Stick vs Auto

James Morse

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Relative to 05-09, mostly looking at 4.0L because prices better. I'm ambivalent about the trans because auto is nice for ease of use but stick gives you more fun. Also it depends what is on a particular car. Here's my questions. Is one worth more than the other? Is one more durable than the other? I was told (here) that the auto trans is good for maybe 125k-150k so that might steer me away from autos at that mileage or higher. Would I have the same concern about the manual trans? Clutch issues? Thanks for any advice & comments.
 

tjm73

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I would not touch an automatic S197 unless it was the 6 speed automatic. Since the 4.0 never came with the 6 speed auto, I would only look at stick shift cars. Getting a clutch changed (or doing it yourself) is a lot cheaper than having the 5R55 rebuilt. The T5 in these cars is well within it's power range and at the mileage you mention should need just a fresh fluid change. And if it needs to be rebuilt they are dead rock simple. Put a good shifter on the T5 it transforms them.
 

Juice

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My clutch went out (still moved but slipping) @106,000.
So I did the coyote swap! I found a new clutch kit for around $200 plus labor of around 5 hours would be the cost of a clutch jobd.
Just keep in mind, clutches are just like brakes. Some drivers blow through brakes, some dont. Depends on how hard you use it.
 

tjm73

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Thanks @tjm73 that is a HUGE help. What is a good shifter you would recommend for the T5?

It's a remote mount design. MGW probably makes one for it. They are a top quality product. Steeda might have one too. I like Steeda shifters as well. Others likely make shifters for them too. Take your pick. Do some research before you buy.

I don't know if the V8 and V6 shifters are the same or not. If they are the same, you might find a used unit and save some coin.
 
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Juice

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I put in the Steeda reduced throw shifter. Two reasons, cost and positive, adjustable shift stops. This required cutting the stock shifter apart and replacing the shifter stick. I liked the improvement. I no longer have it, sold it.
Still have some odds and ends from the swap. Radiator, T5 trans, driveshaft, K&N filter.
 

eighty6gt

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Save money and pick cans to get a 3V GT with the 5 speed manual.
 

Sactown

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Relative to 05-09, mostly looking at 4.0L because prices better. I'm ambivalent about the trans because auto is nice for ease of use but stick gives you more fun. Also it depends what is on a particular car. Here's my questions. Is one worth more than the other? Is one more durable than the other? I was told (here) that the auto trans is good for maybe 125k-150k so that might steer me away from autos at that mileage or higher. Would I have the same concern about the manual trans? Clutch issues? Thanks for any advice & comments.

It is all up to the person, for daily driving and overall fun IMO stick is the way to go, for the drag stripe nothing IMO beats an auto.

As for the shifter, have no personal experience with the MGW but it seems very popular, back when my car was a stick had a Pro5.0 thing worked great.
 

jlmotox

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My car was auto and I manual swapped it because the auto sucks! Love my car now! It’s like a bought a new car! It’s shifting to me was weak and it always feels like it’s slipping and never felt like it was in the right gear. I also installed the MGW shifter and it is a work of art! It’s a Great shifter! Very precise shifting with adjustable throw and stick height.

I’d save a few more bucks and get the V8 manual…
 

tjm73

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I'd say I agree. Save a little more and get the GT if you can.
 

ghunt81

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Clutches last a long time if you don't slip them all the time. I drove my old Thunderbird Turbo Coupe to 120K on the OE clutch, and in my 2005 I changed it out last year at 105k but it probably would have still been good for quite a while.

Also- if you're gonna buy a Mustang just get a GT! You'll be much happier down the road (pun intended?)
 

tjm73

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Clutches last a long time if you don't slip them all the time. I drove my old Thunderbird Turbo Coupe to 120K on the OE clutch, and in my 2005 I changed it out last year at 105k but it probably would have still been good for quite a while.

Also- if you're gonna buy a Mustang just get a GT! You'll be much happier down the road (pun intended?)

I drove a 1987 Tempo (remember those?) to just over 150K and later a '98 Mustang GT to just over 155K both on factory clutches and they were still grippy as the day I got the cars.
 

Juice

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I drove a 1987 Tempo (remember those?) to just over 150K and later a '98 Mustang GT to just over 155K both on factory clutches and they were still grippy as the day I got the cars.
You must drive like an old man! lolol
 

Aerofinz

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I owned an '05 V6/auto, for a few years when new, I ran it regularly from MI to TN, and loved it as a cruiser. It was geared perfect for setting the cruise through the mountains and staying in OD, never downshifting/hunting for the right gear while maintaining speed. YMMV.
 

ghunt81

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I drove a 1987 Tempo (remember those?) to just over 150K and later a '98 Mustang GT to just over 155K both on factory clutches and they were still grippy as the day I got the cars.

I had a '94 tempo with a 5 speed in college! The 5 speed actually made it not too bad to drive!
 

tjm73

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You must drive like an old man! lolol

Quite the opposite. I'm not a driving if the tach hasn't seen redline before the end of my road. When I had my Tempo all those year ago it saw 5000 every single day (peak hp, all 86 of them, was 3800 rpm!!!), almost every shift outside of traffic or a village. Boy was it slow. And you could not kill them. I tried. The Mustang saw full use of the tach often. You can drive hard and fast without abusing the clutch. LOL!!
 

Juice

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Quite the opposite. I'm not a driving if the tach hasn't seen redline before the end of my road. When I had my Tempo all those year ago it saw 5000 every single day (peak hp, all 86 of them, was 3800 rpm!!!), almost every shift outside of traffic or a village. Boy was it slow. And you could not kill them. I tried. The Mustang saw full use of the tach often. You can drive hard and fast without abusing the clutch. LOL!!
Yes, it is possible to not abuse the clutch and drive the shit out of it! I pulled the trans on my 91 after many many track miles. Clutch still looked almost now, machine marks still on pressure plate and flywheel! Never drag raced, only road raced.
 

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