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Ford Mustang won't be available with manual transmission

By Patrick Everett Tadeo —

TopGear.com.ph Philippine Car News - Ford Mustang won't be available with a manual transmission

If you've read the Chief's story on the Ford Mustang's launch in the Philippines yesterday, you already know that it's only available with a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.

As expected, concerns were raised about how such an iconic muscle (or pony) car could be saddled with a heavier, non-performance-oriented slushbox--how it robs the driver of the purest of motoring pleasures, which comes with timing your gear change precisely with your footwork between the clutch and accelerator pedals.

We asked Anika Salceda-Wycoco, Ford Group Philippines' assistant vice president for communications, if a manual transmission-equipped Mustang will ever find its way here.

"Right now, we will have these two variants only," Salceda-Wycoco responded, referring to the 3.2-liter V6 Premium and the 5.0-liter GT Premium, both of which are equipped with the aforementioned six-speed automatic gearbox. Reading between the lines, we can assume that a manual transmission may find its way here eventually.

Salceda-Wycoco stressed that the SelectShift automatic transmission gives the driver virtually the same kind of control a manual transmission offers, allowing the driver to hold a gear right up to the redline if desired.

We can only surmise that with the Mustang being an iconic nameplate that dates back to the 1960s and having a P2.5- to P2.9-million price tag, its market caters to those who can not only afford the car but also appreciate its place in history after having grown up with it. In short, it's for the elderly millionaire gentlemen who grew up dreaming about the first-generation Mustang--whose styling greatly influenced the design of the current model--yet might find the six-speed manual transmission a wearisome chore on our crowded streets.

But maybe, just maybe, if there's a demand for it, a manual-transmission Mustang just might make it here soon. After all, that's how FGP and its dealers managed to eventually bring the Mustang to our shores.

Illustration by Raynand Olarte

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  • dtkiko 10 months ago
     
    Muscle car!
       
  • jus1029 10 months ago
     
    I lol'd at the "Y U NO" image! Seriously, FGP, bring in some manny tranny to the market!
       
  • Stephmeister101 10 months ago
     
    Mabilis na yan khit AT. Shiftronic nmn eh. Di mo kelangan ng manual sa Pinas!!
        5
    • fortis 11 months ago
       
      boring driver :)
         
    • dtkiko 10 months ago
       
      Kailangan namin manual-tranny, hindi namin kailangan ang automatic, kahit saan sa Pinas, mapa-probinsiya man, Baguio City, Bukidnon at maging sa Metro Manila pa YES sa traffic.... Always prefer manual-tranny....

      Cheers!
         
  • markdejesus76 10 months ago
     
    Kung maluwag lang sana sa Pilipinas, maganda yung manual transmission.
        1
    • GotToRead 10 months ago
       
      kahit di maluwag.
         
      • markdejesus76 10 months ago
         
        hahaha.sure. kung bata ka pa naman at malakas pa binti mo kakaapak ng clutch eh.
           
    • dtkiko 10 months ago
       
      Mas gusto ko mag-kambiada sa MASIKIP sir hehe....
      Parang cock-and-bolt diretso kagad pasok....
         
  • tidus1203 10 months ago
     
    I would still get the AT even if there was MT. At least safe ka sa traffic. Clutches of muscle cars like these are notoriously hard. They are knee breakers. Even in AT this car will kick serious ricebox @$$.
        1
  • Allain 10 months ago
     
    Oo nga tama this is for the elderly millionaire gentlemen who grew up dreaming about the first-generation Mustang. Ako naman ang natatandaan ko when i was growing up is Nissan Laurel, Ford Cortina, Ford Laser & Mitsubishi Lancer box type.
       
  • hajabah 10 months ago
     
    I love manual transmissions as much as the next guy, but I guess with this traffic, those elderly gentlemen (and even younger ones) will appreciate the "chill"-ness of an automatic here in Manila. Mahirap na nga pag automatic, ipapa-manual mo pa sa traffic. haha!
       
  • car_mac 10 months ago
     
    Yes I agree that automatic transmission is more practical than a manual here in the Philippines. But for a muscle car or any sports car like this, there is no doubt about getting a manual transmission to experience the full power of the vehicle. Parang masasayang lang kasi kung AT ang bibilin mo sa mga ganyan e
       
    • robin_micmac 10 months ago
       
      Yes I agree that Manual is better for a car like this. But these days, Auto boxes have come a long way from what they used to be. They can be calibrated to shift like a manual. The paddle shift do work like manual. Even Jaguar sportscars use Autos even in their XKRS which lapped the nurburgring in a respectable time. Maybe if you have driven a 1.6 or 2 liter car with paddle shift then I will agree that they seem to be power sapping but for high output sportscars, its not noticeable at all.
         
  • DePendot 11 months ago
     
    ^agree. matics are for pu%$$# hahaha!

    Parang Photographer kuno na laging naka Auto Scene mode.
       
  • musspelheim03 11 months ago
     
    Crowded streets, heavy traffic jam, and speed limits. How can someone enjoy manual tranny here?? LOL
       
  • fortis 11 months ago
     
    Does everyone here getting old? Or just born in the age of A/Ts? Come on guys, if you are buying this car I assume that you are not buying it to be used in the city alone. For sure you are gonna bring this thing to the track and on some occasions will see some long drive duties as well. I still believe that the only way you can enjoy a car's performance is by driving it with a stick shift. Go ask the three blokes from Top Gear UK specially Mr. Clarkson who hates those st*p*d flappy paddle gearboxes :)
       
  • World Super Cars 11 months ago
     
    kahit din naman kapag traffic...kung gusto talaga ng driver magdrive ng M/T madali lang para sa kanya...

    just like me...ine-enjoy ko yung pagdrive ng mga Manual kahit na traffic.....
       
    • World Super Cars 11 months ago
       
      *just like me.... (bakit may "rnrn" sa comment ko?) :)
         
    • Feeter Silverster 10 months ago
       
      Same pala tayo sir, pero masakit ang hita pagdating sa bahay, hehe.
         
  • 16c galibier 10 months ago
     
    If you just want to drive the mustang on the streets and just brag about it then get the A/T but if you are a driver who enjoy's challenges( even in traffic) and want to enjoy some joy ride then get the M/T.
       
  • mindkinetic 10 months ago
     
    manual tranny for unadulterated driving experience.
       
  • Feeter Silverster 10 months ago
     
    Sabi nga ni Manong, "bibili ka ng kotseng lagpas dalwang milyon, tapos eh mapapagod ka lang sa clutch, Matic na dapat para sulit". Tama nga naman.
       
  • John Rigor 11 months ago
     
    If I don't want to tire myself with the clutch I wouldn't buy a muscle car. I'd get a Camry, Grandis or something that isn't designed to be driven FAST. It's so sad that all top of the line cars nowadays are automatics.
       
  • Edgarallan Poe 10 months ago
     
    Anak ng sendong!!! Bakit pinapasok ng gobyerno ang mga malakas LUMAMON na mga kotse dito sa atin kasama na ang iba pang AMERICAN JUNK na suv. Mga panlilinlang na hindi halata sa una. Di ba ninyo alam na nagsimula na ang TATE sa programang pagtitipid?! Kaya nauso na mga HYBRID doon sa kanila. Ang pakiramdam ko ay starting pa lamang sa makina ay 10%/li na agad ang lamon, pad-idle 50%/li ang lamon!? At sino naman ang bibili---ang mga: kurakot sa gobyerno, illegal drugs, illegal gambling at lahat ng illegal. At ito ang matindi, yong kulang sa pansin (katulad ko) nagpapasikat, di-papalanang at may problema sa ego!!!
    Kaya tama na. ITIGIL NA ang importasyon. IBALIK sa U.S!
    (ilovesavephils.)
       
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