Automatic or 6-speed - honest feedback

[F150tripin]

I ordered a GT Premium Convertible, 6-speed, PP and Magnaride in May. I sat in front of the salesman at the dealership. The salesman and I reviewed the computer screen together selecting the colors and options I wanted. I walked away with a copy of the order and a receipt for my deposit.

Next day I got the first ‘Ford’ email acknowledging the order for the car, that emails would follow as the order progressed. To my surprise later that day the salesman whom I met and ordered the car with called and said he cancelled the order. The order was done under the wrong dealership. It took him 4 orders to get the options correctly. Ford sent emails for 2 of the 3. The 3rd one was right..

The car being built does not have a 6-speed, it's an automatic. It’s one of the orders the salesman got wrong..

It’s in production this week and will likely be shipped soon. I told him I wanted first dibs on the car with employee pricing that lowers the MSRP nearly 6k. If I order a 26 like I want it will run about 70 or so..

My question is.. are you satisfied with the 10 speed auto trans performance or are you aching for a 6-speed? Want to know how stick shift drivers experience driving with the automatic.

Here is the car I am waiting for..

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[135Hoser]

Ford/GM did a really good job with the 10 speed. It's probably tied with the ZF 8 speed used in Audi S8 / RS7 and Dodge hellcat for functionality in my experience.

The 10 speed keeps you in peak power better between gear shifts. It shifts lightning quick, doesn't hunt around, you can't feel it shift in daily driver mode, and the transmission itself is very robust.

Unless you ABSOLUTELY have to row your own gears, get the 10 speed, and if you *DO* have to row your own, Some say the 6 speed in the Dark Horse is much much better for feel and gear ratios.

The 10 speed auto does both comfort and going fast really well.

 

[ChitownStang]

Unless you drag race or daily drive in traffic get the manual.
I severely disliked and regretted getting a 10-speed Mach 1 for over 3 years and 30k miles . It was a beautiful car, heavily tuned and modified but I did not like the confused 10-speed, way too many gears and not even close to the quality of the German auto trans which is night and day better.
You want to enjoy the control and joy of driving your sports car, get the manual!

 

[dusman59]

I have both and like both. The six speed is the first gen and shifts fantastic. I only changed the shifter to an MGW as the stock shifter felt sloppy. Later gen 6 speeds had many improvements.
The A10 is hard to beat if your looking for fast shifts. I have zero complaints. On early year A10's there were many compaints and I think Ford has addressed them.

 

[GrabThatBlue]

I love the 10-speed and I hate stick shifts.

 

[young at heart]

I couldn’t decide so…

 

[jbrnigan]

"Honest feedback" will not answer your question ...... Nothing worse than spending 50+ large $ and ending up with buyers remorse. Immediately, find a dealer with a Mustang auto, either a GT or Ecoboost, and do a test drive. Then decide. I gave up manual transmissions a decade ago and have never looked back. Since you "special ordered" your Mustang with a manual, I suspect you did so because that's what YOU WANTED. It would be a big mistake to settle for less. Just an opinion from someone who has been there.

 

[MAT1955]

@F150tripin ..... best auto tranny I have ever driven. Fast and smooth. The paddles are awesome and make it shift like a manual with best-in-class rev mating on upshifts. No driver with the same car with a manual can beat the 10 speed, period - it's that fast. Your car, your decision. My knees from hockey, football and lacrosse are too sore for constant clutch work but I don't miss the manual one bit with THIS automatic/paddle shifter. My car is a 2024 GT premium convertible. BTW what you are waiting for is a LOT like what I have. You'll LOVE it!

 

[canzaecho]

Don't settle and get the 6 speed. May take a little longer but if thats what you want, get it.

Personally I find the 10 speed Auto to be fantastic. Very fast shifts, Sport Mode does these top end noise that so satisfying. Ordered mine with a 10 speed Auto though.

Get the 6 speed OP

 

[npole]

My experience won't be yours, it's so "personal", so I can say: 10AT and I won't come back, to be short, without further explanations (that will follow) and I don't believe it'll shape your decision.

Long one: coming from 30+ years of driving manual cars, coz that was the only "sport" option available (if not for modern supercars) and because where I live, "auto" wasn't something you could see around the roads.
I never trusted those AT, for they always looked like those vehicles driven by a grandpa cruising with only the confort in mind and fun.
I'm a spirited driver (occasionally a track driver), but then after all those prejudices the time had to come and here's my first ever owned AT (other cars that I've driven with sequential shifts were Porsches and Ferrari, but never owned one to use extensively everyday).
My previous Mustang was the S550 (Bullitt.. manual indeed), and now I own a Dark Horse AT10, as I said, I won't come back.
Most of the time I use it in "manual", the gear is pretty fast, going sideways changing the first 3 gears while the exhaust is loudly (and literally) "banging" at each change (resonator deleted) is exhilarating.. the car is simply faster in every circumstance VS my previous (manual) S550.
And if I'm stuck in traffic or I'm tired, I put it in "D" and I don't have to strain my left leg.

Few downside:
- driving slowly (especially in Sport/Track mode) feels a bit awkward: the short 1st gear will ask for the 2nd and at slow speed you need to "learn" it, or it does that "jump" like a noob driver who couldn't use the clutch. While driving slowly going in "D" is more convenient.
- the gearbox is pretty fast (again, especially when driving spirited), but to not expect a PDK, and probably nor in pair with a modern Audi. You will notice more while cruising... it's its logic.
- the RPM limiter could be annoying when driving with paddles (manually), if you hit it (ie: before you get accustomed to the changing points), it won't sit there like you may experience with other sports car (again, it's not a Porsche), it'll cut the fuel and you will sit in the shame for a good second and half before you can start pushing again.
- you can't revv in the tunnels ..well you can, switching to "N" but not recommended at certain speed.

 

[DarkMatterGrey]

I bought a “Job 1” Mustang GT with a 6 speed manual. Because it didn’t have start/stop, had to pay $1000 gas guzzler tax. It gets worse gas mileage and is slower than the A10 auto. But I wanted a stick shift.

With the helper aids turned on (hill assist and rev match) it’s the easiest stick I’ve ever driven. My son who has a 2022 6 speed, says it’s almost like driving an automatic to him (his S550’s hill assist and rev match don’t work as well, but also can be turned off).

My honest feedback is whatever you want get. I’m just making the point it’s an easy stick to drive for such a heavy and powerful car. If you want the best gas mileage or performance then get the automatic.

Another bit of honest feedback, the dealer had one job and failed. Maybe time to select another dealer. Or maybe they saved you from making a big mistake (getting an option you won’t like).

Bottom line, there aren’t many manual choices out there new.

 

[Zig]

Why did you order a manual if an automatic will do, no need to order one of those, they’re a dime a dozen.

 

[P2]

My 2015 GT Premium was a 6 speed. My 2020 GT Premium was an auto. My current 2024 GT Premium, I went back to the 6 speed. I also have active exhaust. I don't race my mustang on the track nor on public streets. I don't need to prove to anyone how fast my car is. I know what it can do. So having an automatic transmission is neither here nor there for me. I went back to a 6 speed because for me it makes the car sound better (with the active exhaust) when driving and rowing those gears. It puts a smile on my face. Get what makes you happy. It's your car and your money. Spend wisely.

 

[Starship Enterprise]

I have auto trans. I’m happy with it. Changing it from normal to Sport mode holds the gears longer so you can change how it reacts on the fly. If you want to shift on your own, you can set it in Manual mode and hit the paddles.

While in Auto mode, you can also instantly override and use the paddles to upshift or downshift.

If you ever want to sell it someday, it might be better resale value with auto.

How bad you really wanted a stick is up to you. But you might like the auto more than you expected.

 

[Upacurb]

If you are drag racing the 10 speed is better
If you drive in a ton of traffic the 10 speed is better
If your knees dont work as well as they once did the 10 speed is better

Just my opinion - but from an experience stand point, I think the manual transmission is better ...for me at least it just makes cars more fun. If I wanted a manual transmission.

Given the fact you ordered a convertible ...I am guessing you are more focused on experience then drag racing .....I would rather pay 70K for the car I want then 60K for a car Ill never be completely happy with.....

Prior to my 350 I owned/ daily drove an S550 PP1 with the A10 for 35Kish miles ....was chosen because I decided to daily drive it at the time (I had a 67 Shelby GT500 in the garage as my fun car) The A10 is a wonderful transmission but when I decided to switch my cars around to an F250 and newer Shelby in the garage.....I knew for my fun car me personally I wanted a manual transmission ......

Completely just my opinion and my car is a weekend only fun car - so that definitely plays a factor into it....

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