Predicament - AT or Manual

1791 Views 24 Replies 15 Participants Last post by pokemasterflex, Apr 17, 2008

Witchstang

Discussion Starter · Apr 11, 2008

OK so I've had the AT for over year now, done some satisfactory mods, and overall can't complain about my ride except for the Automatic trans. Originally I bought the auto thinking the wife would drive it. (She can't drive a stick well) She does not like my stang, calling it a loud old car. Now I've got the itch to go back to a manual trani like my previous car. So I'm in a predicament; do I keep the AT or trade up for a stick ? Weighing my options:

Do I keep the AT stang which is paid off, waiting willing & ready for more mods or sell it, and plunker down more cash for an 08 GT stick ?

Everyone I know tells me to keep the car & add more mods. My bro says I may be fast with a manual but not as fast as an auto. My mechanic believes that if I trade up, I should get a Shelby GT500 in lieu of another GT. That option is an expensive one though.

I figure if I'm the only one driving it, I should drive what I want, right ? Anyone feel free to plug in your opinions. I'm about to list my car in Autotrader but I keep holding back.

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1 - 20 of 25 Posts

FuzzyDice

· #2 · Apr 11, 2008

Here is my opinion.....and I have always driven a stick.

Keep the car for the following reasons:

1) The mods you already have and the mods you have waiting to add

2) It's paid for

3) It's a very hot looking convertible....that yellow color is no longer available so that makes your car a bit unique. I mean how great is it to tell someone your car color is "Screaming Yellow".

I love driving a stick especially with the Hurst shifter. However in your case there are just too many advantages to staying with your present car.

Just put a CDC Light Bar on that thing and it would almost be perfect :bigthumbsup

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mattymustang22

· #3 · Apr 11, 2008

I dont know if selling your and buying an 07 with low km is an option for you that way its less expensive and you can get the same colour if you want it. My opinion is that you can have the coolest, fastest car and it will still be boring to drive if its automatic. You get the satisfaction of driving more with a stick...Trade it in!!

06hoss

· #4 · Apr 11, 2008

Well one thing to think about if you want to go to a manual trans is wait until the 09 1/2s to come out since they will be the new body style. Then you'll have your stick and a brand new style stang too.
But even if you decide you want it now I think you'll like the stick better.
An auto may be able to shift as fast or faster as someone who's good with a stick on a drag strip, but if you actually drive your car as opposed to racing it all the time, I think you'll like the stick better. An auto can be in the wrong gear when you're driving it hard on a twisty road, but with a stick you make that shift happen exactly when you want it. A stick is just more fun to drive since it involves you more with the driving experience. Guys with autos always talk about "chirping" their tires on the 1/2 shift...lol..chirp? I can smoke the hides for 20 feet or more going into second if I want to...I did that once in front of a Camaro with my MACs screaming and shredding the tires and his jaw just dropped. You can't do that with an auto. I'm not dogging the auto, it's just that a stick can do more fun stuff like that than an auto can. Just more control over the power going through the drive train with a stick. Either way you go, you still have a cool car that's fun to drive.

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topotent

· #5 · Apr 11, 2008

Stick, no exceptions

This is my advice and I am biased but I would trade up. If you are in a position that you can then you can get the roush mustangs in a wealth of stages that allow you to enjoy and mod up. Compared to the GT500 you could save thousands and besides the Stage3 stomps the GT500 on the track. I absolutely LOVE mine did I say LOVE.. I can't wait to do more and more mods and there is just nothing like a V8 Stick period. This is my opinion and I am sure you will be happy no matter what you decide because your rear will be parked in a mustang and that is what matters!

Gary Paul

· #6 · Apr 11, 2008

06hoss said:
If you want to go to a manual trans wait until mid-2009 when the 2010s come with the new body style. Then you'll have a stick and brand new style stang too.

Good advice. Your yellow vert looks great. Enjoy it while you set aside money for a restyled (but still retro) 2010 Mustang with manual trans when they come out next summer.

Witchstang

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 11, 2008

Thanks for all your opinions, it's a difficult decision to make.

My friend who's a Ford Racing distributor also told me to wait for the 09 1/2's as well. Problem with that is the wait factor.

I like the light bar idea, but then you can't do a Batman into the Vert. but girls can stand up, hang on to something & show their knockers during fantasy fest !

I can always de-modd my car & hopefully most will fit on an 08, concern primarily being the exhaust system. A used 07 is another option is well I'm willing to consider. My current stang I bought used and it was in great shape.

I guess I've got to weigh all the factors and it comes down ultimately to the numbers.

1mach1

· #8 · Apr 11, 2008

Gary Paul said:
Good advice. Your yellow vert looks great. Enjoy it while you set aside money for a restyled (but still retro) 2010 Mustang with manual trans when they come out next summer.

I agree. Save the $$$ for now, and enjoy your car a bit longer. :bigthumbsup

pikapp

· #9 · Apr 11, 2008

IMO, go for the manual. I had an 06GT auto tranni, modded the hell out of it, but it still didn't do what I wanted it to do, the auto tranni just wasnt the same as a manual. I now have a new car with manual tranni and have not regretted my decision one bit.

FuzzyDice

· #10 · Apr 11, 2008

I surrender......go for the stick....lol. As a manual person and reading the other posts I feel like I am betraying my manual brethren by telling you to stick with your AT.....

So I think maybe the best think is what the others have said....enjoy your AT for longer and get the restyled body when it comes out.

I do have to say that there is no way I would every go back to an AT after driving a stick.....with a stick you are so much more a part of the experience...

stlwagon

· #11 · Apr 11, 2008

And I'd say keep the one you've got. You'll take it in the shorts when you sell/trade.

sdlewis1986

· #12 · Apr 11, 2008

I say if getting a manual makes you happy then do it. I had to trade my 05 v6 in for a 08 GT because it made me happy. I know your faceed with a harder decission but hey if you can afford it why not.

06hoss

· #13 · Apr 11, 2008

stlwagon said:
And I'd say keep the one you've got. You'll take it in the shorts when you sell/trade.

You know that's one reason I'm not driving a GT500 right now. There was a local Ford dealership that had two 08 GT500s that they wanted to get rid of at the end of 07 (so he wouldn't have to pay the property tax on them...in KY whoever owns the car on 1/1 pays the tax for the whole upcoming year)...he was selling them at 1K over sticker (and the average is still 5K over sticker as we speak). I didn't bite mainly because I've got way too much money in mine to just toss and start over modding a 500. Plus they only had two...a white one and a red one...I had my heart set on either a black one or a blue one. But if he's not modded heavily he should be able to remove some of it...he'll still take a hit though of course like we all will when we trade in. He's just going to decide how much he wants that stick...you could call it an uber expensive mod!

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JetBlack

· #14 · Apr 12, 2008

topotent said:
This is my advice and I am biased but I would trade up.

Me too. Get the "wife mod" and trade up for a newer model. Hooters has several on display.

Pfff. She doesn't have to be "hot" and many of us should be happy with "still warm".

:hihi:

hotshot

· #15 · Apr 13, 2008

get what you want but also what is practical. I wanted a stick but it wasn't practical. i am in nothing but stop and go traffic all day long and to me personally, driving stick would become bothersome. To others they love shifting and will do it all day long, me, not so much. so i opted for the more practical (but still extremely fun) auto trans.

Witchstang

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 13, 2008

stlwagon said:
And I'd say keep the one you've got. You'll take it in the shorts when you sell/trade.

You're probably right, best spend the dough on swapping out the AT for a manual & continue to mod. I read an article in 5.0 some guy had a yellow vert like mine swapped out the motor for GT500 engine & manual trans. Or maybe try out TCIAuto's ratchet shifter for AT's ?

stlwagon

· #17 · Apr 13, 2008

Witchstang said:
You're probably right, best spend the dough on swapping out the AT for a manual & continue to mod. I read an article in 5.0 some guy had a yellow vert like mine swapped out the motor for GT500 engine & manual trans. Or maybe try out TCIAuto's ratchet shifter for AT's ?

You've done so much to yours, plus that yellow is going to be tough to find in a few years.

Witchstang

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 17, 2008

Well I test drove an 08 GT Manual Monday night & have decided NOT to upgrade to that vehicle. I would have to start the re-mod all over again, and my current modded GT is way faster. The ambience lighting was cool though. I wanted to test drive the Shelby GT500 but the dealer wouldn't let me, serious buyers only. What am I chopped liver? I did notice the Bullitts look nice & come with a couple factory mods inc. HID & the ambience lighting. + the Bullitt is much more low profile than my Screamin Yellow here I come give me a ticket car. The dealers have tons of Bullitts on the lots down here in So. Florida with $2500 cash back & end of month deals right around the corner. Anyone here have the new Bullitt & how do you like it ?

2008GT

· #19 · Apr 17, 2008

Witchstang said:
OK so I've had the AT for over year now, done some satisfactory mods, and overall can't complain about my ride except for the Automatic trans. Originally I bought the auto thinking the wife would drive it. (She can't drive a stick well) She does not like my stang, calling it a loud old car. Now I've got the itch to go back to a manual trani like my previous car. So I'm in a predicament; do I keep the AT or trade up for a stick ? Weighing my options:

Do I keep the AT stang which is paid off, waiting willing & ready for more mods or sell it, and plunker down more cash for an 08 GT stick ?

Everyone I know tells me to keep the car & add more mods. My bro says I may be fast with a manual but not as fast as an auto. My mechanic believes that if I trade up, I should get a Shelby GT500 in lieu of another GT. That option is an expensive one though.

I figure if I'm the only one driving it, I should drive what I want, right ? Anyone feel free to plug in your opinions. I'm about to list my car in Autotrader but I keep holding back.

I don't know how life is treating you and honestly it is not my business or place to know. But calling a 3 year old car the "Loud OLD car" sounds a bit spoiled to me. No offense. I wish I could own several "new" cars every year but I can not afford such. If you can then go for a new GT500 why not? It will be YOUR new loud car!

Witchstang

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 17, 2008

2008GT said:
I don't know how life is treating you and honestly it is not my business or place to know. But calling a 3 year old car the "Loud OLD car" sounds a bit spoiled to me. No offense. I wish I could own several "new" cars every year but I can not afford such. If you can then go for a new GT500 why not? It will be YOUR new loud car!

I've always wanted a Mustang and almost bought one in 1985 (GT350) until I got a DUI and screwed up my opportunity. I've been my working butt off ever since, and even more so the past 8 years of my life, as it seems all I do now is work & pay bills/IRS. Last year I finally got to buy my first stang ever. I shoulda bought a manual though, but when you're married you have to think about that give/take thing all the time. The GT500 is an awesome car, I'm just now sure if I should spend that kind of dough right now being the economy the way it is + the price of gas keeps rising. So was thinking maybe keeping the vert & getting a Bullitt to boot.

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