UK - AUTO or MANUAL ?

[Jimboy2]

Over the last few years I always though my next car was going to be a V8 auto as I wanted F1 style type paddle shifts. Plus down shift always sound great and you don't need to heel toe.
I was looking at all the Mercs, audis and I was going to get a Lexus ISF. Then found how cheap the Mustang was. But for some reason the whole auto thing was never even considered on the mustang. Was manual V8 or nothing.

Sponsored

 

[marks]

I'm a manual!

But auto is faster if drag racing as it launches better and puts power down better. The manual is as quick but 99% of drivers can't match the perfect shift times and launch ability of the auto which makes going fast easy.

I remember Porsche discussing about why they made the GT4 manual only and that not all its customers are interested in being 0.1 second quicker to 60, some are more interested in the driving experience. Same goes here I suppose.

 

[marks]

One think I think Ford should bring to the manual is throttle blipping on downshift like the new M2, which you can turn off/on depending on if you're in the mood to heal and toe.

 

[Hammer Time]

Auto for me as daily driver Can put it in sport or manually shift when I want to play

 

[RandyStang]

GT Auto
With sport mode and flappy paddles it's the American Dream

GT auto here too and i will go with what you said... sounds great too pulling away from junctions, it has that lazy yank auto burble - i know what i mean and it can't be replicated in a manual

 

[Gibbo205]

GT auto here too and i will go with what you said... sounds great too pulling away from junctions, it has that lazy yank auto burble - i know what i mean and it can't be replicated in a manual

I know what you mean they do make a cool noise.

 

[benanderson89]

I've personally never gotten the "heavy traffic" argument as a plus point for an Automatic. I got stuck in Downtown Pittsburgh traffic for a good one and a half hours (there were works on the i376) whilst driving a Jeep Cherokee with an 8-speed, and having an Automatic didn't make it any more bearable compared to a manual and two hours stuck on the A1M also because of works.

In an auto its either in D or N with your foot glued to the brake. In a manual you're either depressing the clutch or holding the brake in Neutral. Both can creep at 4mph.

Swings and roundabouts, really.

Not attacking anyone for having an Automatic, hell I'd take the Auto in the Jaguar F-Type over the manual any-day of the week, I just never got the appeal of one specifically for heavy traffic.

 

[marks]

GT auto here too and i will go with what you said... sounds great too pulling away from junctions, it has that lazy yank auto burble - i know what i mean and it can't be replicated in a manual

I know what you mean but that's a reason why I prefer the manual, not a fan of the drone.

 

[NornIron91]

I went manual because I have only ever driven manuals and plus I'm never stuck in much traffic, that's living in the back end of nowhere for you

 

[Enoch]

Auto for me....... total left knee replacement 13 years ago:doh:... Can still drive a manual, but as I'm hoping this will be a long term ownership, might as well future proof it and make life a little easier for myself along the way:cheers:

 

[Ian Magnetic]

Manual for me, my daily pick up truck is an auto, jag is an auto so thought I would have the manual. See how my knee behaves but before I get too old had to have a V8 manual !

 

[jord79]

... sounds great too pulling away from junctions, it has that lazy yank auto burble - i know what i mean and it can't be replicated in a manual

I found this appealing too when I went for my first auto car about 12 years ago. It was a puny 3 speed auto. Now-a-days with auto boxes having more gears, it's not quite the same - but I know what you mean. When I first enquired about the Mustang, I was expecting it to have some kind of DSG type clutchless manual affair and was at first disappointed that it's a traditional torque converter. However, as economy and performance are similar to the manual, I thought that was acceptable. I don't have much experience with clutches manual type boxes, but I've not been a fan of the ones I have sampled.

As regarding the shift speed in an auto, I find they do generally shift pretty rapidly, if you use the paddles there's sometimes a small delay, but with experience you can anticipate this and make your shift's early.

 

[zero7]

Manual for me, I love pushing home the next gear. I've been a big fan of DCT boxes (hate Autos with a passion) and had it had a trick one like the M3 I might have considered it but as mine is a weekend only car it had to be the Manual .

 

[U.K. Robert]

Automatic for me. I've owned both now and currently have use of a manual but with another auto coming in April. Auto is faster acceleration, smoother and in paddle mode, quicker to change gear. They used to be slow slush boxes, not anymore. Manuals are good and loads of people say they love the purity of driving etc. etc. Fair enough, but modern autos are very good. You can still have full control but with super slick shifts!

 

[zero7]

Automatic for me. I've owned both now and currently have use of a manual but with another auto coming in April. Auto is faster acceleration, smoother and in paddle mode, quicker to change gear. They used to be slow slush boxes, not anymore. Manuals are good and loads of people say they love the purity of driving etc. etc. Fair enough, but modern autos are very good. You can still have full control but with super slick shifts!

I still don't think there a patch on DCT boxes, can the Auto hold onto the revs to the red line our will it change up?

Sponsored