When drag racing the 6 speed you have 4 big chances to screw up a run: Take off, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4. A 6 speed can be consistent, with a good driver, but hairline mistakes can be made which are critical to ET. An automatic will do the same exact thing every single time. ET wise, a 6 speed is little quicker, there are no hydraulics and bs that the engine has to get through before getting it's power to the rear wheels in the manual trans as there is in the auto. But alot of bracket racers are willing to give up the slightly quicker ET of the 6 speed for the consistency of the automatic.

My conclusion: The 6 speed can be consistent, but can the driver? Depends.

 

I wear 11's, I don't think I would have a problem. :hat

 

This is the explanation I've been given: Back in the day, dealers ordered X amount of C4s from GM to put on the lot to sell. THey had preferred packages and what not, and they either got package 1 or 2. The 6-speed C4s were ordered by people, built, and delivered to that person.

 

In my country most cars (over 90%) are manuals so everybody can drive them and most have never even tried an automatic. So here the automatic is an expensive deluxe option people usually choose to higher end cars.

Now I have 4 cars and 3 of them are manuals and my Vette is an automatic. I drive 60miles every day to work and back and find automatic much more relaxing. My Vette is soon retiring as a daily driver and my new daily driver will have a 6 spd manual with 4x4 though which is much better in winter conditions.

Automatics are good drag cars but they are not slow on race tracks either, in matter of fact the fastest car in virtually every recent Finnish Corvette track day was an C4 automatic. Main reason for that is driver ability but there is really no pattern. Automatics and manuals are all mixed with either having a noticeable advantage. Maybe manuals would be slightly faster if all drivers were pro race car drivers but in real life....

So, to me it is just the same if my car is A or M. IMO the gearbox doesn't make a sportscar. Both are nice and fit my purposes :)

Toni

 

Interesting discussion. I had anticipated seeing quite a bit of "automatic bashing" when I opened this thread, but it is refreshing to see that that is not the case this time. :D

Two years ago or so when I was in the market to buy my first Corvette, I knew excatly what I wanted it to be....except for the transmission. I had sorted through all of the available options and weeded out the ones that were not of interest, had set a limit on the mileage that the car should have, etc. but could not decide on a 6spd or auto. It took me 6 weeks to decide as I kept flip flopping back and forth between the two, trying to think of the pros and cons of each.

Finally, I took a good look at how I thought I would realistically be using the car and what would suit my needs (not the critic down the street). I knew that I liked to do a little light to light racing (rice boys, Mustangs, etc. must be put in their place), so consistency in both launching and shifting is crucial. An auto will perform the same way every time for you; in a sense it removes driver error. Aside from that, I like to cruise and show the car - no autocrossing or anything of that nature. I like to have a free hand for a coffee or soda as well. I also find the automatic very relaxing to drive and have not regretted my decision.

It's really all about personal preference and what suits your needs. Think about how you will be using the car and go from there.

And by the way, I am a female owner/enthusiast and I do not consider myself a "wuss". The vast majority of the time I turn my own wrenches and I always prep and detail my own car for shows.
:seeya

 

women and vettes rock, women who own vettes staggering, women WORKING on their own vette......wanna get married?......... :rofl: STELLAR

Good for you and keep turning them wrenches

Another 40th owner here...... :D

kitt

 

well said! :cheers:

 

Thank you, kittmaster. It's very easy to feel outnumbered in a "man's" hobby/interest, but I have loved Corvettes for a very long time. They are not without their flaws, but I would not want to own anything else. :cool:

Driving and showing the car is only part of the ownership experience; I like to troubleshoot, take things apart and repair and replace just as much as the next "guy". I don't mind getting my hands dirty, and there is a great sense of satisfaction in doing things yourself - taking the car to the shop is an admission of defeat. :smash:

 

All comes down to what you personally like.
I don't think there is a wrong answer[/QUOTE]

Corvettes have automatic/ manual transmissions for the same reasons they are different colors and some are coupes/ convertibles: personal preference and lifestyles. I can absolutely see justification for both transmissions. Does anyone really want to tell someone else that they must adhere to their definition of "sports car"? I have my biases but I certainly would not put down anyone's corvette just because it doesn't fit my criteria. Buy your corvette, make it yours, and enjoy! :steering:

 

Oh Grasshopper I think you might have spoken to soon! :D
Auto= Female and Feminine Men
Stick= Real Macho Stud Caveman type
Sorry, J/K, Your opening line made me do it!
:D :lol:

 

Auto's rule.....very consistant in quarter mile times......can make them work for racing....easy....
Different strokes for different folks.....I guess.....
tony
:steering:

 

:iagree:

With a steady driver the A4 car's runs can be within 2-3 hundredths of eachother, said if weather conditions don't change.


[Modified by KyleBst264, 8:35 PM 2/6/2003]

 

ANYTHING 'automatic' is less of an experience, by very definition.

Psst. You're getting ripped off. There are 4 dimensions in my world. ;)


[Modified by cgtarga1, 1:22 PM 2/8/2003]

 

WOW! this has been a pretty good thread with no real bashing.

I have an A4 because I chose the car, not the tranny. I was looking at an M6 car and may have bought it instead had I driven it, but I think the A4 car was a better buy. Also the M6 car had 78K, so I figured a clutch was due soon.

Personally I am very easy on clutches, so that maintenance would not be an issue with me.

If I could have chosen my car with either trans I would have opted for the M6, but I feel both have their good and bad points.

Bottom line is I'm driving a nice car and that's all that really matters to me :auto:

 

The ZF 6 speed was a "no cost" option on 90 & 91 I believe. Approx. 3/4 of the production during the C4 era was automatics. The main considerations when I was looking for my vette were: 6 speed, black, coupe, excellent condition, low miles, late L98 or late LT1 (to exclude the opti fun, but a '95 or '96 was a bit too much $$). What fit the bill also had a Stalker body kit,
and I took the pros/cons with this fact into consideration as well. I figured resale really meant very little, I did enjoy the fact that it stands apart. Some love it, some hate it and that makes the world go round. At any rate, yes indeed the 6 speed is pretty darned hard to find. Personally I despise automatics, but thats just my opinion. I don't drag race, just love rowing the gears, and wouldn't consider an auto - ever. Then again, being 6'3" and 225 lbs. its easy shift for me :D Next vette......96 LT4 w/6 spped of course :hurray:


[Modified by bradvette, 5:20 PM 2/8/2003]