Automatic or 6-speed - honest feedback

[rijndael]

Would not have bought a Mustang if manual shift was unavailable.

Same here. I would have bought the M2/M240i.

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[Killshot58]

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..

My vote is the Manual over the A10. I did something very similar to you with my 24 Mustang GT purchase.
I originally ordered the Manual and while I was waiting for it to come in, the dealer called me about an identical car with an automatic. So, I test drove that car and then test drove a similar car with a manual. I didn't care for the manual at all because it felt a lot different than my 08 Mustang. So, I bought the one with the automatic and I loved it! However, after the novelty of the car wore off, I was wishing I got the automatic. I really missed not shifting gears. I tried the paddles for a bit and it was ok, but nothing like shifting gears. If I was going to drop a lot of $$$ on a new car, I wanted to make sure it was what I wanted.
So, after owning the car for only 5 months, I sold it for a loss and bought a brand new one with a Manual. Huge difference! It is so much more fun to drive! I'm not into drag racing or driving like a maniac. I just enjoy cruising around at moderate speeds. Of course, I'll get on it to reach the speed limit, but then I'm content to keep the speed at the limit. I've already had my share of speeding tickets!
Nothing wrong with the A10, but the Manual was the way to go for me.

 

[GrabThatBlue]

I agree with the hills thing. I prefer a manual in the hills and an automatic on normal flat roads.

Since I drive more on flat roads than steep hills, an automatic suits me best.

This is my first automatic car so I'm loving the comfort. I'm a roadtripper that cruises many many many kilometers. No need to row the boat, especially in traffic.

 

[4ksk416]

I have had two s650s, both with the six speed. Currently have a 25 pp coupe. Drive it daily. No complaints with the transmission. Feel a lot of the negative criticism is overblown. Drove a t45 for years. If I had to buy an auto, I would not have bought my car.

I vote for the 6-speed

 

[Saphire]

If you want to have fun and don't mind wasting gas, and losing races, get the Row-Boat. I know not all of us race. That A10 will win, and make your driving comfortable.

 

[ChitownStang]

If you want to have fun and don't mind wasting gas, and losing races, get the Row-Boat. I know not all of us race. That A10 will win, and make your driving comfortable.

Also if you ever want to go to a road course, so much better in a manual.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

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..

Both have pros and cons. It really depends in how and where you plan on driving the car. The auto is faster in every application, and much more comfortable to drive. Manuals are coveted by purists and more fun to drive on the twisties.

I have owned both. My last Mustang was a 6 speed Tremec that I enjoyed immensely...at first. It was my DD and After a year and a half I got tired of rowing gears in traffic.

I test drove the 24 GT manual and thought it was very meh. It wasn't fast off the line and the trottle response wasn't inspiring. I switched to the A10 and was stunned by how much faster it felt and how smooth it was. It instantly sold me. Sometimes I do miss rowing gears, but for a daily driver I will never go back to a manual.

The A10 has had a few historical problems. Particularly early on 2018-2022.There was a revision to the A10 that started in late 2022 to address some comon failings. @ChitownStang had a bad A10 that he dumped for a manual. I firmly believe that is not the norm however, and I can tell you shift programming has been improved on the S650. Mine is smooth with no issues and I'm very happy with it.

 

[samson]

I got the manual and no way in hell would I accept an automatic. The stick is a joy to drive every time I take that car out. The automatic is wonderful I'm sure, but if you want a stick ... get the stick! You will regret it if you take the auto. My last car was the first automatic I ever owned in my life, and I missed having a manual every single time I drove it. Felt like driving around in a video game, no connection to the car.

 

[MikeyV]

Do you just HAVE to have a stick? If not then get the auto - it's better and faster.

All my Stangs were/are manual - It's 50% of why I want a Mustang.


I used to really dog on automatics, but the new 10 spd changed my mind. The wife has had an Expedition with the 10 spd and now the 25 Tahoe with the 10 spd. Same transmission, yeah, the tuning is probably different. I bet it's crispy AF in a new Mustang in sport mode.

It really is a slick piece.

So if I wasn't a "stick only please" guy then I'd have got the auto in a heartbeat.

But for me, it's manual all the way. I've probably shifted 5 million times in my life - enjoyed EVERY one of them.

The MT-82 in my '25 is really nice. Feels way better in stock form than my '14 GT. I've never had trouble with it lopcking me out when shifting, either one of them. They've been solid for me.

And, I might be in the minority here, but I WAY prefer the newer ratios. With 4th being 1:1 and two equally spaed overdrives. It works much better in freeway situations and saves a shift up to 5th in a lot of around town driving. The old ratios had 5th being 1:1 and a YUGE uneven drop into 6th gear overdrive.

 

[Frogdog1]

OP, get what you want to get. It's just one of the smallest decisions you'll ever make in life but I don't blame you for asking. Perspective..........

 

[Saphire]

Also if you ever want to go to a road course, so much better in a manual.

Just to learn one does not care for track after trying it. Also leave all the computerized new fangled traction control etc off, and have some real fun. You'll lose, but on the high note you'll have the time of your life.

 

[MAT1955]

@Saphire as you said - "If you want to have fun and don't mind wasting gas, and losing races, get the Row-Boat. I know not all of us race. That A10 will win, and make your driving comfortable." .....and I add using the paddles you can drive much like a a manual. Hold those shifts to 6+ grand with a massive roar and pull some downshifts with the roar and back barks and that's also very, very impressive. I get asked at stop lights how I can do that with an automatic. I have a convertible so the guys with Dodge Hemi pick-ups can look down at my shifter - after I gap them from the previous light Ha Ha. Yeah, I love the A10 and don't miss a "pure" manual at all. BTW for resale the auto smokes the manual.

 

[Saphire]

@Saphire as you said - "If you want to have fun and don't mind wasting gas, and losing races, get the Row-Boat. I know not all of us race. That A10 will win, and make your driving comfortable." .....and I add using the paddles you can drive much like a a manual. Hold those shifts to 6+ grand with a massive roar and pull some downshifts with the roar and back barks and that's also very, very impressive. I get asked at stop lights how I can do that with an automatic. I have a convertible so the guys with Dodge Hemi pick-ups can look down at my shifter - after I gap them from the previous light Ha Ha. Yeah, I love the A10 and don't miss a "pure" manual at all. BTW for resale the auto smokes the manual.

With an A10 the guy wouldn't have time too look down at your little stick. Guess Dodge are into that. To each it's own. Or whatever pronoun they prefer. I remember when driving a truck was macho. Seem it's more Village Dudes Macho macho man.

 

[rijndael]

FWIW: I saw a report that ~30% of Mustang buyers choose a manual.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

FWIW: I saw a report that ~30% of Mustang buyers choose a manual.

That's understandable. Its one of the few V8s left that are available in manual.

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