Your Preference: Automatic or Manual?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 17
From: woodbury new jersey
when i bought my vette, one requirement was that it was a 6 speed. i wanted an lt1 with the 6 speed. i wouldnt have bought an automatic if it was half the price of the stick, it was the single biggest requirement
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
When will they build a dual transmission that can be driven as a full manual with clutch or automatic?!?! There would be a market for that 
Manual on the weekend and Automatic for weekday city traffic
I have driven cars with manual transmissions and even converted auto cars to manual, now later in life i now prefer automatics.
Maybe i need two vettes, a manual track vette and an auto cruiser.
It all depends on your mood really.
Manual on the weekend and Automatic for weekday city traffic
I have driven cars with manual transmissions and even converted auto cars to manual, now later in life i now prefer automatics.
Maybe i need two vettes, a manual track vette and an auto cruiser.
It all depends on your mood really.
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
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St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
Automatic or manual, doesn't really matter. At the end of the day you're still driving a corvette.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 677
Likes: 39
From: Southern Indiana
When I set out to buy a Vette I wanted to get a 6spd manual. Ended up with an automatic because the one I found (my 88) was such a well taken care of car and very reasonably priced that I had to jump on it or I'd have been an idiot! 
Sometimes I do wish it was a 6spd (I passed on a couple of 4+3s... never had much interest in those)... but other times I am glad it's an auto. Mixed bag I guess.
If I ever get another I will go searching for a manual again... BUT... if I was to find a really nice auto I wouldn't not get it just because it was an auto.
I can say this though... that if I was to go to buy a new Corvette or Mustang or Challenger or Camaro (about the only cars I have any interest in actually buying new) I'd definitely pick a manual trans... given the opportunity to truly "get what you want". But all that said... I do like my auto too and see the bennies of having it at times.
BTW... my daily driver (03 Toyota Tacoma 4x4) is a manual (5spd)... go figure!
Sometimes I do wish it was a 6spd (I passed on a couple of 4+3s... never had much interest in those)... but other times I am glad it's an auto. Mixed bag I guess.
If I ever get another I will go searching for a manual again... BUT... if I was to find a really nice auto I wouldn't not get it just because it was an auto.
I can say this though... that if I was to go to buy a new Corvette or Mustang or Challenger or Camaro (about the only cars I have any interest in actually buying new) I'd definitely pick a manual trans... given the opportunity to truly "get what you want". But all that said... I do like my auto too and see the bennies of having it at times.
BTW... my daily driver (03 Toyota Tacoma 4x4) is a manual (5spd)... go figure!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
Likes: 285
From: Palmdale CA
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).
Drove many a stick shift car, but I'll tell you what, living in Los Angeles will make you change your mind. Until you've been stuck on the 405 freeway at 15 mph for two to three hours between El Segundo and Costa Mesa, you can't judge us automatic drivers. Ditto for the 5, the 101 and any other freeway from hell! You'll be cycling that left leg a few hundred times an hour, no kidding.
The stick may have it for overall control and feel, but I'll tell you what, you can manually downshift and upshift the 4L60E just fine through the canyons. I've ran many a canyon hard in my day and I am comfortable with the automatic in the twisties.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,198
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From: Homestead Fl
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Autocross or road course .... stick
1/8th or 1/4 ..... auto
city driving ..... auto
rural driving ..... stick
highway driving ...... either
garage queen ...... doesn't really matter
I have my choice. We have one with stick one with auto. That's the way, I like it, aha ,aha.
1/8th or 1/4 ..... auto
city driving ..... auto
rural driving ..... stick
highway driving ...... either
garage queen ...... doesn't really matter
I have my choice. We have one with stick one with auto. That's the way, I like it, aha ,aha.
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Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 711
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From: charlottesville Virginia
I find it interesting that everyone here says for road course/autox a manual is better, I have been told numerous times at events by people who do or have raced c4's that autos actually performed better. I myself love the feeling of shifting, but my knee can only take so much of it. There is no way I could drive a couple hours to the track, drive autox or HPDE and return home comfortably with a clutch, glad we have options.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,233
Likes: 419
Drove many a stick shift car, but I'll tell you what, living in Los Angeles will make you change your mind. Until you've been stuck on the 405 freeway at 15 mph for two to three hours between El Segundo and Costa Mesa, you can't judge us automatic drivers. Ditto for the 5, the 101 and any other freeway from hell! You'll be cycling that left leg a few hundred times an hour, no kidding.
The stick may have it for overall control and feel, but I'll tell you what, you can manually downshift and upshift the 4L60E just fine through the canyons. I've ran many a canyon hard in my day and I am comfortable with the automatic in the twisties.
The stick may have it for overall control and feel, but I'll tell you what, you can manually downshift and upshift the 4L60E just fine through the canyons. I've ran many a canyon hard in my day and I am comfortable with the automatic in the twisties.
I still not impressed. I used to live in the NYC area. In one position, I had a 2 hour commute in, 1 hour 45 minute commute out - every day. The distance from home to work was all of 11 miles. And my manuals never bothered me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 892
Likes: 1
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
Answer: 89 auto (L98, 3.07 gears) works for me.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
6 speed, I do see that maybe some autox courses may be fine with automatic, lock it in 2nd gear and be happy, but on a full size race track, I would think that it would hurt you, you would fight the auto tranny for what gear it was supposed to be in.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,842
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From: Palmdale CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,233
Likes: 419
I don't really care what people drive as long as they enjoy it. As for workouts, I look forward to my tendinitis healing so I can go back to the track (as in a running track) - until then, my manual cars will have to do. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
I currently have 6 Corvettes in my garage ..(all see road time)...5 of them are manual transmissions..and the 88 35th Anniv Coupe I purchased almost a year ago is an Automatic...
I'm 68 years old (just about the average age of a Corvette owner these days..lol) and I developed problem with my legs and I had to have at least one Corvette that I could drive easily...Getting old is not a hell of a lot of fun..
Anyway Bottom line ...
I actually fee like an old man when I drive the automatic ,,seriously on the fun to drive scale its a 2 out of 10... BUT its still a Corvette (only reason it earned 2 points)
Bob G
I'm 68 years old (just about the average age of a Corvette owner these days..lol) and I developed problem with my legs and I had to have at least one Corvette that I could drive easily...Getting old is not a hell of a lot of fun..
Anyway Bottom line ...
I actually fee like an old man when I drive the automatic ,,seriously on the fun to drive scale its a 2 out of 10... BUT its still a Corvette (only reason it earned 2 points)
Bob G
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,165
Likes: 5
From: Coast MS
Manual for my 96. That just came with the added benefit of an LT4.
If it was my dd and I did a lot of city driving I wouldn't knock an auto. The vette is for fun, and the manual is more fun. If I was in a city with daily bumper to bumper traffic I don't think the vette would be my dd anyway.
If it was my dd and I did a lot of city driving I wouldn't knock an auto. The vette is for fun, and the manual is more fun. If I was in a city with daily bumper to bumper traffic I don't think the vette would be my dd anyway.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
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From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
I prefer a manual but if you prefer an auto, I don't care. I can see why one would like an auto for certain types of driving.
All of my old Muscle cars had autos and I always preferred a manual, so when I bought my C4 it was an auto. I wanted a manual but because of my previous history I didn't think an auto would be a deal breaker. And it wasn't, but I still wanted a manual. So when I bought my C5 I knew exactly what I wanted and held out for it.
If I would have been smart I would have held out for a LT4 with my C4 but like I said, I didn't think it would be deal breaker.
All of my old Muscle cars had autos and I always preferred a manual, so when I bought my C4 it was an auto. I wanted a manual but because of my previous history I didn't think an auto would be a deal breaker. And it wasn't, but I still wanted a manual. So when I bought my C5 I knew exactly what I wanted and held out for it.
If I would have been smart I would have held out for a LT4 with my C4 but like I said, I didn't think it would be deal breaker.
Last edited by RetiredSFC 97; Nov 28, 2011 at 04:13 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
We've got a ZR-1 driver with a sleeved and stroked 441 cid LT5 that's making 700 ish at the crank. He may have a different opinion of the 4L60E and 4L65Es as I've lost track of the number of them he's shelled out in the past couple seasons. I believe he has a 4L80E in the wings now.
His ZR-1 is a DD, and he lives and works in Chicago - read: LOTS of stop and go. I couldn't imagine having anything other than an automatic in that kind of driving.
Having said that, I love the M6 in my ZR-1. As someone said (in effect) it puts you in a state of conciseness where you are acutely attuned to and become part of the car, the engine, and the road, every minute! Rowing the gears in the twisties is a real hoot! (Come to the C4 gathering in Bowling Green next spring and sign up for "Jingles" spirited proof ride through the Ky hills. Wow! A real treat for us flat-landers in No IL.
I guess it depends on the type of driving. A DD in the city...Auto.
All except DD in traffic...the manual!
P.
His ZR-1 is a DD, and he lives and works in Chicago - read: LOTS of stop and go. I couldn't imagine having anything other than an automatic in that kind of driving.
Having said that, I love the M6 in my ZR-1. As someone said (in effect) it puts you in a state of conciseness where you are acutely attuned to and become part of the car, the engine, and the road, every minute! Rowing the gears in the twisties is a real hoot! (Come to the C4 gathering in Bowling Green next spring and sign up for "Jingles" spirited proof ride through the Ky hills. Wow! A real treat for us flat-landers in No IL.
I guess it depends on the type of driving. A DD in the city...Auto.
All except DD in traffic...the manual! P.
Team Owner
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From: Riverside County Southern California
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