[xjaywalkxx]

I am looking at getting a 2012 5.0 and was wondering how the automatic transmission compares to the manual transmission. I have read about people having issues with the manual transmission but I have also heard that the automatic transmission is not as responsive as it could be.

 

[BigTuna]

I am looking at getting a 2012 5.0 and was wondering how the automatic transmission compares to the manual transmission. I have read about people having issues with the manual transmission but I have also heard that the automatic transmission is not as responsive as it could be.

It seems a good percentage of the people who bought manual tranny cars are having problems.

I've actually heard nothing but good things about the automatic new Mustangs. I would assume the average driver would most likely be quicker in the auto then the manual. Even at a road course I would bet most people could do just as good if not better in the auto.

GL with you decision.

 

[Em3]

*Automatic Transmission*: 2011+ Mustang GT "Best Mod of the Year Award Recipient"

 

[Sleeper5.0]

Love my automatic.. Got in some traffic the other day and my only issues is the pony wanted to go go go.. Just cruising is made easy with the auto.. It's so smooth you never feel it shift..

First and second will roast the tires even with my wider tires on my car.. I hear add the tune and you get a third gear roasting..

Go drive both... Drive em like you stole em.. Salesman goes with ya? So what.. You are checking performance.. If he doesn't like it tough..

I was stuck with buying a automatic no matter what, but now glad I did.. Only thing is you miss out on some of the cool stuff you can get with the manual.. Track pack, the brembo brakes and a lower gear ratio..:sadcry The price you pay not to have to worry about missed gears.

Have fun shopping for your new car.. I had a blast shopping for mine..

 

[412horses]

Personally I think everyone who says the auto is unresponsive or needs a tune is crazy. As long as you aren't scared to use your right foot, the car will do what you want.

There's a poll thread that shows pretty resoundingly everyone who has one is happy with it, especially if you don't count the stupid choice "wish I had bought a manual." I mean if you didn't know which transmission you wanted and are unhappy with what you picked how's that the car's fault? :hihi:

 

[Curr]

As compared to the MT82 there are very, very few issues with the 6R80, as would be expected as it's a pretty mature platform. Buy what you want, not what someone else thinks is cool or "right".

The cool kids should be along any minute now to tell us how you aren't a real man, or it isn't a real car if you don't drive/have a manual.

 

[Legioxvance]

+1 for the auto! Stock it's the best auto ive driven, tuned it's a monster!:bigthumbsup

 

[JerryC]

The auto is great for the average driver. Put it in "D" and go!

If you like to manually shift your car, as in going through the gears on a twisty road, you'll be dissapointed. It shifts to slowly up or down, move the lever and the shift will happen about a second later. same with downshifts, maybe longer.

If you want to hear the engine run through the gears, you pretty much have to go half throttle or more when in "D". Less than that it will shift quickly and be in 6th gear doing 1200rpm almost by the time you cross an intersection

Overall, if it's a DD then the auto is the way to go. If you are a race through the turns person, the manual is the only answer.

 

[xjaywalkxx]

This will also be my first car. I am sort of an aggressive driver I am not used to driving a stick but I figured it would be good for me to get a stick shift so I could master something new this summer. That might sound stupid but I dont know I just feel like a manual transmission is the way to go. Am I wrong for thinking that?

 

[RickAKATed10]

You should get whatever makes you happy. Go test drive both.

 

[JerryC]

This will also be my first car. I am sort of an aggressive driver I am not used to driving a stick but I figured it would be good for me to get a stick shift so I could master something new this summer. That might sound stupid but I dont know I just feel like a manual transmission is the way to go. Am I wrong for thinking that?

It will all be peaches and cream, until you pay for the clutch you burnt out while learning how to drive a stick

The general rule is to learn how to drive a stick in somebody else's car

Actually with the mustang's gearing it should be easy to learn to drive a stick, esp if you get the 3.73's.

 

[xjaywalkxx]

It will all be peaches and cream, until you pay for the clutch you burnt out while learning how to drive a stick

The general rule is to learn how to drive a stick in somebody else's car

Actually with the mustang's gearing it should be easy to learn to drive a stick, esp if you get the 3.73's.

Haha that's what I plan on doing. But after reading about how rough the shifting is and how people have ran lower times in the automatic I am starting to turn away from the stick shift. Would a short shifter solve some of the problems with the factory stick?

 

[discohouse]

Personally I think everyone who says the auto is unresponsive or needs a tune is crazy. As long as you aren't scared to use your right foot, the car will do what you want.

There's a poll thread that shows pretty resoundingly everyone who has one is happy with it, especially if you don't count the stupid choice "wish I had bought a manual." I mean if you didn't know which transmission you wanted and are unhappy with what you picked how's that the car's fault? :hihi:

Get a tune and your car no longer shifts into 6th at 25MPH...it's made for old granny's stock. I still can't believe they ship the stock trans settings on a muscle car.

 

[terrabit2001]

Haha that's what I plan on doing. But after reading about how rough the shifting is and how people have ran lower times in the automatic I am starting to turn away from the stick shift. Would a short shifter solve some of the problems with the factory stick?

My first 5.0 (88LX) was an auto and I always wished I got a manual. Didnt make that mistake this time and I have no regrets. For "driver engagement" and feeling one with the car, you cant beat manual. I wouldnt knock someone with an auto though at all.

As far as the MT82 goes, mine is only getting smoother since new. I have 2500 miles on it now and its just a little notchy, but in a good, mechanical way if that makes sense. I have not seen any of the issues others are reporting, and I am crossing my fingers.

Dont let track numbers or potential problems make the decision for you. Decide based on weather or not you want to drive stick or auto... plain and simple.

There will be lots of guys driving stick that are faster than you, and also lots of guys with autos that have problems too, so dont get hung up on it.

 

[5ohwhoa]

There will be lots of guys driving stick that are faster than you, and also lots of guys with autos that have problems too, so dont get hung up on it.

That's a bit of an overstatement, in my opinion. I don't think there are "lots of guys with autos having problems". :nono:

 

[Sleeper5.0]

lots of guys with autos having problems

I am having a problem.. Keeping my right foot off the floor..
Also have a bad feeling the tires are not going to last very long

I didn't even drive the stick, but wonder how it drives..
Go test drive.. Post your results.. That would be cool..

 

[terrabit2001]

That's a bit of an overstatement, in my opinion. I don't think there are "lots of guys with autos having problems". :nono:

No more of an overstatement than saying a 6mt is a guaranteed lemon.

Just trying to say that autos aren't immune to problems either. Its stupid not to buy the 6mt because of something that may or may not happen.

 

[Jazzcat]

the best choice would be to buy 2 cars. an auto as a DD if you're a city slicker, and a boss 302 stick for the weekend. i am very happy with my auto as it does what it needs to do perfectly. i fantasize a lot sometimes about what a 302 stick must feel and sound like with the high revs. i miss my old celica stick sometimes but then remember how i cursed it daily in traffic. i wish i could afford 2 cars !!

 

[5.0ben]

I am looking at getting a 2012 5.0 and was wondering how the automatic transmission compares to the manual transmission. I have read about people having issues with the manual transmission but I have also heard that the automatic transmission is not as responsive as it could be.

I had a manual and traded it in for an auto. I am not missing the manual at all.
I made the mistake of not test driving the auto to begin with. Mainly because I love driving manual and the last auto stang I had (1993) I hated! Things have changed.

Test drive them both.

 

[5ohwhoa]

No more of an overstatement than saying a 6mt is a guaranteed lemon.

Just trying to say that autos aren't immune to problems either. Its stupid not to buy the 6mt because of something that may or may not happen.

On the other hand, autos outsell the MTs by a greater than 2:1 margin, and yet there seems to be many more people complaining about their MTs than there are people about their ATs.

I think it's safe to say you're far less likely to have a problem with an AT than you are a MT. I've yet to see someone with a legitimate mechanical problem with their AT. Mostly, it's just people kvetching because they think their auto should behave like a dual clutch and they should be able to shift it like a manual.