Do l go for manual or auto?
Discussion
Blue Oval84 said:
TREMAiNE said:
It's worth bearing in mind that because of the torque, even around town you're not changing gear constantly.
The car will pull in 6th gear from around 20mph.
I only find manual a pain in stop start traffic, otherwise I tend to stay in 4th for town driving which will take me from 10mph up to illegal speeds. The clutch is heavy though so in heavy traffic its a right pig.
The facelift cars have adaptive cruise control even on the manuals. My girlfirends Swift Sport has this too, and I've never had a problem with it dropping to a speed too low for the gear.
Interesting - unfortunately I live in Brighton and a pretty decent chunk of my driving can end up in stop/start traffic, which is a pretty big consideration I suppose. That's one of the reasons I love the Volvo. As far as ACC is concerned, on the motorway runs I use it right down to a standstill, and it's quite nice to not have to move my feet at all.The car will pull in 6th gear from around 20mph.
I only find manual a pain in stop start traffic, otherwise I tend to stay in 4th for town driving which will take me from 10mph up to illegal speeds. The clutch is heavy though so in heavy traffic its a right pig.
The facelift cars have adaptive cruise control even on the manuals. My girlfirends Swift Sport has this too, and I've never had a problem with it dropping to a speed too low for the gear.
I'm thinking that with the 10 speed perhaps the paddles would help overcome any sensation of it constantly hunting for the right gear...
Might leg gets pretty tired after about 15 mins of heavy traffic and always wish I was in my Crown Vic' instead. Maybe I'm just a pussy!
I still recommend trying out an older pre-facelift with the 6 speed, as well as the facelift with the 10 speed...
Blue Oval84 said:
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In retrospect it may well have been the engine/10sp combo rather than the 10sp itself (I've not experienced it elsewhere/with any other combo - so I may be being a little unfair), and yes it was the constant shifting (keeping the engine within the 'right' powerband?). DodgyGeezer said:
a couple of years ago I had an ecoboost Mustang in the US as a hire car and loathed the 10sp - I have no idea if the V8 is better with it or not. For comparison I love the 8sp ZF in the Challenger (though again not comparing like with like since that's also a V8)
What was it that you loathed about it? I've heard about it constantly shifting which is an unwelcome sensation. Albeit I'd hope the V8 experience is better...
Fwiw, manual Mustang owner here. It's my daily driver, often get caught in rush hour stop/start traffic.
I get why some people prefer autos but driving a manual I'd really not an issue. It's only in the past 10 years that autos have become a viable option on mainstream cars as they used to be terrible, and back then everyone drove manuals without a second thought.
Just get what you will find the most enjoyable, manuals are fine for every day driving.
I get why some people prefer autos but driving a manual I'd really not an issue. It's only in the past 10 years that autos have become a viable option on mainstream cars as they used to be terrible, and back then everyone drove manuals without a second thought.
Just get what you will find the most enjoyable, manuals are fine for every day driving.
Squirrelofwoe said:
I'm going through the same conundrum - looking at a facelift GT coupe as my next car and have gone from "it must be a manual" to now being pretty much settled on the 10 speed auto.
My thoughts are that I want to use the car most days which includes a work commute which is a mix of dual-carriageway & stop-start traffic in town, along with longer road trips to see family in Cornwall (280 miles each way) and up to Scotland / Wales etc.
Already have a TVR Tuscan as a fun weekend toy for proper driver involvement, and my wife has a superb 2020 Mini JCW which is also a manual. So the idea of a big Mustang with a smooth auto really appeals- i.e. a comfy GT that looks good and sounds good. It doesn't need to try and be an out-and-out sports car as we have the Tuscan for that.
Will be following the comments on this thread with interest!
Just to update this, i test drove a 2021 auto yesterday and loved it. My thoughts are that I want to use the car most days which includes a work commute which is a mix of dual-carriageway & stop-start traffic in town, along with longer road trips to see family in Cornwall (280 miles each way) and up to Scotland / Wales etc.
Already have a TVR Tuscan as a fun weekend toy for proper driver involvement, and my wife has a superb 2020 Mini JCW which is also a manual. So the idea of a big Mustang with a smooth auto really appeals- i.e. a comfy GT that looks good and sounds good. It doesn't need to try and be an out-and-out sports car as we have the Tuscan for that.
Will be following the comments on this thread with interest!
So much so i placed an order for a new auto fastback in purple, due next Jan. If anyone has any tips on how to make the next 12 months go by relatively quickly i am all ears!! 😁
Squirrelofwoe said:
Just to update this, i test drove a 2021 auto yesterday and loved it.
So much so i placed an order for a new auto fastback in purple, due next Jan. If anyone has any tips on how to make the next 12 months go by relatively quickly i am all ears!! ??
Good on you, love my 2016 auto GT convertible, I know it’s a different gearbox but it is still so relaxing.So much so i placed an order for a new auto fastback in purple, due next Jan. If anyone has any tips on how to make the next 12 months go by relatively quickly i am all ears!! ??
And I had a 10 speed in the US A few years ago, and hated it in sport mode, strangely is in a bar in death Valley a guy who worked out of Vegas Ford told me that it was about to be fixed. My point being even my 2016 this week has had a gearbox update.
I think the only thing you can do to speed things up is take holidays
David Beer said:
Good on you, love my 2016 auto GT convertible, I know it’s a different gearbox but it is still so relaxing.
And I had a 10 speed in the US A few years ago, and hated it in sport mode, strangely is in a bar in death Valley a guy who worked out of Vegas Ford told me that it was about to be fixed. My point being even my 2016 this week has had a gearbox update.
I think the only thing you can do to speed things up is take holidays
I loved the auto on the test drive, will likely drive it with manual shifts most of the time but when sat in traffic on the work commute the seamless changes resulting from having so many cogs will make it a very relaxing experience.And I had a 10 speed in the US A few years ago, and hated it in sport mode, strangely is in a bar in death Valley a guy who worked out of Vegas Ford told me that it was about to be fixed. My point being even my 2016 this week has had a gearbox update.
I think the only thing you can do to speed things up is take holidays
As for the time passing that was really said in jest- my wife and I are just in the process of getting our house on the market as we need to move before the Mustang arrives, along with clearing 70 years worth of stuff from my late father's rented small holding before the tenancy expires- so it's going to be a VERY busy year!
BIGDAI said:
Update: The car arrived at the dealer yesterday (sent me a little video of it - looks lovely). Call from the salesman this afternoon - should have the registration number tomorrow so l can sort insurance then hopefully I'll be collecting it next week.
Amazing! 
Be sure to put a picture or two up here when you collect, it'll help those of us who still have the best part of a year to wait!
BIGDAI said:
Update: The car arrived at the dealer yesterday (sent me a little video of it - looks lovely). Call from the salesman this afternoon - should have the registration number tomorrow so l can sort insurance then hopefully I'll be collecting it next week.
Show us the video then... 
Congratulations on your Mustang.
I was reading with interest as I have just purchased a V8 MANUAL. I do think it is personal choice, but if I'm driving around town I won't be taking the Mustang. I don't find the clutch heavy, in fact our 2.0 Mini Cooper S is a lot heavier, and the Mustang gearbox has a really nice feel. It was the experience of 'driving' that appealed to me more than convenience or a fraction of a second to 60 quicker. Enjoy.
I was reading with interest as I have just purchased a V8 MANUAL. I do think it is personal choice, but if I'm driving around town I won't be taking the Mustang. I don't find the clutch heavy, in fact our 2.0 Mini Cooper S is a lot heavier, and the Mustang gearbox has a really nice feel. It was the experience of 'driving' that appealed to me more than convenience or a fraction of a second to 60 quicker. Enjoy.
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