[zourick]

I know this has been discussed before but let’s revisit...

Ford needs to produce cars that appeal to the masses and try to sell as many as possible. But why would a mustang enthusiast or someone looking to purchase a hot rod buy an automatic over a manual transmission?

It seems to be beyond my comprehension as to why anyone would want an automatic when the real power is manual control.

[pcfrisch]

autos actually have faster times...
a lot of stop and go daily driving.
significant others who cannot drive manuals.
I myself own a manual.

just a few.

[STONECOLD]

Cause I don't live in an area where I could really enjoy it, there aren't exactly a lot of open roads in Manhattan. So it's a matter of convenience (or laziness.) for me.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that because a car's an auto it has no power though, you'll be in for a rude awakening.

[Blood`Trinity]

I think a lot of people are intimidated by Manual Transmission's, especially the new generation buying cars now.. I myself just bought my first car (a '76 Cobra II), and its a manual transmission, and I dont know how to use manual.. I bought manual though to force myself to have to learn how to use it. :]

So list:

-Manual is intimidating.
-People to lazy to use manual.
-Not really car enthusiasts, just like the look of muscles or daddy's got a lot of cash.
-Happen to pick up an automatic, dont really care either way.
-Dont want to take the time to learn to use a manual well, dont care about scratching a second or two on acceleration.

[nghtrnnr]

i'd definitely go auto over manual in any kind of city setting...and i'd pick the auto over the manual in any race too...my first stang was a manual...to me and i stress TO ME...it gets old fast...give me an automatic s197 with a good set of gears that can hit over 140 easy and i'm a happy camper...in the new gen transmissions...i'd rather be fast than feel fast

[STONECOLD]

Originally Posted by Blood`Trinity

I think a lot of people are intimidated by Manual Transmission's, especially the new generation buying cars now.. I myself just bought my first car (a '76 Cobra II), and its a manual transmission, and I dont know how to use manual.. I bought manual though to force myself to have to learn how to use it. :]

So list:

-Manual is intimidating.
-People to lazy to use manual.
-Not really car enthusiasts, just like the look of muscles or daddy's got a lot of cash.
-Happen to pick up an automatic, dont really care either way.
-Dont want to take the time to learn to use a manual well, dont care about scratching a second or two on acceleration.

You can scratch off your third statement. Has nothing to do with anything.

[mot250]

Originally Posted by pcfrisch

autos actually have faster times...
a lot of stop and go daily driving.
significant others who cannot drive manuals.
I myself own a manual.

just a few.

More consistant times for an auto, I agree, but faster...??? There I do not agree. I'm no pro drag racer in my manual but I've had quicker "best" ETs than similarly modded autos. That said, however, I can lose to an auto in any given race due to my inconsistancies...

[XR7GT]

Stock for stock, manual is faster. Better control in a manual during racing. Auto usually have taller gears. Once you get to a point of having a high HP car. Then Auto is the way to go.

Why have an Auto you say..... just like what everyone else have said. Convenience, car already had it, using car for stop and go traffic, significant other driving the car, blah blah blah.....

[06 Slvr Bullitt]

Well my original plan was to keep my Cavalier as a daily driver and use the Mustang as my weekend/pleasure car. But when I decided to trade in the Cavalier, things quickly changed. I know how to drive a manual...just don't have a car with a manual. The dealership where I purchased my Mustang only had automatics (even in the higher up GTs) so getting a manual was out of the question. If I'm fortunate enough to own a second Mustang, it will most likely be a manual (provided I still have the auto for daily driving). I love the auto and sometimes when I'm riding with my friend in her 5 speed Jetta and she starts to complain at times about working a manual, I'm glad that I got my auto

[don_w]

Originally Posted by mot250

More consistant times for an auto, I agree, but faster...??? There I do not agree. I'm no pro drag racer in my manual but I've had quicker "best" ETs than similarly modded autos. That said, however, I can lose to an auto in any given race due to my inconsistancies...

Actually, when it comes to drag racing, the quicker cars get, the less often you'll find manual trannys in them. And if you do, you'll also see that class records are better with automatics than sticks.

For example, let's just examine the current records in NHRA's Super Stock class.


SS/D 9.29 143.22 10/30/06 Bill Davis - Columbiana, OH, '68 Chevy Atco, NJ
SS/DA 9.12 144.74 02/17/07 Brian Oakes - Williamstown, NJ, '69 Chevrolet Bradenton, FL

SS/E 9.54 138.02 05/15/06 David Mann - Charlton, MA, '67 Ply Belvedere Eagle, ID
SS/EA 9.35 142.51 03/30/06 Brian Oakes - Williamstown, NJ, '69 Chevy Camaro Bradenton, FL

SS/F 9.51 140.47 03/23/06 Red Le Blanc - Bartlett, TN, Belle Rose, LA
SS/FA 9.23 142.65 05/15/06 James Weakland - Morrison, CO, '68 Chevy Camaro Eagle, ID

SS/J 10.46 127.92 10/09/06 Robert Utsler - Tomball, TX, '65 Chevy Baytown, TX
SS/JA 9.97 132.62 05/15/06 Don Little - Westley, CA, '70 Dodge Challenger Eagle, ID

SS/K 9.96 131.81 06/20/06 Tim Nicholson - Concordia, KS, '66 Chevy Nova Morrison, CO
SS/KA 10.31 10/08/06 Don O Malley - Decatur, IL, '64 Chevy Kearney, NE

SS/L 10.30 126.21 03/30/06 Kip Martin - Phoenix, AZ, '64 Ford Mustang Tucson, AZ
SS/LA 10.64 10/30/06 Gregory Gay - Westminster, VT, '80 Dodge Atco, NJ

SS/N 11.26 118.19 08/22/06 Gary Howe - Gig Harbor, WA, '55 Chevy Acton, MT
SS/NA 10.95 117.67 03/07/06 Brent Johnson - Lecompte, LA, '66 Chevy Impala Belle Rose, LA

Of the seven classes listed, the quicker ET in five of them are the automatics.

I could do the same thing with the NHRA Stock class, but you get the idea.

[don_w]

Originally Posted by XR7GT

Stock for stock

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.

[gphasagt]

here in LA as a daily driver an auto makes the most sense.... i would hate be stuck on the 405 at rush hour in a stick shift

but for driving experience nothing beats a manual, its more fun, and more involved, just a pain in the butt for daily driving.

[Mick]

The Mustang was always going to be a stick never a doubt. My daily is a stick and this will be the last stick for a daily.
Good commemts Don W.

[Pagan]

Originally Posted by pcfrisch

significant others who cannot drive manuals.

Probably the #1 reason NOT to get an automatic.

[pony ride]

Originally Posted by zourick

I know this has been discussed before but let’s revisit...

Ford needs to produce cars that appeal to the masses and try to sell as many as possible. But why would a mustang enthusiast or someone looking to purchase a hot rod buy an automatic over a manual transmission?

It seems to be beyond my comprehension as to why anyone would want an automatic when the real power is manual control.

Oh, brother! Here we go again!

Well, you've touched on the answer to your question in your post, but you don't even know it.

Because Ford produces Mustangs to appeal to the masses, they produce and sell more V6 autos than any other combination going down the assembly line. The "masses" as you call them are not people that track race in a straight line with auto's, or road race with manuals, and they aren't even the enthusiast that uses his/her mustang as a hobby to mildly modify and enjoy cruising around on the weekends (be it manual or auto). The "masses" are the people that want a "sproty car" that's easy to drive everyday and insure.

The bottom line, manual vs. auto, it's all up to personal preference and what you want out of the car when you buy it.