Thanks for the opinions

 

I always thought the shifter in my 911TT had a good feel, and the cables were easy to work on, was really hoping they could do something similar for the C8. I instruct for both NASA and PCA so I've been able to drive many cars with DCTs I think for doing HPDEs they would get boring for me, would love to have a pneumatic controlled sequential box in my race car as going w2w you have more things to think about,
but I'll save the 40k it would cost for tires.

 

It's a lot easier to build a good shift mechanism - cable or rods - when the "tail" of the tranny is pointing forward as in the 911's - it's a straight shot to the shift level mechanism.

I avoided autos for years as they never seemed to get going like a stick shift. Finally cracked under "domestic pressure" a couple years back and bought a Genesis with Hyundai's own 8 speed with paddles. The paddles are almost redundant as this thing snaps off shifts quickly and does not get caught out. It really gets off the mark due to the wide spread across the 'box. My guess is they used the ZF as their benchmark.

 

ok ... imagine driving in San Francisco.

 

When I started my search I didn’t even consider an automatic.

 

When I joined Corvette Forums almost 10 years ago, and looking for a C5, the debate between the manual and automatic was going on very strong back then. I see nothing has changed .
Charlie442, my advice is you've got to decide what you want. Here's what I thought when I bought my C5.
The A4 has the advantage that all drivers can drive an automatic so the transmission is not an issue when selling, especially trading in the Vette. Also, over-revving by a previous owner is much less risk with an A4. Driving an auto in bumper to bumper traffic is much easier than the manual if you're going to make a DD out of the C5.
But after buying a 04 coupe with A4, it took about 3 years and the novelty of owning a Vette wasn't enough. To me the A4 became boring and I wanted more control over the transmission.
The manual is more fun, especially if you like to down shift and back off through the exhaust. There were fewer manual cars made in the C5 so a nice one might be a little harder to find. If you plan on modifying the engine, take into account that the M-6 is more robust and can handle a lot more HP. I was warned not to make major mods to my C5 unless I upgraded the transmission as well.
So I bought an A4, then 3 1/2 years later traded it for a C7, Z51 that's a (drum roll) MANUAL.
But that's me, you have to decide what's important to you for your C5.

 

Ok..it looks like I m buying a 2003 50th anniv convertible this week..it s auto..but the car is nice..44000 miles on it

 

I'm facing the question from a shopper's perspective, too, though fortunately I don't have to drive in rush-hour traffic any more!

Hadn't driven a manual for years, when I tried my first test-drive of an M6-equipped C5 a couple of weeks ago. I had a hard time leaving a stop without chirping the tires. (Perhaps I should have been "loud and proud" of that burnt rubber -- that's not something I can get out of my Prius. )

There are more M6 Vettes on sale in my area than there are A4 models. I do worry about clutch wear, though ... I know that replacing the clutch takes a lot of expensive labor. But I'm looking for a "road-trip warrior," something that will be flashy and fun on the open road and will show up well on the Coffee & Cars circuit. (And for now, I'm planning to keep the Prius for errands.)

Hoping to check out a 50th-Anniversary-Red coupe this afternoon, unless it's bought by the guy who's seeing it this morning. And it has a manual transmission. Give me a couple of hours of stop-and-go driving, and I'll surely recover my manual and pedal dexterity.

(On edit: Yep, the guy bought it. Oh, well ... Next ...)

 

Mine’s an automatic but the manual is a lot more fun.

 

[QUOTE=Charlie442;1602809106]Ok..it looks like I m buying a 2003 50th anniv convertible this week..it s auto..but the car is nice..44000 miles on it[/QUOTE
I have the same car but with a few more miles on it, enjoy!

 

Fun fact: In the 1982 model year, the Corvette was only offered with an automatic transmission.

 

That's why I would never consider a C8

 

sold my C5 M6, sold my C6 M6, sold my C5 auto 2.73, Really like the performance axle automatic 3.15 on my current C5 Z51...its a must have for the auto, good control, fast and easy...when you get up in age manual shifting in traffic sucks....

 

There are times when I'm just cruising around in my M6 convertible that I think it would be nice to have an auto instead. Then there are time when I hit the twisty mountain roads and have a blast with the manual trans.

Sometimes I think I'd like to have an A4 convertible for leisurely driving and cruising and a Z06 for the twisties.

 

With the mega and powerball lottery being over 500 mill i was talking with some people of the car we'd get. When i said a c7 vette they thought i was crazy. Why not a c8? As much as i like the c8 for a fun car i want a manual.

 

I recently learned that Corvettes were only available with an automatic transmission in 1953 and 1954 as well. You should definitely go with the 2-speed Powerglide!

 

I had a descendant of that trans in my first car, a '66 Olds F-85. (This was the same body as the Cutlass, but with a 2-barrel carb and a 330-cid V-8.)

 

I'll say up front my 2000 Vert is an A4. But I totally agree about the response, and "get moving quicker" feeling. Auto trans just doesn't feel as crisp as a manual. My 2nd oldest son had a 6spd WS6 Trans Am. Stock for stock, my C5 was quicker. I now have a built LS7 in my car, and his car still "feels" more powerful when he hits the next gear. I think the A4 is better for the strip, and everyday driving, but if you really want the feel of a sports car, an M6 is the only way to go. Only reason I have an A4 is the car was on the dealers lot, a lease re-po. Hope this helps... .

 

I also live in northern Virginia (NOVA). Manuals are a lot of fun, but with traffic like we have around here an automatic really is a must have. I have a stage V transmission upgrade from RPM. Along with the tune that was done with my supercharger, the automatic is actually pretty quick and responsive. Still don't get the fun of rowing through the gears though.

 

After driving a truck and trailer all my life and shifting all day with crazy traffic, I myself like my weekend ride to be auto but that's just me.