Manual VS Automatic

[Grimace427]

You guys have to remember for some people a manual is just not practical. In my situation for example, my commute is an hour each way in heavy LIE ( Long Island Expressway) traffic. I've had manual sports/ muscle cars my whole life, but finally gave in when I ordered my 2012 5.0. Let me tell you I miss the control of a stick, but it was torture in constant stop and go traffic, day in and day out. The auto is like heaven in comparison. Additionally, my GF can't drive a manual and we occasionally have to drive each others car. As an added bonus this auto is built like a tank and can handle something 800ft-lb of torque, and as others have mentioned typically quicker from a standstill

I commute through Northern Virginia traffic every day and have been for the last 9 years, all but 2 with a manual transmission. As I said, I respect people's choices and nobody needs to justify their decision to me. However, I am free to be less than thrilled when I see a Mustang or other sports car with an automatic transmission.

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[Alloye]

I got the auto simply because I prefer it. The opposite was once true as well. Either way, I couldn't care less if anyone thinks my car doesn't live up to some ill-conceived notion of what a Mustang should be.

 

[Kbreese]

I commute through Northern Virginia traffic every day and have been for the last 9 years, all but 2 with a manual transmission. As I said, I respect people's choices and nobody needs to justify their decision to me. However, I am free to be less than thrilled when I see a Mustang or other sports car with an automatic transmission.

I am not familiar with Northern Virginia, but I'd confidently bet it's not nearly as bad as Long Island during rush hour, or driving through the NYC area. Also, you didn't specify how long of a commute you had which obviously makes a big difference.

I commuted almost 15 years in treacherous Long Island Rush hour traffic with manual transmissions, anywhere from one to 1 -1/2 hours each way, plus made countless trips back and forth From L.I. to NJ and PA, which meant dealing with the likes of the Cross Bronx, Belt Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, GW Bridge, etc etc. One of the cars I did it in was a lowered Full exhaust H/C/I Z06 with a Heavy Duty clutch. I'd give most people a week in that car before they couldn't take it any more, with the roads and traffic I dealt with.

I'm 42 now, and this is my first auto, and I LOVE it in 95% of my driving because unfortunately that 95% is dealing with traffic. When things open up though I truly miss the standard believe me. If I lived somewhere where the traffic wasn't so bad and my commute wasn't so long, and my GF could drive a standard, it would be a no-brainer to get the standard.

Point is don't automatically (no pun intended) hold back that on a nice car just because you are prejudicial towards the tranny choice. There may be good reason ;)

 

[JeffreyDJ]

Point is don't automatically (no pun intended) hold back that on a nice car just because you are prejudicial towards the tranny choice. There may be good reason ;)

100% agreed. Just because I chose a manual, doesn't mean everyone should. Additionally, I chose an EB and not a GT for various reasons this time around. The nice thing about Mustang is we're afforded choices. I would never look down on someone else's choice, because I am sure they have a reason.

I've dealt with long commutes in a MT. I'd still take the MT every single time, but you can believe me that there were many days I wish I had an automatic! I now WFH and can usually avoid the most well trafficked times of day, which has been a blessing.

 

[Kbreese]

I now WFH and can usually avoid the most well trafficked times of day, which has been a blessing.

Don't have the luxury of working from home. Sure wish I did! That would change everything. And for the record I've tried all different routes in my commutes but unfortunately there's really no short cuts on this Island during rush hour. Pretty sure 99% of the commuters who deal with rush hour here have auto's. And of the remaining 1% I'd say .8% wish they had an auto

 

[2c5s]

I got the auto simply because I prefer it. The opposite was once true as well. Either way, I couldn't care less if anyone thinks my car doesn't live up to some ill-conceived notion of what a Mustang should be.

This^^^^^

I've had 900 wheel daily divers, all sticks. Anyone that looks down on me for buying an A6 this time is a fool. And btw, I'm pretty damn sure I could outdrive any of you with a stick. Street strip or road course....

 

[JeffreyDJ]

This^^^^^

I've had 900 wheel daily divers, all sticks. Anyone that looks down on me for buying an A6 this time is a fool. And btw, I'm pretty damn sure I could outdrive any of you with a stick. Street strip or road course....

That escalated quickly.

 

[dirty-max]

That escalated quickly.

It takes something along those lines to prove a solid point to those stick shifting enthusiasts :lol:

 

[2c5s]

That escalated quickly.

Because some of these comments are ridiculous.

 

[SVTFreak]

Because some of these comments are ridiculous.

Smartest comment in this thread.

 

[JeffreyDJ]

Because some of these comments are ridiculous.

Welcome to the internet, where only a few of us are open-minded enough to respect other people's opinion. :cheers:

 

[Nemesys]

This^^^^^

I've had 900 wheel daily divers, all sticks. Anyone that looks down on me for buying an A6 this time is a fool. And btw, I'm pretty damn sure I could outdrive any of you with a stick. Street strip or road course....

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[Enoch]

to put it simply manuals are for enthusiasts, and autos are for either women, or men who plan on going full blown race car with it. honestly breaks my heart to see sports cars like corvettes that are auto's.. im just like.. why did you even fucking buy it dude..

Can be tricky pressing a clutch pedal with no left leg:doh:

 

[Max57]

I am not familiar with Northern Virginia, but I'd confidently bet it's not nearly as bad as Long Island during rush hour, or driving through the NYC area. Also, you didn't specify how long of a commute you had which obviously makes a big difference.

I commuted almost 15 years in treacherous Long Island Rush hour traffic with manual transmissions, anywhere from one to 1 -1/2 hours each way, plus made countless trips back and forth From L.I. to NJ and PA, which meant dealing with the likes of the Cross Bronx, Belt Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, GW Bridge, etc etc. One of the cars I did it in was a lowered Full exhaust H/C/I Z06 with a Heavy Duty clutch. I'd give most people a week in that car before they couldn't take it any more, with the roads and traffic I dealt with.

I'm 42 now, and this is my first auto, and I LOVE it in 95% of my driving because unfortunately that 95% is dealing with traffic. When things open up though I truly miss the standard believe me. If I lived somewhere where the traffic wasn't so bad and my commute wasn't so long, and my GF could drive a standard, it would be a no-brainer to get the standard.

Point is don't automatically (no pun intended) hold back that on a nice car just because you are prejudicial towards the tranny choice. There may be good reason ;)

I lived on Long Island (Long Guyland) the majority of my life and I can attest to what Kbreeze is saying about the LIE (Long Island Distress-way), Cross Bronx and all the other "stop & go" major roads up there. The last stick-shift car I had when I lived out in Suffolk County was a 65 Mustang back in 1972. As much as I enjoyed that car, it was horrible with the constant stop & go to and from work. At times, it felt like my left leg would fall off with all of the constant shifting,,,.

Now that I live in Central VA, just 2 years ago I bough a 97 Honda DelSol, 'manual tranny' (my first stick-shift in over 30 years) and I'm having a ball with it in these winding and hilly country roads. I will say, that the traffic in Northern Virginia can be just as congested and frustrating as the LIE! Luckily, I rarely have to travel through that area. I avoid it like the plague!

 

[MsBlur]

to put it simply manuals are for enthusiasts, and autos are for either women, or men who plan on going full blown race car with it. honestly breaks my heart to see sports cars like corvettes that are auto's.. im just like.. why did you even fucking buy it dude..

Nice! You just insulted many different demographics with just one post. Good job! No one needs to justify why they chose an AT over a MT. Just like I don't care why someone buys a V6 or EB over a V8. If you bought a Mustang, you'll get a from me.

5 of the 6 Mustangs we currently own are MT, this one was ordered with an automatic. But we're not enthusiasts and only men drive full blown race cars. :lol:

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