This is an old, old subject of discussion. And for the most part, the 5speed driver has gotten it done best in the 1/4 mile, other things being equal. But since I have an AODE and I am thinking of having a TCI Streetfighter installed, I have been given some very sound reasons to think a built AODE is now equal to, if not faster than, a 5-speed. Mustang & FF magazine seems to agree...a "built" 4R70W from TCI is nothing to mess with. It can handle 600 HP all day long and not break a sweat. No missed shifts. No burned clutches. Just sit back , enjoy your flavored coffee and get some very hot time slips!!!! There's an old saying that funny car drivers use....if you're rowing, you're not racing. I'd like everybody's thoughts on getting the TCI unit at $2400 (Plus installation) BEFORE I sign the check. Be respectful guys. This is an intelligent discussion...not a session for knuckle-draggers or chest thumpers.
yes auto's dont miss shifts and run very consistent times but there is just nothing better than driving a manual!
i mean its just so much more of an experience especially if you live on country roads (like me) whether you are downshifting or just driving for the sake of driving. i have nothing against autos but i think it just takes part of the experiance away when you have an auto.
unless you are a serious drag racer and only run your car on a dragstrip. that is the only condition that would convince me to get a built auto.
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Procharged 2002 Mustang GT 5 Speed 351rwhp 353rwtq at 10psi
Next summer looking to go with:
Bilstien shocks + struts, Lowering springs (brand still TBD (any suggestions?)), MM CC plates, front + rear sway bars, subframes, and upper and lower control arms.
Time to make the pony ride some rails
I agree, on country roads and stuff its fun to just downshift to that lower gear and stomp her. It is a lot more fun imo. But in a race car, Id have an auto.....auto def have some nice advantages. But for my street car, I wouldnt go anything but a manual...5spd or 6spd. The tranny your talking about sounds like a nice deal, if I had an auto I would def have some kind of shift kit or the "J-Mod" done for quicker shifts, which you cant outshift an auto.
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-04 Mustang GT-Intercooled Kenne bell 2.1L supercharged @10psi, C&L cold air intake, mass air flow, Sumitt racing 75mm throttle body, Magnaflow catback with Bassani X-pipe, chip and dyno tuned, 3:73 gears, B&M short shifter, FMS lowering springs and UPR caster camber plates, UPR upper/lower control arms, UPR subframe connectors. Kumho 275 up front/Kumho XS 315 in rear. Currently 420RWHP/435lbtq
-Daily Driver 04 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner, Blacked out, TRD suspension, K&N filter.
To be honest, autos are the way to go if you're gonna go really fast, its not easy to drive low 10's in the quarter and try to shift a manual, not many people can do that well, and then there's consistency, etc. The drawback to autos is the fact that by design they incorporate slippage, so you will generally lose about 10% more power in the driveline with an automatic over a stick. All things being equal other than the trans, if you have 2 cars running the same ets and one is stick, the other auto, if the driver of the stick car is good, the stick will win, though not by much. A well prepped auto is still hard to beat though, while it may lose a bit more power it will also be very consistent, and it likely won't hit the tires as hard, making it easier to launch. I prefer a stick, but mostly because I like the control it offers over an auto, the stick definitely takes it on the fun-factor. The faster you go, the more enticing a well prepped auto will be, and the greater the rewards. In the extreme, how many of you on here think you can hit all 4 gears hard and at the right time in a low 8 second car running a 5 speed, its by no means easy, and most people simply can't do it, it takes extraordinary focus and skill, not to mention steadiness on the pedals.
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That hunk of junk? Yeah, well I've made a few special modifications to that yellow 99 Gt, it makes the Kessel run in 12 parsecs and eats turbo japs and poops chevy's
The quality of the comments so far on this question is magazine grade. I'm glad I went to the membership for input. Everybody is giving this the benefit of their experience, their skills, and their preferences. I hope it illicits some more feedback. I have the feeling I'm not the only one who's been considering a built automatic tranny with a steep price tag.
I am going to play devils advocate though. What you(the OP) are comparing is a built AODE or 4R70 against a stock 5 speed. Of course, that's a no brainer. On the other hand, if you take a built TKO and put it up against your built automatic, I'd be willing to bet it's not as cut and dry as you are lead to believe.
A fully syncronized 5 speed up against a built auto will probably lose 8 or 9 times out of 10. Now, take a built TKO that has had the syncro's dog faced, proshifted whatever you want to call it, cryo treated gears, polished splines etc.... and I think you would see a HUGE turn around in the win/loss column. You see, a dog faced 5 speed has had the syncro's modified, allowing the driver to shift it MUCH faster than a fully syncronized manual (think Jerico and Lenko). In my case, I keep my clutch adjusted so that the clutch releases at the top of the pedal. In other words, almost as soon as I start to push the clutch pedal, within the 1st 1/3 of the pedal sweep, my clutch is fully released. That means, I don't have to go all the way to the floor in order to release the clutch and shift. My shifting has gotten so much faster since this adjustment I can't begin to compare. Now couple a simple adjustment like that with a fully race prepped (built) 5 speed and I would line up with you all day long. Not saying I would win all the time but I think I would stand an even chance.
Racin366 stated a huge point in his point that the automatic, being what it is, will drain more of the engine power and result in less horse power and torqued hitting the pavement.
2 absolute equal cars, one with a built AODE or 4R, up against the other with a built 5 speed, would be a drivers race.
Richard
Tech Support
Tremec TKO, T45 & T56 Transmission Systems
Go with PI heads and quit watching The Fast and the Furious. (thanks 2 IhaveadopeGT)
Remember, it is almost impossible for anyone, myself included, to diagnose a problem over the internet without seeing the car. My advice is simply that, advice based on years of experience. I don't want you or anyone taking my word as gospel. I am trying to give some direction as to what I think may be happening.
5-Speed verses Automatic 
(thanks 2 IhaveadopeGT)
