I had a few choices , but spent the extra for the 6 spd , but since you've already driven both you probably already know the answer .

 

You guys would be surprised what you can do with a slush box these days. However, just because I love my A4, I don't go around knocking holes in MN6/MN12s owners.

It's a personal choice. Just because some of us choose a hydraulically operated transmission does not mean that we are second class Vette owners - as some here have averred.

2 cents deposited.

EG

 

I would really like to have one of each - sometimes you feel like shifting, sometimes you don't. If I can figure out where to park it, I am going shopping this summer for a 95 or 96 vert as a second Vette - and will get an A4.

 

I looked at vettes for sale and read this forum for two years before I ever bought mine. I was going to get a auto mainly because my girlfriend can't drive a stick. After reading so many of the auto vs manual threads on here and reading all of the excitement that was displayed from the 6 spd owners, and the fact that I really wanted one anyway, that's what I bought. The shear fun it is to run through the gears, I knew I did the right thing. My friend has a 97 auto that I had driven before I got mine, for myself, I would never ever have a auto in a vette unless some injury made it necessary. I love all vettes no matter what tranny they have in them, but for me, it's 6 spd all the way. Just get what YOU really want.

 

I am enjoying my 6 speed C5 much more than my previous automatic C5. It is alot more fun to row through the gears and hold the shifts a little longer. Heavy traffic can be a bitc! though.

 

I owned a ’97 A4 (with performance axle) that I recently (innocently!) wrecked (see http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...1&page=1&pp=20) . The previous owner had changed the thermostat to make the engine run cooler and used Hypertech tuning. He also fiddled around with the programming of the transmission, although I forgot about the details. In any case, I found the accelerator to be extremely sensitive. Within the first month, I constantly speeded because the car accelerated that fast with the slightest touch of the accelerator .

Then I noticed that when I wanted to accelerate, after about one second, the transmission shifted down and then the car often accelerated that hard, that the rear broke out and the traction control set in . After one month I got used to the behavior of the transmission and my right foot became more sensitive as to somewhat control the shift behavior. For this lack of control, I didn’t like the automatic .

Yet another thing I didn’t like was the fact that the car seemed to accelerate somewhat sluggish from stand and at very low speeds. I also was not able to chirp the tires while accelerating from stand, yet was I able to do a burn out . Later I read that one has to lightly apply the break at the same time to accomplish that. Anyway, so now I have a ’01 MN6 and boy do the tires chirp when I accelerate in the first gear with too much throttle (i.e. 3000 rpm or more). Once I did a burn out (I believe) unintentionally . The engine revved rather high, the car did not accelerate much, I saw some white smoke in the rear mirror and I noticed a “burned” smell. Neither the active handling nor the traction control set it, but I recently I got error massages in the driver information center. Thus, I come to believe that the reason why the A4 seemed sluggish at low speeds is that the rear wheels would not be able to handle much more power anyway.

Now that I have the ’01 MN, I am still not happy . The transmission is somewhat notchy and I often have the problem of not being able to put in the first gear and reverse without putting it into other gears. I changed the transmission oil to synthetic Mobile 1 ATF and had the shifter adjusted, which helped quite a bit. Still, I feel it takes me about 1 second to make a shift. In my 20 years of driving cars, before I came to the US in 2000, I have never owned an automatic before and I feel that my Corvette has the notchiest transmission that I ever drove .

Now I miss my A4. When I had the A4, I always wanted a MN6. I guess, as some wrote, it depends on the situation what is preferable. If the A4 came with something as the Tipptronic of Porsche and similar technology in exotic sports cars, that would be another story. Of course, this technology might be prohibitively expensive.

Still, I have the MN6 for 3 weeks now and, as I wrote, it took me a while to get used to the A4. Moreover, I have not owned a manual transmission car for over 4 years now. Thus, I guess, I give it some more time...

Robert

 

Wouldn't be a sports car if it wasn't a stick, but I have always said if its your daily driver go auto. I also have heard that it isn't a sports car unless its a convertable and I bought a FRC. SOOOO.... to each his own.

 

I agree. Its not a real Corvette unless it's a manual.

 

A4 here!

I know what you M6 guys are talking about, when one thinks of a Vette an automatic is not what first comes to mind. But I must admit if I had a M6 I wouldn't be able to keep tires on it or retain my drivers license so an A4 is better for me. It's difficult enough restraining myself with the A4 and besides I drive a 13 speed for a living so 8 hours of shifting is enough for me. I got the Vette for the whole experience not just for ripping through the gears. Enjoy it whichever trani you have!

 

i hear ya. my last vette (a '99) was an a4 for this very reason.

i now have an m6, but only because i moved and took a look at my driving habits and realized i could get away with it (i live 15-20 min. from work--12 min. if i really push it ), and rarely, if ever, get on the freeway during any sort of rush hour. otherwise, it's just cruises and fun road trips in the z, which, by the way, is my daily driver.

i once went to a dodger game up in l.a. and took the z, got stuck in major freeway traffic, and upon entering the stadium that damned steep incline and everyone leaving all of 2 inches in front & rear of car...oh the insanity!

so to answer your question: if use of your car involves daily stop & go brutal insane nasty commuting rush hour crap, go with the a4. if you will have an easy fun work commute and weekends full of cruises, go with the m6!

 

If you get an A4 make sure it has G92 axle ratio. That's what I would do, because my wife can't drive manual.

 

Really??? All 1953-54 production Corvettes were autos. Manual wasn't offered until 1955 with the V-8 option. Automatic transmission was standard for the C5, manual was an option. But I'm sure you know all this.

 

OHHHH WHAT NOW!?!? All Corvette's should be manuals... sheeesh

 

Depends on what you want to do with car. For the most part, Drag=A4+convertor
Twisties=Manual

If you own a "real sports car" you will be racing it right? Going fast right? I mean, thats what it's made for. Besides most of the auto bashers would be seeing my A4's tail lights anyway.

 

I have a bad back and can't push the clutch frequent without back pain. I drive the auto,, great car. The bumper to bumper traffic in rushhour and hurricane evacuations with a standard is really bad news . Too much clutching. I will always use a auto,, and wish the C6 Z06 had an auto. UMMMMMMMMMMHHHHHHHHH.. Wonder if I could put the Z06 crate in my C5.........

 

I have the MN6 and its a joy but one of the most annoying things is that half the time, it doesn't want to shift into first after a stop light. Some people may have solved this problem but I've had a new Z06 clutch put in and I still have that problem. From a stop light, I have to shift into another gear and then into first and then sometimes it still doesn't want to go so I have to shift into another gear and then get it in there. And then the throw is a little long and the clutch engages a little ways off the floor. If you can deal with that, you'll love the stick.

I'm still happy that I got the MN6.

 

Did you have that backward?

I've got a M6. Love it. I've never had a corvette before but I've had 6 2 seat sport cars. I would never, ever consider getting a A4. Also, my wife prefers a manual. She feels in more control with the manual, more a part of the driving experience. She's going to be 61 in July. See, even little old ladies prefer manuals.

P.S. I'll be in more control when I get rid of the skip shift.

 

Since we're neighbors, I'll chime in to this already long thread.

I traded my 2004 A4 coupe for a 2002 MN6 Vert. I bought the 2004 to be a daily driver. The automatic tranny is just fine. I did mod the A4 with 3.42 and 2800 torque converter just to make the car more fun on cruises.

During last winter's snows, I quickly realized that I needed something different. Vettes just don't mix well with snow. I also learned that many of the taller profile SUVs (Expeditions, etc.) can't see you if you are driving next to them. I was pushed to the shoulder on at least 3 occasions. Fortunately, the Vette has a very loud horn or I might have been run totally off the road.

For ease and convenience for a daily driver in DC/NoVA traffic, you'll probably want the A4. You can still drink your coffee when your trapped on the Capital Beltway or on I-66.

But for fun on Skyline Drive, you'll want your MN6.

Why not buy two? One of each?

HTH.

Jeff

 

What is an AUTO???

 

No doubt about it MN6--can't imagine anything else.