Hey guys, I'm the author of this post and a C4 owner, (93 6speed). I'm glad I didn't tell you I thought C4's were faster than C5's cause they're lighter!!!

 

You A4 guys make this argument all the time. One problem. The average banker drives an A4, not an M6. Corvette owners with M6's are not usually "average". That's why we by M6's.

 

Well, there were a couple of C4's that were pretty fast, even comparing to C5's. The LT-5 and LT-4. Gee, they were only available with six speeds :lol:

 

The bankers I know drive M3's and M5's. :D

 

I like having an A4, especially since its my daily driver. If this were my weekend toy, i prolly would have bought an M6. However, i have beat several M6's lately (hmmmmmm...i wonder who) :D Could it be Schindler and saxn8r? hehe...had to throw that one in there guys :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Daren

 

Okay Daren, if you are going to be a smart butt about this, let me remind you that you beat me on reaction time. I don't have the track experience you do. So let me point out that in a side by side run where you beat me, my time (ET and MPH) was faster than yours. And let's not talk about the run on the street where I obliged you and agreed to start from the speed where YOUR car worked best, then we had to abort the race...

And I see in your sig that your best time is 12.85 at 110.24. My best times in my coupe were 12.67 at 111.9 (three runs in a row in the 12.6's).

Had to throw that in myself :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:




[Modified by jschindler, 8:26 AM 11/8/2002]

 

This is an everlasting debate filled w/ opinions. So why not throw mine in!! :D
If you watch the manuals vs. the auto cars at the drag strip, you'll notice that the autos accelerate really smooth throughout the entire run. Smooth=fast. Some MN6 drivers will show their skill by emulating this smoothness to the point where it is very difficult to tell it is an MN6 watching from the stands. A great example of skilled shifting vs. avg shifting is the video of MattG under the '03 Rustang thread. Matt's shifting was damn good and you could virtually see how smooth the car was going down the strip. In contrast, you can see a less skilled MN6 driver in the Mustang in the same video.

One thing that I have noticed pretty consistently on the street is that many times the "race" (be it short or long, fair or unfair) is initiated at a moments notice with little to no controlled conditions. That means when it's time to go, it's time to go. Also many times on the street, it is not just an all out run. You tend to slow down and pick up again. Ever race an auto vs. MN6 around corners and bends? These types of scenarios are when I believe the MN6 folks have an advantage because they can manipulate the gears to do some wild things particularly when they know the automatic is at an awkward speed/shift point. If you're a car nut you probably already have read the gear ratios, specs, etc. on the type of car you run into.
Of course with all the extra "tools" in life, you need to know how to use it in order for it to work to your advantage. There are allot of MN6 drivers out there that don't necessarily practice shifting habits for racing. In a street run, I find myself often times listening to the other car/driver to get an indication of when they are going to shift as I am driving next to them. One thing's for sure, most MN6 drivers who are enthusiasts and don't back down from a race are either really good shifters, or will become one very quickly if they keep at it.
:yesnod:

To play devil's advocate, I have on occasion caught a manual shifter in the wrong gear in one of my other "modded" automatics. :cool:
I tend to prefer the autos on super fast sports sedans (ie E55 - luv that car, someday), but will always choose the stick for the all out sports cars. :cheers:

 

My auto versus a simalar M6 each hace the close rwhp, from a roll around 30ish I win to 100 after that he just walked away to about 120 when we leveled off. Yes I have 3.15 and a 3000 stall converter and thats the difference. With the stock torque converter no way I beat him to 100.

From a dig I would own him to the 1/8th mark then he would probly pass me!


[Modified by cscollis, 11:50 AM 11/8/2002]

 

You A4 guys make this argument all the time. One problem. The average banker drives an A4, not an M6. Corvette owners with M6's are not usually "average". That's why we by M6's.


I like the ability to try to control all aspects of driving my Vette, although around town I wish at times I had the auto for ease. Either tranny has it's +/-'s. To each their own! :seeya

 

they make an auto for these cars? that's sick :U

 

I am sorry, but if we are talking about a stock automatic transmition, I must respectfully disagree. There is a small loss of energy and efficiency in the stock auto trans. The 0-60 times, quarter mile times, and fuel mileage are all better with the manual transmition on the C5's and this is very well documented in "Car & Driver", "MotorTrend", and GM's own official specs.

Brad :flag

 

Ya baby, YA!

 

I think I read that article too! The slushbox WAS a tick faster. Buried deep into the article though it did mention that the used up clutch was slipping on the 6 speed car. I'd say this was the reason the auto was quicker. :yesnod:

Tom

 

Soley depends on the driver and how much you want to ream on the clutch and tranny! Give me a 6spd car I can drive like I stole it and I could beat any automatic. I don't think any car they call an american "sports-car" should have auto's. If you want an automatic buy a Cadillac or a Buick. :eek:

 

A manual *can* be faster than an auto, but it is highly dependent upon the skills of the driver.

The automatic will shift the same way, every time.

But I still say that manual trannys are more fun :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:

 

My chick likes me to work the stick :yesnod: When I go to drive the auto C5, she says can we take the C4 with the shifter? :lol:

 

I think a lot has to do with the driver,but the autos today are pretty quick :chevy

 

OOPS! Please allow me to amend my post...I went back to Motor Trends test and I was wrong. The 0-60 did reflect a .1 advantage for the M6. The 1/4 only reflected .2 not .5!!! :D Sorry felow A4 owners, didn't mean to sell us short. :D :D :D