Stick vs Automatic?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Different gear ratios means, possibly, different top speed. Amount of time getting to a certain speed will probably depend on driver skill more with the manual tranny than with an automatic.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 10,516
Likes: 2
From: Virginia Bch VA
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Lots
Lower overal gear ratio on the stick=better acceleration. Higher top end gear ratio with stick=better gas milage. + the gotta have it factor. IMHO having an auto with a sports car is like kissing your sister. 
Last edited by JFTaylor; Dec 20, 2004 at 02:30 PM. Reason: Clarity
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Originally Posted by nhlgopens
Better control with a stick...
Mike
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
It takes a dang good driver to beat an auto in straight line acceleration. Most, if not all, of the best 1/4 mile times are autos.
However, I ordered mine with the 6-speed because of the fun factor. I even live in a high-traffic area and will use the car as my daily driver.
I rode with a buddy in his C6 on Saturday, and there is nothing like doing 60mph on the highway in 6th and dropping it into 3rd and rocketing to 90mph in a heartbeat.
However, I ordered mine with the 6-speed because of the fun factor. I even live in a high-traffic area and will use the car as my daily driver.
I rode with a buddy in his C6 on Saturday, and there is nothing like doing 60mph on the highway in 6th and dropping it into 3rd and rocketing to 90mph in a heartbeat.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 23,957
Likes: 174
From: South West - but north of Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
Only of what gear you are in. Driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other rowing a canoe is not exactly the most efficient for overall control of the car!
Mike
Mike
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,316
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio Texas - Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic
Originally Posted by JFTaylor
Lower overal gear ratio on the stick=better acceleration. Higher top end gear ratio with stick=better gas milage. + the gotta have it factor. IMHO having an auto with a sports car is like kissing your sister.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Winchester VA
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
Only of what gear you are in. Driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other rowing a canoe is not exactly the most efficient for overall control of the car!
Mike
Mike
Personal opinions aside, if auto's were better for performance don't you think all auto racing would employ them?? I think NASCAR, CART, GP, and all other forms of auto racing would have to disagree with your opinion. You never change gears in turns anyway, so i'm not sure where control is a factor, but you are entitled to your opinion.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 443
Likes: 1
From: AZ
Matter of personal taste and convenience.
IMO, sticks are a pain in stop and go traffic but more engaging when driving for fun. If you need to make/take a cell phone call, you're going to need a headset with a stick unless you like juggling the phone or cocking your head to keep it against your shoulder. I hardly ever talk on the phone in my car but when I have to, a stick makes it all the more dangerous. Also, you need to time your drink sips so you don't get caught having to do a quick downshift with a hot coffee in your hands.
I'm ordering an AT with mine strictly because it is my daily driver and I enjoy being able to drink coffee on my 22 mile commute through stop and go traffic.
Sticks sure look cooler, though, and you never need to put up with someone rolling their eyes at your choice in transmissions.
IMO, sticks are a pain in stop and go traffic but more engaging when driving for fun. If you need to make/take a cell phone call, you're going to need a headset with a stick unless you like juggling the phone or cocking your head to keep it against your shoulder. I hardly ever talk on the phone in my car but when I have to, a stick makes it all the more dangerous. Also, you need to time your drink sips so you don't get caught having to do a quick downshift with a hot coffee in your hands.
I'm ordering an AT with mine strictly because it is my daily driver and I enjoy being able to drink coffee on my 22 mile commute through stop and go traffic.
Sticks sure look cooler, though, and you never need to put up with someone rolling their eyes at your choice in transmissions.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Originally Posted by C64BC
Personal opinions aside, if auto's were better for performance don't you think all auto racing would employ them?? I think NASCAR, CART, GP, and all other forms of auto racing would have to disagree with your opinion. You never change gears in turns anyway, so i'm not sure where control is a factor, but you are entitled to your opinion.
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,365
Likes: 7
From: Parkland Florida
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by drmcar
Other than the fun factor is there any advantage for speed having one over the other? Thanks
It's only about the fun factor!!! That's why we buy these cars. I had an SL55 in '03 and all that 493 HP, and tons of torque were blotted out by the fact that MB doesn't make a manual in the US. That car lasted 6 months BORING! 6 speeds rule!!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 378
From: Northern NJ
Originally Posted by steve miller
It's only about the fun factor!!! That's why we buy these cars. I had an SL55 in '03 and all that 493 HP, and tons of torque were blotted out by the fact that MB doesn't make a manual in the US. That car lasted 6 months BORING! 6 speeds rule!!
Other than fun???
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 69,020
Likes: 0
From: Bagpipes put the "fun" in "funeral"
Originally Posted by drmcar
Other than the fun factor is there any advantage for speed having one over the other? Thanks
Stickshifts don't make any sense. I mean, there are THREE pedals. How many feet do you have? The mind boggles. Plus if you're holding your cell phone in your left hand, that means you have to hold your coffee and shift at the same time while steering with your knee.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 0
From: Gilroy CA
Anyone who has heard this engine gnarr and snarl in 3rd gear from 2500 to 6000 rpm's could never go back to an auto. Losing the ability to control the sound as well as the performance of this amazing engine to me is unthinkable.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 222
Likes: 27
From: voorhees nj
corvette + AT = good
corvette + MT = all out greatness
ps. i can drink coffee and drive, its really not that hard. i used to smoke and drink coffe at the same time in my c5. it only takes 1 second to shift, you can let go of the wheel, shift, and then steer again. if you are turning and need to shift but cant, you can feather the clutch to get you through it.
stick all the way....my .02
corvette + MT = all out greatness
ps. i can drink coffee and drive, its really not that hard. i used to smoke and drink coffe at the same time in my c5. it only takes 1 second to shift, you can let go of the wheel, shift, and then steer again. if you are turning and need to shift but cant, you can feather the clutch to get you through it.
stick all the way....my .02
