Automatic vs. Manual?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: California
Automatic vs. Manual?
I always thought I'd get a manual but I found an '08 with everything I want but it is an automatic.
How do you owners feel about your automatics?
Do you think the auto w/paddle shifters is nice?
It will be a 100% pleasure car, no track. I think I may be satisfied or even happier with the auto but that may be me talking myself into this car
appreciate some insights from those who know these cars.
How do you owners feel about your automatics?
Do you think the auto w/paddle shifters is nice?
It will be a 100% pleasure car, no track. I think I may be satisfied or even happier with the auto but that may be me talking myself into this car
appreciate some insights from those who know these cars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 16
From: stuart fl
i got an auto A6 this time around since i like to go to the drag strip and im not that good at launching a manual. if i wasn't into the drag strip i would have gotten another manual, its just more fun to cruise around in but a pain in a traffic jam. dont get me wrong i like the auto but for just a cruising around car i would probably go with the manual.
dicky
dicky
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Will this be a daily driver? I have an 08 A6 that I assumed was going to be a DD, but I ended up keeping my economy car for commuting to work and only drive my C6 about once per week. I drive it for pleasure. Would like to bring the car to an occasional road racing course at some point. So my actual driving is more performance oriented. Given that, I wish I had gotten the manual.
The paddle shifting isn't that bad, but I've driven my friend's Carrera S with the tiptronics auto and the difference is night & day. In his car, I think the auto can actually help a novice to advanced intermediate driver get faster lap times. The A6 feels is really sluggish in comparison and you can't tune out paddle shifting lag times.
If I really was going to use the Corvette as a daily driver in a place like San Diego (where I live) the A6 is definitely what I would prefer.
The paddle shifting isn't that bad, but I've driven my friend's Carrera S with the tiptronics auto and the difference is night & day. In his car, I think the auto can actually help a novice to advanced intermediate driver get faster lap times. The A6 feels is really sluggish in comparison and you can't tune out paddle shifting lag times.
If I really was going to use the Corvette as a daily driver in a place like San Diego (where I live) the A6 is definitely what I would prefer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,659
From: Las Vegas NV
Keep looking. If you really prefer a manual transmission, you will NEVER be satisfied with an automatic, no matter how many other options the car has. Trust me... been down that road before!
Better to get the transmission you *really* want, and sacrifice a few other 'features' of the car. Almost everything else can be added or retrofitted later.
Better to get the transmission you *really* want, and sacrifice a few other 'features' of the car. Almost everything else can be added or retrofitted later.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 536
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles California
I have a manual but have driven the auto. In my opinion the paddle shifters are not that fun so that's a non issue. The auto is easier to drive so if you are "ok" with an auto sports car it may be a good choice. The manual has obvious appeal but the drawback is that as hp goes up, the "solid" drivetrain connection of a manual increases the chance of things like wheelhop, wheelspin, and jerkiness on shifts if timming/rev match isn't right on.
It's not a forgiving clutch/tranny in my opinion. Anyway it's a personal choice, I would not get an auto, but I'll admit that smoothly transfering the power through the clutch on take off and shifts is harder in the vette than other manual cars I've driven, so the easier route of the auto has more appeal than I once thought.
It's not a forgiving clutch/tranny in my opinion. Anyway it's a personal choice, I would not get an auto, but I'll admit that smoothly transfering the power through the clutch on take off and shifts is harder in the vette than other manual cars I've driven, so the easier route of the auto has more appeal than I once thought.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
It comes down to what your version of pleasure is, and how often you expect to enjoy that pleasure.
In my case, ('08 A6 w/58K on the clock) about 1% of the time I wished I had a M6, about 10% of the time I was really happy to have the A6, and the rest of the time it just didn't matter.
In my case, ('08 A6 w/58K on the clock) about 1% of the time I wished I had a M6, about 10% of the time I was really happy to have the A6, and the rest of the time it just didn't matter.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 0
From: Canton/Detroit Michigan
Some people can't fathom driving a car without a stick shift. I thought I was like that. But I settled for the A6 because I wanted the car I saw.
Yes, paddles are not like a manual. But then again, a manual is not like an auto (meaning the advantages of an auto cannot be had on a manual).
Having said that, when I want to hold a certain gear for more torque response, I simply shift to S mode and then use the paddle. Now I can predict that the car WILL NOT shift on me when I floor it, unlike standard automatics that do all the thinking for you. A car with this much torque is dangerous if you are driving it aggressively and you cannot predict whether it will drop 1, 2, or 3 gears when you mash the pedal.
I've learned to appreciate what the A6 brings to the table for me. There are some people on these forums that refuse to acknowledge the benefits of the A6 for some reason, but I am here to say that I don't mind it. Also, I wouldn't have minded the manual. Trade-offs, either way.
Yes, paddles are not like a manual. But then again, a manual is not like an auto (meaning the advantages of an auto cannot be had on a manual).
Having said that, when I want to hold a certain gear for more torque response, I simply shift to S mode and then use the paddle. Now I can predict that the car WILL NOT shift on me when I floor it, unlike standard automatics that do all the thinking for you. A car with this much torque is dangerous if you are driving it aggressively and you cannot predict whether it will drop 1, 2, or 3 gears when you mash the pedal.
I've learned to appreciate what the A6 brings to the table for me. There are some people on these forums that refuse to acknowledge the benefits of the A6 for some reason, but I am here to say that I don't mind it. Also, I wouldn't have minded the manual. Trade-offs, either way.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
My C5 was an auto, and it too turned into a pleasure car. When I ordered my 08, I got a stick,my first manual trans in over 15 years. I am 100% happy that I made that decision.
Playing on twisty mountain roads is a blast with the MN6. With the lower gearing of the Z51 option, it is not bad when caught in a traffic jam. If I had to do over, it would be a mn6..If it is what you want, hold out and get what you want.
Playing on twisty mountain roads is a blast with the MN6. With the lower gearing of the Z51 option, it is not bad when caught in a traffic jam. If I had to do over, it would be a mn6..If it is what you want, hold out and get what you want.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Rent or test drive a ZHZ (the Hertz rental Corvette). They are all LS3 cars with the A6 transmission.
I had one rented for 3 days and I returned it on the second one. The A6 was that bad. It was, without doubt, the slowest shifting auto I've driven to date. I picked up a Mustang for my 3rd day rental and had more fun with that car than I had with the automatic 'Vette.
I had one rented for 3 days and I returned it on the second one. The A6 was that bad. It was, without doubt, the slowest shifting auto I've driven to date. I picked up a Mustang for my 3rd day rental and had more fun with that car than I had with the automatic 'Vette.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 539
Likes: 1
From: Edmond, OK
My two cents: As a friend once told me before I bought my M6 '07 Coupe, "a manual transmission is more participatory." When driving a manual, I feel as though I'm not only along for the ride, I am actively participating in the running of the vehicle. Autos are great but for me, a sports car driven for pleasure would have to be a manual. You need to be happy with what you buy so get what you really want!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,253
Likes: 133
From: Short Hills, NJ
Love it, especially once it was tuned.
Yes, they come in very handy on the highway and in the mountains.
Not quite as much a true manual of course but not bad at all.
In all fairness, if you're not going to be competitively drag racing the car then I would certainly recommend you getting a manual instead (regardless of my positive statements about the A6 above) as overall the manual is still more fun as a weekend toy on the street/highway (other than bad traffic).
But on the other hand, if you're not going be entering any type of track events (ie: road courses either) at all then the freedom/ease of operation of the automatic might still be the better choice for you as the performance losses over a manual are minimal.
Nah, you didn't settle at all actually. 
Yes, they come in very handy on the highway and in the mountains.
Not quite as much a true manual of course but not bad at all. But on the other hand, if you're not going be entering any type of track events (ie: road courses either) at all then the freedom/ease of operation of the automatic might still be the better choice for you as the performance losses over a manual are minimal.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
From: The Villages Florida
I've had many auto and many manual transmissions and have enjoyed them all. The manuals were all "sporty" cars and the hi-po auto trans were sedans. So, in my mind, autos are for "family" fast sedans and manual is for a more serious mind set. My '07 manual is a DD and I LOVE rowing the gears.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,646
Likes: 2
Rent or test drive a ZHZ (the Hertz rental Corvette). They are all LS3 cars with the A6 transmission.
I had one rented for 3 days and I returned it on the second one. The A6 was that bad. It was, without doubt, the slowest shifting auto I've driven to date. I picked up a Mustang for my 3rd day rental and had more fun with that car than I had with the automatic 'Vette.
I had one rented for 3 days and I returned it on the second one. The A6 was that bad. It was, without doubt, the slowest shifting auto I've driven to date. I picked up a Mustang for my 3rd day rental and had more fun with that car than I had with the automatic 'Vette.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
I think it's sad when somebody says they had to "settle" for an auto. If it's a "pleasure" car and this means not a DD you'll be missing out on a lot of fun with the auto. I'm not a hater, it's just boring to me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
I have always had a manual until the last 3 cars/trucks. raced with an M6 and went through a couple of clutches and rear ends. not as much problem with an auto since I will not be doing 6K dumps to launch. I like my auto now and I do not even use the paddle shifter. I like to just go for a ride now that I am older. I may change my mind when I get this car on some mountain roads but then maybe the paddle shifter will take care of that need.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,253
Likes: 133
From: Short Hills, NJ
That's less of a factor for the original poster as he won't be racing the car of course but it is true.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 61
From: Austin TX
Both my C6's are/have been manuals. The only problem is it's difficult to get a smooth engagement of the clutch and throttle, particularly when delaying a part throttle shift. I'm certain the primary problem is the fly by wire throttle followed by the clutch engagement not being linear at takeup. I've never had an issue with any other manual.
