5 Speed Mustang Automatic vs 6 speed Camaro Automatic

[ColoCamaro]

I am debating a 2010 Mustang or 2010 Camaro. This time around I am doing an automatic. I owned a 2001 Mustang Automatic, but kept thinking how a real car guy would get a stick, so now I have a Nissan 350z manual now. It is great for speeding around but when your in hilly traffic I just assume have the automatic. I have read the automatic times of the Camaro are close to the manual. Huge plus, since I hate the idea of speed limiter but like the idea of easy driver.

My question is....

What is the difference between the 5 speed automatic on the Mustang and the 6 speed on the Camaro. I am not car wise enough to know how the translates into real driving. Any help would be appreciated.

[zebra]

the camaro gears will be a little closer together which is a little better for keeping the car in the power band when you step on it. it also means the transmission will shift more than most people are used to.

one note, though... if you get the V6 camaro, you won't have the LSD. i don't know about the mustang's rear

[KJS]

I own the V6 with Auto. This is a great combo, don't know about the Mustang manual though. The good thing about the Camaro Auto is that when you put it in the "M" mode (AND DON'T DO THE "PADDLE SHIFT") it is acutally a "sport shift mode" meaning it's still an automatic but holds each gear a bit longer and is more fun to drive.
Once you do the paddle shifting then you shift it through each gear.
So actually you have 3 modes: 1- Regular Automatic, 2- Sport Shift Automatic, and 3-Paddle/Manual.

[CamaroDan]

Im thinking about getting the auto 2ss. Ive tested the v6 2times with tapshift and it mooooooves. I had a guy at the dealer give me a ride in his ss and it was fast. The auto does not shift untill you hit the tapshift that is the awsome part about the auto. If you do a slight tune and put a nice airintake in it it will be about 420hp or so add an exhaust and you got a 430hp kick some ass camaro. You also have to think about value the camaro will hold its value if you choose to sell later on down the road.Also you get a suspension system close to the corvette and may be able to interchange parts.There isalot about the camaro that alot of people dont look at.To me this car is going to smoke the ponys. :headb ang:

[Mrbobcat]

Oh wow, I did'nt know the auto had paddle shifters too. I thought it just had the same sport shift mode in the gear selector like the G8. I may have to drive down and check one out tomorrow. I was waiting on a manual, but would'nt hurt to at least take a look and keep telling myself "I can't afford to buy it today".

[FordDave]

If you have the ability to wait, next year might be a better year to buy a mustang -- rumours of an ecoboost engine for the V6 and confirmation of the coyote V8 will make the mustang much more competitive performance wise.

and conversely, alot of these launch problems your seeing with the camaro will (hopefully) be sorted out by then. mustang has the lead on quality right now, camaros have the better engines...next year it should be a much closer comparison on both fronts.

my $0.02.

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by FordDave

If you have the ability to wait, next year might be a better year to buy a mustang -- rumours of an ecoboost engine for the V6 and confirmation of the coyote V8 will make the mustang much more competitive performance wise.

and conversely, alot of these launch problems your seeing with the camaro will (hopefully) be sorted out by then. mustang has the lead on quality right now, camaros have the better engines...next year it should be a much closer comparison on both fronts.

my $0.02.

I beg to differ on Ford having the overall higher quality. I've owned two Mustangs and both have had rattles and wind noise showing up after a few years of owning them. Taking the car back to the dealer and replacing weather stripping and tighning some interior panels doesn't last long either.. I've had much better luck with the GM vehicles I've had when it comes to build quality after a few years. Not trying to start a war here but I have to say this based on experience.

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by Supermans

I beg to differ on Ford having the overall higher quality. I've owned two Mustangs and both have had rattles and wind noise showing up after a few years of owning them. Taking the car back to the dealer and replacing weather stripping and tighning some interior panels doesn't last long either.. I've had much better luck with the GM vehicles I've had when it comes to build quality after a few years. Not trying to start a war here but I have to say this based on experience.

The key is the quality of the 2010+, not previous models...

[Vash]

Both of the automatics are fine. There is really no issue with either tranny as far as I know.

[fdjizm]

Originally Posted by Supermans

I beg to differ on Ford having the overall higher quality. I've owned two Mustangs and both have had rattles and wind noise showing up after a few years of owning them. Taking the car back to the dealer and replacing weather stripping and tighning some interior panels doesn't last long either.. I've had much better luck with the GM vehicles I've had when it comes to build quality after a few years. Not trying to start a war here but I have to say this based on experience.

Ford upped the quality of the 2010 mustang, which is the vehicle we are talking about here.

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by Boss330

The key is the quality of the 2010+, not previous models...

Those issues I'm talking about appear after a few years.. You cannot know for sure how the 2010 Mustang's panels and stripping will hold up.. So you cannot make a statement that Ford has higher quality than Chevy when history is against you and the current model is that new. The 2010 Camaro has a very rigid body construction by having the read being all one big stamped out metal piece. The 2010 Mustang still has the same divided rear which is more susceptible to torsion. I hope both cars remain like new longer than a few years as that will make all of us buyers very happy..

[fdjizm]

Originally Posted by Supermans

Those issues I'm talking about appear after a few years.. You cannot know for sure how the 2010 Mustang's panels and stripping will hold up.. So you cannot make a statement that Ford has higher quality than Chevy when history is against you and the current model is that new. The 2010 Camaro has a very rigid body construction by having the read being all one big stamped out metal piece. The 2010 Mustang still has the same divided rear which is more susceptible to torsion. I hope both cars remain like new longer than a few years as that will make all of us buyers very happy..

That divided rear end is there for crashes, it is called uni-body construction. have you ever heard of uni-body construction or why it exists and why it's a good thing? please dont make uninformed comments and try to force people to think they are reality.

the truth is YOU dont know how anything on the 2010 mustang will hold up and neither do i about any new car that includes the camaro, so please dont act like you do. what makes you think that you know how the camaro will hold up?

[hollywoodGU]

Originally Posted by fdjizm

That divided rear end is there for crashes, it is called uni-body construction. have you ever heard of uni-body construction or why it exists and why it's a good thing? please dont make uninformed comments and try to force people to think they are reality.

the truth is YOU dont know how anything on the 2010 mustang will hold up and neither do i about any new car that includes the camaro, so please dont act like you do. what makes you think that you know how the camaro will hold up?

if you are smart enough to know what the sentences he used mean then by now you would be informed that he has admited no one really knows about the quality of either car 5 years down the line so it it not fair to say the Stang is better when no one, include you, knows. If you read his statements you would also find out that he has sited his own past experiences of the quality of fords vs GM cars and although that does not mean it will continue the same pattern, the past is the best information any of us have at this point.

PS Why are you trolling on our forums Ford boy?

[0235th]

Originally Posted by hollywoodGU

if you are smart enough to know what the sentences he used mean then by now you would be informed that he has admited no one really knows about the quality of either car 5 years down the line so it it not fair to say the Stang is better when no one, include you, knows. If you read his statements you would also find out that he has sited his own past experiences of the quality of fords vs GM cars and although that does not mean it will continue the same pattern, the past is the best information any of us have at this point.

PS Why are you trolling on our forums Ford boy?

DO NOT feed the troll

[Ninjak]

Simply put, the s197 platform is very good. There are MAJOR issues coming out from the Camaro now. You cannot deny it. The Mustang quality is very good. Sure you may have a creak or rattle down the road. What car does not ?

The OP is asking a legit question. To try to pan it off like if you buy a Mustang now, in 2~3 years its going to fall apart is just a opinion you are making base on the fact you like the Camaro. and nothing else.

[MerF]

Hey, Todd's back!


So just to be clear, Todd's argument is we can't know that the quality of the 2010 Camaro is better yet, becasue we have no proof.

Yet Todd is absolutely POSITIVE that the 2010 Mustang will be of a higher quality.

Todd is wise.

[oldtransam]

Originally Posted by Supermans

The 2010 Camaro has a very rigid body construction by having the read being all one big stamped out metal piece. The 2010 Mustang still has the same divided rear which is more susceptible to torsion. .

I don't understand what you're talking about... "divided rear"?

Has anyone seen actual published torsion / bending numbers from either manufacturer?

[Vash]

I would assume the original poster means the base cars. If he wants to talk about the transmissions in the SS, GT and or 500 then it should be stated.

A "5 speed mustang and 6 speed camaro". That's a base and an LS comparison.

I hardly think the explorer engine in the base Mustang is gonna torsion out the rear end.

[SGOS252382]

But doesn't the A6 automatic act just like a 5 speed? I was a little disappointed to find out the A6 starts out in 2nd gear when driving around with the transmission in D (drive).
So basically the A6 behaves like a 5 speed?

And I still find it weird (if its true) that you can't put the A6 is a mode where it will automatically drop to 1st gear when you come to a stop. You have to manually (with the paddle shifters) put it in 1st each time.

[GTengineer]

Originally Posted by SGOS252382

But doesn't the A6 automatic act just like a 5 speed? I was a little disappointed to find out the A6 starts out in 2nd gear when driving around with the transmission in D (drive).
So basically the A6 behaves like a 5 speed?

And I still find it weird (if its true) that you can't put the A6 is a mode where it will automatically drop to 1st gear when you come to a stop. You have to manually (with the paddle shifters) put it in 1st each time.

if it doesn't downshift into 1st gear from a stop you are probably not driving it hard enough ... in which case why do you want to be in 1st gear in the first place? If you want total control just get a manual.

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by GTengineer

if it doesn't downshift into 1st gear from a stop you are probably not driving it hard enough ... in which case why do you want to be in 1st gear in the first place? If you want total control just get a manual.

No, from what I understand is the A6 does NOT downshift into 1st gear at a stop (no matter how you drive).
Dropping down to 1st gear can only be done in manual mode using the tap shifts.

[zebra]

at least the first argument's over... hopefully

[Teleplayer]

I don't think you are going to see a big difference between the 5 speed and 6 speed. Once upon a time all cars had 3 speeds, and we were happy. Then they added an overdrive, and we were still happy. So now Mustang has 5 speeds.. hard to figure how we could be much happier. Maybe a CVT would be the ultimate.

It's like when you first got a 10 speed bike. It's cool, but you don't really need it.

[illestdomer2005]

Originally Posted by SGOS252382

No, from what I understand is the A6 does NOT downshift into 1st gear at a stop (no matter how you drive).
Dropping down to 1st gear can only be done in manual mode using the tap shifts.

As a guy who has driven a stick since he was 16, I found the paddle shifters a bit annoying for that reason. Having to tap, tap, tap, tap, tap down to first from top gear was a chore, but I'm sure I would get used to it on the rare (or less frequent) occasions that I chose not to cruise in full auto. For that reason alone, I enjoyed driving the automatic in full auto on my test drive. Now, I would LOVE to dry a stick version

That said, Atlanta traffic has ruined manual transmissions for me :(