A6 vs. M6
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
Here is my best guess as to the current relative merits of the A6 vs M6 debate. I think the A6 now has pretty much leveled the playing field for drag racing. I think we will see more and more A6's move up Tommy's list. The torque converter is the great equalizer here, along with the extra gears to keep it in it's power curve.
From a roll, I would still put my money on a M6 car. Don't forget that the automatic still has bigger losses when measuring rwhp.
Only fools will now get into a pissing match as to which is quicker.
From a roll, I would still put my money on a M6 car. Don't forget that the automatic still has bigger losses when measuring rwhp.
Only fools will now get into a pissing match as to which is quicker.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Originally Posted by crabman
What if you bought your car to have fun with and don't care about a tick or two out on the straight pipe? What about the more than 99% of the time these cars are taking us to work, the store, or are just getting a good back road flog? When comparing one to the other it seems to me that you have to do more than look at what can shift faster.
I'm one of those people that have driven a stick all my life. I enjoy the extra involvement. I'm not Mario and I don't feel any need to be Mario. A fellow I know asked me why I put a cat back on when I normally only do mods that add power. An easy one. I did it because I hated what I felt was a crappy exhaust note. It was detracting from my enjoyment of the car. The trans is the same kind of thing. I find the stick a lot more fun than the auto. That I did or did not gain performance by choosing a stick doesnt matter. I did gain what mattered to me. More fun.
IMO this car is about enjoyment and the only real question is which box gives the buyer the most. Flame suit on and prepared to be called a sissie for suggesting that all out performance is not the only metric that matters.
I'm one of those people that have driven a stick all my life. I enjoy the extra involvement. I'm not Mario and I don't feel any need to be Mario. A fellow I know asked me why I put a cat back on when I normally only do mods that add power. An easy one. I did it because I hated what I felt was a crappy exhaust note. It was detracting from my enjoyment of the car. The trans is the same kind of thing. I find the stick a lot more fun than the auto. That I did or did not gain performance by choosing a stick doesnt matter. I did gain what mattered to me. More fun.
IMO this car is about enjoyment and the only real question is which box gives the buyer the most. Flame suit on and prepared to be called a sissie for suggesting that all out performance is not the only metric that matters.
Very well stated. There are lots of ways to have fun with a Corvette. 
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Originally Posted by jschindler
Here is my best guess as to the current relative merits of the A6 vs M6 debate. I think the A6 now has pretty much leveled the playing field for drag racing. I think we will see more and more A6's move up Tommy's list. The torque converter is the great equalizer here, along with the extra gears to keep it in it's power curve.
From a roll, I would still put my money on a M6 car. Don't forget that the automatic still has bigger losses when measuring rwhp.
Only fools will now get into a pissing match as to which is quicker.
From a roll, I would still put my money on a M6 car. Don't forget that the automatic still has bigger losses when measuring rwhp.
Only fools will now get into a pissing match as to which is quicker.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by ALLBlackC6
You can't heal-toe an automatic. Unless Chevy has some type of rev-matching device coming soon like European cars, do the auto's have that?
Spring Mt did a test they had guys run both cars back to back all of them were faster in the A6, but the funny part they all said they felt faster in the M6
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
Why do you think the M6 is so much faster than the A6? Will tuning for the transmission make it any quicker? I was surprised that even with favorable gearing, the A6 isnt much quicker than it is.
If the A6 was available when I bought my car, I may have gotten it instead of the manual.
Any input?
If the A6 was available when I bought my car, I may have gotten it instead of the manual.
Any input?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
Thanks Glenn but I still believe that in the right (aka: very skilled) hands a stock manual C6 can beat a stock A6 on the same track on the same day. Most who race their cars usually don't choose to stay stock for the length of time (roughly a year or so with multiple track visits throughout) that it takes to wring the most out of a car. I chose that route, learned a lot from each pass and just happened to snag a few visits where it all came together. 
Good points
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,261
Likes: 1,431
From: Brentwood CA
I have an A6 and I recently had my car tuned (by Rick at Synergy) along with the transmission. Among other things, he reduced TM and changed the shift points in each gear. It now shifts at around 1900-2200 rpm in each gear. Now it doesn't shift into 6th until around 65 MPH, compaired to 45 MPH pre tune. It now seams like it is much more ready for power by bringing the shift points up a bit. Having the transmisson adjusted along with the tune really brings the A6 to life.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
I have an A6 and I recently had my car tuned (by Rick at Synergy) along with the transmission. Among other things, he reduced TM and changed the shift points in each gear. It now shifts at around 1900-2200 rpm in each gear. Now it doesn't shift into 6th until around 65 MPH, compaired to 45 MPH pre tune. It now seams like it is much more ready for power by bringing the shift points up a bit. Having the transmisson adjusted along with the tune really brings the A6 to life.
I'd hate to see you get only 25 or 30,000 miles out of your transmission after making such changes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,261
Likes: 1,431
From: Brentwood CA
It shouldn't effect the life of the tranny in any way. Have you ever driven an A6? If not, do you know how ridiculously low the stock shift points are? It shifts into 6th gear at 45 mph and a little over 1000 rpm. When I am running in paddle mode I shift at 2000 rpm so I don't know why it would hurt the tranny to do the same thing only automatically. Do you shift your manual at 1000 rpm? I think GM has the stock shift points so low to get the MPG up to beat the gas guzzler tax. Heck, even my Toyota truck shifts at 2500 rpm.
Dave
Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 1
From: NJ..."the way I saw it, everyone takes a beating sometimes."
What if you bought your car to have fun with and don't care about a tick or two out on the straight pipe? What about the more than 99% of the time these cars are taking us to work, the store, or are just getting a good back road flog? When comparing one to the other it seems to me that you have to do more than look at what can shift faster.
I'm one of those people that have driven a stick all my life. I enjoy the extra involvement. I'm not Mario and I don't feel any need to be Mario. A fellow I know asked me why I put a cat back on when I normally only do mods that add power. An easy one. I did it because I hated what I felt was a crappy exhaust note. It was detracting from my enjoyment of the car. The trans is the same kind of thing. I find the stick a lot more fun than the auto. That I did or did not gain performance by choosing a stick doesnt matter. I did gain what mattered to me. More fun.
IMO this car is about enjoyment and the only real question is which box gives the buyer the most. Flame suit on and prepared to be called a sissie for suggesting that all out performance is not the only metric that matters.
I'm one of those people that have driven a stick all my life. I enjoy the extra involvement. I'm not Mario and I don't feel any need to be Mario. A fellow I know asked me why I put a cat back on when I normally only do mods that add power. An easy one. I did it because I hated what I felt was a crappy exhaust note. It was detracting from my enjoyment of the car. The trans is the same kind of thing. I find the stick a lot more fun than the auto. That I did or did not gain performance by choosing a stick doesnt matter. I did gain what mattered to me. More fun.
IMO this car is about enjoyment and the only real question is which box gives the buyer the most. Flame suit on and prepared to be called a sissie for suggesting that all out performance is not the only metric that matters.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 569
From: Bucks County PA
I currently have a 2005 Vert A4/3.15 that ran a 12.57@110.57 (1.92 60')
I just traded my 2006 C6 Coupe MM6 that ran a 12.55@115.85 (2.02 60')
I decided if you can't beat em join em and bought a BASE 2007 C6 A6 coupe
I recently watched LS1LT1 run three consecutive 12.2s@115+ with his BASE A6 and I ran my 12.57 in my A4/3.15 the day he ran 12.48 in his A6.
I truly believe in MOST drivers hands the A6 will be the fastest way down or around a track.
Howard
I just traded my 2006 C6 Coupe MM6 that ran a 12.55@115.85 (2.02 60')
I decided if you can't beat em join em and bought a BASE 2007 C6 A6 coupe
I recently watched LS1LT1 run three consecutive 12.2s@115+ with his BASE A6 and I ran my 12.57 in my A4/3.15 the day he ran 12.48 in his A6.
I truly believe in MOST drivers hands the A6 will be the fastest way down or around a track.
Howard
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 1
From: NJ..."the way I saw it, everyone takes a beating sometimes."
Some of you guys are missing something here. The C6 was designed as an all purpose street vehicle. It has the manners, refinement, and comforts to be used as a daily driver. It also has the power and stability to be used to compete in various track and racing events. The C6 is a dual purpose vehicle. It can drive to the track, whoop-***, then drive home and even get you to work tomorrow. If it was all about making it the fastest, GM would have made one transmission, one suspension, and limited options. They would have tested and decided what was the "best" and only allowed that particular set up to be produced. The C6 is meant for a variety of driving styles with very little difference in model performance. The C6 was built to compete out there with them. Not against itself.
So you can argue and discuss the differences and each person's opinion. After all that is what this forum is all about. Just try and keep clear what it's really all about.
So you can argue and discuss the differences and each person's opinion. After all that is what this forum is all about. Just try and keep clear what it's really all about.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
Likes: 136
From: Short Hills, NJ
Though even there they still offered an option package.
Some of you guys are missing something here. The C6 was designed as an all purpose street vehicle. It has the manners, refinement, and comforts to be used as a daily driver. It also has the power and stability to be used to compete in various track and racing events. The C6 is a dual purpose vehicle. It can drive to the track, whoop-***, then drive home and even get you to work tomorrow. If it was all about making it the fastest, GM would have made one transmission, one suspension, and limited options. They would have tested and decided what was the "best" and only allowed that particular set up to be produced. The C6 is meant for a variety of driving styles with very little difference in model performance. The C6 was built to compete out there with them. Not against itself.
So you can argue and discuss the differences and each person's opinion. After all that is what this forum is all about. Just try and keep clear what it's really all about.
So you can argue and discuss the differences and each person's opinion. After all that is what this forum is all about. Just try and keep clear what it's really all about.
100% 
