Next thing you know someone will tell you that they make them with tops that don't fold down.

 

Everyone will give you a different view, which is their personal opinion. Don't get side tracked by what we all say. Take it like you're getting information, and use that info to make your independent decision.

I live in Hayward, 25 miles out of SF. I visit SF a lot with my friends. My other car is a 300ZX, 5 spd. Before that my last 2 cars were also 5spd manuals. Though I enjoy having the power at my finger tips, and being able to shift through gears, but driving in SF is a whole different thing. The entire city has weird roads that just go up and down with very steep angles (not to mention the crazy drivers and no parking anywhere). I was going through the same issue that you're going through.

Having driven manuals for over last 10 yrs, I loved them so much that I didn't want anything else. But then Corvette is not your average car. Finally the question was not Mn6 or A4, but which car came loaded and for a good price and low miles. I bought the A4 ! and let me tell ya, its nothing but FUN. I go to many Corvette get togethers, and meetings... and NO ONE has ever said to me, "oh you've got an AUTO". Vette is a Vette. How you drive it is where it counts. There's a guy in our Corvette club right here in the Bay area, who drives a Auto Trans Am and is a regular member of Vette get togethers. He's the only guy who owns a Trans Am in the Vette club.. But he is also the who who has beat almost every C5 (Mn6) with his auto Trans Am the drag strip. In fact, seeing my A4, he says now he has some competition.... and makes fun of all the guys who he beat in their respectable Mn6 C5s. You can talk to him, he's local and I can give you his number. He has not yet changed any gears, or done any major mods yet... (Mods are also something to think over, which you'll be doing anyway. Nobody drive a stock C5, so think of future mods)

Bottom line, A4 will NEVER miss a shift. You wanna beat the crap out of Mn6 at the tracks - upgrade your gears, and or converter, and get a shift kit for A4. You'll burn tires everytime you step on it, and most ppl who race at the drags will tell you, "only way a Mn6 will ever beat you if they are "Perfect" with shifting like a race driver. Trust me you got nothing to worry about with A4. Drive it for fun, or at the tracks. It takes more to win than just learning how to shift.... Good luck with your search, or shoot me more questions..

P.S: If you find the 3.15 gears, great (considering the price). But if you get a GREAT deal on 2.73, dont pass it. Consider the price as a pkg deal, and save the money for upgrades. You can always go from 2.73 straight to 3.42 gears which you can find used with low miles for around $500. Get a converter too if you do change gears, and you'll have a monster on your hands... Change your air intake to after market (Blackwing / Vararam), reprogram your PCM, some modded exhaust, and you'll notice an average Mn6 won't touch you. Knowledge is power, don't let ppl fool you cuz you don't know...

 

It's a decision I've wrestled with myself (my girlfriend does not like to drive a manual trans and it would be nice to allow her the opportunity to drive it as well) but I just can't bring myself to buy an automatic. After driving the C6 (mn6) we have here at work, it was settled, and my future C5 will be a 6-speed. It's your call, and like others I'm sure have said, go take both out for a spin before you decide.

 

Sports Car = Manual box as far as I am concerned, but its your car in the long run.

 

Although I thought I wanted a MN6 Coupe, I ended up with an A4 Convertible. I love my A4 Vert wouldn't trade it now, plus the wife couldn't drive the MN6, not that that was bad, but I figured if we use the Vert for any trips, and I get tired she could drive. I'v now done some extensive upgrades, to include H/C package, TC and now the 3:42 gears (Fred Beans has the best price) plus a tranny cooler and Transgo shift kit, so the A4 is quite the quick little Vert. I also live in a city, and appreciated not having to shift at every light, guess I'm getting lazy in my older years, but the computer shifts faster than I could anyway. Just my .02 Good luck with your decision.

 

The 3.15 gears are fairly common. If you look around, you'll have no problem finding a car with them.

The roof types are actually vert/frc/targa, w/ the solid top being the standard targa unit. The glass top is an extra-cost option, as is having both tops.

Good luck w/ your desicion!

 

Nothing wrong with getting an automatic - they perform very well. Just be sure to get the 3.15 rear gears. I like my manual tranny, but sometimes, especially in heavy traffic, I do wish I had an automatic.

 

If you dont KNOW you want manual...
...you will be happy with an automatic...

 

We have an A4 (FLP Stage-V) with 3.42 rear, high-stall torque converter, & re-programmed torque managment. For the A4 naysayers, we have never lost on a road course to an MN6 with similar HP & TQ. Get the A4...with a little mod here & there, it will out-perform an MN6.

 

...failed to mention 3 little biddy numbers...4 2 7

 

But Stu, I did mention running against MN6's with similar HP & TQ. The last time at Road Atlanta I ran against a modded Z06 with similar HP. We had the same tires & brakes. He couldn't pull on me & I couldn't pass him. His MN6 had no advantage over my A4.

BTW Mike said that there are two super-chargers that will fit on Betty's 427...very tempting...very tempting.

 

Hey friend...
...sorry I was practicing speed reading again
Now (that I have slow read the post) that IS interesting

I really would have thought the MN6 would have had a slight advantage...
...but then you have definitely put together a winning combination that works...
...me thinks the driver has a large part to performance too

regarding the superchargers...
...that is tempting news...

I was wondering when that might come up...

so...Mike is our friend! ? ! ...


...looking forward to meeting again...until then...
...hug betty for me

 

For a moment lets be practical. If you;
A) talk on the phone while driving, and/or
B) like to drink coffee, soda, or beer while you're driving, then
GET THE AUTOMATIC
trust me on this.

 

Just my two cents, but there ain't nothing like a "hand fired" transmission to get you down the road!!

 

Yeah...over 80% of them.

 

Right, to get near equal performance of a stock MN6/12setup you spent how many thousand dollars? Sure an A4 can be modded to compete with an MN6/12, but that is money that could be spent elsewhere as well (not that anyone is ever really done modding, at least from what I'm experiencing and seeing around here).

I liked the A4 I drove, but I love the MN6/12. Different strokes for different folks afterall...



Sorny

 

If your use of the car is largely as a street cruiser, not for serious competition, then the auto would be my choice for a car that is used primarily in town. Not to say you can't build a rippin' quarter miler with an auto. You can. It all depends on the use of the car! Love my auto for my driving style these days.