I'm going to the University of Texas at Austin in the Fall and I'm looking to buy a used corvette, somewhere between a 1999 and 2002 model. I haven't driven a standard regularly before, but I have driven one before with my dad, so I understand the concept of a stick shift, just don't have that much practice. With that, I've always wanted to drive a standard performance car because I've always thought it would be more fun to drive than an automatic. For those of you who have been in Austin, you know how bad traffic can be, especially around campus. I'm going to have to park it everyday in a parking garage. All else equal on the car, what do you guys think would be the best option for me if I do get a corvette?

 

Go drive both and decide for yourself. After all, you have to drive it everyday.

 

IMO the 6 spd is more fun but if you drive in heavy stop & go traffic you may want an auto. My first 2 were autos but when I found my 00 6spd vert I loved it. I dont deal with massive traffic so shifting is awesome to me. But drive a few of each and buy what lets YOU enjoy the car more.

 

Yeah, if youre serious about the car, talk to the salesman and tell him you want to test drive the car for a few hours (hopefully hes cool with that) Drive around during the worst possible times and put yourself in the worst case scenarios. (stop and go traffic, etc.) Do it with both types of cars and at the end of the day you should have your decision. Ive driven through Austin several times, its a lot like the Sea-Tac area. I figure im young and i dont mind moving my legs around so much to push the clutch. Besides, I love having to use my entire body to operate the car....kinda excites me.

BTW, Hook Em' Horns!!

 

I know you are new, but this subject comes up about three times a week. I hope this isn't the start of another war around here

P.S. Welcome to the fourm and good luck finding a nice Vette

 

Give the OP a break guys. Everyone was a noob in here at one time. What they are trying to say is spend some time using the search function and you'll see what they're talkin' about. Hell, There's an active A4/MN6 M12 thread in here in the current days posts.

The only way to find out your answer is to actually drive each and evaluate the experience and relate the overall goal and use for your Vette. Not many options can be picked "from the hip" but have to be studied and experienced in real time. Drag racer? go A4, fun car probably MN6, but that's just my preference. Take your time, spend a lot of time in here. and go to Vette cruises/shows and talk to owners. And by the way, Welcome to the Forum. Good luck with your search.

 

Bought my first fast car - the '69 Shelby in the avatar - at 19. Automatic, 428, nearly 60% of weight on the front wheels. But a deadly drag racer in its day.

I've had a '99 A4 coupe and a '02 M6 vert. My opinion hasn't changed. For drag racing or city driving, I like the A4. For road driving - curves, hills, all that - the M6 is a kick in the backside!

Like said above, go drive 'em both. But drive the M6 in traffic, and drive the A4 on a country road, and figure out where you spend most of your time.

On the drag racing angle, I talked in an earlier thread about the shifts measured in hundredths of a second with a good automatic, vs. potentially close to a second with a stick. A reply cracked me up. Someone said "when you think it's about time to shift, my automatic has already shifted." But you give up mileage, close ratios, and some of the ability to match the engine speed to the driving conditions.

One last thought. We just got back from a great trip with our local Corvette club. The lead driver had an A4, and the speed he chose had me shifting between fifth and sixth a lot. The M6 has a .5 to 1 final ratio at the output shaft, fed into a 3.42 to 1 diff. The A4 with the performance axle has a .7 to one final ratio at the output shaft, fed into a 3.15 to 1 diff (with the performance ratio). At 70 MPH, sixth gear is about 1500 RPM. Going up hill, that's lugging. Going down hill, there's limited engine braking. On flat ground, the gas mileage is fantastic. But we'd get to a hill and I'd have to shift down. Up while we're on the plateau. Down again on the descent. Just a minor deal, but one to consider. The alternative is to live in fifth gear at about 2200 RPM, which we did whilst in the heart of the mountain range. But the A4 folks sort of miss that nuance, and can choose speeds for caravans that aren't best suited to the M6 cars.

No matter, try 'em and get what you enjoy!

 

with the traffic there in austin on I-35, you'll be shifting constantly... I'd go with the A4

 

I was test driving a Z06 while I was trying to shift, drive with my knee and answer a phone call --- it made the sales guy a little nervous --- but mostly, it made me realize, I didn't wanna have to worry about shifting in traffic and so forth. I just drop it in D and go ---

Dave

 

[QUOTE=CamachoSF;1565812016]
Besides, I love having to use my entire body to operate the car....kinda excites me!!

Well lemme tell ya somethin' young whippersnapper....When youre my age you'll want an automatic for the car and save using the "entire body" for something MUCH more exciting than driving ....Just another reason I kept my A4 C5s when I bought my C6 Z-06.....A little R&R!!!!!!!!!

 

well when youre as young as us, 10 mins of rest will do the trick

 

A6 is the only way to go... according to my wife the A4 is a lot slower off theline.

 

If you are going to do a lot of stop and go driving, you might want to consider the A4. But, like others have been saying, drive an example of each and see which one feels right for you.

If you go with the A4, try and find one with the 3.15 rear axle - it will have better performance.

 

As the others have said try them both!! There ARE trick that you can learn to GREATLY reduce the amount of clutch work in traffic.I used to make the trip from Illinois to St.Louis Mo. across the Poplar Street bridge (major congestion point) every day.With proper observation,a little spacing you can put along in 1st or 2nd and hardly have to shift!! PERSONALLY I (and my wife) love sticks (I'm 61 and she's 53).However we have many friends that have A4s and A6s,and they all run well. Both types are impressive performers and are fun cars to drive so TRY THEM BOTH and see which suits YOU. One option wold be play it safe now and get an A4 and laater when you're out of school get an M6.There are lots of buyers and sellers of both out there!!