I have always wondered this. People say that a manual really pushes all 300 hp of the Mustang to the road. The Mustang GT comes with a 5 speed manual transmission. You can pay an extra 1k and get the automatic transmission. Is the automatic transmission really 5 speed like they say? If so, why is it that people say it will exert less hp than the manual?

 

An auto will always lose more power due to the torque converter and such.

They generally have a 20% drivetrain loss compared to 15% for the manual.

 

Yep pretty much what I was going to say. Your hp #s will generally always be lower in an auto then manual. Yes its a 5 speed auto but its not the same as a manual no matter how they put it lol.

 

This does not mean they are slower than the manuals. You put a CAI and tune on the auto and it will be right there with a CAI and tuned manual usually.

 

yea exactly, manual have the fun factor over autos...thats why i want to trade for a manual. Or even swap transmissions! We'll see...

 

not if the manual owner knows how to drive.... you still don't have nearly the launching capability or control that a manual car has. With a higher stall tc then you will own manuals, but a manual will always have you on the launch if you dont have a tc.

 

That.. and don't forget Autos are always heavier than manuals with taller gear ratios (not the case in the Mustang which has shorter gear ratios than the manual)

 

don't forget the fact that autos have "perfect" shiftings, no misshifts

 

Also the automatic won't rev as high as the manual before it shifts and I doubt you can get the tires to chirp in second without a shift kit.

 

Not true....many people can do that with CAI and tune...