Buying Question

[rich1223]

Hey whats up after owning about 10 Stang 5.0's (please don't bash me)iam looking into buying a 95-97 Z28 my question is what is the power differance between the auto and the 6 speed usually i wouldn't dream about getting a auto but iam getting older and finding it a real pain driving stick in traffic also i plan on using it as my everyday driver which alot of people say is no good but iam not buying it this probaly comes from people who don't know how to drive the car! thanks for the help

[93PlumZ]

I have owned both GTs and F-bodies.

Ford autos are trash. Just my opinion. The 700R4 and 4L60Es are the best autos I have ever seen. The early ones (pre-1993) are a little weaker than the later ones, but all can be built to be bullit proof for around $1K.

I recently owned a 1998 GT with the 5spd. Ford has a great 5spd- I would not own a performance Ford product (Mustang or Cobra)with an auto.

GM's 6m is a great tranny, but with the right ratio the auto will smoke the manual. Not in MPGs, but in overall consistant operation. If you miss a gear, you'll lose a close race or even a long shot. If you fry your tires, you'll lose because you are still spinning them. If you fry your clutch... same thing.

I have owned a 1985 IROC Z, a 1994 Formula, and currently a 1993 Z28. All have been autos. I like the auto. Its got a great 1st gear, decent spread to the ratios and then a great overdrive. Plus, I have NEVER missed a gear. Consistant shifting pays big dividends.

[SiDeWaYZz28]

i love my auto it still scats 3rd gear . . and sratches second hard

[rich1223]

Thanks for the info believe me i know all about the weak azz Ford AOD ive doing some searching around the site and and saw some people say the auto is very unreliable and expensive to maintain and repair so iam still undecided at this point anyway what gears do most people run with their auto's 3.73's?those are what i had in my stang notchback thanks

[SiDeWaYZz28]

IM PLANNIN ON 373 BUT THEY COME STOCK 323

[L88427BigBlock]

I've got an auto no complaints here hits ever gear hard I went from 3:23's to 3:73's that is a must.

I love my auto. This is actually the First F-body I have owned. I have the auto with the stock 323 gears and it is a good combination. I am thinking about upgrading to the 373's later on after a few mods,

Most of the other cars/trucks I have owned have been manual. There are times, I wish this one was, but for the most part I like the auto.

[rich1223]

Thats cool cause now iam leaning towards a auto now if i have any luck locating a black 94-97 Z(i really want black)clean with 80k or less i will be in buisiness i already have the for sale signs in my 99 Maxima SE 5 speed!and three people already called

[weaponZ]

mine is a auto.i like it.i got 373's and can pull a mean 1.6 off the line(of course with the help of nitto's)

i ate up a guy with a 6speed a few weekends ago.our cars were about the same,but i was getting him

[Art Vandaley]

<--- Loves his auto!

[blackZ95]

up till 97 isn't it a 2.73 gear ratio?

i think they changed
it to 3.23 in 98...

[emile turks]

2.73's even came in newer ones. Optional 3.23's are common ground too though.I have a friend who took 2.73's out of a 1998 auto and put 3.73's in their place. People keep telling me 4.10's in a 6 speed car are a blast but I don't want to give up the 1600rpms at 70mph with my 3.42's. Here's my 2 cents. I have a 97 Z with a 6speed, hurst shifter and I love being able to rip the tires apart from a 25 mile an hour roll which auto probably would take more power to do that BUT- I bought my Z to be a DAILY DRIVER and here in new orleans trying to shift in bumper to bumper, well my new 97 Z (I'm original owner) now sits with 17,000 miles and is a garage baby cause I got sick of shifting in traffic. But to each is own. I had an 84 mustang GT convertible and I could shift a T5 5 speed faster but I'm still doing o.k. with the 6speed-just think I was a little faster on the 5 speed until it broke. lol. For a daily driver, it's hard to beat an auto. For a fun show off weekend warrior that will annilate 1st, burn 2nd more than an auto, and chirp third=a six speed has it's rewards too. Good luck and thumbs up on getting rid of the rice, rich!!!!

[rich1223]

Thanks for the advice.How can you tell which gears the car has i know in a Stang there is a letter stamped on the rear if i remember correctly M meant 3.08's and another letter i forgot what one meant the car had the dreaded 2.73's.I remember when i had my 88 formula 350 which i only had for a month then traded it straight up for a 88 5.0 notchback it had codes under the center console that told everthing about the car so i wonder if the newer camaro's and firebirds have the same thing.