Automatic or Manual
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Santa monica CA
Automatic or Manual
I always drove an Automatic
Planning on getting a corvette soon.
Dont know if i should get an auto or manual corvette.
I just dont want to worry about shifting but i also don't want to loose performance.
What are the advantages / Disadvantages of both???
Can i get a dual?
Planning on getting a corvette soon.
Dont know if i should get an auto or manual corvette.
I just dont want to worry about shifting but i also don't want to loose performance.
What are the advantages / Disadvantages of both???
Can i get a dual?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,606
Likes: 88
From: Sammamish WA
Tough question and one you'll eventually have to figure out for yourself.
When I bought my C6 coupe, I wanted an automatic, especially since the 6-speed paddle shift became available (though I've never found much use for these "manumatic" features.
But, the car I bought came with a 6-speed manual and the more I drive it, the more I enjoy it. I need to add though that I don't commute to work everyday and rarely have to use the car in any sort of rush hour traffic.
Strangely enough, now that I've had the manual for a couple of years, I'm going to find it more difficult to figure which transmission I want when I go buy another one.
If you want ultimate performance, I suppose the 6-speed manual is the way to go, but how often are you going to use it to advantage.
If you're going to use the car as a daily driver - and you certainly can - and you live in a populated area with occasional heavy traffic, I'll bet the auto will be easier to live with.
Consider too, that more new Corvette are sold with automatics than manuals.
My guess is that you will find the automatic will be likely to cause you more regrets than the manual.
When I bought my C6 coupe, I wanted an automatic, especially since the 6-speed paddle shift became available (though I've never found much use for these "manumatic" features.
But, the car I bought came with a 6-speed manual and the more I drive it, the more I enjoy it. I need to add though that I don't commute to work everyday and rarely have to use the car in any sort of rush hour traffic.
Strangely enough, now that I've had the manual for a couple of years, I'm going to find it more difficult to figure which transmission I want when I go buy another one.
If you want ultimate performance, I suppose the 6-speed manual is the way to go, but how often are you going to use it to advantage.
If you're going to use the car as a daily driver - and you certainly can - and you live in a populated area with occasional heavy traffic, I'll bet the auto will be easier to live with.
Consider too, that more new Corvette are sold with automatics than manuals.
My guess is that you will find the automatic will be likely to cause you more regrets than the manual.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,500
Likes: 312
From: Scottsdale AZ
I think in part it depends upon where you live (you didn't fill out your profile) and how you intend to use the car. If it's a daily driver . . .winter and summer with lots of in-town use on congested freeways, then a manual might be a PIA you'd want to avoid.
If it's a "weekender" and you enjoy going through the gears on a country road . . .by all means go manual.
Welcome to the forum . . .but it's your call.
If it's a "weekender" and you enjoy going through the gears on a country road . . .by all means go manual.
Welcome to the forum . . .but it's your call.
Last edited by CQRT; Sep 25, 2008 at 08:31 PM. Reason: spelling . . .duh
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Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Missouri City TX
If you don't want to have to "worry" about shifting get an automatic - it will shift for you worry-free. I got a manual because it doesn't worry me to shift and I enjoy driving a manual sports car more than an automatic.
There are tons of threads on manual vs. automatic - do a search.
There are tons of threads on manual vs. automatic - do a search.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 8,022
Likes: 8
From: Stafford VA, home of our wolf den. No house break ins to date.
depends on what you got the car for.
ive had nothing but manuals in my performance cars since 1969..
why? because they are weekend sunnyday drivers.. rarely caught in traffic.. i like to drive the car.. and in the mountains, a manual is the ticket...
stop light to stop light, an auto will take a manual any time unless the manual driver is damn good.... but...me, who cares? i dont believe in street racing.......
i like to "tell the car what to do".....and the m6 makes it happen.
ive had nothing but manuals in my performance cars since 1969..
why? because they are weekend sunnyday drivers.. rarely caught in traffic.. i like to drive the car.. and in the mountains, a manual is the ticket...
stop light to stop light, an auto will take a manual any time unless the manual driver is damn good.... but...me, who cares? i dont believe in street racing.......
i like to "tell the car what to do".....and the m6 makes it happen.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
I think in part it depends upon where you live (you didn't fill out your profile) and how you intend to use the car. If it's a daily driver . . .winter and summer with lots of in-town use on congested freeways, then a mnaul might be a PIA you'd want to avoid.
If it's a "weekender" and you enjoy going through the gears on a country road . . .by all means go manual.
Welcome to the forum . . .but it's your call.
If it's a "weekender" and you enjoy going through the gears on a country road . . .by all means go manual.
Welcome to the forum . . .but it's your call.
I had a 99 A4, and all my vehicles have been autos for past 10 years I considered an auto, but test drove a manual. That made the decision to buy the manual car easy for me. It is not a daily commuter, just a pleasure/weekend car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 3
From: La Mesa CA
You won't loose performance with an auto, I have a 6spd mn
and love it. If I want to drive an auto I drive the wife's Porsche.
You need to go drive both if you can find a dealer that will let you.
Also what is there to worry about shifting, it is not hard to do. I
have been shifting for 45 years it's not a big deal.
and love it. If I want to drive an auto I drive the wife's Porsche.
You need to go drive both if you can find a dealer that will let you.
Also what is there to worry about shifting, it is not hard to do. I
have been shifting for 45 years it's not a big deal.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,898
Likes: 5
From: Plainfield, IL
Wow I cant say I have ever "worried" about shifting. Infact I cant get enough of it. Couldn't even imagine driving an automatic Corvette. Thats what I have my Honda Accord for. I say get the manual however after you mentioning shifting as being something to worry about or an inconvenience you certainly sound like someone for an automatic transmission
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 1
From: Hollywood FL
I asked my salesman for his opinion. He asked me what I like to do. I stated that I like to drive with a "cold one" in the cup holder, talk on the phone and smoke all at the same time. He told me to get the automatic and I did.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Denison, TX
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 8,022
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From: Stafford VA, home of our wolf den. No house break ins to date.
i dont allow anything in my performance cars, including farts or combing hair! LOL
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,274
Likes: 8,546
From: Rochester, NY
If as you state you do not want to worry about shifting then I guess you should get the Automatic, for me I love the manual and I really enjoy shifting. It just seems like a real sports car to me. I have nothing against the auto with paddle shift but as I said the manual just adds a whole new dimension to driving.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
I really wanted a manual shift but when I found my '06 it was auto. I talked myself into it because it had paddle shift. Now that I have it, I'm glad I got auto since it's my daily driver. I don't use the paddle shift much at all.
I had to convert my C3 from auto to manual though. It's going to be the weekend cruiser and I want to shift it.
I had to convert my C3 from auto to manual though. It's going to be the weekend cruiser and I want to shift it.
