Decisions: Manual vs Auto

[sniper226]

Ok, this thread is not suppose to be about being a purist Muscle car and how you should have a stick to really classify the car a Muscle car. I can dictate that because it's my thread!


Anyway, now that drivetain stats have been released, I am wondering how much faster, if at all, one can expect the Manual version to be. I am not a gear head that understands how much minor gearing equates to a measured amount of speed/tourque. I just understand the overall concept.

Here are the published stats w/ Axle ratio
Auto 3.06
Manual 3.92 with LS & Trak Pak

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/26/d...r-drivetrains/

I wanted to get an auto because I drive alot in Dallas traffic but with LS, special gearing & "Trak Pak" I may regret not getting the Manual version.

Thanks in advance for the education!

[SRTOutlaw]

Originally Posted by sniper226

Ok, this thread is not suppose to be about being a purist Muscle car and how you should have a stick to really classify the car a Muscle car. I can dictate that because it's my thread!


Anyway, now that drivetain stats have been released, I am wondering how much faster, if at all, one can expect the Manual version to be. I am not a gear head that understands how much minor gearing equates to a measured amount of speed/tourque. I just understand the overall concept.

Here are the published stats w/ Axle ratio
Auto 3.06
Manual 3.92 with LS & Trak Pak

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/26/d...r-drivetrains/

I wanted to get an auto because I drive alot in Dallas traffic but with LS, special gearing & "Trak Pak" I may regret not getting the Manual version.

Thanks in advance for the education!

Dude, Automatics are always faster than manuals. Atleast when drag racing. They are certainly more consistant. And consistancy is the key to drag racing. Nobody in the world can shift a manual gear box perfectly every time under wide open throttle. There will always be that one time you miss a shift and lose the race. Automatics are also generally stronger and stand up to high horse power and torque better than a standard gear box will.

[DartSportDude]

Another thing: I would venture that a majority of the so-called Mopar muscle cars from the 60s and 70s came equipped with automatics. Granted, manuals are more fun to drive (assuming you don't commute in heavy traffic), but this notion of manual transmission "superiority" when it comes to consistent performance is really an urban legend.

I'm always amazed when I see some idiot walk up to a beautiful 440 Super Bee or GTX at a car show and sneer "Oh, it's ONLY an automatic." Stupid.

[68RT/71GTX]

I have one of each and I can tell you that the point about drag-racing and consistency is correct. I was far more successful with the auto GTX than the four speed R/T. But the R/T was far more fun on the street. However that was when we had room on the strreet to move. Now there is too much traffic to take a chance.

[RoostKing]

Although the auto is more practical, I will be getting the six-speed.... I dont plan on this car being may daily driver(although ill probably drive it daily, if that makes sense!)

RoostKing...

[Tviper7]

Originally Posted by SRTOutlaw

Dude, Automatics are always faster than manuals. Atleast when drag racing. They are certainly more consistant. And consistancy is the key to drag racing. Nobody in the world can shift a manual gear box perfectly every time under wide open throttle. There will always be that one time you miss a shift and lose the race. Automatics are also generally stronger and stand up to high horse power and torque better than a standard gear box will.

I hate to chime in here but I'd like to add a point I'am young buck by alotta ppl here standards and some of you guys might been drag racing for along as I've exsisted.... but I hate to say it but alotta chysler stock's factory modern automatics where garbage under high horsepower... I just going from personal exp and alotta other ppl experiances with the dakota r/t and intrepids and last gen lineups. my truck isn't built(performance wise) but I've had under warranty since I bought used in 2003 with 36,000 on it my tranny never shifted right consistenty under wot it was eradic and banged the rev limiter from time to time, since very few times, my truck refused to throw codes they told me they would not fix it even with eradic slipage to most likely( due broken or weak bands) "under insepction the dealership said everything was fine" so I can totally see where some ppl are coming from with the fact they'll settle for nothing less than a manual... I mean if you were referring to built HD automatic it would be different, but bottom line either way I sincerely hope those 5-speed Autostick tranny in the new chally are 10x better than what they used last generation chyrslers I'am having serious doubts right now and I'am very pissed and disgruntled at chrysler knowing that in 2008 my warranty's up and they day after or few months after tranny gonna finally crap on me outta warranty like so many others.......... it just pisses me off I won't but another auto trannied chrysler
for quite some time

[ctbruce]

Originally Posted by RoostKing

Although the auto is more practical, I will be getting the six-speed.... I dont plan on this car being may daily driver(although ill probably drive it daily, if that makes sense!)

RoostKing...

ditto! I can't wait till I dump the clutch for the first time. I'll feel like a kid in my 69 Z28 all over again. I know that a automatic would be much more practical but like you said it's not my daily driver.

[firstmethod]

Well from the released spec it is clear the new challenger will have the mechanical pedigree of its older version (the car's weight issue is a different matter). When I was younger I did a conversion on a 1970 cutlass from auto to muncie 4sp. The rear gear ratio was originally 3.06 and it was eventually upped to a 3.42 posi. Huge blatant difference in low end pickup, also much easier to redline. The 3.92 is just one notch below the 4.10 super track pack of the old mopars which was missile gearing that had insane low end acceleration but with the 4sp trannies of the day the engine would really wind up by the time you hit 60 mph. I would venture to guess many people who pick up these new Challengers will have never seen acceleration anything like it (I am under the assumption the SRT-8 chargers up till now have a much numerically lower gear ratio). The 4.10 will likely be available aftermarket or maybe even from Dodge in a future year (paired w/392 hemi that would be a killer combo).

[RRHemi]

Originally Posted by Tviper7

I hate to chime in here but I'd like to add a point I'am young buck by alotta ppl here standards and some of you guys might been drag racing for along as I've exsisted.... but I hate to say it but alotta chysler stock's factory modern automatics where garbage under high horsepower... I just going from personal exp and alotta other ppl experiances with the dakota r/t and intrepids and last gen lineups. my truck isn't built(performance wise) but I've had under warranty since I bought used in 2003 with 36,000 on it my tranny never shifted right consistenty under wot it was eradic and banged the rev limiter from time to time, since very few times, my truck refused to throw codes they told me they would not fix it even with eradic slipage to most likely( due broken or weak bands) "under insepction the dealership said everything was fine" so I can totally see where some ppl are coming from with the fact they'll settle for nothing less than a manual... I mean if you were referring to built HD automatic it would be different, but bottom line either way I sincerely hope those 5-speed Autostick tranny in the new chally are 10x better than what they used last generation chyrslers I'am having serious doubts right now and I'am very pissed and disgruntled at chrysler knowing that in 2008 my warranty's up and they day after or few months after tranny gonna finally crap on me outta warranty like so many others.......... it just pisses me off I won't but another auto trannied chrysler
for quite some time

I have had issues with my Ram tranny as well so I have to agree. I was told by a Chrylser mechanic that they cheapened the guts of the 727 when thay added OD.

I was talking with a friend the other day who also has a Ram he heard that you were supposed to warm these up in neutral. I have always done that so that is probably why I haven't lost the trans, it's the controller that is crap. With a stick you are the controller so there is no chance of $100 software updates, unless ya got issues.

I drive a manual trans every day. I would rather deal with the slight inconvenience than the $$$$$ trips to the shop.

The SRT8 Charger has 3.08 gears so the Chally with 3.90 is going to rock in the quarter mile. High 12's I would guess!

[sniper226]

There have been issues with the auto in the Chargers. Mainly as someone described, hitting the rev limiter before 1-2 shift @ WOT.
I believe the fix was to change the shift point earlier in the rev band instead of allowing the engine to rev high freely until the shif point was reached.

What impact did it have on performance? I don't know. But there was plenty of discussions on the Charger board regarding this.