Manual or Automatic?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Regina Saskatchewan
Manual or Automatic?
Hey everyone...over the winter and early spring I will be looking into getting a C5...just one thing. I don't know how to drive a manual lol...yeah I know. I think i'm gonna learn soon and see how I like it and then decide but I really hope I do enjoy driving a manual once I learn cause I hear they are more fun, well worth it, and a sports car is only fun with a manual. I am only 19 so i'm sure i'll enjoy it and get the hang of it....just wondering what most of your prefer to drive...a manual or automatic and what should I go for, and is an auto or manual a big difference in the corvette let alone any car?...right now my 90 Trans Am GTA is automatic but i'm selling that over the winter to get my dream car at a young age...the C5 
...anywayThanks, Josh 
...anywayThanks, Josh
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
For long trips or busy city driving an automatic is great but for a sports car that likes to be driven hard theres nothing better than a manual tranny. I would never buy a corvette that was an automatic but thats just me. going through the gears on a curvy road is more fun than you will know.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 397
Likes: 1
From: Tucson Arizona
I just purchased my C5 6 speed 2 weeks ago and I have never owned a manual before. I have an automatic C3 and it may be comparing apples to oranges but the 6 speed is more fun to drive!
It’s not too hard to get the hang of it either. I practiced in my girlfriends VW and it wasn’t to difficult to pick up, but the Vette is no VW! Be careful the car kicks serious booty!
Good luck!
It’s not too hard to get the hang of it either. I practiced in my girlfriends VW and it wasn’t to difficult to pick up, but the Vette is no VW! Be careful the car kicks serious booty!
Good luck!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 16
From: Anchorage Alaska
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Hey everyone...over the winter and early spring I will be looking into getting a C5...just one thing. I don't know how to drive a manual lol...yeah I know. I think i'm gonna learn soon and see how I like it and then decide but I really hope I do enjoy driving a manual once I learn cause I hear they are more fun, well worth it, and a sports car is only fun with a manual. I am only 19 so i'm sure i'll enjoy it and get the hang of it....just wondering what most of your prefer to drive...a manual or automatic and what should I go for, and is an auto or manual a big difference in the corvette let alone any car?...right now my 90 Trans Am GTA is automatic but i'm selling that over the winter to get my dream car at a young age...the C5 ...anywayThanks, Josh
...anywayThanks, Josh If I were you, I'd do two things:
First, learn how to drive stick somewhere. Find a friend with something expendable to learn on. Spend a couple weekends getting the hang of it. I figure there's no sense practicing on a powerful car like a Corvette; low-power engines are friendlier to beginners.
Once you are comfortable with driving stick, THEN start your C5 shopping. Find an auto, AND a manual, and test drive them both if you can. See what you think.
I think you'll find that the manual IS more enjoyable... but it does depend on what you plan to do with your C5. Mostly sitting in traffic? Maybe auto is better. Lots of spirited driving? Go manual. But ultimately, you need to buy which is best for YOU. Learn to drive manual first, because you don't want to learn on somebody else's C5!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,867
Likes: 769
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
I've always been a fan of manual trannies....can't help it. I had an automatic in my mini-van and it was great....but it was a minivan. For my truck I had a hard time finding a manual but did eventually...a '98 Chev 4x4 ...now it has 202 K on the odometer with the original clutch and still going strong....I know others with autos that have had to be replaced already well before reaching 200K. Fluke or fact? hmmm
For me....owning a "performance" car....it has to be manual. I am seriously not knocking the ease of an automatic....it's a personal choice that I respect...but again....for ME......It's all about the shifting and ultimate control.
For me....owning a "performance" car....it has to be manual. I am seriously not knocking the ease of an automatic....it's a personal choice that I respect...but again....for ME......It's all about the shifting and ultimate control.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 1
From: Finland
Do a search. There are hundreds of threads about your question..
My hint, however, is to learn to drive a stick first and then test drive both an automatic and a stick.. if possible, of course. Everyone's got their personal preference, and you'll just have to drive and decide yourself.
I have both a manual and an automatic, and I have to admit that I like the stick more.
My hint, however, is to learn to drive a stick first and then test drive both an automatic and a stick.. if possible, of course. Everyone's got their personal preference, and you'll just have to drive and decide yourself.
I have both a manual and an automatic, and I have to admit that I like the stick more.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 15
From: Hurricane Alley
Josh,
If I were you, I'd do two things:
First, learn how to drive stick somewhere. Find a friend with something expendable to learn on. Spend a couple weekends getting the hang of it. I figure there's no sense practicing on a powerful car like a Corvette; low-power engines are friendlier to beginners.
Once you are comfortable with driving stick, THEN start your C5 shopping. Find an auto, AND a manual, and test drive them both if you can. See what you think.
I think you'll find that the manual IS more enjoyable... but it does depend on what you plan to do with your C5. Mostly sitting in traffic? Maybe auto is better. Lots of spirited driving? Go manual. But ultimately, you need to buy which is best for YOU. Learn to drive manual first, because you don't want to learn on somebody else's C5!
If I were you, I'd do two things:
First, learn how to drive stick somewhere. Find a friend with something expendable to learn on. Spend a couple weekends getting the hang of it. I figure there's no sense practicing on a powerful car like a Corvette; low-power engines are friendlier to beginners.
Once you are comfortable with driving stick, THEN start your C5 shopping. Find an auto, AND a manual, and test drive them both if you can. See what you think.
I think you'll find that the manual IS more enjoyable... but it does depend on what you plan to do with your C5. Mostly sitting in traffic? Maybe auto is better. Lots of spirited driving? Go manual. But ultimately, you need to buy which is best for YOU. Learn to drive manual first, because you don't want to learn on somebody else's C5!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 21,915
Likes: 61
From: Miami Beach FL
Do a search. There are hundreds of threads about your question..
My hint, however, is to learn to drive a stick first and then test drive both an automatic and a stick.. if possible, of course. Everyone's got their personal preference, and you'll just have to drive and decide yourself.
I have both a manual and an automatic, and I have to admit that I like the stick more.
My hint, however, is to learn to drive a stick first and then test drive both an automatic and a stick.. if possible, of course. Everyone's got their personal preference, and you'll just have to drive and decide yourself.
I have both a manual and an automatic, and I have to admit that I like the stick more.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,313
Likes: 649
From: Utah's Dixie UT
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '26
I bought my Vette while still in Jersey and got an auto so the wife would commute with it. She had been driving a stick P/T Cruiser and was tired of it.
We made a decision to move to Utah and now I wish I had a manual. Open roads, windy roads, all the reasons to have a stick!
Do yourself a favor and learn manual even if you decide to buy an auto.
Win
We made a decision to move to Utah and now I wish I had a manual. Open roads, windy roads, all the reasons to have a stick!
Do yourself a favor and learn manual even if you decide to buy an auto.
Win
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 15
From: Tulsa OK
I drove auto until i was 18 and then i went out and a friend taught me on his integra. After that i bought a Lexus SC300 which took me 6 months to find one in good condition with a stick. After driving a manual now for 4 years and now owning a 6 speed vette i will never own an automatic again. There is no comparison...traffic or not its still TONS more fun.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
I'm with all the posters here DO LEARN and try before you buy!!! I've been driving a stick for almost 50 years and it is STILL my preference even in traffic.With practice you can learn to "crawl with a stick an minimize any shifting or clutch work.I used to commute daily across the bridge rush hour to St.Louis on a motorcycle or my 5speed econobox DD,no problems!! An odd side note I ran a thread on over 40,stick or auto. 75 to 80% went stick!! Sticks ARE a blast,,,,BUT THEY ARE ALL FUN!!! THEY ARE ALL CORVETTES!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
I have never learned to drive a stick, and now that I'm in my mid-life crisis years, I'm sorry that I haven't yet (although I really love my A4
). I would recommend that you learn manual on another car as mentioned above...then decide which you prefer.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Maryville IL
I've driven a few different manual cars, including an LS1 Camaro, LS1 GTO, and an LS1 Vette. I've found the LS1 + T56 have been the easiest manuals to drive. Getting in any manual car for the first couple of drives is a little rough until you get the feel for that car's gearing.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12,982
Likes: 15
From: Westchester New York
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
As others said - learn to drive stick - take both out for test drive. If this will be your toy I strongly recommend a 6spd. There is nothing like it 
When I went shopping for my vette 7 years ago I never even thought about an auto.
But my first car was a stick and the few other cars after that were also. I love driving my vette and shifting thru the gears is second nature and its very hard to stall out on a Vette.
Good luck in your search
When I went shopping for my vette 7 years ago I never even thought about an auto. But my first car was a stick and the few other cars after that were also. I love driving my vette and shifting thru the gears is second nature and its very hard to stall out on a Vette.
Good luck in your search