Manual Conversion
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Yea the manual has it's place thats for sure when it comes to the fun factor. But i'll tell ya....we just bought a new Acura with the paddles and a dual clutch tranny. I hate to admit that while I'll always prefer the 3rd pedal for some real driving, these new dual clutch trannies are some kind of fun in their own right.......
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,947
Likes: 1,407
From: Canada
Pro
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 714
Likes: 251
From: Grand Island, Florida
I'm a little shocked that so many seem to hate the auto. I actually like it, sitting in rush hour traffic jams its way easier, at times I just want to relax and let the car shift for me, at the track my auto out runs the manual vettes and if I want to shift the paddles add that experience to the mix. Yes, I agree for the pure rawness the manual is cool/fun but most guy's can't shift for **** when it counts so to each his/her own.
Bronk
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 143
Likes: 85
I'm a little shocked that so many seem to hate the auto. I actually like it, sitting in rush hour traffic jams its way easier, at times I just want to relax and let the car shift for me, at the track my auto out runs the manual vettes and if I want to shift the paddles add that experience to the mix. Yes, I agree for the pure rawness the manual is cool/fun but most guy's can't shift for **** when it counts so to each his/her own.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,697
Likes: 889
From: CONCORD CA.
i had the same thought with my previous ride ( '98 Z/28 ). it was dad's ride that i got after he passed away.
when it started acting up, i thought that that would be a good time to change to an M6.
as the 4th gen camaro was offered with the T56, i thought it would be relatively easy swap.
i know that the layout and access of the camaro is different than, the C6 corvette, their will still be a lot of unexpected
surprises to deal with. my biggest issue what just removing the auto ( 2 days ). the access to the top bolts and sketchy on line
instructions had me pulling my hair out. in the end, i'm glad i did it, but will never try that again. maybe if i had a lift
( as opposed to working on my back ), it might have been different.
while it may seem odd to sell your current ride and, look for an M6 equipped one, you will be much better off.
with everything designed from the get go to work together ( especially the computer ).
would you buy a possibly hacked up conversion?
when it started acting up, i thought that that would be a good time to change to an M6.
as the 4th gen camaro was offered with the T56, i thought it would be relatively easy swap.
i know that the layout and access of the camaro is different than, the C6 corvette, their will still be a lot of unexpected
surprises to deal with. my biggest issue what just removing the auto ( 2 days ). the access to the top bolts and sketchy on line
instructions had me pulling my hair out. in the end, i'm glad i did it, but will never try that again. maybe if i had a lift
( as opposed to working on my back ), it might have been different.
while it may seem odd to sell your current ride and, look for an M6 equipped one, you will be much better off.
with everything designed from the get go to work together ( especially the computer ).
would you buy a possibly hacked up conversion?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 34,479
Likes: 532
From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader
I believe in the Beer Fairy
I did a swap on a 98 from Auto to M6. I bought my parts right and got all my ducks in a row before I began. I will say it is not for the faint of heart, it's not a simple thing , there is a lot of wiring you're going to do and you're going to be replacing entire harnesses. Even the pedals themselves are a major job in a C5. I don't want to make it sound like it can't be done but it is a lot of work. I did mine at the same time as I did a complete new suspension and a new engine with of course a new torque tube because I needed to swap that. Headers, Cat exhaust pipe and cat back, there was an awful lot of stuff got switched. If you enjoy doing that kind of work and you can purchase the parts out of a salvage somewhere, just make sure you get the entire kit all in one bunch and you've got yourself a hell of a fun project. Be prepared for weeks of work. Bolting the parts in is nothing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,441
Likes: 370
From: Maryville TN
St. Jude Donor '06-13,'16-'17, '19
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,697
Likes: 889
From: CONCORD CA.
the longer you wait, not so much. you may find it fun, but only in shorts runs. i don't even think about, even while in commute traffic.
along the same lines of trying to convert blue oval loyalists to the bow tie crowd. no right or wrong. find your own passion!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,947
Likes: 1,407
From: Canada
i've driving manuals for over 40 years. i feel that it's one of things that, either you love or hate ( i know, duh! ). if you get into early enough, you'll probably be hooked.
the longer you wait, not so much. you may find it fun, but only in shorts runs. i don't even think about, even while in commute traffic.
along the same lines of trying to convert blue oval loyalists to the bow tie crowd. no right or wrong. find your own passion!
the longer you wait, not so much. you may find it fun, but only in shorts runs. i don't even think about, even while in commute traffic.
along the same lines of trying to convert blue oval loyalists to the bow tie crowd. no right or wrong. find your own passion!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,697
Likes: 889
From: CONCORD CA.
i can see your point and do tend to agree with you. if given the choice, i;m always going with a manual.
my dad loved cars and could driver manuals,he only drove automatics,
he contracted polio when he was young., which left him with a useless left leg. even with that, i did see him drive a manual once.
he had to place his left leg on the clutch pedal. then push down his leg with his left hand. quite cumbersome, but he was determined.
if o hadn't seen that happen, i may never had been exposed to manuals.
some people just never get the itch and then, some people get the itch, but can never quite scratch it. not sure what that means, just ramblin'....
my dad loved cars and could driver manuals,he only drove automatics,
he contracted polio when he was young., which left him with a useless left leg. even with that, i did see him drive a manual once.
he had to place his left leg on the clutch pedal. then push down his leg with his left hand. quite cumbersome, but he was determined.
if o hadn't seen that happen, i may never had been exposed to manuals.
some people just never get the itch and then, some people get the itch, but can never quite scratch it. not sure what that means, just ramblin'....
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,959
Likes: 526
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
So whats your point ? This wasn't another attempt to revive the Man VS Auto debate. Never said that manuals aren't more fun to drive. I simply stated that these new dual clutch trannies are fun within their own right. Maybe your wife's XT6 has "Useless" paddles which if they aren't connected to a dual clutch tranny then they are useless, just like our C-6 paddles.. Or maybe you don't know how to use them. Or maybe you chose not to appreciate them due to bias. I like manuals more to.....but I ain't so bias that I won't admit that these dual clutch trannies with paddles are really nice.....
