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Auto or 5 spd?

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Old 02-08-2010, 07:22 AM
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polaraman
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Default Auto or 5 spd?

I'm going to buy a 94+ mustang in the next few weeks and wondered if there's a HUGE difference between the automatic vs the manual. Can i have fun driving an automatic?

All things considered stock and equal, what kind of gas mileage would i get with both of those cars?
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Old 02-08-2010, 07:27 AM
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Margarita Girl
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Gas mileage? Depends on how you drive. Put your foot in the throttle all the time and it won't matter much what tranny you have.

I've owned three mustangs, an '89 LX, '99 GT and my current '05 GT and they have all been manual shift. Wouldn't have it any other way.
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Old 02-08-2010, 07:29 AM
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polaraman
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Ok... a 4.6 auto or manual driven by granny.

I can drive a manual .... but the wifey can't. I'll have to teach her... hence my dilemma. LOL!
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Old 02-08-2010, 07:42 AM
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Margarita Girl
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Take it for a test drive. I drove an '98 and found that the seat was very close to the steering wheel. My legs aren't that long and I found I could not move push the seat back far enough.

The '05+ style is the easiest to shift.
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Old 02-08-2010, 09:16 AM
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ChalknCover
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I have an auto and love it, very easy and fun to drive regardless, though I am getting a 5spd as my next car. MPG's are typically better in a manual, but like MG said, it is a matter of how you drive. If the car is just a grocery getter, you may see 1-2mpg improvement over a auto. But...I don't own my mustang because of gas mileage.
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Old 02-08-2010, 09:57 AM
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03BottleFedGT
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ive owned both, i love 5spds but as a daily driver i will always have an auto. just as fun to drive and most of the 5spds i will beat at a track anyday
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Old 02-08-2010, 01:09 PM
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Jazzer The Cat
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When I was looking at my car to purchase, I really liked it and was lucky to be a 5 speed. I don't know how to drive an auto.

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Old 02-08-2010, 01:30 PM
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Derf00
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Originally Posted by polaraman
Ok... a 4.6 auto or manual driven by granny.

I can drive a manual .... but the wifey can't. I'll have to teach her... hence my dilemma. LOL!
Dont let what your wife can drive be the deciding factor. I made that mistake (bought an auto because she wanted to drive it too) even though she can drive stick and she's driven it MAYBE 8 or 9 times in the last two years... I sometimes get annoyed by the (oh, you want to go faster...mmm...okay I'll down shift) stock tune in these. $650 for CAI and Tune with firmer shifts is out of the question as wife is unemployed at the moment.

Something else to consider, there is a BIG difference in performance in the 94-04 between auto and Manual. THe reason is the 4 speed auto vs the 5 Speed manual. Mine is an 08 that has a 5-speed auto sot he performance difference is not that big.

Last edited by Derf00; 02-08-2010 at 01:33 PM.
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Old 02-08-2010, 01:57 PM
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JC316
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I will take the manual tranny any day of the week. Less weight, more fun, better gas mileage in the Manual. The auto is easier to drive in traffic. One reason that I buy manuals is because my family cant drive/hates manuals. No risk of going out and finding someone gone in my car.
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Old 02-08-2010, 02:11 PM
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kweb288
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look at what you want to do with the car also, If its gona be a 1/4 mile car look into an auto (more consistent, less miss shifts, easier to put big #'s to the ground with), if you want a fun street car, or road raacing car manual is the way to go! manual trans always out perform autos on the fun scale
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