A4 vs. M6 speed
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
The good news is that you'll never miss a shift with an A4. I have a friend who had a 600 rwhp C5 M6. He could never get it to run faster than the low 12's because he always had a problem launching it. He's also one of the best power shifters I've ever seen. He sold the C5 and purchased a new Grand Sport with an automatic. He has headers and an exhaust on the C6, and is running the 1/4 mile as fast as he did with his C5. 
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 167
Likes: 10
From: CT
If the main purpose of the Corvette is strictly for drag racing go with an auto. All other purposes, M6 is the way to go. Me personally, I will never own an automatic sports/pony/muscle/go-fast car. I love being able to row thru the gears and being in control on gear selection. Hell, all of my DDs to date have been manuals!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
Undoubtedly an auto tranny car with a nice stall converter will outperform a similarly equipped manually tranny car at the drags. That's a no-brainer. But my 16 yr-old daughter could do just as well as anybody in that car and takes a more skilled driver to pull off a solid run with a standard tranny. But that's all really beside the point for me.
This is what swayed me away from autos in sports cars.
It was a warm summer night and while fillin the tank at a gas station on a desolate dark road heard the glorious sound of a potent (insert any car name here) coming up the road from the stop light. 1st gear, 2nd gear (as it roars by), 3rd gear, 4th gear....you know the rest of the story. What was so impressive about this was that engine sound reacting off the sudden pause in between gear shifts. A sound that an automatic tranny is simply unable to produce no matter what. This is the sound of an authentic driver's sports car and was enough for me - will never own an auto-tranny sports car again. So the autos can take 1/4mile trophy most days but the benefits of driving the manual go on and on from there for most driving enthusiasts.
This is what swayed me away from autos in sports cars.
It was a warm summer night and while fillin the tank at a gas station on a desolate dark road heard the glorious sound of a potent (insert any car name here) coming up the road from the stop light. 1st gear, 2nd gear (as it roars by), 3rd gear, 4th gear....you know the rest of the story. What was so impressive about this was that engine sound reacting off the sudden pause in between gear shifts. A sound that an automatic tranny is simply unable to produce no matter what. This is the sound of an authentic driver's sports car and was enough for me - will never own an auto-tranny sports car again. So the autos can take 1/4mile trophy most days but the benefits of driving the manual go on and on from there for most driving enthusiasts.
Doubtful my car will ever see a pass down the 1/4 mile track. Unless I'm going for broke with the idea of being the fastest thing that ever was, what do I care about 1/4 mile timeslips. For me it's about the whole driving experience which includes the feel and the sounds associated with shifting gears. It's the same as the discussion over which is faster, a coupe or a hardtop. Some people will point out with glee that the Z51 coupes have a higher top speed due to aerodynamics than a Z06. I find that difficult to matter even if it's true as I have no intention of being in a situation where top speed is a serious concern.
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Northern NJ
Maybe not when completely stock, because you can adjust the launch speed a little better, and they come with a better rear gear from the factory; but after a TC and gears.........Ohhhh yes it is 
A manual is probably the best for a road course, but a modded auto is a GREAT drag race set up
1 The torque converter multiplies the output torque output far above a manual, which is simply whatever amount the engine produces.
2. The shift are lighting fast
3. It NEVER misses a shift
4. Once dialed in, It shifts at the perfect RPM EVERY time.
And guys drag race 6 speeds (and autos) because "That's what they have"
The same reason guys go bow hunting instead of hunting with a rifle; They see it as more "exciting" and more of a challenge
Not taking anything away from the enjoyment of rowing gears for guys that want that, but my DD is a 5 speed, and one, I get all the "gear rowing" I want, and two; when I drive my Vette, my wife is usually with me,and I just simply have better things to do with my "free" hand
A manual is probably the best for a road course, but a modded auto is a GREAT drag race set up
1 The torque converter multiplies the output torque output far above a manual, which is simply whatever amount the engine produces.
2. The shift are lighting fast
3. It NEVER misses a shift
4. Once dialed in, It shifts at the perfect RPM EVERY time.
And guys drag race 6 speeds (and autos) because "That's what they have"
The same reason guys go bow hunting instead of hunting with a rifle; They see it as more "exciting" and more of a challenge
Not taking anything away from the enjoyment of rowing gears for guys that want that, but my DD is a 5 speed, and one, I get all the "gear rowing" I want, and two; when I drive my Vette, my wife is usually with me,and I just simply have better things to do with my "free" hand
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: Northern NJ
Well....I'm sure to many people it is, but to me, if you're not at least shifting, where is the "sport"? But that's not where I was going with this. Sport requires a skill and conditioning. To me its not much of a sports car if you're not shifting manually, paddles I'm not sure about yet.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
The best one is the one you prefer! Back in the day [40+years ago] we all prefered sticks like m22 muncies, borg warner T-10s etc...Then we went to autos such as B&m hydros,727 chryslers, turbo 400s and modded "glides". I put a clutch thru the dash on a "55" chevy gasser back in "69" which convinced me to go Auto. I prefer automatic Vettes now because I'm an old geezer an don't like shifting gears anymore. Also, the only kind of racing I do is the occassional 1/8th mile. There is no wrong answer, Corvettes are "kool" standard or automatic!!!!
Dave
Dave
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 8
From: 972 and 405
Well....I'm sure to many people it is, but to me, if you're not at least shifting, where is the "sport"? But that's not where I was going with this. Sport requires a skill and conditioning. To me its not much of a sports car if you're not shifting manually, paddles I'm not sure about yet.
So there's two cars setup at the strip. One a completely stock 6 speed car and another that is professionaly setup for the win. You think the 6 speed car with no attention to the win is "sportier" just because it has a manual transmission?
Oh, and you can manually shift certain auto gear boxes.
-Alex
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 27,567
Likes: 99
From: San Diego
There's a lot more to the sport than simple rowing through a gearset. How about actually building a motor? How about setting up the suspension properly? How about using your knowledge for weight reduction? How about doing research to finding out which parts are best for the job?
So there's two cars setup at the strip. One a completely stock 6 speed car and another that is professionaly setup for the win. You think the 6 speed car with no attention to the win is "sportier" just because it has a manual transmission?
Oh, and you can manually shift certain auto gear boxes.
-Alex
So there's two cars setup at the strip. One a completely stock 6 speed car and another that is professionaly setup for the win. You think the 6 speed car with no attention to the win is "sportier" just because it has a manual transmission?
Oh, and you can manually shift certain auto gear boxes.
-Alex
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
WHAT???
Obviously you have never tried to launch an 800hp car with a stalled auto with just drag radials. (some drive their cars back and forth to the strip
)Most strips still measure driver reaction time, 0-60ft, etc. Any more power than stock, you'd better know how to launch that auto.
I do agree with one of the previous post; Corvettes are cool with either
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,856
Likes: 242
From: Hillsboro OR
Faster is a relative term based on driver ability and track style/conditions. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
I see the auto boys have entered. who really gives a **** one way or the other anyway? it's a personal preference and what you use the car for, not mine is bigger than yours.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville Florida
I gave up on manuals when I had my 03 Cobra... Took me 7 hours to drive from Baltimore to Fredericksburg, VA (about 100 miles). By the time I got home my left leg was about to fall off.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,526
Likes: 99
From: Apache Junction, Arizona
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,520
Likes: 5
From: Long Island NY
I have an automatic because I do drive it a lot to work and leaving in the morning usually with a good amount of traffic on the LIE, well the A4 is just a better fit for me, also it's important that my wife be able to drive the car if she has to. The first two Vettes I had were manuals and I had a blast driving them, and yes at times I do miss having a manual tranny, but I have to say I am very happy with the A4 and if and when I get into another Vette, I'll most likely stay with the automatic.