manual vs automatic ????

[Bob R]

Ok, this is a serious question. Try not to laugh too hard.

I have always wanted to own a corvette, but my lovely wife has never liked them (because 30 years ago she dated some a$$hole who drove one!!). We have been married over 25 years and she has finally (and reluctantly) agreed to let me buy a corvette.

This is great news, but my dillemma now is which one? I really like the stats and feel of the newer Z06's with 405 hp, but am concerned about the manual transmission. I haven't driven a manual since the 1980's when I owned a Mazda RX7 and a BMW M6, both of which I loved. My wife thinks that I'll get tired of shifting and says that I'm not that good a driver, and that my reflexes are not quick enough to drive the manual (I am 50 with no obvious disabling neurologic deficits except I'm pretty anal and neurotic). To boot, my co-workers say that I don't drive fast enough to own a corvette, and are not being terribly supportive. (My son is encouraging, but that's probably because he'll want to drive the car....he currently drag races a modded '97 Camaro).

I am moving to Florida in a few months (West Palm Beach area) and will be able to enjoy this car year-round. I am torn at this point, and wonder if I will be "biting off more than I can chew" with this car.

Any advice or opinions????

Bob

[WEF]

Manual vs. auto is a totally personal thing. Ive always had manuals but when I got my first Vette it was an auto and they've been auto's ever since. The one and only reason I don't have a Z is because it doesn't have auto. It's a big investment, test drive a bunch of them.

[hakka]

I don't really think that you will get tired of the manual. I'm guessing this will just be a weekend car, so you won't be driving it in stop and go traffic, really. I never get tired of the 6-spd; it gives you more of a connection to the car. Good luck and have fun

Oh yeah, remember to wave

[SwaveDave]

Personally..i wouldnt have anything but a stick in a Sports Car...cause you do feel connected more to it.

However...in your case , you need to consider your wife/kid driving it some of the time ; not many women like stickshifts . And i have to say that it does become a distraction at times when in heavier traffic wondering if you should downshift or upshift . It requires above average coordination to smoothly use a stickshift in all situations...sounds like you might be bordering on being a Nerd ...so give some thought to what im saying here bud. Maybe the wife is right 'this' time !

[Purerock105]

I agree with the others...it really is a personal choice as to what's best
for you and/or your SO(if she drives )

If I was still living in Virginia with all the twisties and back-woods
mountain roads I would have chose a manual. But my prior 8-cars
were all manuals as I'm living in the swamp-lands of Florida now.

My car is set up for the strip, where an auto doesn't mis-shift like
a human can ). Although I down-shift quite often from 3rd
to 2nd(love the sound ).

My car isn't a daily driver, but when I do take it to work it's all
lights, 40mph speed limit, in stop-n-go traffic. Been there done that.

[shotgun_000]

Have the best of both worlds; get an automatic and manually shift it.

That's what I do, especially if I'm racing someone, or merging on the highway. It acts just like a manual, in that it doesn't upshift until I tell it to. Best of all, no clutch to worry about, and the shifts are consistent.

Often I'll run through the first two gears at about 6,000rpm

[bowtiebandit]

Originally Posted by hakka

I don't really think that you will get tired of the manual. I'm guessing this will just be a weekend car, so you won't be driving it in stop and go traffic, really. I never get tired of the 6-spd; it gives you more of a connection to the car. Good luck and have fun

Oh yeah, remember to wave

Have to agree with this, I have a 6 spd in mine. I drive them all day long and never get tired of shifting even in city traffic.

[hakka]

Originally Posted by SwaveDave

However...in your case , you need to consider your wife/kid driving it some of the time

Another reason the 6-spd might be a good thing

[Gripenfelter]

Well first off you can't get a Z06 in auto.

My dad is 67 and hadn't driven a manual in 30 yrs.

He got behind the wheel of a 95 Z28 and was a pro in about 4 hrs.

Hope that helps.

[Bob R]

Well, I made my decision.

I bought a 2004 Z06, and I'm having a blast. I still need to work on shifting smoother, but I've never had this much fun driving.

Thanks for everyone's imput.

Bob

[hakka]

You made the right choice...you definetly won't regret it. By the way, is it the LMC? Will you mod it?

[vetteguy1]

with the way the automatics are set these days they can be just as quick. the stick gives you more control and is overall a more fun way to drive but if your worried about it just get an auto and put a shift kit in it

[slacker_53]

Have a BLAST!!

-slacker