Still the world has been auto lopsided for probably 25 or 30 years now even outside of Corvettes.

I think about the only place in the current market where the price may be higher for an auto would be like a Kia or a Hyundai lol or maybe a Toyota Corolla.

Once a sporty element is involved it's going to lopside the other way.

We even you from what I can see are generalizing. There are always going to be exceptions to everything.

Have fun at the Nationals Hyper.

We're going to the Northwest Nationals in 3 weeks. Was hoping to see old John Force one more time but I'm afraid that's never going to happen again.

 

This. This is right on.
If you have not had the opportunity to drive any of the modern sports or even sporty cars with an 8 or 10-speed auto your perspective should be considered ignorant. I fully agree that a 4-speed auto is absolutely now trash compared to what is on the market now and the performance and comfort envelope they provide. Some of the aftermarket offerings are becoming more advanced as well.

As to the core thread topic of automatics gaining value.... not in the sports car arena, and in light of the above certainly not in the era of design and engineering represented by the C5.

I am enjoying my recently restored (mechanically only, body/paint yet to happen) 1994 Ram with it's OD transmission and 318. It's a smooth ride! But I am fully honest when I say that if that 318 dies for any reason or possibly the transmission then much as I'd be tempted to keep it a Mopar and swap up to a newer drivetrain I would probably due to personal familiarity swap a small cube stock iron LS based engine with a 6L80E or 8L90E and a small turbo. Never run out of gear. Always be in peak torque

 

They brought John’s car surprisingly. We signed the banner,

I know Tim Wilkerson so we sit in with them. And I did get to have lunch with several drivers last Weds. They confirmed what I feared a brain injury for John. Things are optimistic but he is still at that point he is not out of the woods.

I am optimistic John will be back just not driving. With head injuries like this they put you in a coma and heal. Many times the results are positive. The good thing was he was awake coming out of the car and he was treated asap. The damage is when the brain swells long before it is treated.

I hope he can recover to lead the team but I expect driving is done.

On a positive note Tony Stewart is as happy as I have seen him. I finally got my Home Depot Simpson Helmet sign after 20 year.

Might go back Sunday. Free makes it easy to go. We also have Bob Tasco hospitality for Sunday. I just wish it were closer to home.

 

I'll be selling my 02 A4 in excellent condition now that I've learned it's trash. $50,000 obo.

 

Thanx for the update on John. 👍

 

Damn good points, Hyper. I'll add another, though I have no data. But doesnt it seem that guys with manual transmissions seem to have more issues with torque tube couplers and bearings? Don't shoot the messenger, but with over 80,000 of my 150,000 total miles being accumulated with a 427 engine, I still have no torque tube issues......

 

If I were interested in an auto I was cross shopping V6 F-Types. ZF8 speed with flappy paddles is a much more interesting transmission that the A4.

You really have to love the C5 to buy an auto in todays age.

Young vs old thing is moot. Enthusiasts will seek the best car for the money and the auto simply isn't it. I drove the first 10 years of my life on manual and I was born in the early 90's.

 

Some folks make a manual a priority some not. Age and enthusiasm don’t really matter.

I know many folks that will buy nothing but. Like my self I can live with or with out. In my case as not a daily driver. Many today never have driven a clutch and just have no interest.

The fact is no right or wrong here. If what ever it’s important to you is all that matters. If you like Chocolate that great just don’t expect everyone to want the same.

I deal with racing parts every day many today are racing automatics.it used to be few were auto. Then many went up powergluides and then Turbo 400. Many guys in Fords converted to GM autos.

Today a number of modern autos are faster so there is little yo no performance penalty.

In the case of the C5 the manual is fine if you plan to race but most are not racing. They are drivers. Mine is a driver. Not racing and I was more concerned about getting a nearly like new car and the tranny may have been a manual if I found one first. It just was not a priority. And I really was not wanting my wife to learn on a Corvette. One roll backwards on a hill would have been a situation I did not want yo deal with.

 

If C5's were available with a 6L80, instead of a 4L60e, we probably wouldn't even be having this discussion. In that case, I'd go for the auto.

FWIW, of the 36 Corvettes I've owned in the last 55yrs, only two had autos. If I'm fortunate to ever own a C6 or C7, an auto will be a must.

 

You are desperately trying to justify your purchase. There's nothing wrong with the A4 but you are completely discounting the reason why the majority of us are here, to enjoy a casual drive. Driving for what is was and not really is anymore. An Analog experience, with control of manipulating the throttle and gearing. Slamming a perfect 1 - 2 shift and feeling the rear end dance beneath you.

If what you are after is a cruiser, again, there are so many options that fit that bill competitive to the C5. The way I see it, people buying auto C5's are either corvette lovers, maybe their dad had one or they grew up with a poster on the wall, are too old to enjoy driving a manual, or probably stumbled on a c5 because it was a good deal and checked the cruiser boxes.

 

You're man card is officially stamped.

 

On the contrary you appear to be the one desperately justifying your purchase. I just bought for my own personal reasons and I respect that if you have your own. The car is a dam good price for what you get. Not many other choices with a LS at this price.

As for dancing rear it can easily dance if you drive it hard. I have drifted it around curves and roundabouts. In the past in another C5 I have danced a previous one in autocross.

‘’Sorry but both can be fun to drive and I’m not doing track time here. If you love playing with your stick that is great and I understand but you need have the emotional maturity to get not everyone has to have the same flavor as you.

One other factor too is in my past cars to change a clutch is a simple deal. In this car not do much and I note many with manuals face changing a clutch. That was one cost I wanted to avoid. I have more than one play car and this was bought because I wanted a clean Vette and a convertible. It fills the bill.

I respect your choice just respect others. Man card was stamped long ago with my first stick.i have had a number of cars and trannnys and what I have fits my present needs.

If I had found a manual in the same condition at the same price and color with a new roof I would have bought it. Not many convertibles in red with a good top and a good clutch. It it is lower miles then you have hydraulic issues often due to lack of up keep. Or one C6 I drove that was missing the clutch spring? Why would someone remove that? Bad hip? My buddy bought that and I had to fix that for him. The first time I drove it I was what is wrong? He had no clue.

 

FYI on John Force. He is awake and responding to commands. He has repeated his name.

Their biggest issue is since they took away the sedation he is fighting them to get out of bed. Sounds like John is still old John. They may have their hands full holding him back knowing him.

I am just glad to hear this progress even if he no longer drives the NHRA needs him as today he is Mr Drag Racing.

FYI. Got to see Dan Wilkerson get back in his dad’s car. He and Prock are showing we have done great drivers coming up.
I talked to Tim and he is a really proud dad and I know he is a great teacher. Don should do well. I just hope these kids get the money they need yo run these cars. You really need the funding today.

A few years ago I got to really talk to John at his shop in CA. He is a one of a kind and I feel he has really saved NHRA at a time many of the old time drivers retired. Heck even my mom who did not watch racing when she was living knew who John was.

Sorry posting here but this is we’re it was brought up earlier.

 

"value penalty" is an arbitrary value assigned by folks who only drive/favor manual transmissions!!

i haven't shifted gears in 15 years but i could if required!!

 

Sorry OP, but the premise is flawed. Yes, very few cars are sold with a manual transmission. Yes, many young people have never even sat in a manual transmission car. However, there are these things called video games. If little Johnny wants to drive a manual transmission car he is probably an enthusiast. It's entirely likely he has thousands of hours driving sims with a wheel, stick, and pedals. It's how I taught myself to drive stick before I bought my car.

 

To me the base C5 is a car where you just buy the one you like and enjoy it. Base C5 prices have fluctuated a little over the years plus or minus a couple thousand bucks but none of us are going to come out tens of thousands of dollars ahead because we picked a certain color combo or transmission.

I sought out a manual trans because my C4 is auto and I wanted the manual experience. I had only driven a manual a few times because two of my friends had manual cars and were willing to teach me. When I bought the M6 C5 it had been 10 years since I drove stick. After I purchased the car I had to ask the guy that sold it to me to back the car up and turn it around on his driveway because I wasn’t confident enough to work the gas and clutch over the curb and up the incline. It was a little embarrassing but we got a good laugh out of it. After that I had a 2 hour drive home to figure it out. I absolutely love my M6 C5 and man was it rewarding once I became proficient at shifting.

 

There is no such thing as a "base" C5 IMO. There are Coupes, Verts, FRCs, and Zed Ought 6s. Once you get into the C6 and later years you can say whatever you want.

 

Meh. Its not about being manly or not. The c5 autos are just terrible transmissions. New zf8 autos or a PDK I can totally see wanting. Heck I fully acknowledge newer autos are better. My last track car had a DCT and It was way nicer on the track if you're hunting for lap times.

 

Don’t see what the fuss is all about …

I drive ‘em All !!

A4?

No Problem

Comp Driving Mode:

Brake Torque

28 - 3200 RPM

Release Brake

Swing in some angle

Feather it to stay in the Torque Band

And it’s Donuts and Smoke

A4 or M6.

It’s All Good!!


USA-1

Save The Wave

 

All things considered, the only thing which really associates in my head with a "base model" when people use the term is any car with the lowest option suspension. The one which felt like you were driving a 1989 Camaro or a Caddy Eldorado (not knocking the Eldorados... I kinda still want one!). That to me is a base model because they are uniquely NOT Corvette to me. Pretty much everything else on the cars is a matter of preference, and most other suspensions are much better than base. I personally believe every C5 should have shipped with the Z51 or Z06 suspensions as entry level because they at least feel sporty.