Would I be able to handle a MN6?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Columbus OH
I taught my son in about an hour. After a couple of days he was driving as well as I do. He wouldn't consider an auto anything now. specialy if it is anything like a performance fun to drive car! He was 20 at the time.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Get the MN6 , you'll be fine. As said here, just practice in a parking lot somewhere. IF you are not going to encounter lots of daily traffic, the MN6 is awesome. You will definatley feel the difference between the A4 and MN6. There is nothing wrong with the A4 at all, but my personal prefence was the MN6. My 99 Z28 was an MN6 and I learned on that.
The vette shift's pretty smooth for having all that power.
The vette shift's pretty smooth for having all that power.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 1
From: Houston (Spring) Texas
Originally Posted by lemansbleu2004
I seriously don't know why anyone would want an auto, unless maybe they were handicapped and couldn't use two arms and two legs. I'm guessing that they just don't know what they are missing!
absolutely love my MN6....!!
it bothers me to drive an automatic...I hate keeping my foot heavily on the brake pedal when stopped in traffic...I end up shifting it into neutral anyway...so you might as well get the manual tranny. All real sports cars have a manual transmission.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN
Originally Posted by Vettlldo
With a few mods (larger less restrictive air flow and Z06 cat back), a stock MN6 will blow the doors off an A4. A4's come with either a 2.75 or 3.15 rear end where the MN6 comes with 3.42 gears.
They come with either 2.73s or 3.15s. Because the A4 has a low 3.06 first gear ratio, with the 3.15s that becomes a 9.639 to one overall first gear ratio which is lower (higher numerically) than the MN6 with 3.42s. (The MN6 has a higher first gear ratio.) The A4 has a slight first gear ratio advantage.
Plus the A4 shifts quickly and consistantly enough that with an average driver it will often blow the doors off an MN6 driven by someone who doesn't know what he is talking about -- or DOING, I meant to say! 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Nashville TN
I think you should get the MN6 -- much more fun for a young person who doesn't have traffic or other (health) concerns.
The car I first drove and learned to drive was a ****** jeep in a hilly area! Yeah, I stalled it a few times!
But I learned real quick, and you would too.
I can't imagine being young and having the opportunity to own a six-speed Corvette! There is no way I would willingly choose an A4.
The only reason I have one now is because I have muscular dystrophy and cannot depress a clutch with my left leg anymore. 
You never know what life has waiting for you down the road -- get the MN6 now! 
The car I first drove and learned to drive was a ****** jeep in a hilly area! Yeah, I stalled it a few times!
But I learned real quick, and you would too. I can't imagine being young and having the opportunity to own a six-speed Corvette! There is no way I would willingly choose an A4.
The only reason I have one now is because I have muscular dystrophy and cannot depress a clutch with my left leg anymore. You never know what life has waiting for you down the road -- get the MN6 now!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,762
Likes: 2
From: Murphy TX
Get the manual and learn to drive the car. You will learn, and IMHO (not to start another manual/auto war) learning to drive a manual gives you a lot of insight in to driving a vehicle - balance, power, timing etc.
That being said, if you are the age you say you are, for the love of all of us out there BE CAREFUL. I don't care how careful you think you will be, but when you get behind that wheel, manual or auto, you will be overcome with testosterone and your brain will stop functioning. It is alot of car and deserves the respect that not many teenagers would give it (I know I wouldn't have at the time).
Cheers.
That being said, if you are the age you say you are, for the love of all of us out there BE CAREFUL. I don't care how careful you think you will be, but when you get behind that wheel, manual or auto, you will be overcome with testosterone and your brain will stop functioning. It is alot of car and deserves the respect that not many teenagers would give it (I know I wouldn't have at the time).
Cheers.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 7,086
Likes: 0
From: Davison MI
Originally Posted by 99C5Vert
if I were in your shoes, i'd buy the stick, take my time a little bit to learn it, and never look back. To me, it's alot of fun.
All it takes is a few hours in a parking lot or empty road, then a hill to practice taking off.
Just my .02
All it takes is a few hours in a parking lot or empty road, then a hill to practice taking off.
Just my .02
Once you get used to the clutch pressure points, it is easy.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07
I have always felt more in-touch with any manual shift vehicle. My first
vette was an A4, had the shift points tweaked, great car. But it would
sometimes shift when I didn't want it to, or wouldn't shift when I did! I
decided my next vette would definitley be an M6. For a vette, stick shift
is the was to go (IMHO).
There are downsides to sticks. Sometimes you'll miss a gear and/or grind
them. :bb You don't have the freedom of your right hand like you do with an
A4. You now have a clutch that one day may need replaced. Plus, if your
M6 comes with the stock shifter, you'll want to eventually install a good
short throw shifter.
The wise thing for you to do is to find (rent, borrow) a manual shift car
and learn how to drive it. Who knows, you may hate a stick. But if you
don't do that, then when you get your vette, have someone drive it to a
empty parking lot, deserted road, etc and practice. It won't take that
long to get a feel for it and I bet you'll love it once you do!!
vette was an A4, had the shift points tweaked, great car. But it would
sometimes shift when I didn't want it to, or wouldn't shift when I did! I
decided my next vette would definitley be an M6. For a vette, stick shift
is the was to go (IMHO).
There are downsides to sticks. Sometimes you'll miss a gear and/or grind
them. :bb You don't have the freedom of your right hand like you do with an
A4. You now have a clutch that one day may need replaced. Plus, if your
M6 comes with the stock shifter, you'll want to eventually install a good
short throw shifter.
The wise thing for you to do is to find (rent, borrow) a manual shift car
and learn how to drive it. Who knows, you may hate a stick. But if you
don't do that, then when you get your vette, have someone drive it to a
empty parking lot, deserted road, etc and practice. It won't take that
long to get a feel for it and I bet you'll love it once you do!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
the vette was my first stick, the first week or two is a little rough, but you get the hang of it.
I'm also a teenager and a friend of mine has an A4 and wishes he had the MN6 .. mostly for the fact I can spank him all day long. .. on the track ofcourse. 
I'm also a teenager and a friend of mine has an A4 and wishes he had the MN6 .. mostly for the fact I can spank him all day long.
.. on the track ofcourse.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 274
Likes: 0
From: Bergerac Dordogne
I'm English. Yeah, put me in the pile with the rest of the stereotype jokes . .
Anyway, to me an auto is an exotic thing. So my first 'vette was an A4. It was lovely.
Then I got invited to a Corvette open day at Goodwood (famous English track). I drove an MN6. Wooooo! It is a different car, totally. I have raced before (in my younger days) and I was blown away by the way the MN6 feels on the road. Totally controllable and totally telling you all the time what it is about to do. The A4 felt limp and detached by comparison.
Don't know which one is fastest in a straight line and I don't care. For me the MN6 is a whole world of fun and I wouldn't change it for the world. Another 'vette maybe, but the world, no!
Anyway, to me an auto is an exotic thing. So my first 'vette was an A4. It was lovely.
Then I got invited to a Corvette open day at Goodwood (famous English track). I drove an MN6. Wooooo! It is a different car, totally. I have raced before (in my younger days) and I was blown away by the way the MN6 feels on the road. Totally controllable and totally telling you all the time what it is about to do. The A4 felt limp and detached by comparison.
Don't know which one is fastest in a straight line and I don't care. For me the MN6 is a whole world of fun and I wouldn't change it for the world. Another 'vette maybe, but the world, no!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 21,734
Likes: 0
From: Charleston/Lake Villa IL
Whoa, I didn't expect these kinds of results from CF. For those of you that suggested it, are guys sure? I mean I'll be a teenager with at 350hp beast. I mean I'm calm and level NOW but when I get in it...ya never know the temptation might be hot and heavy.
But yeah after seeing the results I'll try to get a MN6.
But yeah after seeing the results I'll try to get a MN6.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 21,734
Likes: 0
From: Charleston/Lake Villa IL
Originally Posted by gyoung
Just get the stick - Once you learn it, you'll be glad you've got it - and it isn't hard to learn
Also - swap the stock shifter for a Hurst
Also - swap the stock shifter for a Hurst
How much is that gonna cost me?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,722
Likes: 64
From: DFW Texas
CI 7-8 Veteran
CI 8 Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07
i learned how to drive stick on my first car i purchased $400 get me there for high school thing. learned right there on the "test drive" youll be happin with the stick my first vette which is/was awsome was a auto ...but does compare on the pure fun factor of a manual trans.