[2004CobraBound]

Hey everyone, Derek the Drag Racer here...

I was wondering: Should I get a Manual or an Automatic?

I know how to drive a manual (after all: BOB GLIDDEN taught me how!) but I am worried that if I get a stick then i might mess up the car ( i took a test drive the other day...accidentally downshifted from 4th to 1st... and I am starting to think: I don't wanna mess up my baby! (mustang gt that is) and I know if I get a manual...I'll probably mess up the tranny in the first month ...

...(plus all the stories of kids totaling their cars...I imagine those cars crashed were manuals, right?

If I get an Automatic...I wouldn't have to worry about shifting and downshifting and just drive the car. And I'll get Immediate POWER (24/7 in an instant) acceleration just like a manual (right? or will there be a difference?)

I know the 1/4 times will be very different...but I'm not worried about that right now.


I just want to be at ease with what I should get for a transmission. I mean...she's gonna be my first. (car) and I wanna keep her as perfect as I can.


If I ever get a Cobra sometime in the far future...then yeah I'll have to go with a manual...but I think for a first car Auto would be the way to go?


I plan to be one of those 100 yr old car guys...with that ol' mustang in the old barn in the back yard.

I wanna preserve her for as long as I can.



Any tips from you awesome mustang experts/enthusiasts/car guys?

[Eagle2000GT]

An automatic with a shift kit and a higher stall converter is faster in the 1/4 than a manual transmission. It's easier to launch and it never misses a shift.

I personally think manual transmissions are more fun to drive though.

[BWAL]

auto for the track, manual for the street.

[Antfo89]

If you downshifted from 4th to 1st you don't know how to drive a stick not to be a jerk. Sounds like you want an Automatic already but it wouldn't hurt to get a stick and use it daily and practice makes perfect im 19 and can powershift,double clutch and match RPMS and shift better then 95 percent of the people I know. I took my drivers tes tin a stick only time I will drive an auto is when im tired haha

[ReverendDexter]

You're right - if you get a manual you will mess it up. BUT, if this is your first car, you will learn to drive stick MUCH better now than if you wait 'til later in life.

Just budget to replace the clutch after 6 months, and you'll be good.

Oh, and check insurance rates before you decide that a Mustang GT is your best bet for a first car. On top of being significantly cheaper, having a lower power car will teach you to drive, rather than just relying on torque to do everything for you. Learning to drive fast in a slow car makes you much faster when you finally get in something with power, as you're forced to learn all the little tricks to eek out every last little bit of speed instead of just mashing the skinny pedal.

[Darwin]

Auto, for the track and for the street. Better driver with a stick? Not. Skirts drive autos? Don't get beat by one. A real man drives a stick? Get a life.

Pick something you want, if you have real plans then give yourself the right foundation.

Auto won't keep you from hurting it, restraint will do that.

If it ain't broke, you are not trying hard enough.

[Goatee]

Originally Posted by Darwin Auto, for the track and for the street. Better driver with a stick? Not. Skirts drive autos? Don't get beat by one. A real man drives a stick? Only if you have a Penis. Pick something you want, if you have real plans then give yourself the right foundation. Auto won't keep you from hurting it, restraint will do that. If it ain't broke, you are not trying hard enough.

Go with the stick. You won't regret it.

[bitemark46]

Stab and steer is for fags and queers.















Just stirring the pot. That is all.

-Mark

[Antfo89]

if you are worried about .3 seconds on ur quarter mile I guess go with thr Auto if you wanna have fun and enjoy your car get the stick bro.

[2004CobraBound]

Damnittt...This is tearing me apart!!!

I love BOTH. I love stick because its sooo much more fun to drive and its very impressive to friends (also with the ladies...am I righttt? lol)

I love automatic because I dont have to worry about shifting at the wrong time...or right time....i jsut have to drive. (and have fun just by tapping the pedal!)



@ AntFo89,
I thought the shifter was in 2nd gear when i went back down to 1st (i was used to driving/learning in the mustang with the aluminum ball shifter...so it felt different.)


Guys, this is GOING to be my first car...and I really just wanna enjoy it without worry. I know STICK is fun as hell...but I dont think it's gonna be practical for college. lol

Auto would probably suit me to a T. and it probably would be easier to just enjoy. I'm not worried about track time.

I've never been this torn before. I have to pick a side soon.


COULD YOU GIVE ME SOME PROS AND CONS ABOUT AUTO AND STICK?

Thanks!

[ReverendDexter]

Honestly, if you want an automatic, just buy one. My main issue with automatics is that an underpowered car is fun with a stickshift, but utterly neutered with an auto. That, and while you have some control over the shifting via throttle position, it's still gonna shift when it wants, and that's not always when you want it to.

I own both, and my preference is automatics in trucks, sticks in cars, double especially sticks in any cars with less than 250 lbs of torque at the tires or peak hp at anything over 5k rpm. The short-shifting nature of automatics ruins the fun of a high-rpm motor, but is very well suited to motors with good low-rpm grunt.

I don't miss having a stickshift in my 5.0, but a lot of that is because I can drive the Cobra or the Celica to get the row-your-own fix of a manual tranny.

[Goatee]

Originally Posted by 2004CobraBound Damnittt...This is tearing me apart!!! I love BOTH. I love stick because its sooo much more fun to drive and its very impressive to friends (also with the ladies...am I righttt? lol) I love automatic because I dont have to worry about shifting at the wrong time...or right time....i jsut have to drive. (and have fun just by tapping the pedal!) @ AntFo89, I thought the shifter was in 2nd gear when i went back down to 1st (i was used to driving/learning in the mustang with the aluminum ball shifter...so it felt different.) Guys, this is GOING to be my first car...and I really just wanna enjoy it without worry. I know STICK is fun as hell...but I dont think it's gonna be practical for college. lol Auto would probably suit me to a T. and it probably would be easier to just enjoy. I'm not worried about track time. I've never been this torn before. I have to pick a side soon. COULD YOU GIVE ME SOME PROS AND CONS ABOUT AUTO AND STICK? Thanks!

Obviously, you haven't driven a stick near enough to feel comfortable with it. Once you become comfortable and familiar with it, it will become "automatic." Don't think just do it, that stick will be second nature once you've had it for a couple months.
But I will say, if your car is going to be mostly in high traffic stop and go most of the time, most likely to auto would be a better fit for you.

[RTRBURN]

Stick, I use to have a 78 Malibu that was a mid 11 N/A car and had a built TH400 w/ manual valve body and a 4500 8" convertor and it left nothing like my 5 spd.
Untill you launch a car a 5k and drive a proshifted 5spd you have no idea of what your missing.

[casper gt]

Originally Posted by RTRBURN Untill you launch a car a 5k and drive a proshifted 5spd you have no idea of what your missing.

till you miss a shift & get your clock cleaned by an auto, stick's aren't bad for the street, but if your talking about the track, bringing a stick car is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. . as for the o/p, by what your saying it sound's like an auto would be best for you, IMO.

[Goatee]

Originally Posted by casper gt till you miss a shift & get your clock cleaned by an auto, stick's aren't bad for the street, but if your talking about the track, bringing a stick car is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. . as for the o/p, by what your saying it sound's like an auto would be best for you, IMO.

Of course, I mainly drag for shits and giggles from a slightly modified car. But...I would rather miss a shift in my M6 once in a blue moon and get beat by an automatic. Taking a manual car down the track actually takes some skill and finesse.

[casper gt]

Originally Posted by Goatee Of course, I mainly drag for shits and giggles from a slightly modified car. But...I would rather miss a shift in my M6 once in a blue moon and get beat by an automatic. Taking a manual car down the track actually takes some skill and finesse.

if you only go to the track ocasionally/just for shit's & giggles, you can run anything you want, but if you wanna win regularly you will look at it diffrent. not everyone can cut it at bracket racing though & I understand that. running a number, stick or auto, takes skill & finesse.

[Antfo89]

I think if you drag with an automatic you are not a racer tell me what skill it actually requires? Kid if you are looking for a daily driver in stop and go traffic get the hogomatic cuz it sound slike your not interested in the track if this is a daily driver wit hthe occasional cruise get the stick or I promise you will regret it. I would rather miss a gear anyday then know I won by simply putting my foot to the floor. All i'm saying is ANYONE and I mean ANYONE can drag a automatic.

[Goatee]

Originally Posted by casper gt if you only go to the track ocasionally/just for shit's & giggles, you can run anything you want, but if you wanna win regularly you will look at it diffrent. not everyone can cut it at bracket racing though & I understand that. running a number, stick or auto, takes skill & finesse.

True, I see your point. But I just can't revoke my mancard. Btw, which would take more skill and finesse running bracket times? An auto or manual?

[Goatee]

Originally Posted by Antfo89 I think if you drag with an automatic you are not a racer tell me what skill it actually requires? Kid if you are looking for a daily driver in stop and go traffic get the hogomatic cuz it sound slike your not interested in the track if this is a daily driver wit hthe occasional cruise get the stick or I promise you will regret it. I would rather miss a gear anyday then know I won by simply putting my foot to the floor. All i'm saying is ANYONE and I mean ANYONE can drag a automatic.

Did you just reinterpret my post?

[Antfo89]

Originally Posted by Goatee Did you just reinterpret my post?

I was agreeing with you haha