Chemdawg99

My reason for buying an automatic over a manual is threefold...

First, I have bad knees due to my Army service.

Secondly, the traffic I typically encounter on the East Coast is not conducive to enjoying the thrill of driving a manual.

Lastly, there isn't much of a performance penalty with automatics now. Heck, the automatics in modern Corvettes (C5 through C7) shift faster than a human can in most cases.

Nothing wrong with having either transmission. It's about personal preference. YMMV.

davepl

Whereas I don't think the old rowboat has any place in a modern performance car. Technology left it behind a decade ago. They're slower, don't require more skill (let's face it), and there's just no real benefit.

I can't think of a single benefit. "Driver involvement" doesn't count because you can paddle shift, it's the same deal, just a different way of changing to the next ratio, but you're still in command.

I guess like chrome wheels there's always a place for nostalgia though. Buy whatever you like, I'll still salute it if it's a Z.

daveyboy

Not sure if you are being sarcastic...to each their own, but IMHO:

--It absolutely takes more skill to drive a manual.
--There are benefits depending on what your priorities are (same could be said of an auto).
--It is much more involving as it gives you options that are not possible with an auto.

Again, I don't care what other people choose, only what is in my car.

davepl

I'm being argumentative for the sake of it, but not sarcastic. Once you've figure out how to change gears on Day 3 of Driver Training, where's the skill? It's in WHEN you change gears, not how. You can do that with either car.

Or do you think it's more skillful and involving to do it with a foot clutch? Seems like that's pretty easy to me.

0Cajun @ Edgyvette

Not sure there is any argument to be had in that point. Case in point a novice vs. practiced driver in an A8 vs. M7 I can guarantee you the times on a track or in the 1/4 mile will have much more delta in the M7. Hence "skill" differential.

I guess if I had to sum it up it would be this way......A8=Faster; M7=Funner If that is actually a word

I have 1 x A8 C7, 1 X A8 Grand Sport, and 2 x M7 ZO6. For me I will never have another Automatic unless they stop making M7. Sure I will get beat at the 1/4 mile because I am not willing to launch my car at high RPM enough on drag radials to get excellent launches. I will say this....... HP being equal I dont think an A8 is going to beat me on the highway from a 2-3-4 gear pull or at least I have not run into one that I didnt put 2 cars on up to 135 yet No lift to shift is pretty cool

davepl

I'll grant that in drag racing, launching the car requires much more skill with the M7 than an A8. Without a doubt.

I was thinking of road course and street driving, where (to me at least) there's no more fun or skill involved than there is with the A8.

I like them both, but don't think the M7 is "more fun", or I would have ordered my Z that way. I have two TKO-600s and an M20 in the stable, so I do like them for more retro muscle cars, just not in my modern cars.

I think each has their place. I really only push back on this notion of "One is better than the other", or "One makes you manly", that sort of nonsense.

ilivas

Heel and toe is fun. Can't do that in an auto. The extra driver involvement does it for me.

Chuck A

Just think of it as driving a motorcycle, yea i would go with the manual, of course
very true, indeed

Corvette-Dan

I chose an auto because I'm a drag racer at heart and the autos are quicker. Also, unlike most men under 80, I actually give a rats *** about my wife, so considered her too. That alone gave me the green light to buy a second Vette despite the fact that I am not rich like many here. I'll take two autos over none at all.

geewez

My C6 was a manual and I've always owned a stick shift sports car since the 70s but decided to try the A8 for my final sports car. No complaints so far.

Corgidog1

Never realized there were so many people who cared about the extra tenth of a second of speed that the auto has over the M7. I love the feeling of a well executed shift and also have a stick in my daily driver Subaru. I love to manually shift gears.

Woodstoc

Traffic in Houston sucks. Corvettes have been my daily driver for over 40 years and not fighting that clutch.

TigerVette

Had the stick in the ‘99 and the ‘09 and both were fun. Chose to go the A8 route with the new technology. The quicker Vette wasn’t a deal breaker. 😜

Fodowsky

Loved having an M in the past. My Boxster S was the best and lots of fun. With this Z06, I wanted the A so more of my family could drive it.