Opinions..does a manual trans make a c5 easier or harder to sell?

 

Easier.

Manuals are worth more, typically.

 

Tough question. Mine is an automatic and it was an easy sell to me, others might prefer manual so auto would be a hard sell to them. Buy what you like, don't worry about resale and drive it like you stole it.

 

All of mine have been manuals, I prefer my sports car to be a manual shift and all of my DD's are automatics.
I'd get what you want and enjoy the miles and smiles!

 

I prefer a manual, but I m not sure that most do..

 

When I was shopping I noticed manual c5’s as well as 4th gen camaros/fbirds are harder to find and generally sell for a higher price than auto’s.

This seems to be the case for used sports cars in general from what I’ve seen.

 

Depends on the prospects. Personal preferences are the key factor. Fewer manual transmission models are available. The auto transmission equipped C5's with the optional high performance rear axle are the easier of the automatics to sell. Many wanting the manual versions choose the Z06 models.

My guess is the manual versions may sell for more, but how much more depends on many variables to generalize on the prices. Mileage, clutch fell, etc.

 

It's all about personal preference. I've owner eight Corvettes only one was automatic. Bought it right and flipped it because it wasn't for me. A large percentage of these car were built with automatic, the new C8 is only available in automatic so that perhaps says something about demand. Never had trouble selling a Corvette with a realistic price.

 

I agree. However, it also depends on your goals. Typically if you want to drag race, the automatic is much easier and consistent to launch. I had a 4000 Stall on my 4th Gen Trans Am and it was a monster at the track. I was consistent 11.6-11.7 cam only without spraying nitrous while others with manuals were all over the place.

I sometimes wish my Z06 was an automatic at the track, other than that, manual all the way!

 

I got rid of my C-5 Z06 because of the manual transmission. Traffic in the DC area is a bear so I prefer an automatic.

 

I didn't buy my 03 vert with thought of selling later. I wanted an automatic and that's what I got.
I did not want to shift gears anymore.
Very happy with my automatic.
It's up to the buyer.
Good luck!

 

I couldn't imagine buying an automatic sports car.

 

So you wouldn't buy a C7 Z06 with an auto? Interesting...to each their own.

 

That's what the future holds. But the modern automatic is a far cry from GM's 4 speed torque convertor based unit as used in the C5. The C8 has a dual clutch system, which is where things seem to be headed for sportier vehicles. The VW group for one have been using them for some time now.

The issue with building a rear/mid engined stick shift car is winding the manual shifter linkage round the engine - especially a wide one like a V8. The original Ford GT40's and their successors got around most of the problems by putting the actual shift lever to the side between the seat and the door. At least that reduced the number of u/j's required, but the linkage still had to get back to the rear of the car one way or another. And given the age of many Vette owners, having to clamber over a side mounted lever probably would not play that well! Back when I was in the vehicle engineering business in Europe, one company I was with experimented (and even went into production) with a cable operated shifter. We never achieved the "feel" expected from a proper shift linkage and the idea did not last.

To the OP: From reading comments here over the years from people looking to buy C5's, it definitely seems that MN6's are priced a bit above the autos. And of course they made less of them, plus the 6 speed was an extra (non trivial) cost item.

 

The older I got, the more I decided that only automatics for me.

 

Manual all the way. I'm on the hunt for one, and drove both. Manual felt way more responsive, and was just more fun to drive. Just my opinion

 

You and me both, and my specific C5 is probably the clumsiest one I’ve owned and I still wouldn’t trade it for a stick.

Not the quoted person, but if you gave me one I’d sell it to buy a sports car with a stick. But I’m a manual snob. My daily is a Tacoma with a manual, heated seats and a sunroof. So take anything I say with a grain of salt.

 

Auto is faster when its built, easier to drive with 1 hand



Manual can be more fun when you don't have to daily driver it through traffic and deadlocked highways

 

I have had two manual tranny C5s and one automatic. Enjoyed all of them tremendously regardless of tranny. I only sold the ‘00 and it took about 6 months to sell. Traded in the other two C5s.

Over the course of the C5 production, more automatics were made than manuals. The choice of which transmission to get depends on your personal preference. I do not buy a car with a view towards future resale - I buy it to enjoy while I own it.

 

it all depends how are going to drive it mine is a weekend driver but if it is a daily driver go with a automatic i love shifting at country roads and dragstrip but if you live in a big city automatic