[Shotimes] ATX or MTX?

[Donald Mallinson]

Joseph,

As you suspect, this is just something you will have to 
decide for yourself.  Is this going to be your daily driver, 
and through heavy rush hour traffic?  If so then lean 
towards the ATX.  If it is going to be a fun car, not in 
rush hour all the time, and you really love the manual, then 
go MTX.  There, that really helped a LOT didn't it?  :)

I would love for my '96 V8 to be a manual, but then I have 
my '89 and '91 if I really must exercise my left leg.  The 
ATX has it's uses in being a very comfortable long distance 
car, and for those annoying short trips and the occasional 
trip to gridlock in Chicago.

I like having a SHO ATX alternative, kind of makes the MTX 
cars all the more special.

Maybe drive around the automatic SLO wagon some more before 
you cut into it and see how you like it.  My son likes his 
ATX 95, even more with the Doug Lewis tranny.  But although 
I do get a kick out of driving it once in a while (the ATX 
V6 is a totally different animal than the V8) I still would 
rather have a manual SHO for those times when a real human 
controlled shift is the only thing that will improve the mood!

So yes, Luke, go with your feelings, but mix in a bit of 
practical.

Don Mallinson

van Oss wrote:
> I am embarking on a SHO wagon project.  Parts are coming my way that enable
> me to choose:  The SHO wagon could be an ATX or MTX.
> 
> The SHO wagon will get used for vacations and around town.  It will be daily
> fun and a highway cruiser, not built for competition.  (We have other SHOs
> for high-speed track days, low-speed autocross, and such.)
> 
> The ATX might be easier.  That was what Brian Klimes did with Thumper.  I
> wouldn't have to mount a clutch pedal, I could perhaps use the column
> shifter already in the car, and then I wouldn't have to horse with mounting
> a floor shifter, console, and new seats.  The downside is it would be an ATX
> which I wouldn't feel confident about until it had had an expensive rebuild
> (FPS).
> 
> On the other hand...  I like an MTX.  The key reason I bought my first SHO
> (a 92, bought in 96) was that it was the only real American-made true
> 5-seater that I could get with an MTX.  All of my SHOs are MTXs:  91, 91
> Plus, and 92.  I have an 85K MTX on hand that I would want to open, refresh,
> and maybe go Quaiffe.  I would welcome the challenge of doing my own tranny
> rebuild, and could fall back on Courtney if need be.  I would need to buy
> and install a rod shifter, I have a console, and would need to refurbish
> some mocha seats I have.
> 
> I have to confess that (1) I've never driven an ATX SHO, only MTX, so I
> cannot compare, and (2) driving the wagon with its present 3.8L/AXOD has a
> kind of serenity and I do see the attraction.  Yeah, I'm getting older.  On
> the other hand, though an MTX is more work in traffic, we don't have too
> much traffic here in La Crosse, and I really do like the feeling of
> directness in an MTX as opposed to the ambiguity of an ATX.
> 
> I guess I'm looking for the MTX crowd to say "Luke, search your feelings.
> Don't give in to the dark side."  Something like that.   : )
> 
> Joseph van Oss
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