[poll] Auto or Manual next gen?

[Barrel]

Holy shit, did you garage that thing in a vacuum-sealed chamber?

I actually got $19k from a dealer. They had it sit on their lot for 2 months but they finally got what they were asking for it - no way I would've gotten that much for it in a private sale. I thought they were crazy for asking that much .

It had Ford racing wheels, CAI, and magnaflow exhaust when I turned it it. Not sure if that helped or hurt. But I serviced it at that dealer the car's whole life. Always kept a decent coat of wax on it, etc. I've had that car airborne multiple times over hills, drove it through 4 winters, had the clutch replaced twice (warranty) and the transmission replaced once (warranty). Had the rear sway bar and end links replaced (warranty) and the blower fan replaced (warranty). Also had some bushings in the front suspension replaced (warranty). But all at the same dealer - so I guess it helps.

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[Norm Peterson]

For someone like myself who usually changes cars every 3 to 5 years, its all about residual (re-sale value). Now, working part-time at Manheim Auto Auctions, I see on Sale/Auction Day how drastically the price lowers on (most) stick-ship Automobiles, including I might add, high-line Vehicles. Adding to that factor, the heavy stop and go traffic in both urban city driving as well as both Turnpike and Interstate bumper to bumper conditions makes me just want to shift from (N) to (D) and keep it simple.

For the traffic conditions that you apparently face on a regular basis I can at least understand why most people would pick the automatic.

But to put resale value above fun every single time . . . you do apparently enjoy a MT at least a little . . .

I personally enjoy driving the few BMW`s and Audi`s that still have Manual Transmissions that occasionally go through the AuctionBlock at Manheim.

I hope that at the other end you don't have any regrets. Life isn't going to give you a CTRL-ALT-DEL do-over; you have to make that happen while you still can.


Norm

 

[phil1336]

For the traffic conditions that you apparently face on a regular basis I can at least understand why most people would pick the automatic.

But to put resale value above fun every single time . . . you do apparently enjoy a MT at least a little . . .
I hope that at the other end you don't have any regrets. Life isn't going to give you a CTRL-ALT-DEL do-over; you have to make that happen while you still can.


Norm

Your absolutely right Norm on both your points. I still do enjoy driving a Manual Transmission now and then, mostly Transporting Vehicles to and from Dealerships to the Auction, from the Auction back to the Dealerships for Vehicles that didn`t sell or that were purchased and of course driving them through the Auction Bay on Sale Day. Your correct as well as ones individual location where most of their driving is done day to day also ways heavily on the Transmission choice. On the matter of CTRL-ALT-DEL, not so much. After throwing my HP PC through my (Windows OS) many years ago and switching over to an Apple iMac Desktop, lock-ups, freezes, worms, viruses, trojan horses, malware, constant defragmentation and lastly the infamous (Blue Screen of Dead) informing you of a "fatal error" are now simply distant memories or better described as "nightmares". Going from Windows (any version) to Apple`s Safari makes things so blissful.

 

[Laztug]

Fun-6M

Speed, reliability, consistency, strength, lower ETs - 6A no contest.

Check the 11-14 forums, 6M to 6A swap is VERY popular. So popular there are not enough 6A's to go around.

 

[phil1336]

Fun-6M

Speed, reliability, consistency, strength, lower ETs - 6A no contest.

Check the 11-14 forums, 6M to 6A swap is VERY popular. So popular there are not enough 6A's to go around.

You forgot to mention "Clutch, Pressure PLate, and Throwout Bearing Replacement". Is that part of the (Fun)? Most A-6 tranny`s will go 150K with little to no maintenance including fluid and filter changes! I`m not anti- Manual Transmission, get it? Depending on where you live, your particular needs and driving habits, to each their own.

 

[Laztug]

You forgot to mention "Clutch, Pressure PLate, and Throwout Bearing Replacement". Is that part of the (Fun)? Most A-6 tranny`s will go 150K with little to no maintenance including fluid and filter changes! I`m not anti- Manual Transmission, get it? Depending on where you live, your particular needs and driving habits, to each their own.

I did not forget.....that's why reliability is under 6A.

6M still takes my vote for fun.

 

[GripAtLaunch]

IMO, I would prefer a manual in my Mustang, and any other sports/performance cars I own and have owned, for the sheer joy of being "connected" to the powertrain while driving. I believe it makes you a better overall driver when you have to think what gear your in and rev matching while downshifting, etc. The ONLY reason I would order my S550 mustang with and automatic was if I planned to spend a lot of time in heavy traffic in stop and go situations. That is not the case for me and I am currently enjoying my 07 GT right now!

 

[phil1336]

IMO, I would prefer a manual in my Mustang, and any other sports/performance cars I own and have owned, for the sheer joy of being "connected" to the powertrain while driving. I believe it makes you a better overall driver when you have to think what gear your in and rev matching while downshifting, etc. The ONLY reason I would order my S550 mustang with and automatic was if I planned to spend a lot of time in heavy traffic in stop and go situations. That is not the case for me and I am currently enjoying my 07 GT right now!

If or when you relocate to South Florida to avoid dealing with Winter, a few months of dealing with insane City traffic and constant backups on both both I95 and The Florida Turnpike I`m sure you will opt to simply click "N" to "D"!

 

[GripAtLaunch]

If or when you relocate to South Florida to avoid dealing with Winter, a few months of dealing with insane City traffic and constant backups on both both I95 and The Florida Turnpike I`m sure you will opt to simply click "N" to "D"!

LOL! The other "family vehicle" is, of course, automatic for that reason. I have the luxury of using my Mustang as a "pleasuremobile" and not a DD.

I have been to the Sunshine state and driven there a few times and the traffic can be stressful, for sure.

 

[Dinosoar]

Lowest weight + least complexity + best reliability + best control = manual

And slowest. I am going to take some heat for my next comments, but here it goes. Ford is messing up the Mustang with regard to its purported competition, the BMW M4. Ford is very slow to get the point. The GT must have a sophisticated auto and it must come with the Performance Pack. Ford still thinks manuals are faster than automatics!. Fact is, they are not.

I have two manual Mustangs (2008 GT and 2014 GT) and I love them. I also know and love to heel-toe down shift. BUT...it is the slower of the two configurations. I agree manuals are lighter, simpler and more reliable. I agree it's more engaging and in some ways more fun. And forget the "every day driver" argument; autos are faster on the track, not just for traffic. Ford needs a 7-speed dual clutch or hydraulic operated clutch transmission; Period! I hope the GT350 comes out with a good performance auto!

I know...let the bashing begin, but it won't change my mind. Manuals merely are a neat and nostalgic way to drive (and race), but autos are the future of fast cars (on or off the track). I want to hear from the critics, but I know there are a few folks out there who agree with me who know and love manuals too.

 

[Brent302]

And slowest. I am going to take some heat for my next comments, but here it goes. Ford is messing up the Mustang with regard to its purported competition, the BMW M4. Ford is very slow to get the point. The GT must have a sophisticated auto and it must come with the Performance Pack. Ford still thinks manuals are faster than automatics!. Fact is, they are not.

I have two manual Mustangs (2008 GT and 2014 GT) and I love them. I also know and love to heel-toe down shift. BUT...it is the slower of the two configurations. I agree manuals are lighter, simpler and more reliable. I agree it's more engaging and in some ways more fun. And forget the "every day driver" argument; autos are faster on the track, not just for traffic. Ford needs a 7-speed dual clutch or hydraulic operated clutch transmission; Period! I hope the GT350 comes out with a good performance auto!

I know...let the bashing begin, but it won't change my mind. Manuals merely are a neat and nostalgic way to drive (and race), but autos are the future of fast cars (on or off the track). I want to hear from the critics, but I know there are a few folks out there who agree with me who know and love manuals too.

I'm not going to bash you. I will strongly disagree. There is no such thing as a slow manual transmission..there are just unskilled drivers..Fact the Auto in the Challenger R/T(5 Speed) can put down a constant 5.1..I can put down a 4.98 on a bad day with the six speed..some people just can't shift constant and efficiently. Not to toot my own horn but I take pride in being self taught and a badass gear banger.

 

[OppoLock]

He does have a point in that your typical performance-oriented automated trans will shift faster than humanly possible. The auto available in the Challenger might not be the best point of comparison.

 

[Brent302]

He does have a point in that your typical performance-oriented automated trans will shift faster than humanly possible. The auto available in the Challenger might not be the best point of comparison.

I get his point but I just gave my counter. No the original 5 Speed NAG1 Auto in the Challenger was actually a great transmission. They are consistently faster than the average Manual driver.

I'm just saying you can't make a general statement blanketing the Manual as "slow" or "inconsistent"

The auto does all the work and the thinking. The Manual requires skill. The more skill you have the more the Manual gives back. It's simple.

 

[dwaleke]

It is impossible for you to shift a manual trans of any kind as fast as a dual clutch auto. I believe it is ~8ms. The new ZF 8 speed in the challenger is about 160ms in track mode which is the best number I've seen for a factory torque converter based transmission.

Those DCT/DSG/PDK/(whatever else you want to call them) are pretty amazing transmissions and why supercars will no longer have manual transmissions.

I can see only on the street would you want a manual transmission. The new automated manuals are great, but they still cannot predict what you are going to do with the car unless you put them in full on race mode. You may not want that on the street. You may want to leisurely hold a gear knowing the road ahead. The automated manuals cannot predict that and in turn won't do it without you manually overriding them.

 

[OppoLock]

I get his point but I just gave my counter. No the original 5 Speed NAG1 Auto in the Challenger was actually a great transmission. They are consistently faster than the average Manual driver.

I'm just saying you can't make a general statement blanketing the Manual as "slow" or "inconsistent"

The auto does all the work and the thinking. The Manual requires skill. The more skill you have the more the Manual gives back. It's simple.

I'm definitely not trying to debunk your last sentence, and maybe the better word to use is "slower," because it's all relative.

It is impossible for you to shift a manual trans of any kind as fast as a dual clutch auto. I believe it is ~8ms. The new ZF 8 speed in the challenger is about 160ms in track mode which is the best number I've seen for a factory torque converter based transmission.

Those DCT/DSG/PDK/(whatever else you want to call them) are pretty amazing transmissions and why supercars will no longer have manual transmissions.

I can see only on the street would you could want a manual transmission. The new autos are great, but they still cannot predict what you are going to do with the car unless you put them in full on race mode. You may not want that on the street.

Autos have all of the advantages outside of fun (which is my priority with the S550 and why I'm opting for three pedals, but that's beside the point). A good automated trans, be it a dual clutch system or torque converter-based, will shift faster than humanly possible. A fast gear change gives them leeway to cram more gears in there with a shorter ratio. That can lead to better fuel and economy and greater acceleration flexibility.

That said, I don't think I'd give up three pedals for an automated transmission unless I could cherry pick the box out of a 991 GT3 or some modern Fezza (like a 458 or F12). I have plenty of fun shifting in "manumatic" mode, but I like the feeling of picking my gears and going through the whole process... feels like you're loading up a missile salvo in a loud V8-equipped car.

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