02stang2113

Well i been trying to get in a vette and after have 3 mustangs all auto i was gonna try getting a c5 vette with a manual trans... there has been few i have been considering, but anyways what seems to be a really good deal came up on craigslist for a 97 corvette with a auto trans...

so my question is how is the stock automatic trans on the 97(or any c5) corvette? How do they hold up vs the manual? any info comparing the two and what you think would be great...

and for what i want outta the vette is just a dd with some bolt ons!

Vetteman Jack

I'm on my first auto tranny C5 after having owned two other 6-speeds. While the fun factor of shifting through the gears is not there, the auto tranny is not a bad unit. I'd recommend getting the 3.15 gears if you get one. With regular maintenance, the A4 should give you a lot of trouble free miles.

coolou

I have found that most folks seem to want the auto trans and order it for their new ride.
At some point in time with a manual you will need a clutch and pressure plate whereas the auto trans can go almost 100,000 miles before a fluid change but I would change the fluid at 50,000,actually the auto can be slightly faster than the manual trans.
I have a C5 convertible with a 6 speed manual and it can be a hassle holding it in one place on a slight hill with a car about 6inches from your back so a auto trans would be a good thing.
Gas mileage might be a little better with the manual.

Coolou

jrose7004

For a DD the A4 should be great for you!

joesgulfstream

I disagree about the need for clutch and pressure plate. It depends on the way you drive it and how good you are. I sold GMC pickup 11 years old 110,000 miles the buyer asked how old the clutch was I told him 11 years old !!

Rohan

Yeah man, if it's just a DD then I would go for the auto. I don't know about you but when I get into a musclecar with a manual I can't keep my foot out of it. Therefore costing me more in gas and probably some unecessary repairs down the road.

paint-tech

A4 trans is slugish from stock tune. You will see huge improvements with a tune. Add a 3:42 gear and a stall and you will beat the pants off of m6 vetts with same mods I love my auto

02stang2113

Thanks for the help everyone... about how much is it for gears and install on a vette? all i kno is mustangs...

VETTE26yearsVETTE

Mike Mercury

some autotrans info here:
http://www.tim-yvonne.com/mikemercury/342.htm

http://www.tim-yvonne.com/mikemercury/ratio.htm

02stang2113

^ Thanks.. interesting
I have one more question for yall its off topic but i dont wanna start a new thread for it... i did some searching but couldnt really find it... so my dad is telling me that these vettes are made of fiberglass and if you drive them in snow or whatever they crack REALLY easy? is that true... thanks

BenC5

No, the cars don't crack easy, your Dad is a relic, like mine, from the past. He probably things that our cars are pigs on gas too, ask him.

I bought my C5 knowing it was going to be my DD and I had to have the A4/Automatic. I have not regretted it once so far.

02stang2113

So they are fiberglass but they dont crack that easy?

RSchleder

They are actually a composite material. This material is light and very strong. GM designed the Vette, as it does all cars, to be a year around vehicle. It's a lot less likely to crack in cold weather than a metal car is to rust. Your Dad needs to learn a bit more about modern materials before dispensing faults information

BenC5

I know my dad believes all Ford cars break down all the time and that FORD stands for Fix Or Repair Daily or Found On Road Dead.

Not to mention that Ford originally wanted to name the car Rustang because it rusted so much but they settled on giving it the horse-name instead, Dad's . . .

madmatt9471

The nice thing about the 4L60E is that it too can be tuned for performance - you can have a competent tuner do it or you can use a Handheld Tuner for it (Hypertech is the one that make them for the '97-'98's)

You will be suprised how well the A4 works, especially with the performance 3.15 rear end in it (that is the GM performance rear - the code is G92 in the drivers rear compartment lid)

Then if you put the 3.42's in it from a MN6 Vette you'll be flying and still getting the same MPG (I have a chart showing the diff in RPM's at different MPH) let me know if you want a shot of the chart

Thanks,matt

tiojames

GMC pick-up does not equate to a Corvette for clutch life.

joesgulfstream

OK so enlighten me with your facts. with everything being relative a clutch is matched to the car. If one in a Vette is being hammered due to racing or a bad operator you are right it does not equate. So tell me why they don't last in a Vette.

Rohan

Then if you put the 3.42's in it from a MN6 Vette you'll be flying and still getting the same MPG (I have a chart showing the diff in RPM's at different MPH) let me know if you want a shot of the chart

Thanks,matt[/QUOTE]


Hey Matt, could I get that chart?

Hart-Rowe@att.net

Thanks,
Scott

Mike Mercury

C5 body panels are made out of SMC; which is not "fiberglass" -technically- but similar. I believe the Corvette started using SMC body panels in 1984.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheet_moulding_compound