A4 Vrs M6
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Joined: Mar 2009
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A4 Vrs M6
planning on buying a used C-5 in the spring. Ive had manual MGs and manual pick- ups but for the vette I was thinkin m6 but it seems like a lot of clutch problems. a post on CF talked about how many miles on the automatic some high mileage cars with no problems plus & minus of each transmission please thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
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From: Belleville Il
Firs of all,,the problems you read about are actually a VERY small percentage of the overall number of manual transmissions!! Second,,Many of the clutch problem you see are with high performance after market clutches,,and many of those were hard use vehicles. There are MANY high mile vets running around with the original clutch. Mine for example is a 2000 FRC with between 73 and 74 thousand miles. Bought it with 55k on it and have taken it to several test and tune nights at the strip,,with at least a couple dozen passes total. Original clutch still doing fine. You have to remember that this is a place where people come to first when seeking help,,and thus can give a slightly erroneous slant to the overall picture!! Way back we had a Volvo 760 turbo 5 speed with 225,000 still going strong,,,till a tree fell on it
!! Baring excessive gonzo driving,,no reason a factory clutch couldn't go six digits !!
!! Baring excessive gonzo driving,,no reason a factory clutch couldn't go six digits !!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,438
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From: Fairfax Virginia
The C5 has a very nice clutch with progressive engagement and the 6-speed is a joy. I've previously had a 98 which I had for 6 years, an 04 which I had for 4 yrs and I currently have an 03 which is now for 6 yrs. All have been absolutely trouble free. I did have an auto which I recently sold after 6 yrs, it was also trouble free. For me the fun factor with 6-speed is so much greater, and the manual is every bit as solid as the auto. My advice -- go with the 6-speed.
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The C5 6-speed is a pretty reliable drivetrain. I've had two manual tranny C5s with zero problems. As with any car, if you drive it hard it can have failures, but drive it reasonably and it should last for many, many miles.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
We have an '01 M6 with 128K miles on the original clutch.
We have an '04 A4 with 14K miles....
You can tell from the mileage which one we prefer to drive.....
I am an agressive, spirited driver that auto-crosses almost everyweekend with the '01.
There are only a few circumstances for considering an automatic...
1. you are lazy
2. you have a medical related problem ( knee, hip,prosthesis etc) that inhibits working the clutch
3. you live in a area with heavy traffic that will result in a lot of stop and go bumper to bumper traffic.
4. you have no co-ordination and can't drive a manual transmission equipped vehicle.
If you don't fit one of these 4 circumstances, buy the M6. You will be thrilled that you did,
Matching the gear to what you want to do makes the drivng experience even more gratifying while it increases gas mileage.
We have an '04 A4 with 14K miles....
You can tell from the mileage which one we prefer to drive.....
I am an agressive, spirited driver that auto-crosses almost everyweekend with the '01.
There are only a few circumstances for considering an automatic...
1. you are lazy
2. you have a medical related problem ( knee, hip,prosthesis etc) that inhibits working the clutch
3. you live in a area with heavy traffic that will result in a lot of stop and go bumper to bumper traffic.
4. you have no co-ordination and can't drive a manual transmission equipped vehicle.
If you don't fit one of these 4 circumstances, buy the M6. You will be thrilled that you did,
Matching the gear to what you want to do makes the drivng experience even more gratifying while it increases gas mileage.
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I bought my C5 with the A4 and love it, I am not lazy, I have driven sticks most of my 42 years of driving and now I feel the need to just cruise and with the A4 I can do just that, The A4 can and will perform very well with the right tune which I had done by Chuck at CoW and when I put my foot into it it goes with no hesitation and shifts faster than I could with a 6 speed, I don't track the car so an auto does me well..
Just my opinion.
Mr.Bill
Just my opinion.
Mr.Bill
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 404
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From: NYC
Coming from another MG guy, get the M6. These cars can do too many amazing things to be auto equipped. Yeah, sure you'll have to deal with traffic sometimes but trust me you'll never look back. The clutch is solid too. My car has 43k on it stock clutch right...just added H/C 100rwhp. I couldn't sleep at night worrying about if the clutch would hold after it was out of the shop. I mean it probably won't for long but it is still not slipping at all I'm impressed. Of course I don't beat on it like crazy...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
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From: Oak Hill Virginia
M6 here, still going strong after 60K. This is really a personal preference thing though.
If you're worried about reliability, I have probably heard of just as many people that have had the third gear wear on the 4L60E A4 tranny as I have heard of having M6 problems. It comes down to how hard you are on the car and a little bit of luck. I drive my car pretty hard and it sees the track from time to time. Clutch doesn't slip at all and the car is a joy to drive.
If you're worried about reliability, I have probably heard of just as many people that have had the third gear wear on the 4L60E A4 tranny as I have heard of having M6 problems. It comes down to how hard you are on the car and a little bit of luck. I drive my car pretty hard and it sees the track from time to time. Clutch doesn't slip at all and the car is a joy to drive.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
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From: Dublin GA
I bought my C5 with the A4 and love it, I am not lazy, I have driven sticks most of my 42 years of driving and now I feel the need to just cruise and with the A4 I can do just that, The A4 can and will perform very well with the right tune which I had done by Chuck at CoW and when I put my foot into it it goes with no hesitation and shifts faster than I could with a 6 speed, I don't track the car so an auto does me well..
Just my opinion.
Mr.Bill
Just my opinion.
Mr.Bill
I drive a little sports car with a manual as my DD, so don't consider myself lazy, but I do like to go FAST
I chose my A4 MOSTLY for it's modding ability. Put a good stall and equal gears, and it's adios to most gear rowing cars.
I've had nine Vettes, all autos (and fast) but one.
Gotta love that torque multiplication
Of course like car color, to each his own, so if you love to sit you coffee down and shift gears, cool
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Ossining New York
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
I'm on your team!
I bought my C5 with the A4 and love it, I am not lazy, I have driven sticks most of my 42 years of driving and now I feel the need to just cruise and with the A4 I can do just that, The A4 can and will perform very well with the right tune which I had done by Chuck at CoW and when I put my foot into it it goes with no hesitation and shifts faster than I could with a 6 speed, I don't track the car so an auto does me well..
Just my opinion.
Mr.Bill
Just my opinion.
Mr.Bill
By the way...You've got the best avatar I've seen lately.
Chuck CoW
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 410
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From: In Central TX
I bought my C5 with the A4 and love it, I am not lazy, I have driven sticks most of my 42 years of driving and now I feel the need to just cruise and with the A4 I can do just that, The A4 can and will perform very well with the right tune which I had done by Chuck at CoW and when I put my foot into it it goes with no hesitation and shifts faster than I could with a 6 speed, I don't track the car so an auto does me well..
Just my opinion.
Mr.Bill
Just my opinion.
Mr.Bill
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
It really comes down to your preferrence - IMO
I went with the A4 because I wanted to be able to cruise no matter where I go (Especially in California traffic)and yet have the performance that can and does go along with the auto's! Because you can't shift faster than a auto and I don't enjoy rowing the gears
I have a YANK 3200 stall, which is totally streetable by far - with a level 5 rebuild (It was rebuilt @ 90,000 miles due to the fact I hit it hard when it was too HOT 244*+ the 3rd - 4th gear band went bye bye It might do that when you are putting 701 RWHP and 582 RWTQ through it
Now with the A4 it really all comes down to tuning it and tuning it right - You get a good tuner that knows what he is doing and it'll last a very long time and be stout at that. that's why mine kept up for so long!
Now with the MN6 what you need is a good Clutch(One that fits your mods), Flywheel and a Bleeder and you are all good! Start rowing the gears!
Thanks,Matt
I went with the A4 because I wanted to be able to cruise no matter where I go (Especially in California traffic)and yet have the performance that can and does go along with the auto's! Because you can't shift faster than a auto and I don't enjoy rowing the gears
I have a YANK 3200 stall, which is totally streetable by far - with a level 5 rebuild (It was rebuilt @ 90,000 miles due to the fact I hit it hard when it was too HOT 244*+ the 3rd - 4th gear band went bye bye
It might do that when you are putting 701 RWHP and 582 RWTQ through it Now with the A4 it really all comes down to tuning it and tuning it right - You get a good tuner that knows what he is doing and it'll last a very long time and be stout at that. that's why mine kept up for so long!
Now with the MN6 what you need is a good Clutch(One that fits your mods), Flywheel and a Bleeder and you are all good! Start rowing the gears!
Thanks,Matt
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Safety Car
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From: . New York
Manual transmission ****'s please go take a break (go play with you joysticks for a while).
OP: as stated above, it boils down to what you want to do with the car.
The manual can be more fun, and gets better milage if you want to shift all the time. Its a very good transmission/clutch, if you drive it right you have zero problems with longevity. All things being equal you may have to service a clutch more often than an auto but its less expensive (overall).
The A4 is also a very good transmission. With a tune you would be surprised how quickly it goes through the gears. Again, longevity is not an issue.
Just decide what you want to do with the car, dont worry about maintaing the mechanics or either system.
OP: as stated above, it boils down to what you want to do with the car.
The manual can be more fun, and gets better milage if you want to shift all the time. Its a very good transmission/clutch, if you drive it right you have zero problems with longevity. All things being equal you may have to service a clutch more often than an auto but its less expensive (overall).
The A4 is also a very good transmission. With a tune you would be surprised how quickly it goes through the gears. Again, longevity is not an issue.
Just decide what you want to do with the car, dont worry about maintaing the mechanics or either system.
