If you bought a C1 through C6 Corvette with an automatic transmission, you were likely selecting convenience over performance. There is no question that the automatic makes for a more user-friendly experience, so anyone who daily drives their Corvette likely opted for the self-shifting gearbox. The trade-off for that ease of use was softer, slower shifts, lesser wheel horsepower, and little control over the gear selection.
Today’s transmissions allow the driver precise gear selection and lighting quick shifts that are as hard as any manual shift. Most importantly, there is no margin of error with the modern automatic, so it shifts hard and fast every time. It yields better performance more consistently without much work from the driver. That is why so many performance vehicles have gone away from the manual transmission, as the automatic offers better performance in every way.
Manual fans will argue that the automatic is less fun, but for a car that offers better performance and gear control without a clutch pedal, that is a reasonable trade. Add to the greater performance the fact that modern cars with automatic transmissions get better fuel economy while still being more user friendly for the daily drive.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
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