Manual Vs. Auto Trans
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: DFW Texas
Manual Vs. Auto Trans
In my hunt for my first Vette I have come across another small, but important issue...Manual Vs. Auto. 
With the expection of my first car (88' Trans Am) all my cars have been manuals. My last car had one of the best (STi 6-Speed 
), but I am finding many Vettes with the newer 6-Speed Auto.
How good are these transmissions? I do plan on doing some bolt-on's and get the Vette tuned...so the question of how strong are these newer automatics comes up. Also, just the basic issue of how well they performance overall when compared to a manual. I have driven only Manual Vettes at this point so I will need to try one out myself. How do you all think the paddle feature? Thanks.
NeoTrunks
With the expection of my first car (88' Trans Am) all my cars have been manuals. My last car had one of the best (STi 6-Speed ), but I am finding many Vettes with the newer 6-Speed Auto. How good are these transmissions? I do plan on doing some bolt-on's and get the Vette tuned...so the question of how strong are these newer automatics comes up. Also, just the basic issue of how well they performance overall when compared to a manual. I have driven only Manual Vettes at this point so I will need to try one out myself. How do you all think the paddle feature? Thanks.
NeoTrunks
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 4
From: Cheektowaga NY
St. Jude Donor '08
Do you plan to road race course? Drag race? Or weekend warrior?
The A6 with a aftermarket stall convertor is the way to go if your a drag racer. Actually the A6 from what i have read on this forum also does well at the road courses too.
The paddles in a way give you the best of both worlds.
I guess i am biased....Get the A6 auto! 
Get ready, this is going to be good!
The A6 with a aftermarket stall convertor is the way to go if your a drag racer. Actually the A6 from what i have read on this forum also does well at the road courses too.
The paddles in a way give you the best of both worlds.
I guess i am biased....Get the A6 auto!
Get ready, this is going to be good!
Last edited by Tony B4; May 11, 2008 at 02:15 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35,761
Likes: 148
From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
There have been tons of threads, Auto vs Stick. (most end up in big arguments)
I prefer a stick, even with my bad left leg. The choice is up to you get what YOU WANT. Consider what you are going to do with the car!
FWIW the 6spdA is a very strong tranny. It holds up well behind Callaways 560 packadge. (first hand experience)
Most C6s sold are auto.
Like I said its your car, GET WHAT YOU WANT/NEED!
I prefer a stick, even with my bad left leg. The choice is up to you get what YOU WANT. Consider what you are going to do with the car!
FWIW the 6spdA is a very strong tranny. It holds up well behind Callaways 560 packadge. (first hand experience)
Most C6s sold are auto.
Like I said its your car, GET WHAT YOU WANT/NEED!
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
With the Automatic, you are loosing a major part of the driving experience. I had an Auto in my 1998 TA and it was fast. Now that I have a M6 in my Vette, I will never go back to the Auto. Full control over the car and rowing through the gears is absolute fun.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 255
Likes: 41
From: Lake Charles LA
choices
I've had Vettes and other cars with both. I prefer to shift for myself. Another thought: with the manual, you save about $1200 over the cost of the A6.
The A6 is probably quicker and it doesn't overrev or miss any shifts. It takes an experienced shifter with the manual to equal the auto. However, I think a manual gives a car more of the "feel" of a sports car.
The A6 is probably quicker and it doesn't overrev or miss any shifts. It takes an experienced shifter with the manual to equal the auto. However, I think a manual gives a car more of the "feel" of a sports car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
Always had manuals in all my personal cars. I thought it was absolute heresy to get an auto in a sports or muscle car. I got the A6 and I really like it. The paddles are so-so, but overall it's an excellent tranny especially after you get it tuned. The plus side is my wife or kids can drive it and I don't worry about nearly as much. Plus the problems I had on the clutches on my 01 Z28 made me HATE GM hydraulic clutch mechanisms!
The most negative comment I have on the A6 is the paddle delay. It has driven me crazy during autocrosses. You just have to anticipate when to shift, then be patient that it is finally going to shift.
The most negative comment I have on the A6 is the paddle delay. It has driven me crazy during autocrosses. You just have to anticipate when to shift, then be patient that it is finally going to shift.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 318
Likes: 6
From: Alpharetta GA
like everyone said, depends what you want to do with it, 100% of the reason i got an M6 is because i think its a lot more fun to drive and this was my first manual car I actually owned. I think the auto is pretty cool especially after the tune and with pedals i hear, but probably not as fun. Make your pick! 
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
The best advice I can give you is to test drive both. After reading this forum, I was torn about whether to get auto or manual. But then I drove both, and it was a very, very, very easy decision for me. I ended up choosing auto because while I can drive a stick, I realized that there was no way in hell I could ever duplicate the shifting of an auto. I actually almost stalled the car numerous times while test-driving it as well! I just found the shifting much more difficult than manuals I had driven previously. Then the thought of driving a an expensive car like this up hills with a manual tranny was frankly scary. Also, I love to drink and drive (not alcohol 
), and only the auto would allow that. Yeah, it was a very easy decision for me. Bottom line, though: test drive both.
), and only the auto would allow that. Yeah, it was a very easy decision for me. Bottom line, though: test drive both.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
The A6 will be faster 99% of the time but some people like to shift I think shifting a C6 is fun and smooth the M6 feels faster to most people too.
With a little power both are good with a little more the clutch becomes the downfall and with even more they will both need to be upgraded, and you will go through clutches faster the more you race.
I have almost 30,000 trouble free miles on my A6 and a best ET of 11.0 and 128 MPH traps, I dont beat on it but drive/race it hard dailly.
With a little power both are good with a little more the clutch becomes the downfall and with even more they will both need to be upgraded, and you will go through clutches faster the more you race.
I have almost 30,000 trouble free miles on my A6 and a best ET of 11.0 and 128 MPH traps, I dont beat on it but drive/race it hard dailly.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 318
Likes: 6
From: Alpharetta GA
The A6 will be faster 99% of the time but some people like to shift I think shifting a C6 is fun and smooth the M6 feels faster to most people too.
With a little power both are good with a little more the clutch becomes the downfall and with even more they will both need to be upgraded, and you will go through clutches faster the more you race.
I have almost 30,000 trouble free miles on my A6 and a best ET of 11.0 and 128 MPH traps, I dont beat on it but drive/race it hard dailly.
With a little power both are good with a little more the clutch becomes the downfall and with even more they will both need to be upgraded, and you will go through clutches faster the more you race.
I have almost 30,000 trouble free miles on my A6 and a best ET of 11.0 and 128 MPH traps, I dont beat on it but drive/race it hard dailly.
If you plan to street rice from roll ons , i think a manual is pretty good, as you can bang the gears just as fast as the auto shifts for the most part.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
Well I should have said quicker since I dont know if anyone has tested real top speeds.
But yes as tested side by side at the drag strip, road course, and roll on the A6 pulls the M6 and M6 Z51 most of the time.
A6 has the gearing advantage up to 180
A6 has the TQ multiplcation advantage
A6 has to have the shifting advantage
M6 has the RWHP advantage
M6 should have the weigt advantage? but its not much like you would think
The fun factor can be debated back and forth my friends M6 with 390rwhp has never beat my 350rwhp A6 (er or mph) he still thinks it is fun to shift but not so fun to loose.
There are countless fast cars that have swaped to an autoand they pick up .5 - .8 sec in the 1/4.
Now there maybe somone that can power shift the M6 faster then the A6 can shift but I have not seen it and if it was the case the M6 would rule the 1/4 mile list.
I would love to see somone like Ranger get some seat time in a M6 and challenge the A6 bone stock record and break into the 11's stock.
But yes as tested side by side at the drag strip, road course, and roll on the A6 pulls the M6 and M6 Z51 most of the time.
A6 has the gearing advantage up to 180
A6 has the TQ multiplcation advantage
A6 has to have the shifting advantage
M6 has the RWHP advantage
M6 should have the weigt advantage? but its not much like you would think
The fun factor can be debated back and forth my friends M6 with 390rwhp has never beat my 350rwhp A6 (er or mph) he still thinks it is fun to shift but not so fun to loose.
There are countless fast cars that have swaped to an autoand they pick up .5 - .8 sec in the 1/4.
Now there maybe somone that can power shift the M6 faster then the A6 can shift but I have not seen it and if it was the case the M6 would rule the 1/4 mile list.
I would love to see somone like Ranger get some seat time in a M6 and challenge the A6 bone stock record and break into the 11's stock.