manual vs. automatic and prices
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,074
Likes: 296
From: San Francisco CA
The 6spd. manual in a Corvette has more problems than the 4 spd. automatic
The automatic in the Corvette is a proven transmission a heavier duty transmission that has already been around.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by PROFESSORO
Auto vs Stick (we say straight drive in NC!):
Test drive 'em both - then decide.
Re: double-clutching: now here's a topic I can speak on. (20 years in big trucks) Most of the time in big trucks, I never used the clutch (except for launching or stopping). When the speed is matched to the rpm, it falls into gear. Period. Double clutching is not necessary in a car - unless - you fail to match the rpm needed for the next gear (hence - "blipping the throttle."). Want to get proficient at shifting? Go find an old B-Model Mack truck and learn to shift a 15 speed tri-plex without the clutch!
It's all about rpm's, my son.
Test drive 'em both - then decide.
Re: double-clutching: now here's a topic I can speak on. (20 years in big trucks) Most of the time in big trucks, I never used the clutch (except for launching or stopping). When the speed is matched to the rpm, it falls into gear. Period. Double clutching is not necessary in a car - unless - you fail to match the rpm needed for the next gear (hence - "blipping the throttle."). Want to get proficient at shifting? Go find an old B-Model Mack truck and learn to shift a 15 speed tri-plex without the clutch!
It's all about rpm's, my son.
I'd note that you *can* shift the Corvette without using the clutch, just as PROFESSORO does with his big truck. But you need to be very very good, with impeccable timing. Because both the inertia of the car and the inertia of the gears in the Corvette are much less than in a big truck, your timing has to be *just* right to pull it off. It is lots easier to do in a big truck where the speeds don't change very rapidly.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,089
Likes: 14
Originally Posted by Vette owner wannabe
Unless you really abuse the gearbox, the synchros will still last for the entire life span of the car (With exception of the odd weak designs).
You can do even faster downshifts without double clutching! And you can do it without grinding or any other form of gearbox abuse, even when you skip a gear or two. You can "drive it, like you stole it", and do it well, without double clutching.
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