I have a bad back that acts up often. Getting in and out may be a problem. If you had a back issue what would be the best way to go, buy Auto or manual?
Thanks Jack

 

My back's no joy but I really don't see what that has to do with getting in or out of either. If you can get in and out of one, you can get in and out of the other.

'03 M6 here.

 

Multiple old injuries keep me at the chiropractor once a week, every week, year round. That doesn't prevent me from using an M6. Really, only you can make that decision. Getting in an out is a bit different story. I am a bit slower and more deliberate in entering and exiting my vette, but its worth every extra second it takes. Nothing like a 3 pedal vette out for a cruise on a beautiful day! Best wishes!

 

I went through a terrible back issue first year I had my car. Had surgery on L4 and L5 in 2005, bought in 2006, and about a month after I bought the car (daily driver at the time) some scar tissue flared up and I could barely even bear to stand.

Getting in and out of the car was by far the absolute worst experience. Once in I was ok and could drive without issue. Manual transmission btw.

For me contorting in and out and getting my legs under the steering wheel was the worst part.

 

I would think the ability to comfortably enter and exit the vehicle would be paramount. Shifting gears with a standard transmission is not tasking on the back. Let me qualify. I just turned sixty in July. I built custom homes for many years and was a hands on, not behind the desk contractor. The summer before I turned thirty one, I was on the second floor deck of a home under construction. One of my crew asked me to help lift a glue lamb onto the framing of the second floor. The glue lamb weighed approximately 425 lbs. As I was lifting my end up to a saw horse, my crew member lost hold of his end of the glue lamb. The glue lamb pushed me off the decking of the second floor to the concrete slab below. I broke my back at the belt line and was unconscious for 8.5 hrs. My heart stopped three times and I had to be paddled all three times. I still own the '67 roadster I purchased at the age of twenty one, four speed car. Own a '66 427 coupe, four speed car, a '73 L82 coupe, four speed car, '04 coupe, six speed car, '69 Chevelle SS convertible, four speed car, '72 K5 Blazer, four speed truck. Have owned an '85 C4 auto. Four speed auto trans was built to the max at the time. Still the biggest mistake of my life. Shifting a standard trans is NOT a liability with a bad back, especially the newer versions available. Getting in and out of the damn things is the hurdle to overcome.
Just my humble experience and $.02 worth of experience and advice.
Buy the stick and drive the hell out of it and enjoy. The '04 is a sheer pleasure to drive. The early cars are a kick in the a$$.
For what's it worth,
Chas

 

Depnding on the type of injury working a clutch can cause absolute aggravation and agony. How do I know? Herniated disc at L5.

Buy the auto trans and enjoy the car. Seating is good, at least in my 2000, and the C5 is an outstanding vehicle.

 

Hear you there. Live in pain every day of my life. Every case is different. Was not trying to be demeaning.
Chas

 

Since everyone is different, your best bet is to just try examples of the auto and manual cars and see which one really is most comfortable for you. We can say anything but it is you that has to live with whatever car you decide on.

 

We're cool.

Would like to have a manual trans car, body just fights me.

 

I can relate......three surgeries on L4/5 over the last thirty years. I found that clutching really aggravated my lower back. So I changed to autos and never looked back
BTW, I have found that my modified C5 seats are the best for my back of any car I have ever owned.

 

They put autos in vettes?! Blasphemous!

 

Yep, started with the very first, slushbox called a powerglide. Hard to believe that "America's only true sports car" started production life with only an auto trans available. Guess the GM top staff were physic.
Cheers,
Chas

 

I am confused. How is getting in and out of an Auto any different than getting in and out of a manual???

 

I'm not concerned about getting in and out, I know that is going to be a pain in the a$$.
The clutch is what I'm worried about. Where I live, it take about 45 min to 1 hour to get out of town.

 

OH, I apparently misread your OP as well. I thought you were asking about getting in and out and couldn't see what the difference would be either.

If you're worried about using the clutch, then probably the best thing would be to go take one for a test drive. My lower back has issues. I've broken my back 4 times that we know of over the years. I drive my M6 a LOT since we moved to America from Communist New York and it doesn't bother me, but as others have said, each person is different. Try 'em.

But remember, they have an adjustable lumbar support and side cushion adjustability as well. Love my M6.

 

I can relate to your situation. To get the most enjoyment out of your driving experience, I would lean more to A4.

 

I also have had back surgery and have pretty serious back issues to this day. I bought mine as an automatic and it was that way for 3 years or so. I recently changed it to manual. I have mixed emotions about both.

M6. Used, I'm not thrilled with the operation of the transmission. Fact is, I'm not sure I'd be thrilled about the way GM designed it new. GM has had a 25 year habit of making the linkage stop moving at the wrong places. I tore apart an M6 in a car I bought brand new to remachine the stops because they were f'ed up from day one. I made the dealership take note of the problem before the engine was started. I could feel it was wrong day one.

My Vette transmission is an equally poor design, reverse is a real pita and once again, the stops won't allow you to get it all the way in. I know, some here are gonna tell me "My" transmission has something wrong cause they're not all that way. I have news for ya, I've been in about 20 of em now and they're all the same. Reverse barely engages. It ain't an accident.

On the A4, I just don't like how slow they are. I loved having an automatic in my car. But I did not like the shift lag that the car had going from neutral to drive or reverse. Easily it is 5x as long as my 2500 Silverado. It was annoying as hell. Other than that, the transmission was fine and though I really prefer the 6 speed auto (as you'd figure one should), guys run the A4 and are happy.

As to getting in and out of the car, it's not like the shifter is in the way and you have to crawl over it , so I have no idea what the op is getting at there. If it's the clutch that's an issue, you'd have to be pretty bad off to not be able to push a clutch pedal. Might not be safe to drive any car by that point.

 

The clutch pedal on the C5 is incredibly light. I am amazed how easy it is to push and I am 69.

 

could go either way....just what your back can tolerate. Test drive a couple stick cars and see how you feel....that will tell you which way to go.

 

I bought an automatic because that is what I wanted.