Which do you prefer, and which one is better?

They both have their pros & cons.
Manual
pros - fun to drive, banging gears
cons - rush hour, missed gears
Auto
pros - fast shifts, more consistant
cons - weight, power loss

Manual. Much more involving experience. Better MPG.

And rush hour isn't bad when you use my momentum method of driving... put into 1st, pip clutch, start coasting, put in neutral, release clutch, repeat as needed.

I use that method in LA freeway traffic and it works brilliantly.

Sometimes I really wish I had a 6 speed car but then lots of times I'm really happy I have my automatic. For a daily driver, I think the A4 would win hands down around here where I live with so much crappy traffic.

I always had 4 speeds in all my Vettes until I got an 88 with an auto and kinda liked it. The older I get the more I like to just move the stick and not have to clutch. If I bought a new Vette I'm thinking paddle shifts. So autos are for old men and sticks for the younger guys.......or not!

My 64 (back in the day) had a four speed, loved it. When I bought the 94 (thirty years later), I wanted the wife to be able to drive it, so I purchased the A4. When I decided to buy a C5 I was sure that I wanted the M6, as the wife only drove the 94 twice in the four and a half years we had it. We were in KC and I went to a dealer to test drive a couple C5's, one an auto and the other a M6. I drove the auto first and really liked it. Then I drove the manual. Heading out on the freeway I thought "yea, this is it". Headed down to pick up the wife and had to drive down 87th street (busy main road with lots of stop lights) and all of the shifting got tiresome in a hurry.....that experience was enough to keep me in the auto.

OK, like Marcus, I must be getting old and enjoy not having to shift.

I just like a stick. But on alot of new cars the manufacturers take that choice away from you.

I have an auto and they are very convenient. But I like the "control" of a stick...being able to choose my rpm range and shifts. So I put in a shift kit that has a manual valve body option.

Matthew

One pro for an auto is power on shifting.. if your running a supercharger, turbo, or nitrous you don't have to back off to shift..

I still would prefer s 6 speed, much more fun to drive if your doing a road course or driving on an open road, however as stated in high traffic, having a clutch pedal is less fun... same if you live in the mountains...

Aside from all the intangibles such as a more "involved" driving experience and mileage, the reason for a manual is simple - choosing your own gear.

Obviously this applies to road racing, but just driving around town, especially in traffic, I need a manual trans. How often have you wanted to pass someone, or squirt through a quickly closing gap between two cars but you can't because your auto trans has to downshift two gears? I drive a bunch of different company vehicles, from Fiestas to a sweet Mercedes E55, and even in the cars with adequate power (E55 ) nothing is more irritating that having to wait for the trans to downshift before I can use it.

In my truck I prefer the automatic, though. It doesn't do a lot of squirting through small gaps in traffic.

This is almost like "Do you like black Corvettes or white Corvettes?". Run what you like.

I have owned a few automatics.......but they were all trucks.

Rush hour here takes 5 minutes.

You guys talking about autos for old guys......yes you are.

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I choose purple...

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Yea, the color of royalty.

You know I looked a long time to find my 92 6spd. In stock form, I think the 6spd is the better car by far. I had driven C4s both ways before I bought mine and for me a 6spd was the only way to go.

I kinda regret having a 6spd now that my 92 is modified.... but honestly at this point, even if I had an auto car - I'd have a bunch of money in a built auto trans/converter and it would still break other stuff occasionally.

I do enjoy pulling gears in the 92 with all this HP. It's really fun. It's hard to launch but once you get off the line the thing is just a blast to drive down the track.

What is best for me is not what is best for someone else. I think people should drive both and buy what you like best. Of course if you like both.... if it's within your means you could always own one of each.

When I went looking for a rubber bumper Stingray, I looked arund and found one with an auto trans. After owning my 76 for a few years now, I don't think I would want to have a C3 with a 4spd.
Will

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Mmmm I might be old but I think my auto can beat your stick like a drum........just saying

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OK, we'll just have to do that run here:

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Auto for me, stick is like work for me not to mention all the thinking involved. ? What gear an i in. I like to just put it in and go

I probably would have preferred a 6-speed, especially in a sports car like a Corvette, but I'm pretty happy with my auto. I went with the automatic primarily so the Mrs. could hop in and enjoy it too without a learning curve.

Only thing to say to all the "Auto" guys...drive one with a stick... decision made!

I love my 6speed.

When I was younger I could never afford a 6speed Corvette.

I will never go back to Auto.

I like having the 6-speed, and have only had a couple times where I wished I had an automatic (i.e. driving through Chicago in rush hour traffic). And my Mrs. won't attempt to drive it.