Are manual transmissions in a C4 a premium?
 

Question everyone: I've been shopping for my first C4 and have been exclusively searching for a stick shift. I've noticed there aren't too many around and there is an overwhelming amount of automatics. Does a manual transmission affect the price in trying to buy a C4?

Depends. A clean well-optioned 6-speed car can be more desirable.

A 4+3 however, a wash, IMO.

It has been my experience that 6 speed c4 bring a 50% premium over autos roughly. It sounds like a lot, but it's like 3 to 5 grand since the cars are so inexpensive now. 4+3 cars also bring a premium, but not as high of one compared to zf6 cars.

Supposedly the take rate for sticks was like 20% over the years. They made a lot of C4s, but that that's still not a lot.

bottom line, there are few zf6 cars under 5k worth buying. Most will need a lot of work. Even ones at 5k typically have a LOT of miles and need a bunch of work. Clean low mild cara are 10k and up, the lt4 cara seem to be in the 13 to 14 range lately.

Short answer is yes. While I have had a few autos and a few sticks, sticks are allot more fun to drive for a driver.... Automatics do have their place though.... if you would like to go on a date night with your wife or girlfriend, an automatic is nicer in my opinion.

Bummer thats a shame. I really can't see myself driving an auto Vette. Hell even my DD is a 5 speed.

Yep. When I was doing my looking, manuals seemed to command a $1500-2000 premium over similar autos. Driveable manuals seemed to bottom out around $5k, whereas autos could be had in the low 3s. Then again, C4 prices didn't seem to follow any real guidelines in general beyond that, so it made getting a real feel of exactly what the commanded hard.

I've started looking for a nice local '89 MN6 vert and noted that, of 26k Vettes built only ~4k had the MN6 and only 10k verts, so my search will not be a snap.

I looked for almost two years for my 89 zf6 with the FX3 suspension. I wanted the Atari dash too so that limited my choices.

With such a limited number of manuals and even less being convertibles, though not impossible to find there aren't many. I spent a lot of time looking before I found my 86 convertible. Though it started life with a 4+3, it had been changed to a Tremec 5 speed prior to my buying it. Being I already had a T-bird with an automatic, a manual was a mandatory item for me and I finally found one. Like anything else, the less there are the more of a premium you'll pay if you find one.

They're definitely rarer. Out of the 51k 84s built only 7k are manual and only about 8k are black. We just lucked out finding one tbh. 85 about 10k of the 40k are manuals. That trend is about the same through the years. For the most part, people looking for a specific type of c4 are going to be looking for a manual and thus the price goes up. If you want a manual, you have to look.

When I was looking at C4's I wanted a White Vert with Black top. All were Auto's except one and almost didn't look at it. After the first test drive I knew I had to have a stick in this type of car. I ended up buying a fully loaded 90' with every option including the FX3 and mint interior. It was a two owner car garage kept but used on nice weekends. Didn't realize what I bought until learning more about car from forums and other Vette owners.

More new Corvette buyers opt for automatics over manuals but as the car ages and value drops they begin to fall down to a demographic which prefers manuals.

good to hear since I own a 89 shift 6 speed

It also took me a few years to find my 6 speed. I wanted a low mileage Collector Edition Vert. I really enjoy putting the top down and running it through the gears on a nice summer evening. I only get into 6th gear on the Thruway.

food for thought if your tall and have larger feet you might not like the extra pedal.

I notice that nice 6 speeds seem to cost a little more, but I am not sure how much. C4's vary so widely based on condition, year, options, and not too many on the market that it is almost like each one needs to be evaluated separately.

To me the 6 speeds are the ones to get. I have had a couple 4+3's one A4, and four 6M's I got an '88 A4 as a daily driver, but sold it because I wanted a 6M. I got a '94 6M to replace it and loved it. I like the 6M's better than the 4+3's. They shift better, have a wider spread of ratios, and are stronger. I only used the OD on the 4+3 as a 5th gear on the highway.

I think the 6M's are the most fun to drive and as a bonus they get the best gas mileage on the highway too. I frequently hit 30 mpg on an interstate cruise.

Good luck in your search.

Lol,I think I've been in 6th gear twice also on Thruway. Once through the gears up and once on the way down to exit !!!