Your Preference: Automatic or Manual?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3
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Your Preference: Automatic or Manual?
Referring to the 93-96 model year C4 Corvettes, which transmission do most people prefer having and driving: the Automatic or Manual? Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that there were more C4s built with automatics...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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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
I think this thread will be at least two pages long (140+ posts).
I have two Vettes, one is auto and the other one is manual.
The auto is great for cruising and I admit that Im glad I used Betty Boop for my 12,000 mile road
trip. It is also great if you get stuck in traffic or driving around downtown.
The manual is FUN TO DRIVE, you feel every inch of the road, you feel every horsepower and it keeps
you alive and rushed as long there is an open road with lots of twisties.
I have two Vettes, one is auto and the other one is manual.
The auto is great for cruising and I admit that Im glad I used Betty Boop for my 12,000 mile road
trip. It is also great if you get stuck in traffic or driving around downtown.
The manual is FUN TO DRIVE, you feel every inch of the road, you feel every horsepower and it keeps
you alive and rushed as long there is an open road with lots of twisties.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
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From: Westerly RI
I still prefer to row my own. And yes, the vast majority of C4's came with automatics.
As for the intrusive "skip-shift" on the ZF6, it's a no-brainer to disconnect it; on my '92, I just pulled the connector from the solenoid on the trans. Later years need a resistor installed into the plug to avoid a nanny light on the dash.
If I had wanted help choosing gears, I would have bought an automatic.
As for the intrusive "skip-shift" on the ZF6, it's a no-brainer to disconnect it; on my '92, I just pulled the connector from the solenoid on the trans. Later years need a resistor installed into the plug to avoid a nanny light on the dash.
If I had wanted help choosing gears, I would have bought an automatic.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,771
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From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
But it seems when this question comes up in forums, most prefer the manual.
That leads me to believe that when buying new, most choose automatics.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,008
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From: Greensburg PA
Having owned 2 L98 cars, one a stick and one an auto, I feel that the 6-speed is suited to the car better. It depends where you live though. If i lived in a city with a ton of lights, I'd get an auto in a heartbeat. Otherwise it's a 6-speed for me. You get more feel from the car, and makes the driving experience more enjoyable. Perfect rev-matched downshifts still put a smile on my face.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 459
Likes: 2
From: Hawaii
After owning several manual vehicles, I went with an Auto LT1. As someone stated, in the city with numerous lights, I will take an auto over a manual anyday! For some weekend fun, no doubt I would take a manual!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Here's one thought, in drag racing, the auto is more consistant, but a good well practiced driver can make the manual go better. You can build a 4L60E tranny to hold up to and above 700 HP. Still there is nothing like a 6 speed with a Hurst short throw on it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
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From: South Dakota
I have had both. My favorite is the 6 speed by far. It just is more fun to drive. Another bonus for the 6 speed is that the 0.50 6th gear gets a couple miles per gallon better for highway trips.
If most of my driving was all stop and go traffic, I might prefer the auto.
Try driving both and see which you like.
If most of my driving was all stop and go traffic, I might prefer the auto.
Try driving both and see which you like.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
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From: Pennsylvania
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
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When this thread finally ends (usually with a lock), you will find that approx 80% will say stick.
However, when you look at the production numbers, you will find something like 25% of the c4's made came with a stick.
However, when you look at the production numbers, you will find something like 25% of the c4's made came with a stick.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 190
From: Indiana PA
DD driver with lots of city traffic jams-automatic
Weekend fun car-manual
Road race/auto-x-manual
Me-Manual all the way. I officially call my Corvette a Weekend Warrior-shows, cruises, back country drives, auto-x, drag racing=MANUAL.
Most Corvettes bought NEW are bought by people who mainly are concerned with being a waxer, DD, lazy, or just too old to shift a manual without a lot of pain. The later is ok in my book, I get it. The other stuff, come on folks, man-up.
There is a reason the ZR1 and Z06 ONLY come with manuals, so you drive the car the way GOD and the engineers intended.
Driving a stick is becoming a lost art form.
P.S. I hope this new person is not a Troll
P.S.S. IBTL.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
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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
Well Pete you are about right. Im waiting for 4:00PM so I grabbed the black book and calculator.
C4 Total: 283,529
Manual Trannies: 77,495 (4+3 and ZF)
For a 27.3%
I also agree there is a big potential for a IBTL.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
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From: Phoenix Arizona
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.)