ORIGINAL: BadStratRT
while i agree that the manual is more efficient, your numbers are bit off...a manual trans is not 15 to 20 percent more efficient based on whp...unless im unclear on what numbers youre using...ive seen an MTX car dyno 5-8 percent better based on bhp..but not 20%
and in the event of some cars, the auto is better for the track, especially older cars. old MTXs were crude and inefficient...ive seen someone take a high 12 second cuda, and swap in a 4 speed, and slow the car down quite a bit. while its more efficient than the 727, it isnt as fluid, and time is lost in shifting...hell, even the fastest LS1 based GM cars have automatics...i know a guy who has a built 02 camaro, and when he went from the mtx to a built atx, he went from 12.1s to 11.80s...
The 15 to 20 percent #'s are from Factory Five and they know their stuff because they decide those things all the time in building cars.
Your 12 second Cuda is obviously for the 1/4 mile drag strip and I am talking about talking the road. Automatics are very consistent for the drag strip but if you want to feel the road
you need a manual tranny.