Manual v Auto
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Manual v Auto
Hi folks
Recently joined on here from the UK and currently seeking a C3 (wanted ad placed for 80-82).
I'm happy to consider all versions / specs from those years and to help with the choose just seeking views on transmission choices.
I do like a manual car and have been drawn to them during my search. I've had a trans-am before with the 700 R4 auto which was great with the lockup mode. Relaxed cruising and one of my potential journeys would be down through Europe to Spain where we have a holiday home. 1600 miles door to door so a high top gear ratio would be good for that.
The earlier auto would probably be fine also but just seeking thoughts and experience. Does the manual and earlier auto give relaxed enough top gear for a decent motorway journey ?
How are the manuals to live with, I do lean towards them as I like shifting my own gears !!
Recently joined on here from the UK and currently seeking a C3 (wanted ad placed for 80-82).
I'm happy to consider all versions / specs from those years and to help with the choose just seeking views on transmission choices.
I do like a manual car and have been drawn to them during my search. I've had a trans-am before with the 700 R4 auto which was great with the lockup mode. Relaxed cruising and one of my potential journeys would be down through Europe to Spain where we have a holiday home. 1600 miles door to door so a high top gear ratio would be good for that.
The earlier auto would probably be fine also but just seeking thoughts and experience. Does the manual and earlier auto give relaxed enough top gear for a decent motorway journey ?
How are the manuals to live with, I do lean towards them as I like shifting my own gears !!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 477
From: NSW, Australia
C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
An auto corvette is heresy... just my opinion! Don't own any slushboxes and don't ever plan to, even my wifes daily is a stick shift. If you want to drive it hard, manual is much more fun. My '79 has a 3.36 rear end, and I found it happy enough cruising around our highway speed limits here (110km/h, 65mph), but I am used to driving older cars. I am putting in a 5 speed now, but more because I'm concerned about breaking the 4 speed behind my new engine than any other reason, the overdrive is just a bonus.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
Hi folks
Recently joined on here from the UK and currently seeking a C3 (wanted ad placed for 80-82).
I'm happy to consider all versions / specs from those years and to help with the choose just seeking views on transmission choices.
I do like a manual car and have been drawn to them during my search. I've had a trans-am before with the 700 R4 auto which was great with the lockup mode. Relaxed cruising and one of my potential journeys would be down through Europe to Spain where we have a holiday home. 1600 miles door to door so a high top gear ratio would be good for that.
The earlier auto would probably be fine also but just seeking thoughts and experience. Does the manual and earlier auto give relaxed enough top gear for a decent motorway journey ?
How are the manuals to live with, I do lean towards them as I like shifting my own gears !!
Recently joined on here from the UK and currently seeking a C3 (wanted ad placed for 80-82).
I'm happy to consider all versions / specs from those years and to help with the choose just seeking views on transmission choices.
I do like a manual car and have been drawn to them during my search. I've had a trans-am before with the 700 R4 auto which was great with the lockup mode. Relaxed cruising and one of my potential journeys would be down through Europe to Spain where we have a holiday home. 1600 miles door to door so a high top gear ratio would be good for that.
The earlier auto would probably be fine also but just seeking thoughts and experience. Does the manual and earlier auto give relaxed enough top gear for a decent motorway journey ?
How are the manuals to live with, I do lean towards them as I like shifting my own gears !!
Much comes down to individual preference. Which ever you choose, I would suggest that you consider substituting a later model transmission - either a 4 speed automatic with appropriate convertor or a 5 or 6 speed tranny. While the original transmissions will provide adequate acceleration, trips with them are wearing (unless you go to 3.08 or higher differential which then cuts into acceleration).
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 414
From: Pittsburgh suburbs Pa.
Buy what you like but be advised that if you want to sell it the 4 speed will sell quicker. A Corvette is a sports car and they are supposed to be fun to drive , not just a grocery getter.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Yes, the choice is a personal one. That said, IMHO the difference between a Corvette with a manual box vs. with an auto is that of a sportscar vs. a sporty one. FWIW, all of the Corvettes I've owned have been sticks, including my '78 that I converted over to manual long ago (big blocked it too). Wouldn't have it any other way. YMMV
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Nowadays, new cars are almost all automatics, even most Corvettes and even 50% of new Miatas. People need that right hand to work their phones. On the other hand, classic sports cars (and any car as far as I'm concerned) were made to be driven, ie. shifted, I wouldn't have it any other way. I was talking to a smart *** friend of mine and I asked "what's it like driving one of those new CVT's"?
He answered."Duuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh".
He answered."Duuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh".
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 330
From: Indy Indiana
1. if you want an 80-82.. only about 10% of them are manuals ( zero 82's are manuals) so a 4-speed will be hard to find in those years
2. I disagree that a 4-speed is easier to sell.. as new younger people enter our hobby, they don't know how to shift and will buy the auto. sure all of us geezers want a 4-speed.. but I will have to sell my car to a geezer, a dwindling population, the new kids want to have autos.
2. I disagree that a 4-speed is easier to sell.. as new younger people enter our hobby, they don't know how to shift and will buy the auto. sure all of us geezers want a 4-speed.. but I will have to sell my car to a geezer, a dwindling population, the new kids want to have autos.
Last edited by joewill; Mar 12, 2016 at 11:06 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 477
From: NSW, Australia
C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
2. I disagree that a 4-speed is easier to sell.. as new younger people enter our hobby, they don't know how to shift and will buy the auto. sure all of us geezers want a 4-speed.. but I will have to sell my car to a geezer, a dwindling population, the new kids want to have autos.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
I think the way I'm going is towards a manual. My daily driver is a 2002 L322 Range Rover. Auto transmission suits these just fine. Last year I sourced a lovely Jaguar Xk (2006) but couldn't love it because it was an auto, modern car and just like driving a lower faster L322 Rangey !
I am visualising a 1980 4 speed Vette at the moment ;-))
I am visualising a 1980 4 speed Vette at the moment ;-))
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
I guess I`m the odd man out on this one, but one of the things that drew me to our 71 coupe was the automatic.
Basic no frills 270 horse roll up window no AC automatic.
I had plenty of fun ripping gears and burning rubber with my Pontiacs when I was a kid. Now that I`m getting a little older.... with all the things that go with it (arthritis, back aches, etc. ...) I`m much more interested in just a peaceful sight-seeing cruise in something that`s easy to drive, with decent mileage.
And NOTHING beats the looks of a classic Corvette. So this way, I get it ALL!
Basic no frills 270 horse roll up window no AC automatic.
I had plenty of fun ripping gears and burning rubber with my Pontiacs when I was a kid. Now that I`m getting a little older.... with all the things that go with it (arthritis, back aches, etc. ...) I`m much more interested in just a peaceful sight-seeing cruise in something that`s easy to drive, with decent mileage.
And NOTHING beats the looks of a classic Corvette. So this way, I get it ALL!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,919
Likes: 3,333
From: NYC NY
That's a great choice but it may not be to easy to find.
Good luck in your search and since they are rare check out your potential candidates thoroughly. Buy with your head not your heart. After the bliss wears off you don't want to discover you have a money pit on your hands.
Good luck in your search and since they are rare check out your potential candidates thoroughly. Buy with your head not your heart. After the bliss wears off you don't want to discover you have a money pit on your hands.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,000
Likes: 299
From: New York
An auto is infinitely better then a stick in today's driving environment . I run a fairly powerful 1980 and I can eat a doughnut , have coffee and if need be manually select any gear if i choose to , I could even use paddle shifters on the steering wheel for a level of cool a c-3 never dreamed of ..
But to sit at a light or wait for a train and to move in stop and go traffic the auto wins hands down and if you are into quick like me the auto is better at the 1/4 mile to .
But to sit at a light or wait for a train and to move in stop and go traffic the auto wins hands down and if you are into quick like me the auto is better at the 1/4 mile to .
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 126
Likes: 11
From: Tulsa
Autos are great, you can buy them cheap. Then get an American Powertrains 5 speed TKO set-up just like if I would have bought a 4 speed car.
That's my plan for the '69 I have.
That's my plan for the '69 I have.
Last edited by grancuda; Mar 13, 2016 at 12:14 PM.