I am pretty much dead set on getting a C4 as my next car, but i am unsure which transmission I would prefer. I have driven manual and have a lot of fun in them, but I don’t mind automatics at all (especially if you can still manually shift them). What should I go for if I am looking to daily a C4? And can you manually shift (1,2,3) the automatics in a C4 without a shift kit or anything like that? Don’t have much knowledge about the autos in these cars so I was just wondering. Thanks!

 

I guess I am just lazy. I am 72 with a 96 auto. I don't want to mess with shifting and clutching in traffic. Plus, I have two replacement knees. I love the automatic. It will go as fast as I care to drive. Dan

 

Depends on what year C4 you are looking at. The early C4s had the Doug Nash 4+3 manual, later cars got the ZF 6 speed.........

You can shift an auto like that but why?? I never understood the need to shift an automatic transmission like a manual. Just get a manual, they are more engaging. If using as a daily driver, an auto maybe better if you come across heavy stop and go traffic.

 

I don't know how long a 28+ year old 4-speed automatic will withstand regular manual shifting before things start breaking.



My daily driver is an automatic transmission that is driven in Overdrive., and my toys are manuals.

 

It'll do fine.

To the OP: Unless you're hell-bent on the "experience" of a manual, then concentrate on the condition of the car. Get the best example you can afford without regard to the gearbox.

 

My 86 is an automatic because in these years the Doug Nash 4+ 3 was not very reliable

 

I wouldn't manually shift an auto. I don't think there is anything to gain doing this.

I prefer manuals, but as someone else mentioned - my toys are manual and my DD is auto.

If you go with an auto I think you'd have a much larger selection when buying, probably get a better deal as well. Only way to be sure of what you want is to drive both and then decide.

 

Had an 89 auto, now have a 96 6 speed. Prefer the 6 speed...more fun. I wouldn't have a problem owning another auto. The Doug Nash in good working shape isn't terrible. If I had a choice though....a manual.

 

Couldn't have said it better. The auto is going to be a hell of a lot easier to come by then a well kept manual. Time and age are definitely showing when it comes to the prices for used manual C4's.

 

It really comes down to which you prefer driving.

To me the manual is more fun to drive.

I had an '88 automatic for my daily driver and wanted a manual bad enough that I sold that car and bought a '94 6 speed.

My daily drive was 100 miles per day just going to work and back. It was mostly highway. The Corvettes actually made me look forward to the daily drives.

Good luck with your choices.

 

Whichever you prefer.

I personally prefer a manual on just about any vehicle. I hate that you can't find them in trucks any more, let alone cars. Even the newest corvette is an Auto only.

I don't see the point in manually shifting an automatic, but I also don't see how it can hurt it. The accumulators are the same regardless. You would need a manual valve body if you want to be able to force an upshift when the modulator and governor would not command one. You might be able to do this with a shift kit too.

An Automatic is probably easier to maintain on a C4. There are still mountains of parts available for the 700R4 and the transmission shop on every corner can rebuild them if you can't rebuild it yourself. A Doug Nash or ZF6 is a lot more difficult to find parts for.

 

From my limited understanding of automatic transmissions, I thought when your car automatically shifts 1-2-3 etc on its own, it only uses the minimum clutches and bands to hold the gear in forward gear without engine braking.

If you "manually" shift an automatic trans, every gear will also apply another band or clutch pack at the same time for engine braking.....as in let off the gas and it won't shift up but also won't freewheel like a diesel.

So you are making more heat and using more friction material / sprags and overall wear.

Of course, doing this occasionally isn't an issue, but to manually shift an automatic regularly/daily like the OP was inferring he wanted to do with an automatic can't help but increase the overall wear on transmissions that are already 28-40 years old, but hey to each their own to treat as they see fit....It's not my transmission....Shift Away!!!! LOL...LOL .... Have a Great Day !!!

 

The ZF cars with a shorter shifter are excellent and a ton of fun. I only considered manual cars when I purchased mine and have zero regrets.

 

Like others have said, there are a lot more automatics around than manuals, and it looked like they were less money in general too. I could live with an automatic for sure, but I only considered and ended up buying a 6sp. I had dreamed about that L98 with the ZF since I was a kid. If you’re really not bent on a manual, then just wait til you see ‘the one’.

 

For me the factors that I decided on to lead me to the Auto are I wanted an 84 with the Z51 package specifically. I also wasn't sold on the idea of the Doug Nash 4+3, the auto overdrive is just another thing to break, we have all heard the stories. I'm sure well kept ones are fine but being so old, how can you know? Not saying all auto's are perfect either, but there is a reason the 700r4 evolved into the 4L60E and are regarded as some of the best transmissions out there overall. If I was looking at an 89-96 my thoughts would lean towards the manual (Not going to lie, I even have tempting thoughts of switching over to a manual in my car)!

Other factors I would consider would be what the purpose of the car? Are you commuting in traffic as a daily, weekend country roads, or track car?

The other reason I went with auto was because I live near Toronto, I have pretty much exclusively driven manual my whole life and it's a much more connected feel to the car and road. But when you're driving the on the DVP and constaintly shifting 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, etc... In those moments you are already hating life and pissed off at the whole world for cutting you off. The auto is just one less annoyance! If I lived further out I most likely would of rolled the dice on a 4+3.

As you can tell, and as the thread has stated before me, It really depends on you, each have their pros and cons, you just got to find what one has more pros for you!

 

If you’re up in the air and don’t truly prefer one over the other, I’d focus on a very nice condition, clean car with excellent paint. If you were leaning either way, don’t settle. I have a 95 automatic. This car fell in my lap and I couldn’t turn down a very good condition 72k mile car for 6 grand. With that said, if I was actually looking at the time, it would have been for a ZF6 car. That’s just my preference, I love manual transmission cars. Now with that said, I really have been impressed with the 4L60E auto in my car. It’s a great cruiser and it gets up and goes. One important thing about the automatic cars; the 3.07 high performance axle option is a must have with an auto car (my opinion). But it really wakes them up and they are really good off the line. Manually shifting them is not the best. The factory shifter is not the best for this as there are no gates going up. You can modify the stock shifter to have pronounced gates. You can also custom fit a ratchet shifter. You can go a step further and put in a manual valve body so it’s fully manual. I have considered all of these things but always come to the same conclusion…. If I want to shift so bad, I should buy a 6 spd or swap this car to one. No matter what you do, an auto will never be a manual. But you can build one hell of an auto trans. They are great for cruising and great at the drag strip. The manual is the king of the curves on a road course or similar.