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Auto or Manual? Which is best?

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Old 04-14-2009, 02:11 AM
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sterling5251
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Default Auto or Manual? Which is best?
I'm at the point in my 74 restoration, to make the final decision on the tranny to purchase..I'm torn between a T56, or an automatic. What is your experience/opinion? This is my first restoration and Vette.
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Old 04-14-2009, 02:56 AM
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demonx
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I prefer driving auto's cause I'm lazy

BUT

my vette has a 4 speed M21 stick shift!
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Old 04-14-2009, 03:29 AM
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tfi racing
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If you have to ask,your mind is already made up.You want an automatic,just put it in and be done with it.
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Old 04-14-2009, 04:09 AM
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hunt4cleanair
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Originally Posted by sterling5251
I'm at the point in my 74 restoration, to make the final decision on the tranny to purchase..I'm torn between a T56, or an automatic. What is your experience/opinion? This is my first restoration and Vette.
The Corvette engineers refere to those that select manual transmission for their driving experience the "aggressive sports car enthusiast" because they have to be "into it." For me, I want control so in the event I need instant acceleration I have both power and gear.
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Old 04-14-2009, 06:03 AM
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vett us all
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Originally Posted by hunt4cleanair
The Corvette engineers refere to those that select manual transmission for their driving experience the "aggressive sports car enthusiast" because they have to be "into it." For me, I want control so in the event I need instant acceleration I have both power and gear.
No other feeling like grabbing some gears.
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Old 04-14-2009, 06:26 AM
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vettesbydesign
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Originally Posted by vett us all
No other feeling like grabbing some gears.

Amen to that.......
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Old 04-14-2009, 07:57 AM
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Glass Act
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My auto has a TransGo stage ll shift kit, so it's fun to drive.
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Old 04-14-2009, 08:40 AM
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stevekk
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Manual trans... only way to go!!!
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Old 04-14-2009, 08:44 AM
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GD70
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Manual!!! It's a SPORTS CAR MAN!!!
Other wise drive a Caprice!
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Old 04-14-2009, 09:44 AM
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69427
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Originally Posted by GD70
Manual!!! It's a SPORTS CAR MAN!!!
Other wise drive a Caprice!
Ya beat me to it, '70.
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Old 04-14-2009, 10:19 AM
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C3 4ME
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I'm not sure I know how to drive an automatic.
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Old 04-14-2009, 10:21 AM
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OURSHARK
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Originally Posted by stevekk
Manual trans... only way to go!!!
I took the auto out and put a 5spd. in, much more fun.
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Old 04-14-2009, 10:24 AM
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MakoShark72
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Originally Posted by OURSHARK
I took the auto out and put a 5spd. in, much more fun.
Not to hijack, but what is the approx cost to do just that??

Thanks.
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Old 04-14-2009, 10:49 AM
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GD70
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Originally Posted by MakoShark72
Not to hijack, but what is the approx cost to do just that??

Thanks.
Check the Kessler kit. They are listed on the left panel. Also Tremec.
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Old 04-14-2009, 11:10 AM
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rajsid
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Originally Posted by sterling5251
I'm at the point in my 74 restoration, to make the final decision on the tranny to purchase..I'm torn between a T56, or an automatic. What is your experience/opinion? This is my first restoration and Vette.
What was it originally?
May make sense to stay with what it had originally.
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Old 04-14-2009, 12:24 PM
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Saint's Shark
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Automatic for drag racing...

Manual for street driving...
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Old 04-14-2009, 07:11 PM
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Red 71
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Originally Posted by MakoShark72
Not to hijack, but what is the approx cost to do just that??

Thanks.
PM Vettesbydesign (he posted about 7 posts before you). He has lots of options and is VERY competitive price wise!
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Old 04-14-2009, 07:31 PM
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dmeesq
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Originally Posted by C3 4ME
I'm not sure I know how to drive an automatic.


By the way...Whats an automatic?

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Old 04-14-2009, 09:45 PM
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cosmicvette
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Originally Posted by sterling5251
I'm at the point in my 74 restoration, to make the final decision on the tranny to purchase..I'm torn between a T56, or an automatic. What is your experience/opinion? This is my first restoration and Vette.
I have converted (done the work myself) a couple of previous muscle cars to tremec 5 speeds (see the pic of my Aussie R/T charger I converted to tremec 5 spd), but both my vettes are autos and I specifically looked for auto vettes only.

On a track you need gears to hit the right rpms into and out of corners etc, but imho auto is king of the street and I have driven plenty of both.

Never knowing what will happen on the street with a manual you can be caught in the wrong gear, whereas auto you are never caught out just drop that right foot.

Plus in traffic a heavy clutched muscle car can become a royal PITA, and I drive my cars a lot including getting stuck in some traffic so in terms of practicality auto is better there too.

But then again I am just a girl so maybe that is why I like auto



Last edited by cosmicvette; 04-14-2009 at 09:47 PM.
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Old 04-14-2009, 09:58 PM
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3JsVette
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Originally Posted by hunt4cleanair
The Corvette engineers refere to those that select manual transmission for their driving experience the "aggressive sports car enthusiast" because they have to be "into it." For me, I want control so in the event I need instant acceleration I have both power and gear.
unless of course you don't know how to drive stick.
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