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Keep the A4 or find and M6??

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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 03:38 PM
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Hi guys. Just wondering what I should do here. Spring is coming and the Vette will be out of the body shop soon. It was vandalized and is getting a complete new paint job and a new convertible top. It will look like new. I love the car. My only problem is it's an auto. I really like a stick and the auto just seems to boring to drive. The car has the stock tune with the stock exhaust and the cats removed. It has the air box mod done. I have heard that once you get a tune that the auto completely changes how it performs and that I might like it better once I have the tune done as it makes it more fun to drive. What kind of gains or changes will I get if I do a custom tune? I have also heard that if I ever want to increase the HP with the auto that it will not take much more power than stock without creating problems. Let me know what you think.
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 03:47 PM
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I would say, sell the car and buy a manual car. I was in the exact same boat as you were (loved the car, but not the tranny). Well, I took a different option and had a MN6 installed in my car. It was a major pain in the ****, but now after having a manual, I will never buy another auto Corvette EVER! I wish I would have made the swap a few years ago. Good luck!
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 04:02 PM
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I've contemplated the swap as well but have heard that in the end it's probably cheaper and way easier to just find an M6.
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 04:17 PM
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Rizzo, what do you want to do with a C5? Do you want a cruzer, drap strip or auto cross machine?
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 04:49 PM
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Getting a Tune for your Auto will definitley make it drive a lot more aggressive , of course it all depends on the Tuner and tune that you get done.
I have an MN6 , but have ridden and driven in A4 stock tuned cars, and Tuned A4 cars, and there is a significant difference.. the non-stock tuned A4 cars felt nice and snappy, you could really feel the torque.

sometimes it can be a bit cheaper to Mod a MN6 car, for example, you never need to worry about a Torque converter, or shift points if you upgrade HP...but with an M6 you might end up upgarding the clutch

it all depends on what you will use the car for. Even in bumper to bumper traffic the MN6 is easy to shift, the shift throws are a little long, but it's still pretty easy JMO only. I love rowing the gears though.

sorry, hopefully this did not confuse you more just thought I'd share since I have some experience in both. Good luck
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 05:18 PM
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If you really want the manual tranny, then probably best to get a different car. You can mod the A4 to run very well, but rowing through the gears is a real treat.
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 05:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Rizzo1
My only problem is it's an auto. I really like a stick and the auto just seems to boring to drive.
Seems like that says it all for you. Being one of the "oddities", I have the best of both worlds...A4 and MN6, coupe and vert, show and go....
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 06:15 PM
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Get what you want it's your toy. So far as rowing through the gears I miss it very little. I've rowed through plenty try a 13 speed Fuller Roadranger or a 5 and a 4 with 2 speed splitter and you might get your fill of rowing. My car gets up and scoots it's an A4 w/3.42s, Vararam and a tune. I like the point and push factor. Get on it and it ain't boring
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 06:22 PM
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VLVETTE. You need to try the new Meritor 12 speed or better yet the new Eaton Ultrashift. No more clutch, no more shifting gears. Just a paddle on the column...LOl.. Very nice !!!!. A 5 and 4 with a splitter? That's going back a ways. Yikes. The good old days.

Rizzo
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 10:31 PM
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The vandalism part too really sucks. Where did that happen? Grocery store or some other store? Just curious about the mindset of that jerk(s) Anyway I would probably sell the car and get what you "really" want
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 10:43 PM
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If you really want a stick, trade for the M6. As far as the durability of the auto, unless you get some really sticky tires (drag slicks, for instance), you will lose traction before the trans gets hurt.
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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 10:44 PM
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Dump the auto and get a stick. After all - autos are boring...

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Old Jan 12, 2006 | 10:47 PM
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As my DD I prefer my A4, in city traffic
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Old Jan 13, 2006 | 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by troy144
The vandalism part too really sucks. Where did that happen? Grocery store or some other store? Just curious about the mindset of that jerk(s) Anyway I would probably sell the car and get what you "really" want

It was parked at a restaurant in their parking lot. It was at night. Keyed the whole car and cut the roof.
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Old Jan 13, 2006 | 08:57 AM
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It's easy to see the virtues in a manual transmission when you aren't making any power. You reach a power level, say ~600 ish where the stick becomes a liability, both in shifting time and driveline durability.

For a mostly stock car I think it would be much easier to sell your auto and get an M6.

Mark
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Old Jan 13, 2006 | 09:05 AM
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If you love the car - look into some changes that will make it more satisfying to drive. Think about changing out the rear end for a 3.73 or a 3.90 from DTE. Also - headers and a cat-back exhaust with your higher numerical rear end will make the car much more satisfying to drive.

I have an MN6 - and I love it. But if you drive on the city streets and freeways - with traffic, an A4 is less tiresome than clutching and shifting all the time. If you live in a remote are with little or no traffic, I don't know what to tell you. But if you love the car otherwise - keep it and mod it to make it what you want.
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Old Jan 13, 2006 | 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Rizzo1
Hi guys. Just wondering what I should do here. Spring is coming and the Vette will be out of the body shop soon. It was vandalized and is getting a complete new paint job and a new convertible top. It will look like new. I love the car. My only problem is it's an auto. I really like a stick and the auto just seems to boring to drive. The car has the stock tune with the stock exhaust and the cats removed. It has the air box mod done. I have heard that once you get a tune that the auto completely changes how it performs and that I might like it better once I have the tune done as it makes it more fun to drive. What kind of gains or changes will I get if I do a custom tune? I have also heard that if I ever want to increase the HP with the auto that it will not take much more power than stock without creating problems. Let me know what you think.
Get a stick! A true sports car is not an automatic. No offense to any A4 owners. This goes for any make and model. If you really want to experience what a Corvette can do, you need an MN6. just my .02
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To Keep the A4 or find and M6??

Old Jan 13, 2006 | 11:19 AM
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EG-there is probably no get up and go in your Rodney automatic trans is there I guess it really isn't a sports car
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Old Jan 13, 2006 | 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by REDEVIL
I would say, sell the car and buy a manual car. I was in the exact same boat as you were (loved the car, but not the tranny). Well, I took a different option and had a MN6 installed in my car. It was a major pain in the ****, but now after having a manual, I will never buy another auto Corvette EVER! I wish I would have made the swap a few years ago. Good luck!
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Old Jan 13, 2006 | 03:30 PM
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Originally Posted by JD's C5
EG-there is probably no get up and go in your Rodney automatic trans is there I guess it really isn't a sports car
My A4 is totally lame - everyone knows that. Plus Grond is NOT a real sports car
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