Your Preference: Automatic or Manual?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,233
Likes: 419
In my mind, unless you have a physical ailment that prevents you from driving a manual, you're not experiencing these cars the way they were meant to be. Consider that most every performance Corvette could ONLY be found with a manual. All C6 Z06s and ZR1s, All C5 Z06s, All C4 ZR-1s and LT4s, and All solid lifter C1s and C2s came with manuals. Only the C3 in 69 (L71, L89, L88) and 71 (LS6) could you find an automatic - and that is only maybe a couple hundred cars total.
Another thing I don't get are these excuses (yes - they're excuses) that working the clutch in traffic is somehow difficult. Give me a break - you still have to constantly use one leg. If you're in an automatic, you have to ride the brake pedal. If you're in a manual car, you use the clutch. Clutch effort in these modern cars is low enough not to make a difference, so why the excuses?
Personally, I think the reason most automatics are purchased is that the original buyers don't want to think about shifting, for many, the Corvette is just another automotive purchase option, and an automatic frees up one arm for other uses.
For the record, 77,495 of the 358,180 C4s were originally equipped with manuals - that's 21.64% (for those of you who enjoy specious accuracy).
Another thing I don't get are these excuses (yes - they're excuses) that working the clutch in traffic is somehow difficult. Give me a break - you still have to constantly use one leg. If you're in an automatic, you have to ride the brake pedal. If you're in a manual car, you use the clutch. Clutch effort in these modern cars is low enough not to make a difference, so why the excuses?
Personally, I think the reason most automatics are purchased is that the original buyers don't want to think about shifting, for many, the Corvette is just another automotive purchase option, and an automatic frees up one arm for other uses.
For the record, 77,495 of the 358,180 C4s were originally equipped with manuals - that's 21.64% (for those of you who enjoy specious accuracy).
Last edited by bb62; Nov 27, 2011 at 07:13 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,233
Likes: 419
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 265
Likes: 77
From: chicagoland il
If you want a LT4...and you definitely want one of these...no choice but manual.
My 1976 is auto and it is well geared. Easy to drive in stop and go traffic, yet nearly instant downshifts when needed.
Whereas launching my LT4 in first gear is cumbersome. The clutch starts to grab too high; especially for us short legged people. But if you have a loud exhaust, manual is the only way to go to hold the high revs longer.
My 1976 is auto and it is well geared. Easy to drive in stop and go traffic, yet nearly instant downshifts when needed.
Whereas launching my LT4 in first gear is cumbersome. The clutch starts to grab too high; especially for us short legged people. But if you have a loud exhaust, manual is the only way to go to hold the high revs longer.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Once you get away from the forums though, you'll find about 80% of the people prefer the automatics for various reasons. Manual trans cars are very hard to sell (again, outside the forums) for the same various reasons. 40 years ago when you had powerglides and even three speed autos, manuals made sense Hell even the top European makes are turning their sticks into psuedo automatics (and their automatics into psuedo sticks.)
Since autocrossing is done in 1st and 2nd gears, what are the top speeds in those two gears in the ZF 6-speed manual?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 48
From: San Marcos CA
GM says there is a 25/75 percent split. That's what they made and you can bet they did all the research.
My guess is that an enthusiast forum like this one will have a little bit higher than 25% manual trans preference on any poll because enthusiasts are more into performance or collectibility.
six speed cars do seem to bring the most money and are faster.
My guess is that an enthusiast forum like this one will have a little bit higher than 25% manual trans preference on any poll because enthusiasts are more into performance or collectibility.
six speed cars do seem to bring the most money and are faster.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Victoria Australia
I am a manual guy but my Corvette has been converted to right hand drive. Two main reasons:
1. The automatic gearbox in my 90 is the same as one of the locally built cars the Holden Commodore which means replacing/reconditioning the box is much easier than the ZF 6 speed with a dual clutch plate assembly.
2. As is there is already no room for your left leg (foot well is smaller on the right hand side than left), with the manuals they have to cut the fire wall and install a smaller brake pedal. In addition, being converted I am not sure how good or bad the clutch feel will be when they re-route the cable/hydraulic assembly using custom parts.
1. The automatic gearbox in my 90 is the same as one of the locally built cars the Holden Commodore which means replacing/reconditioning the box is much easier than the ZF 6 speed with a dual clutch plate assembly.
2. As is there is already no room for your left leg (foot well is smaller on the right hand side than left), with the manuals they have to cut the fire wall and install a smaller brake pedal. In addition, being converted I am not sure how good or bad the clutch feel will be when they re-route the cable/hydraulic assembly using custom parts.
