Automatic Corvettes...
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Irvine / Rancho Cucamonga CA
i drive an 02 with mn6 and i have to admit that in traffic it really does suck sometimes. not to mention when im driving to my school that's at the top of a hill it really sucks to be in traffic when people are getting right up on my #ss and i keep rolling backwards. but besides that i have no problem with a manual in an everyday driver.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,387
Likes: 30
I have an M6, and when I was looking I refused to get one that wasn't M6 just like your friend. I have had a change of heart now. When I get my C6, its not going to matter, whatever is a good buy I will get. The auto would make driving in Washington DC traffic much better. The stick is fun sometimes but its no big deal to me now, plus if I had an auto, I'd stick a 4000 stall in, long tubes, VR, Borla, and a nice tune and blow the doors off (by a very wide margin) the holier than thou "all sports cars must be manual" crowd. In time, regular manuals will be gone sooner than later, all we'll have will be electronic clutches like the lambos and ferraris. Then it won't even matter anymore.
If you are in the market for a Vette, seems like you don't mind which one you find which is a good thing, you can save the $ and get an example with lower miles if you happen upon a deal again like you presented. Regardless of the transmission, at the end of the day, its STILL a CORVETTE
If you are in the market for a Vette, seems like you don't mind which one you find which is a good thing, you can save the $ and get an example with lower miles if you happen upon a deal again like you presented. Regardless of the transmission, at the end of the day, its STILL a CORVETTE
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 6
From: hagerstown md
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 65,010
Likes: 133
From: Title town, Champs live here.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 2
i drive an 02 with mn6 and i have to admit that in traffic it really does suck sometimes. not to mention when im driving to my school that's at the top of a hill it really sucks to be in traffic when people are getting right up on my #ss and i keep rolling backwards. but besides that i have no problem with a manual in an everyday driver.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 700
From: Avondale Arizona
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C2 of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
St. Jude Donor '19-'20-'21
ooooooh, ahhhhhh, yeah, manual vs auto. I drive my '02 A4 Coupe every day - in bumper-to-bumper traffic - both ways (up hill both ways)! The auto is great for this. I'm building my '64 vert restomod with a Tremac 5-speed for fun days and open roads. I'd sure hate to see those legs up there after 3 or 4 months of driving on I-10 west of Phoenix, she'd be walking in circles. 
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Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 150
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Tx
I'm a traditionalist- sports car = manual. However, autos are great for bracket racing, talking on your cell phone, and long commutes in hectic traffic, plus one very important thing...autos are great for... um... how should I say this... tulips on the organ!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
The most improtant thing was, I didnt want to get anything messy, nor did I want her to ruin the leather seat, or the console while leaning over. Car is more important
so we pulled over haha
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 150
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Tx
Even in a vette? I dunno, the lady i was with had a hard time reaching over lol
The most improtant thing was, I didnt want to get anything messy, nor did I want her to ruin the leather seat, or the console while leaning over. Car is more important so we pulled over haha
The most improtant thing was, I didnt want to get anything messy, nor did I want her to ruin the leather seat, or the console while leaning over. Car is more important
so we pulled over haha
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,867
Likes: 769
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
From: Guess it & Win a Rock, s&h only $4.95 New Mexico
In our tiny town we have maybe 15 Vettes, and I am the only one I ever see driving mine around. Most of the guys here put them in the garage polish and stare at em, what good is that? A high performance car that never gets driven whether it is a manual or automatic is a waste of money in my opinion - I ain't Leno.
I would rather buy an Auto Corvette that has been "Steered down the Road" some respectible miles, than somebody's pet Manual Corvette that never gets out of the garage.
Just my opinion
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Gorham ME
I have a friend who insists upon driving nothing but manuals... in fact he said he would rather drive a Acura RSX Type S (6 speed only) over an automatic C5 or LS1 Fbody. I tell him he is rediculous and that automatics can be extremely satisfying depending on the car and that just because it is indeed and automatic... that doesn't mean it is significantly less car.
What do you guys think of this? For example, I was looking at a friends car, he was selling it and I was considering buying it. It was a 1998 Camaro Z28 with 48,000 miles on it (he owned it since new and barely EVER drove the car) it had chrome zO6 wheels, BFG KDW tires, SLP long tube headers, flowmaster exhaust, LS6 intake, stall converter, shift kit, it was lowered, 20% window tint, lid...He put down 369whp/373wtq and he wanted $8,500 dollars for IT!!! He no longer cared about the car and he wanted to move on to a fox body project. I told my friend and he simply said "Ew, it's an auto I don't care what it is or how cheap... it's an auto"
I'm like WTF youre crazy...
And now he is looking for a C5, he wants to spend between $16,000-20,000 for the RIGHT car. He found a 1999 White Coupe M6 with 67K on it for $19,450... and I found a 1999 White Coupe A4 with 30K ON IT! for $19,000 FIRM! No go because it's an auto...
I just don't get it! Can you help me understand...
What do you guys think of this? For example, I was looking at a friends car, he was selling it and I was considering buying it. It was a 1998 Camaro Z28 with 48,000 miles on it (he owned it since new and barely EVER drove the car) it had chrome zO6 wheels, BFG KDW tires, SLP long tube headers, flowmaster exhaust, LS6 intake, stall converter, shift kit, it was lowered, 20% window tint, lid...He put down 369whp/373wtq and he wanted $8,500 dollars for IT!!! He no longer cared about the car and he wanted to move on to a fox body project. I told my friend and he simply said "Ew, it's an auto I don't care what it is or how cheap... it's an auto"
I'm like WTF youre crazy...
And now he is looking for a C5, he wants to spend between $16,000-20,000 for the RIGHT car. He found a 1999 White Coupe M6 with 67K on it for $19,450... and I found a 1999 White Coupe A4 with 30K ON IT! for $19,000 FIRM! No go because it's an auto...
I just don't get it! Can you help me understand...
Perhaps you should realize that not everyone shares the same opinion as you. Just because someone feels a certain way about something, and you disagree, doesn't make them wrong. It just means you have different opinions. I think you should not care what other people do, and worry about yourself and let others make their own choices. If you have children some day, you can try and dictate their every decision. Until then, stand down and respect the opinions of others.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 725
Likes: 89
From: East Northport NY
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 love a clutch, lots of fun. But ....automatics have advantages:
- If for any reason I can't drive home, my girl can....she can't/won't drive a clutch so I have an A4
- The A4 is geared pretty good. Unless you are REALLY good at shifting, an A4 could take you.
- Traffic, cell calls, coffee and other distracting things...better in an A4