[Streetwize]

for years I've road raced and drag raced both manual and Automatic (Manual Reverse valve body) transmissions...and one thing that is maybe not appreciated enough about the manual transmission experience in a Cobra is the effect and predictability of compression braking when you come off the throttle in gear, this allows the car to slow as the motor decelerates and stay predicably balanced on its feet.... , an automatic doesn't really react the same predictable way due to the stator/turbine and sprag (one way fluid direction) of the torque converter...on the contrary you will basically coast and carry more momentum as the converter Freewheels....so an automatic car on a roadrace course will tend to be significantly more brake dependent lap for lap.

But automatic cars with torquey motors and lighter higher stall converters can be very easy to drive and can feel as fast or faster than most manuals in lightweight cars. But as always the converter selection is very critical in terms of drivability and has to be well-matched to the weight, gearing and camshaft powerband....and when you get the combo right...it's amazingly fun.