Standard or automatic?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 87
Likes: 3
Standard or automatic?
I'm thinking of getting a Vette and have my mind set on a standard stick shift because I like the sound and feel of a stick going through the gears. How is driving with the automatic with the paddle shifter? I am not planning on racing it ever.
Thanks,
Rob
Thanks,
Rob
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: Ontario California
M6 ALL THE WAY!! you wouldn't be disappointed. A lot more vendors offer "mods" to the M6 than A6. Plus exhaust and so on sounds fairly better on manual IMO. At the end of the road, it is all what you prefer, your money, your car; we can't persuade you into something you are fixed on. Test drive both, sir, and figure which you'd prefer. Manual is fun, auto is more relaxing when it comes to road traffic.
Sincerely,
Shaheen.
Sincerely,
Shaheen.
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 458
Likes: 135
From: Rhode Island
FWIW, I bought an 04 coupe with an auto 3 years ago, love the car except the trans. Kicked myself everyday for not getting a manual. Sold the 04 and picked up 07' vert with a manual... Night and day difference in power and fun factor. I'd suggest going with the stick, feel more connected to the car. Good luck with your purchase, regardless of what you get these cars are awesome!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,513
Likes: 86
From: Rocheport Missouri
If you are going to daily drive in traffic get an A6. If you will only drive it on weekends where shifting won't be an issue, get an M6.
As far as speed goes, the Auto and Manual transmissions are neck and neck at the drag strip.
Finally, if you go M6, you will need to do monthly maintenance on the clutch master cylinder (ranger fluid replacement method) to avoid clutch slave cylinder issues.
As far as speed goes, the Auto and Manual transmissions are neck and neck at the drag strip.
Finally, if you go M6, you will need to do monthly maintenance on the clutch master cylinder (ranger fluid replacement method) to avoid clutch slave cylinder issues.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 53
From: Tucson Arizona
I have owned 25 vettes and the last time I bought one with a manual trans was a brand new 68 convert in the fall of 1967. In the nearly 50 years since I bought that one I test drove both manual and automatic ones when I was looking for the next vette and every time after test driving both I ended up going with the automatic again.
The maintenance on the automatics is far less than the manuals mainly because of dealing with clutch fluid changes and clutch replacements. The automatic is a fluid change every 100.000 miles and after many many automatics I have never had one fail and need repairs.
I would suggest you do a thorough test drive of both before you make your decision.
The maintenance on the automatics is far less than the manuals mainly because of dealing with clutch fluid changes and clutch replacements. The automatic is a fluid change every 100.000 miles and after many many automatics I have never had one fail and need repairs.
I would suggest you do a thorough test drive of both before you make your decision.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 98
From: York PA
I have owned 25 vettes and the last time I bought one with a manual trans was a brand new 68 convert in the fall of 1967. In the nearly 50 years since I bought that one I test drove both manual and automatic ones when I was looking for the next vette and every time after test driving both I ended up going with the automatic again.
The maintenance on the automatics is far less than the manuals mainly because of dealing with clutch fluid changes and clutch replacements. The automatic is a fluid change every 100.000 miles and after many many automatics I have never had one fail and need repairs.
I would suggest you do a thorough test drive of both before you make your decision.
The maintenance on the automatics is far less than the manuals mainly because of dealing with clutch fluid changes and clutch replacements. The automatic is a fluid change every 100.000 miles and after many many automatics I have never had one fail and need repairs.
I would suggest you do a thorough test drive of both before you make your decision.
Last edited by blittle; Aug 17, 2016 at 08:22 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 12,204
Likes: 3,946
From: Huskerland
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
....all my C2 and 3's were 4M's......then I got some auto's in my C4's and 5's.....I was apprehensive when I found my GS and it has a 6M in it but after the first time up thru the gears I remembered how much fun it was to row your own........I do live out in the boonies so do not have to sit in traffic with it.......
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
How Likely Are These Five 2027 Corvette Rumors to Be True?
Brett Foote
9 Best Corvettes You Can Buy for Half Price (& 1 You Should NEVER Buy!)
Joe Kucinski
8 Very Best Corvettes of Amelia Island 2026
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 WORST Corvette Engineering Failures of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
10 Records the C8 Corvette Generation Has SMASHED (& 1 Glaring Failure)
Joe Kucinski
7 Wildest Corvette Concepts Ever Made
Brett Foote
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,391
Likes: 1,453
From: South Dakota
As others have said, it is a personal decision. I have owned and driven several cars with manuals, and my vette has the A6, which I am very happy with. I just as soon put it in gear and forget about it. I don't experience any particular thrill driving a manual.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,318
Likes: 220
From: Woodbridge, Virginia
But I understand the choice of a manual by others, certainly makes you pay more attention to what's going on with the car, all the time.
Either way, you'll win
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,341
Likes: 1,357
From: SC
Save the left pedal, M6 or go home! Every car I've ever owned has been a manual, automatics are for pickup trucks. 
My C6 is a daily driver but no issues with the clutch during the commute. I've only regretted it once, driving through Sedona AZ, it was a parking lot from one end of town to the other. No traffic lights, just roundabouts so kept inching ahead for an hour. Still made it through without incident.
My C6 is a daily driver but no issues with the clutch during the commute. I've only regretted it once, driving through Sedona AZ, it was a parking lot from one end of town to the other. No traffic lights, just roundabouts so kept inching ahead for an hour. Still made it through without incident.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 20
From: Liberty Hill Texas
Owned a C5 and now a C6, both were/are manuals. I really do not have any issues driving the manual in traffic or as my daily driver. That said, I think the A6 and now the A8 would be what I get if I was to get another C6 or a newer C7. I have been in a few now and have driven a few Automatics and they are actually rather nice to drive now.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 23,900
Likes: 218
From: Foxtrot Delta Tango
IMO.....M6's are extremely enjoyable for the first 30 minutes of driving......but if you plan to be driving longer than that.....automatic all the way...plus you can paddle shift if your car is equipped.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 524
Likes: 76
From: El Paso Texas
A6
I know what you mean about the sound of the manual. I've learned how to let up on the gas slightly when upshifting with the paddles so it sounds more like a stick. With a manual, if you are cruising along at 40 to 80 mph in top gear and decide to take off like a bat out of Hades, the chances of selecting the optimum gear is slim. The chances of getting the wrong gear is high - for me anyway. The auto takes the guess work out of it - just put pedal on metal. If I'm in top gear in sport mode, and want 3rd, I simply pull the paddle back 3 times quickly - I have head up display so it shows me what gear I'm in. If I were a Trump in$tead of a chump, I would have one of each Vette. Highest regards.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
Whether or not you want a manual or auto is of course a decision you'll have to weigh the pros and cons. But since you mentioned the paddles i'll throw in my 2-cents worth on those. Regardless of what you may read in some post, the paddles in these cars are nothing more than a novelty. They do not make the car shift any faster whether it be up-shifting or down-shifting. In other words the actual tranny will work no differently than a typical auto shift in a typical console or on the column. So if someone is expecting to get in a corvette with paddles and do the shift thing like you see on these high $$$ cars with dual clutches they are gonna be very disappointed. And no matter what one may read in forums, the paddles are no where even close to the same as driving a manual. According to some you can have your tranny tricked out so it will perform better than a stock paddle unit, but i have no experience with that, and I could see where its possible. Good luck