I am learning to drive manual in a Cobra convertible........it's not all that bad....it'll take me awhile to recouperate and get used to the non-exisentant power of my L03(again) after driving something like that...hell ,i may ven want to buy a manual car(not a mustang though)

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1991 RS LO3

RACECAR spelled backwards is RACECAR

 

so.......do a T5 swap & get a 350,

 

Don't hate you..think you are foolish, maybe.
bsa

 

The manula is nice at first.. A year after owning a manual it got old... I prefer my Auto Camaro with a higher stall and shift kit to a manual any day.... Try the shift kit and higher stall converter and have both hands free....

 

Auto transmissions should not even be allowed in sportscars! After learning how to drive a stick I wouldn't ever buy an auto again. Besides, less maintenance costs. The fun in driving is putting power to the road the way the DRIVER, not the transmission sees fit.
Auto trannys are for retired people who plod around in full sized luxury cars. But thats just my opinion.

------------------
92 Camaro RS, LO3, 5-spd, T-tops

Performance:
K&N Open Air Filter, Edelbrock performer TBI intake, Fastchip Prom, Timing +4 degrees, Centerforce clutch, Xact 8mm wires, SLP 1 3/4" Headers (coated), Flowmaster Catback Exhaust, Z28 Grille w/aftmkt fog lamps, MacEwen white-face guages
Electronics:
Alpine 8030 Alarm System, Valentine One Radar Detector (How did I ever drive without one?), Pioneer DEH 7450 Head Unit w/6-pack CD changer, Pioneer DEQ 7600 Sound Processor, 2 Kenwood KAC-846 Amps powering 2 12" Pro Red subs, 2 Pioneer 6x9 and 2 MTX 4x6 speakers.
NEXT UP: TBI mods, 3.42 gears w/Torsen posi

 

This 'retired' person wants to line up his inferior auto with ya just to quiet ya down a little.

------------------
1987 GTA L98 MD8 GH3
355 '97 Vortec 4-bolt block, TRW(suck) forged pistons 10:1 CR, TFS 23*, LT4 Hot Cam, Ported plenum and intake, SLP Siam Runners, Edelbrock TES, gutted Cat, Flowmaster, Home-made cold air system w/ K+N cone and AFPR, TB bypass, AirFoil, !AIR, !A/C, !EVAP, 2300 stall.

"Stop Lights timed for 35Mph are also timed for 140Mph"

 

not like a mustang cobra is a bad car to learn on, it's a rather decent ride. stick is great, but no fun for bracket racing or alot of city driving. i currently drive a 94 camaro with a 6 speed and it's great for fun, but tiring on occasion. if your going for pretty much straight line performance, the auto is the way to go, but for fun and more road type racing the stick is better.

 

'cept there's that thing where autos tend to get more consistent 1/4 mile times.

------------------
89 iroc-z 305 tbi
k&n filtercharger, open element air filter. nuffin' else

 

Yeah, and powershift a t5 and ooops miss a gear and it's toast. Corvette servo is a hell of alot faster than my left foot and right arm for sure.

 

I'll give ya a dollar if you can shift that T-5 faster than my "granny tranny".
bsa

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"If they do not run, Then they will die." - Stonewall Jackson
#3
'87 IROC, 355 TPI, Converted to SD, 700R4, B&M Megashifter, 3.42, Trick Flow Twisted Wedge Heads, Edelbrock Intake, Accel Runners, Comp Cam, Crane Gold rockers, Lucas 24# injectors, Edelbrock headers, Flowmaster 3'' exhaust, Mallory Ignition, Transgo Performance Shift Kit, Corvette Servo, 2,000 Stall Torque Converter

 

To Matt87GTA: Only if you promise to leave 2 cylinders at home!

To everyone else: I stand a bit corrected, perhaps auto tranny's are better for DRAG RACING but manuals are better for DRIVING. I'm certainly not a subject expert when it comes to racing, but don't the pros (NASCAR, CART, etc) use stick shifters?

Consistent race times with a stick can be achieved with a good shifter, good clutch, and lots of practice. In my opinion, a good car driver or racer is one who is closely in tune with the car he drives. I just don't think the closeness is the same when you compare an auto with a stick. But then again, that's just my opinion.....

 

Mine too. I haven't owned or regularly driven an automatic since about 1971, my bad left knee notwithstanding. On the rare occasions when I absolutely must drive an automatic I find it very annoying when the transmission shifts at times when I would not. It feels like I'm fighting with it - Hey, tranny, I'M in the driver's seat here. You just shut up and do what I tell you to do when I tell you to do it!. And the utter mindlessness of moving the gearshift lever into "D" just once and leaving it there until you get to your destination . . .

The bottom line is about being "fun to drive" as opposed to "nice to ride in" and, as mentioned previously, being in tune with the machinery.

Norm

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1979 Malibu 5 speed with some cornering tweaks and a few other interesting things

2001 Maxima 20th Anniversary, 5 speed

1995 Mazda 626-V6 5 speed

[This message has been edited by Norm Peterson (edited June 07, 2001).]

 

You are under 25 aren't you? Driving into Boston everyday with a stick gets tiring after the first 30 min. of rush hour traffic. I have a back to think of.



------------------
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear."

-Thomas Jefferson

 

And yet another steps out of the dark abyss of ignorance.

 

...Not to mention that most cars that are spending less than six seconds between the traps are using auto transmissions.

I've got both, and there are advantages and disadvantages both ways. I've put more clutches than I want to remember in my Fiero crash-box, and have only changed fluid and filters on all my autos. There is no all-encompassing statemtent that is the "final answer". But then, that's probably why you can choose either one for your car. Thank God we all don't think the same, or we'd all be driving Fords...or worse, Honda Accords.

------------------
Later,
Vader
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"Let the bodies hit the floor!"
Adobe Acrobat Reader

[This message has been edited by Vader (edited June 07, 2001).]

 

When I lived in a small town, I was thinking alot like Pukka, I had a stick shift truck and loved it. But about after a month of living in a crowded city with too much stop/go traffic, I sold that thing in favor of my auto T/A. As long as i'm living where there's a lot of stop n' go bullchit, i'm staying automatic. But there are times when I really miss having a manual tranny. I'll be getting the Dual/Gate 2 shifter soon to remedy that.

------------------
DR Stevens
1984 Trans Am 305HO L69
1991 Firebird 305 L03

 

i myself will always take a manual over an auto. even though my throwout bearing is well.. about to throw-out.. It's just more fun, and to me safer(i get so bored driving auto, after more than an hour, i'm seriously tired.) I learned how to drive.. on the right hand side of the car, on the WRONG damn side of the road.. and yes.. w/ a manual transmission.. when I WAS 11. I live in Houston, and don't get bothered by the horrible freakin rush-hour(that's every hour) driving the Camaro. Yeah.. i'm under 25.. but i still have horrible knees.. surgery on the right one.. to resurface the canyon-like features of my cartilage.. the other doing the same damn thing.. and my right knee is still a POS.. no more surgery for me.. i'll just deal w/ the pain... and no auto either.

Anthony

p.s i know the 87 was an automatic.. that was kindly pointed out to me last time I replied to an auto vs. manual post.

------------------
previous ride: 87 Camaro LT
350, A4.Comp Cams 268H, Edelbrock Preformer intake, Hedman Headers and y-pipe, gutted cat, No AIR/smog pump. 14x3" Open element K&N, Q-jet w/ D hanger and DA rods, adjusted AV spring tension and quick can.

Current ride: 1992 Camaro RS, K&N, Flowmaster, 305, T5, Black, T-tops, 76k miles.

 

After driving an 18 speed tranny for 2 years (and a 13 for 3yrs, a 15 for 1 yr, and a couple of 9's and 10's here and there) I swore to all that is holy that I was never going to own a manual trans again.

I missed it so I have both now.

 

Gotta admit though, the ONLY time I absolutely HATED my stick shift was when I visited my family in NYC, so I can definitely relate to the stop and go traffic. But getting back to my point, you can't really DRIVE a sports car in city traffic. Let alone the fact these cars drink gas with a straw in these conditions.

I'm 32 years old, have driven a decent share of sports cars with automatics. I've first learned to drive a stick on a truck over 10 years ago and have been in love with stick shifters since. I guess if you really live for driving that 1/4 mile as fast as you can, then more power to ya. But I like an open road with curves and straightaways

 

I go drive a truck on the weekends that has an 18speed AND a 4speed auxiliary!! Now thats a lot of gears!! Oh yeah, its got a 475HP cat motor behind it. PETERBUILT.

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L98, 3.27 9-bolt, Hooker shorty headers, custom 2.5inch Y-pipe, no cat, 3inch 2chamber flowmaster, JET AFPR, Ported MAF, Best ET: 13.86 @100mph. 1.99 60'
17 inch ROH "ZS" wheels. 17x8.5(front) and 17x9.5 (rear). Firestone Firehawk SZ50s. 245/45/zr17s and 275/40/zr17s. T56

On the way... Radar Blue 89 Formula, T56, Ram Jet 430, Ram Air, 17inch ROHs.