auto c4s?
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,797
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From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
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Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,977
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver Wa
I for one, am very grateful that Corvette has an Auto because of a left leg disabilty that I suffered from the Persion Gulf War. I cant drive a stick and if the Corvette brand only had stick shifts cars....I would not be driving one. 
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Saying a corvette has to have a manual trans is kind of like saying a sportscar has to have a convertable top. Most new Corvettes are sold to middle aged married men, that might have something to do with it. After driving one for 10 minutes, I start prefering the automatic myself (but then I'm a middle aged maried man 
)
)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 765
Likes: 3
From: Holland MI
It's all a conspiracy to drive up the re-sale price of the fewer manuals in the color/package you want.
I'm with ya. I've been looking for quasar/admiral/bam coupes with a manual and they are few to be found.
I'm with ya. I've been looking for quasar/admiral/bam coupes with a manual and they are few to be found.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
Look around, that's the norm for all vehicles. I too prefer a manual, for the type of driving I do, but they come with their own issues also. So my auto will be just fine.
CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,040
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From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I would never have purchased my '71 with an auto, but specifcally wanted an A4 when I was looking for my '88.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,057
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Remember, Corvettes are initially sold to people with more than a few extra bucks. Many, (most?), of those guys don't want to be bothered with shifting.
Not to mention, the 4+3 can be a tempermental beast.
Auto is the way to go for early C4s. Later C4s, it's your call, but a lot of people don't want to, or cant, (medical reasons), shift.
Not to mention, the 4+3 can be a tempermental beast.
Auto is the way to go for early C4s. Later C4s, it's your call, but a lot of people don't want to, or cant, (medical reasons), shift.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: Manitoba
I spent too much time changing gears over the years. 3,4,5,9,10,13,15,16,18,speeds When I drive the Vette I don't want to change gears. The DD and the Jeep have 5 speeds in the vette I love the " auto-magic"
Regards: C4
Regards: C4
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,940
Likes: 5
From: Chesapeake VA
In the C4 world, you have 3 factors that caused there to be more autos than manuals:
1) The demographics of the buyers (older buyers)
2) The 84-88 cars had a 4 speed manual option
- This was not as appealing as a 5 or 6 speed in my opinion, and it turned out that the 4 + 3 that was offered had issues
3) When Corvette did get the new 6 speed in 89' it was an extra cost option and continued to be an extra cost option until the 6 speed auto trans came out in the C6, I believe.
1) The demographics of the buyers (older buyers)
2) The 84-88 cars had a 4 speed manual option
- This was not as appealing as a 5 or 6 speed in my opinion, and it turned out that the 4 + 3 that was offered had issues
3) When Corvette did get the new 6 speed in 89' it was an extra cost option and continued to be an extra cost option until the 6 speed auto trans came out in the C6, I believe.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,590
Likes: 48
From: W MI
In the C4 world, you have 3 factors that caused there to be more autos than manuals:
1) The demographics of the buyers (older buyers)
2) The 84-88 cars had a 4 speed manual option
- This was not as appealing as a 5 or 6 speed in my opinion, and it turned out that the 4 + 3 that was offered had issues
3) When Corvette did get the new 6 speed in 89' it was an extra cost option and continued to be an extra cost option until the 6 speed auto trans came out in the C6, I believe.
1) The demographics of the buyers (older buyers)
2) The 84-88 cars had a 4 speed manual option
- This was not as appealing as a 5 or 6 speed in my opinion, and it turned out that the 4 + 3 that was offered had issues
3) When Corvette did get the new 6 speed in 89' it was an extra cost option and continued to be an extra cost option until the 6 speed auto trans came out in the C6, I believe.
I do have to add one more item:
4) GM spends most of its effort on appealing to the new car buyer and much less on the used market; if the new guy wants an auto, they are happy to sell him one.
