Automatic Corvettes...
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,408
Likes: 2,060
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
Sorry, but I'm the same way. Having an auto in a sports car is just wrong to me. I also insisted on buying a truck with a manual tranny. I'm just that way. No disrespect to auto users.
Plus, I don't trust the auto trans these days.....they don't seem reliable anymore. Just my gut feeling....no stats available....
Plus, I don't trust the auto trans these days.....they don't seem reliable anymore. Just my gut feeling....no stats available....
If you prefer an M6 for whatever reason, its a free country and your money. Tell my insurance agent that my "automatic Corvette" is not sports car
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Bartlett Illinois
Stick
The manual is more fun. I had a auto C4 and now a manual C5 and it is more fun with the Manual. At a cruise night last fall, the biggest comment I got was "Wow, it's a 6-speed!". But like someone said, it is preference of the driver. After having both, THE 6-SPEED is my choice.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 176
Likes: 6
From: Golden Colorado
I have heard this comment too often. MOST of the time, when I do, I ask "so what year is YOUR Vette"? Almost always this comment is made from folks who have never owned a Vette. True the forum has the relative few. But I am waiting to see someone turn a quicker 1/4 time in a manual versus an auto in the same exact car. Same gear, same everything. Most of "us" can't do it. More likely than not the manual has a better gear for the 0-60 or 1/4 sprint. But most of us think we can shift faster and better than a computer. My 2 cents. 
I unloaded my sweet red/red '94 C4 6 speed in favor of an A4 C5 last year, mainly for drag strip consistency. Now that I've gotten it built up, I can't wait for spring racing to put it to use. The A4 is a real pleasure to drive, and with over 400HP at the wheels, it runs just fine. Loads of fun and civilized, too, for street cruising.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 4
From: USA
The answer is simple:
If your a cruiser, drive in a lot of bumper to bumper traffic, or have bad knees, get a A4
If you use your vette to have fun at the track or don't see a lot of bumper to bumper traffic and have good knees, then a Stick Shift is for you.
Or for the hard core guys, Just get both, a Z06 and a vert A4 or coupe
If your a cruiser, drive in a lot of bumper to bumper traffic, or have bad knees, get a A4
If you use your vette to have fun at the track or don't see a lot of bumper to bumper traffic and have good knees, then a Stick Shift is for you.
Or for the hard core guys, Just get both, a Z06 and a vert A4 or coupe
Last edited by BATM4N; Jan 28, 2008 at 10:53 PM. Reason: coupe not couple
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Portland Maine
I would love to have a M6 and thats what I shopped for, what a disapointment to find that after my back operation my leg wanted nothing to do with it. Bought a A4 and still have fun with it. Somethimes its not what you want but what you need.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Some people prefer vanilla ice cream, and others prefer chocolate. Which one is a better choice? I guess it all boils down to personal preference.
My personal preference was an MN6, and after four years remains the case. An automatic Corvette is no less a sportscar than an MN6, and anyone that believes that needs to only look at some of the world's top shelf sportscars.....Ferrari, Porsche, Aston-Martin, Jaguar, etc.
Is a Porsche with a TipTronic not a sportscar? How about the F1 cars, they all have a clutchless paddle shifter, and no one in their right mind would question the performance capabilities of that car.
My only regret in getting the MN6 is that my wife refuses to drive the car. To some of you that is a big plus - but personally I see the car as ours and I would love to have her experience the joy I have when I drive the car. She is happy being a passenger as she drives about 35K miles per year in her job. But still it would be great if she'd try it.
This is an age-old question that's come up here more than just a few times, and the camps are always divided. Nothing new here.
My personal preference was an MN6, and after four years remains the case. An automatic Corvette is no less a sportscar than an MN6, and anyone that believes that needs to only look at some of the world's top shelf sportscars.....Ferrari, Porsche, Aston-Martin, Jaguar, etc.
Is a Porsche with a TipTronic not a sportscar? How about the F1 cars, they all have a clutchless paddle shifter, and no one in their right mind would question the performance capabilities of that car.
My only regret in getting the MN6 is that my wife refuses to drive the car. To some of you that is a big plus - but personally I see the car as ours and I would love to have her experience the joy I have when I drive the car. She is happy being a passenger as she drives about 35K miles per year in her job. But still it would be great if she'd try it.
This is an age-old question that's come up here more than just a few times, and the camps are always divided. Nothing new here.
of preference.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 185
Likes: 2
From: Memphis TN
When I started looking, I wanted a MN6. I test drove a couple in Memphis traffic and decided to get an A4. For a while, I did feel like I was settling, but when I am on the way home at 5pm in stop-n-go traffic I realize I made the right decision. Also, I am in a club here and we do a lot of parades during the summer. I can't imagine doing a parade in a manual car.
You have to get the kind of car that's going to fit your desires. If anyone says driving a Corvette any configuration is not fun, I say
p.s. My pops always told me that if you are with a woman in a car with a manual transmission, then you are half doing two jobs.
You have to get the kind of car that's going to fit your desires. If anyone says driving a Corvette any configuration is not fun, I say
p.s. My pops always told me that if you are with a woman in a car with a manual transmission, then you are half doing two jobs.
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,408
Likes: 2,060
From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
When I started looking, I wanted a MN6. I test drove a couple in Memphis traffic and decided to get an A4. For a while, I did feel like I was settling, but when I am on the way home at 5pm in stop-n-go traffic I realize I made the right decision. Also, I am in a club here and we do a lot of parades during the summer. I can't imagine doing a parade in a manual car.
You have to get the kind of car that's going to fit your desires. If anyone says driving a Corvette any configuration is not fun, I say
p.s. My pops always told me that if you are with a woman in a car with a manual transmission, then you are half doing two jobs.
You have to get the kind of car that's going to fit your desires. If anyone says driving a Corvette any configuration is not fun, I say
p.s. My pops always told me that if you are with a woman in a car with a manual transmission, then you are half doing two jobs.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Portland Maine
Wow this is a damn good thread afterall.
I have my opinion, others have theres. I feel that if they are both Corvettes they are both Corvettes... one is not the lesser car because of it's transmission and CERTAINLY not worth letting go for a car like an Acura RSX Type S just because it's manual. EW!
Car guy: Heyyy nice Corvette...
Vette guy: Oh thanks
Car guy: so what ya got done to it?
Vette guy: (lists all his goodies)
Car guy: oh wow nice
Vette guy: thanks
Car guy: so what's it like shiftin that baby with all those ponies?
Vette guy: It's an automatic I don't do any shifting
Car guy: umm *puzzled look* oh... that's an automatic? I used to think that was a nice car... automatic? No thanks.
Car guy = dumb$$$
I have my opinion, others have theres. I feel that if they are both Corvettes they are both Corvettes... one is not the lesser car because of it's transmission and CERTAINLY not worth letting go for a car like an Acura RSX Type S just because it's manual. EW!
Car guy: Heyyy nice Corvette...
Vette guy: Oh thanks
Car guy: so what ya got done to it?
Vette guy: (lists all his goodies)
Car guy: oh wow nice
Vette guy: thanks
Car guy: so what's it like shiftin that baby with all those ponies?
Vette guy: It's an automatic I don't do any shifting
Car guy: umm *puzzled look* oh... that's an automatic? I used to think that was a nice car... automatic? No thanks.
Car guy = dumb$$$
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 65,010
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From: Title town, Champs live here.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Say what you will ,I love my A4 and wouldn't change anything! Mod's not included
As far as a sports car I kinda see your point, but I don't race on a track 
As far as a sports car I kinda see your point, but I don't race on a track