[Foolinjected]

I test drove a manual......but it was just too powerfull.... so I got the auto.

[stlwagon]

Ford makes both because there's demand for both. Get the one that suits your needs. There's no right or wrong answer. Honestly, I wish I had one of each

[Ragnar]

I would venture to guess, as most have said, that a manual would lose to an auto simply because most drivers can't hit their gears as well as an auto. But we're talking drag racing. What about a road course? I'll bet the manual would have some advantages there. Sometimes you need to keep it in a gear to keep the rpms up. An auto would be trying to shift as soon as the driver eased up on the accelerator. Yes you could manually shift the auto. But that doesn't seem to work as well as stick.

[don_w]

Originally Posted by stlwagon

Ford makes both because there's demand for both. Get the one that suits your needs. There's no right or wrong answer. Honestly, I wish I had one of each

I'd rather have two automatics!

[stlwagon]

Originally Posted by don_w

I'd rather have two automatics!

Now there's a shocker

[XR7GT]

Originally Posted by don_w

Yawn... zzzzzzzzz

How many people here give really care what the car will do stock? The vast majority of us frequent these forums because we mod the cars to make them perform better.

Vast majority of us do mild bolt ons to about 350 hp which is still favorable to a manual tranny. A few posts up will show you that once you get to 10's or under an auto is favorable.

[nghtrnnr]

Originally Posted by XR7GT

Vast majority of us do mild bolt ons to about 350 hp which is still favorable to a manual tranny. A few posts up will show you that once you get to 10's or under an auto is favorable.

not quite...in every mags test, the s197 auto tends to be quicker off the line than the manual...maybe you mean the older gen stangs...i researched this when i made my choice...like i said...i'm more into being fast than feeling fast in the midnight club...no denyin the fun factor in stick...but that gets boring and in traffic it actually gets painful..thats to me though...do you...its your money

[don_w]

Originally Posted by XR7GT

Vast majority of us do mild bolt ons to about 350 hp which is still favorable to a manual tranny. A few posts up will show you that once you get to 10's or under an auto is favorable.

The two quickest N/A 2005 Mustangs that I know of are both automatics: Blazing Saddles, 12.17 @ 110, and spyder7724, 12.29 @ 110. Other than shop R&D cars, do you know of any manuals that have done better?

Also, the majority of the S197's with power adders that are in the low 11's and 10s (and beyond), are also automatics. And I suspect that the few manuals that are in that range are because of exceptional drivers... in spite of the tranny; not because of the tranny.

BTW, that post up above that you are referring to was mine.

[MickMach]

love my Auto and Im just as good with a manual but the Automatic rules

[Janeails22x]

I completely agree with the idea of convenience in rush hour traffic.

However, I will always choose manual over automatic. There's just something about having control over your car in nearly every aspect. Plus, a manual keeps me focused on my driving and not the radio, or cell phone, or any...other...distractions.

This battle is just like Pepsi vs. Coke, Star Wars vs. Star Trek, Jennifer Love Hewitt vs. Jessica Alba....all a matter of opinion and preference. Yes there are track times and facts to prove one side of the arguement from a drag standpoint, but in my opinion, I don't think there is anything more exciting (in the regular guy auto world) than driving a manual transmission, whether it be a Mustang or whatever.

(By the way, the answers to the above are Pepsi, Star Wars, and Jennifer Love )

[don_w]

Originally Posted by Janeails22x

I don't think there is anything more exciting (in the regular guy auto world) than driving a manual transmission

Try going from 0 mph to 100mph in a tick over 7 seconds, and you may change your mind!

[zourick]

[quote=Janeails22x;612734]I completely agree with the idea of convenience in rush hour traffic.

However, I will always choose manual over automatic. There's just something about having control over your car in nearly every aspect. Plus, a manual keeps me focused on my driving and not the radio, or cell phone, or any...other...distractions. [\quote]

I agree with this statement, if you recall, my original question was for enthusiasts and people looking for hot rods. I believe the debate is simple for people who are scared of the stick, or city commuters but people who want to become one with their cars choose manual for the basic fact that they have more control.

So let me throw this out there to heat up the debate:

As the saying always goes: "If you're racing in a straight line, always buy the auto, if you're racing on a road course, always buy the stick..."

But why by an automatic to go in a straight line when you will only realize a .1 to .2 gain in a quarter mile yet loose in any race that has a turn. Wouldn’t the stick give you better odds in any race the more proficient you become at using it?

Oh, and how many cars that race NASCAR are auto?

Would you by the GT500 as an automatic???

[Janeails22x]

Originally Posted by don_w

Try going from 0 mph to 100mph in a tick over 7 seconds, and you may change your mind!

I agree that would be exciting...but...I don't have the cash money to buy all the mods you have. I chose to have two pretty cool crusiers rather than 1 cruiser killer. All about preference. If the planets aligned and everything went my way...I would have 1 Mustang from every year they have been made (yes, even the II'2) and they would all be crusier killers.......AND manual . Hahaha!

[06ragtopGT]

The S197 auto tranny rules! (tuned) and its tough as hell.

[MakeMyStang]

Originally Posted by Pagan

Probably the #1 reason NOT to get an automatic.

My boys and daughter all bought standards (not mustangs) when I ask them why a standard, they replied - because mom cannot drive it. Thought that was cute.