MT. Auto should get a better top speed. In theory.

 

[emix]

I drive now for a year an AT GT and since the beginning I had some "trouble" with the AT gear box.
Let me explain, I don't want to say bad things, but for me, Ford's AT gear box on the mustang is not good enough for this car.

It's nothing like other manufacturers like Audi or BMW, the gears doesn't change as quick as I expected and you can clearly notice some jolts when the box change a gear. It's more noticeable when you're stuck in the trafic and more when you put the sports mode and hit the gaz pedal.

So I'm happy and not happy at the same time. It's a good and not a good gear box at the same time. I know I already spoke about this few months ago and seems that I'm the only one with the problem...

An AT powershift gear box would be amazing on this car

Perhaps there's a difference in perception? Or do you think your car has a problem?

The auto is so bad it is not even an option in my mind. If you are used to drive with an auto from Audi or BMW and then you try this one ...
But this is my opinion.
Furthermore nothing nicer than to change the gears yourself all of the time on the Mustang!

My current car is an Audi A6 with S tronic gearbox, which is nice, smooth and fast, and this will be the car I will replace for the Mustang. Wife has a Range rover sport, with the ZF 8 speed auto (same as BMW). I'm guessing it's not up to those standards...

 

[MustangMustHaves]

an auto from Audi

After being in an Audi A5 with their Multritronic I've thought every auto is shit compared to that :lol:

 

[John577]

Perhaps there's a difference in perception? Or do you think your car has a problem?

Don't think so, I compared the Mustang to my company's Skoda Octavia AT with a DSG gearbox and it's WAY better than the gear box on the Mustang ! addle:

 

[MustangMustHaves]

For the Ecoboost there's things like the transmission tuning from Tune+. Isn't there anything like that on the GT platform for you [MENTION=14834]John577[/MENTION] ? Wonder how much it helps!

 

[Ace]

Can you tell me more about this update ?

No sorry. People still trying to get this information proved by their dealer, so they can get this update too. I will inform you if I hear something new about that

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