Manual vs auto
Instructor
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 160
Likes: 63
From: Los Angeles
I love manuals and all my past sports cars the last 20+ years have been manual, Firebird, RX-7, RX-8, Miata, SLK, Shelby GT, my current Corvette is my first automatic and I love it. In my 20s and 30s I'd mock sports cars with autos, but now that I'm in my 40s I appreciate automatic since my Corvette is my daily driver, and I've gone to Willow Springs and I enjoy the paddle shifters (I did the billet ModifedVette billet paddles and the Diablosport Intune TCM tune to firm and quicken the shifts).
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,216
From: Las Vegas Nevada
What in the heck are you talking about? You just clowned and directly disrespected 60% of the guys and gals on this forum. Self-respecting people also tend to keep their idiotic and or rude opinions to themself - Many of us have owned both, and have had different reasons for owning either of them, at each specific time. But to imply that someone is somehow disabled or lacks self-respect for driving an automatic, you have truly crossed the line of decency. C'mon man. 
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 166
Likes: 93
From: Near Reading PA
Every used performance car I bought that had a manual was usually beat harder than the used auto cars I picked up over the years. That being said, there's a place for both, and as a disabled person, I've enjoyed both equally. To say I couldn't drive a manual is extremely insulting, but I have to consider the source. This time around I went auto because it's what I wanted and could care less what anyone thinks. We have options for a reason. If you need to feel a stick in your hands to be satisfied, by all means enjoy. Not everyone needs to compensate for their shortcomings by beating everybody, being number one, or having to own the best in order to look down on others with "inferior" cars, houses, jobs, transmissions, model of Corvette, whatever, in order to feel better about our selves or their choices. Respect goes a long way. Some folks want nothing but manual trans cars because they love them, but the ones with class and respect don't need to bash anyone else as inferior. sorry, rant over.
Instructor
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 210
Likes: 88
Every used performance car I bought that had a manual was usually beat harder than the used auto cars I picked up over the years. That being said, there's a place for both, and as a disabled person, I've enjoyed both equally. To say I couldn't drive a manual is extremely insulting, but I have to consider the source. This time around I went auto because it's what I wanted and could care less what anyone thinks. We have options for a reason. If you need to feel a stick in your hands to be satisfied, by all means enjoy. Not everyone needs to compensate for their shortcomings by beating everybody, being number one, or having to own the best in order to look down on others with "inferior" cars, houses, jobs, transmissions, model of Corvette, whatever, in order to feel better about our selves or their choices. Respect goes a long way. Some folks want nothing but manual trans cars because they love them, but the ones with class and respect don't need to bash anyone else as inferior. sorry, rant over.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 876
Likes: 116
From: HOMESTEAD FL
Of course all real men drive manuals... LOL JK (please no twisted panties)
And my M6 is faster than everyone reading this post! Because I identify as being faster than you!
SPEED SAFE, NICK
Last edited by AIR_RAM; Jun 20, 2021 at 11:21 AM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 876
Likes: 116
From: HOMESTEAD FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 574
From: North AL
I have enjoyed my 2011 GS M6. It's slick going through the gears, it's easy and forgiving taking off from a stop and the sounds it makes with the NPP open between gears is pretty cool. I have had the car a month and gotten pretty comfy with driving it.
Having said that, there's also something pretty awesome about stomping the throttle to the floor at any speed and having the the car quickly go into the optimal gear for acceleration. If I'm being honest, I do sometimes miss this about the Auto.
I purchased the 2011 GS M6 because my last hotrod was a 2000 Camaro SS A4 with a Yank 3600 stall(which was a ton of fun). But part of me felt like I was missing out not having an manual. So this go around I had to go with a manual to see what I was missing.
There are certainly more pros and cons of each. Gotta take the good with the bad either way. I have an appreciation for both.... no wrong answer. IMO, it depends on the priorities and personal preferences of the owner.
Having said that, there's also something pretty awesome about stomping the throttle to the floor at any speed and having the the car quickly go into the optimal gear for acceleration. If I'm being honest, I do sometimes miss this about the Auto.
I purchased the 2011 GS M6 because my last hotrod was a 2000 Camaro SS A4 with a Yank 3600 stall(which was a ton of fun). But part of me felt like I was missing out not having an manual. So this go around I had to go with a manual to see what I was missing.
There are certainly more pros and cons of each. Gotta take the good with the bad either way. I have an appreciation for both.... no wrong answer. IMO, it depends on the priorities and personal preferences of the owner.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
I have no regrets about my automatic, but I wanted one from the beginning. My first car was a 4 speed and I have had plenty of manuals, my first Corvette was an 86 manual. As others have said, depends what you want to do with the car, what your attitude is. I have had plenty of fun shifting, for me, this is not offset by the nuisance of being in traffic or stopped on a hill or when I have to lean out the window to get a badge reader to open a gate. That is just a matter of personal choice, sounds to me like you want a manual and you would be settling for an auto. A corvette is always more than just transportation, they are at least partly if not mostly our dream cars, you should get the one that is in your dreams, not someone elses.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,483
Likes: 3,985
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,483
Likes: 3,985
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
For those less experienced, just pull the hand brake and let it out as you engage the gas. That's all hill assist is.