[poll] Auto or Manual next gen?

[Red]

Hmmm, let me think about that ... < drumming fingers> .... Nope, I'm feeling a little younger today because you and Norm are older than I! j/k

You didn't think you'd get off THAT easy, did ya?

Bill

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[Norm Peterson]

Just take that '82 out to a road course track day, Red. You won't need either of us to feel young after a couple of sessions at speed. Grabbing 4th at 100 or so and getting a point-by from a Porsche driver . . . priceless as the saying goes. :lol:


Norm

 

[L8APEX]

I am going with the manual transmission

 

[Red]

It's not for lack of trying, Norm. Converting the damn thing back to street & mild drag/AX/track duty is taking far longer than anticipated. I remember telling my son around Memorial Day that we should have the rear suspension done by the end of June. Not even close. Mostly spent correcting after-market pieces, and waiting... A major piece of the new rear susp has been at a machine shop since Nov 11; hoping they'll get to it before Thanksgiving.

 

[BigEasyGT]

Current daily is a manual so this will be too.

 

[balavanquity]

As someone who is just now learning stick at 22, I still feel like I would be happier with an auto and paddle shifters. I've still got plenty of time to make my mind up though.

I wanted to see what all of you thought on the matter. When I think mustang, I think everyone drives a manual. Is this true?

Are you getting an auto or a manual?

To be honest I was really fed-up off that manual mustang,, and I was just thinking to have a change it as early as possible then one day I finally decided to have a my latest and brand new My '05 Automatic,, and now it really feels great !!

 

[Wild Stang]

I get SO BORED driving automatics. Manual please.

I doubt manuals are going away anytime soon (especially in performance vehicles) by the way.

 

[JonnyMustang]

Wife wants it to be automatic so she can drive it. She's really short so she hates pressing a clutch. I think the paddles should provide enough fun for me. Also, I hate driving manuals in traffic, Dallas already gets on my nerves as it is. lol We like to visit the city often, so this would be a deal breaker.

 

[Johnb-5.0]

Another MGW Shifter

 

[Patio208]

I'm a believer in sporty cars being manuals and all my Mustangs have been. I've always been curious about paddle shifters too. But it seems to me I would just let the car shift without my input most of the time. I don't see a real incentive to use them without the clutch. Currently my left ankle is fractured and has been in a giant moon boot for months and will be for the foreseeable future. Made me think if I had a manual now how difficult or maybe impossible it would be to drive. So I will weigh all the options before making a firm decision but I'm leaning strongly toward manual.

 

[Grimace427]

I've been working on Mercedes for over 8 years now and despite the fact we have some of the best automatic transmissions(AMG Speedshift II for example) whenever I'm driving one of them I'm always stomping on the floorboards searching for the clutch pedal. There is no feeling of performance when all you have to do is press the gas pedal, I just feel like I'm a passenger in a fast car.

Paddle shifters = polite request from the driver to the PCM to change gears at it's earliest convenience.

Dual clutch transmissions to me seem to have the worst parts of both autos and manuals. Clunky/jerky at low speeds like a manual and delayed shifts at speed like an auto. My experience from Mercedes, BMW, and VDub/Audi DCT transmissions has turned me off big time. The best DCT I've driven was a VDub R32 which while smooth over 15mph was unbearable in traffic, not knowing if it wanted to slip the clutch or just dump it and make the car lurch forward. The Mercedes DCT in the brand new CLA feels just like a crappy auto at anything under WOT.

Manual trans FTW.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I've been working on Mercedes for over 8 years now and despite the fact we have some of the best automatic transmissions(AMG Speedshift II for example) whenever I'm driving one of them I'm always stomping on the floorboards searching for the clutch pedal. There is no feeling of performance when all you have to do is press the gas pedal, I just feel like I'm a passenger in a fast car.

What I've been told by a couple of strong AT devotees (including one huge CVT fan) suggests that you might as well forget that you've got a left foot and teach your right foot all manner of subtleties . . . no thanks, I like my throttle and transmission controls separate.

Paddle shifters = polite request from the driver to the PCM to change gears at it's earliest convenience.

This ↑↑↑

Dual clutch transmissions to me seem to have the worst parts of both autos and manuals. Clunky/jerky at low speeds like a manual and delayed shifts at speed like an auto. My experience from Mercedes, BMW, and VDub/Audi DCT transmissions has turned me off big time. The best DCT I've driven was a VDub R32 which while smooth over 15mph was unbearable in traffic, not knowing if it wanted to slip the clutch or just dump it and make the car lurch forward. The Mercedes DCT in the brand new CLA feels just like a crappy auto at anything under WOT.

Not the first time I've heard complaints about the low speed behavior of DCTs. But laggy shifts at speed is a new one to me, as I thought that's where they were supposed to excel.


Norm

 

[williamwally]

Manual for me, I just have more fun driving a manual, even in most stop and go (although 1 hour stop-go is my limit).

If it came with an 8-speed transmission like the new ZF unit in audi's bmw's Chryslers etc it might be a more difficult decision.

On a side note, the newest DCT's are said to experience little to none of the issues mentioned above. Super fast gear changes, instant response from request, and normal low speed behavior.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Currently my left ankle is fractured and has been in a giant moon boot for months and will be for the foreseeable future. Made me think if I had a manual now how difficult or maybe impossible it would be to drive.

I've occasionally wondered how I'd deal with either permanent or extended periods of similar disability. Haven't completely written off the notion of a power-assisted hand clutch mechanism.


Norm

 

[Taneras]

Auto hands down. I like going to the strip and I want to slap a paxton on mine later on down the road. I don't think the IRS will be sturdy enough to take the stress of a manual with the added hp and two. Also Ford's automatic for the 5.0 seems to be near bulletproof. The manuals have issues from what I read on the forums.

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