New LS1 Owners - Newbie Tech - Which one is better (auto vs. manual)?

Which one is better in drivability and less problems or in another way less maintenance and good for street racing?

omg loaded question...to sum it up...

race car (consistant 10's or lower) = auto
fun street car (anytime you can do) = m6

I wonder how many pages this will be??

that is a big question...umm lets seee stole it summed it up about right

M6 is definitely the fun factor while A4 is the all out drag racer

M6 prolly takes more maintenance (thats why you build it up) and the A4 doesnt need much as much

Yep, I think the question was answered perfectly.

also A4 will be more tame and friendlywith inner city tracffic...such as.... CHICAGO!!!! :cry: :eek2:

Well, ive had both... The m6 is definatly more fun, but i guess it all depends on what you plan for your car..

If you plan on having a modded car (cam, nitrous, etc.) that you plan on drag racing alot, the a4 is better and more consistant.

If you plan on just having fun on the street with a little drag racing, the m6 is definatly the way to go. However, you have to worry about the rear end as well as such things going wrong in the tranny such as linkage and a sticking clutch. (both problems ive had and still do)....

An automatic transmission can be costly to rebuild or replace. Many of my Impala SS buddies have killed their 4L60E automatic transmissions after modding the heck out of their LT1 engines. When this happens they either pay to get the automatic transmission rebuilt or they swap in the T56 6-speed manual transmission. (Here is such a kit: http://www.bigfastcar.com/)

I agree the question has already been answered, but since I have nothing to do I will add my two cents. I have owned one auto and three M6's. I have to agree, for a daily driver the M6 rules supreme!

:headbang:

im partial to autos. when its time for fast down and dirty drag racing, the auto is where its at! :jest:

If we are going on opinion I would say M6 all the way, I love to row through the gears at the track, and when people want to play on the highway the M6 rules!!! I am and always will be a M6 guy, Street or strip!!

Dan

yes m6's rule, i love mine. but i gotta say these t56 trans aren't that great and the stock clutches suck and the aftermarket clutches are so hit and miss. If i was somebody who wanted to go fast but didn't "have" to have a stick then this car is just fine with auto. I think if i did it all over again i'd get stick tho, but i hate the expense its caused me

Perfect driver? M6.

But an automatic never blows a shift or makes you
put down your Slurpee cup when something comes
up unexpected or you just get a little too excited.

A well tuned transmission (PCM) and a properly
selected torque converter make for a totally different
driving experience, than the stock A4 F-body.

If only the A4 were a double-overdrive A5....

Perfect driver? M6.

But an automatic never blows a shift or makes you
put down your Slurpee cup when something comes
up unexpected or you just get a little too excited.

A well tuned transmission (PCM) and a properly
selected torque converter make for a totally different
driving experience, than the stock A4 F-body.

If only the A4 were a double-overdrive A5....

My God, I couldn't have said it better myself.

If only the A4 were a double-overdrive A5....

4.56s :D

I love my M6 just for the fun factor most of the time. It is a PITA when i'm in traffic and it's going to force me to get a 12 bolt next summer when I up the power and traction.

no offence dude but your the epidome of a :newbie:, do you ever do any research or info gathering on your own?

as far as this post; ready the FAQ.

i think you feel like your part of the action with an m6, plus any drunk 1-eyed, cracked out monkey can just hold the gas down on the floor :jest:

but really, an auto car w/ a big stall will run better in a drag and be more user friendly. a 6 speed car feels more involved and fun, plus theres nothing like a 1-2 shift :D

p.s. - with an m6 car, one of your cupholders is VOIDED!!

M6 all the way. Much more fun to row through the gears.

Well, I have my opinions on this subject. Here they are. It really depends on the type of person that you are. If you like to go to the drag strip a lot or racing from a dead stop then the A4 is probably going to do better for you. If you like to street race and race from a roll then the M6 will probably do better for you. The draw back is that the A4 in the f-bodies is weak. If you get any real power you are going to kill your transmission. With the M6 you are definitely going to need a better clutch. There are so many draw back and benefits to each transmission it is impossible to say which one is better. Me personally I like shifting gears. I just sold my 99 SS and I am going to get something with a 6 speed. Leaning towards a '04 Cobra.

yes read JRP's FAQ, ive read it, has some good info in there, least you could do for the guy spending all the time to make it.

As his faq says, both can be made very fast, just choose your preference.

Perfect driver? M6.

But an automatic never blows a shift or makes you
put down your Slurpee cup when something comes
up unexpected or you just get a little too excited.

A well tuned transmission (PCM) and a properly
selected torque converter make for a totally different
driving experience, than the stock A4 F-body.

If only the A4 were a double-overdrive A5....

This summed it up right here. Very good advice :cheers:

A4 = Dragster / consistant times
M6 = Street / racing from a roll

I have an stalled auto, and I wouldnt trade it for a M6

i think you feel like your part of the action with an m6, plus any drunk 1-eyed, cracked out monkey can just hold the gas down on the floor :jest:This reminds me of another consideration. Not all car thieves can drive a car with a manual transmission...

This reminds me of another consideration. Not all car thieves can drive a car with a manual transmission...


:jest: .........definately something to consider!

Hey guys,

Well I think I found the perfect WS6 for me and my fiance, but it's auto... which has been an ongoing issue with me and her. We both like the automatic because then we don't have to worry about a clutch and screwing the tranny and such and we both can drive the car then, but I kinda want it to be a manual because it's a sports car, it SHOULD have a manual tranny, I've never really driven manual transmissions but when I was test driving the SRT-4 I was pretty good at it. My main concerns with an automatic is that it's not going to be fast enough, I don't want someone coming up to race me ( like an SRT-4 ) and getting spanked because I have an auto... plus I wanna be able to do nice burnouts. I would appreciate opinions from both sides ( people who have auto's and manuals ), I WILL be doing mods to it eventually but not right away.

Thanks in advance guys!
Felix

search button. besides that people who say auto's are for pussy's are arrogant or stupid (probably both). the fastests cars are NOT M6s! Auto's are amazing because you get consistancy. The difference between 2 auto runs will probably be a matter of hundreths, with an M6 it can be tenths. Don't have to worry about a miss shift in an auto either. Just get a converter and gears in your WS6 and you will stop worrying about not having a manual. Oh and all this is coming from a guy with an M6 car.

Well, it's really a thing of preference. I always drove autos before I got my WS6. I wanted a 6-speed for sure and would not settle for an A4. I just wanted to have fun rowing through the gears. :drive: You won't have to worry about an A4 being slower than a manual. Maybe stock it will trap lower in the 1/4 and from a roll you might have a slight disadvantage but all you need to cure that is a torque converter. A4's can lauch HARD after an after market torque converter is installed! The most important thing is that you get what will make you happy. A4 or M6, you'll have plenty of fun with the car. :)

A4's are quicker and more consistant. I have driven a dozen LS1's of either tranny choice, and i prefer the auto's.

Also, both of my former Trans Ams were A4's. I will not get a 6 speed LSx powered car until i graduate and get a Z06.

Here's an auto for you! :eek2: http://stenodracing.com/M9/852_162.wmv

Here's an auto for you! :eek2: http://stenodracing.com/M9/852_162.wmv

Harlan doesn't count!

Have you seen the video of that beast cruising on the street? :eek2:

Wow... yeah, thats a fun misconception.... people who think that the a4's are slow as hell and want to race you. Lets just say... you wont be disapointed. My brother has an m6 and i have an a4 and he has never beat me in a race to this day. Auto's are no slower than m6's and if you plan on doing any drag racing, you'll definatly want the automatic...especially when you get a stall.

I love my 6spd. It is more fun in my opinion going through the gears and especially when you have heads cam and sticky tires. I have driven autos but I just dont have any fun with them. Have fun picking and good luck.

I wrestled with the same decision before I bought my Z. With the exception of 1, I have only owned manual trans. equipped cars up until my Z. (and thats alot of cars). I've had it now for 7 mos. and I wouldn't think of yanking the auto out for a manual. I love it and I loved it even more when I got that Torque Converter(see sig). It completely changes the driving experience of an auto car. If your really into racing your car on the weekends, it is really hard to beat an A4. One big advantage, aside from the above mentioned consistency, is it is alot easier on our fragile rear ends. :judge: However, it does numb the driving experience that a six speed provides if that is you cup of tea. So ultimately, if you dont think you want an auto then dont get it. Maybe test drive one of each & see which you like better. Either way you cant go wrong with an LS1 F-bod. :)

Thanks guys, I'll have to look around for a good converter and some good gears ( I know I could use the search button, but any suggestions? ). I was nervous because before I started looking at Firebirds I was going to be getting an SRT-4 and I have 2 videos ( the only two I've seen so far ) of SRT-4's spanking auto's.

If the car you are looking at already has 3.23 gears then don't even worry about upgrading, there would be minimal, if any, gain after the converter. The easiest way to tell if you have 3.23's is to look at the sticker inside the divers door, GU2 is 2.73's, GU5 is 3.23's.

Thanks guys, I'll have to look around for a good converter and some good gears ( I know I could use the search button, but any suggestions? ). I was nervous because before I started looking at Firebirds I was going to be getting an SRT-4 and I have 2 videos ( the only two I've seen so far ) of SRT-4's spanking auto's.

The difference between an auto LS1 and M6 is going to be VERY small. A stock SRT-4 is not going to beat a stock A4 LS1... Auto's are much better for drag racing anyway... Don't listen to stupid ricers who say that manuals are sooo much better than autos. These auoto's are strong, and great. If you really like the car, then go for it!

Harlan doesn't count!

Have you seen the video of that beast cruising on the street? :eek2:

YES! :drool:

The true WS6 autos came with 3.23 gears so don't even bother upgrading them. The 3.23 gear is an awesome gear to add to a 3000-3500 stall TC and still get decent highway gas mileage. Get the auto to make your Fiance happy or you'll never hear the end of it. Then get a TCI SSF3500 (if you will frequent a track) or a TCI SF3000 (If you won't be going to any tracks) and make yourself happy every time you punch the gas.

Good luck.

I have an 86 MCSS that would blow the doors off of my buddy's 94 mustang, but if you are just driving around town the 5 speed in his stang was way more fun because it was easier to stay where the engine makes lots of torque. The M6 is more effecient than the A4. I bought my Z-28 a week ago. I bought an M6 because they are not lazy feeling on the street. Autos are much more consistent than the M6, but for just driving around the M6 is more fun. My monte will keep the auto and be a race car, but the Z-28 will be a fast street car and still be fun to drive around town.

A4 or M6?

It seems like every week I see this.

It is a matter of opinion and can depend on the use. For a daily driver the A4 can be more conveinent. Also, keep in mind that even though the A4 has 4 gears compared to the 6 in a manual that you can use the 1st three gears in an auto, Slap Stick. So, you get some of the functionality of the manual with an auto but throw on a shift kit and trans cooler. Lots of fun for fast cornering and such. :devil:


NEXT...

I drive a M6 and I love it. I like to do the shifting and the whole nine yards. But if you are the racing type, you can pull it off, but it would be alot easier in a auto. Get a converter hold that brake and tourque up and hold on when you let go. In drag racing the guys are right. The A4 will shine better than the M6. :hail:

I am from the old school, have had many of both.shift kitted autos,manualised autos,3sp non syncro first gear, 4sp,5sp, 6sp,
autos are far more consistant,but hey! the sound that comes from a v8 exhaust when reving the car up thru the gears. 10-10. accually driving the car 10-10. teach yourself and your fiance the m6 you will both then have a
bonding with the car and she can tell her mates," i can drive a stick shift".
good luck deciding. :drive:

The best way I've ever had this summed up to me...

A4 if you want to BE fast.
M6 if you want people to THINK your fast.

I have had auto and manuals. i hear people talk all the time about manuals not being consistant. That may be true at the track, but on the the street manuals will win from a roll because useually they have better gear ratio's. The key with a m6 at the track is having a good clutch and rear end so you can launch real hard to get a good 60ft. More than half of the people that I have seen with m6's dont know their cars powerband at different speeds and some don't even know what double clutching is. A good driver behind a m6 is hard to beat. I think when you start going into the low 10's and 9's a a4 or a3 will more consistant.

i love my m6 alot but rowing the gears day in and day out does get a bit old. if you want a car that you wanna get serious about drag racing in, get an auto and get a stall.

i love driving a manual, makes me feel like im part of the action, part of the machine.

(seems like i post this exact phrase at least once a week lol)

then its settled...

manual > auto

:jest::jest::jest::jest:

I have a stock torque converter and cut a 1.706 60 ft.( a little help from nitrous) so I dont necessarily call my car slow off the line. One thing to think about too is (A) the cost of a good clutch replacement, I hear about slipping clutches a lot! (B) the labor to install that expensive clutch (C) our weak driveshafts and rears. I love my A4! and the consistency! Most of the M6 cars I see at the track are spinning their way to 13.60-13.80 runs.

A4 all the way :drive:
I rarely got crap for an auto, but when I did I just respond with "You try driving this Auto"

Now, that I am going reverse manual TH400, I dont have "much" room to talk :judge:

I like my A4, i can drink water while driving in rush hour traffic. Manuals rock, dont get me wrong, but dont think an auto is lesser in any way.

I also still get comparable gas mileage to a manual as well.

I have had auto and manuals. i hear people talk all the time about manuals not being consistant. That may be true at the track, but on the the street manuals will win from a roll because useually they have better gear ratio's. The key with a m6 at the track is having a good clutch and rear end so you can launch real hard to get a good 60ft. More than half of the people that I have seen with m6's dont know their cars powerband at different speeds and some don't even know what double clutching is. A good driver behind a m6 is hard to beat. I think when you start going into the low 10's and 9's a a4 or a3 will more consistant.
You don't double clutch a sychronised tranny! That would just make you slower anyways.:drive:

I drive and race my M6 and love to row through the gears at the track. I don't know why people don't think M6s are consistant though, if you know your car well you can be as consistant as an A4. If you get into drag racing a lot and want a consistant M6 get a two step problem solved. Like everyone says though it comes down to what you want.

Dan

I have had auto and manuals. i hear people talk all the time about manuals not being consistant. That may be true at the track, but on the the street manuals will win from a roll because useually they have better gear ratio's.

:bs:

A stalled A4 will kill an equally modded M6 from a roll.

if you plan on your car being a drag car like 10 sec and below go with automatic. But m6's are WAY more fun to drive! I have had both and a car like an ls1 with an auto....just feels like your missing something. I will never drive an auto sports car again, stall or no stall. and if you are hwy driving 6th gear saves $$ on gas big time. All of these people posting about how fast a4s are, are also saying...you need this...and you will need this...m6's are fast as hell stock!

david

stick> stock auto

stalled auto> stick

my car is fun as hell to drive, and finding a stick ls1 car was a problem for me, the auto's seemed to be cheaper and more abundant.

I dont have one yet, but I definately plan on getting an M6. I wanna take it to open track days and auto-x, A4's suck at that

This reminds me of another consideration. Not all car thieves can drive a car with a manual transmission...

Yeah right. If someone has the ability to get by car locks, car alarms and anti-theft computer chipped ignition keys then I'm guessing they can manage a clutch :jest:

Some M6 guys (not talking about you David) think it's such an accomplishment to drive a M6. I got news for you diehard A4 bashers, working a clutch and a shifter is not rocket science. Anybody with an afternoon free, two functioning legs and a somewhat useable right hand can handle the job. I drove a stick shift for three years and there is nothing to it but to do it.

Being able to drive a M6 and being good or great at racing a M6 are two completely different things though. So I do give a lot of credit to guys like Evan and Taner for thier abilities to race at expert levels. But most M6 guys I see at the track are just average and can be easily beat by an A4 counterpart. And if that A4 has a 3000+ stall and tires to match then forget it.

Sorry, had to vent a little. Carry on :bang:

I agree with all the other posts here. Generally go for automatic if you want to be more consistent at the track, and generally go for M6 if you want to "bond" with your car.


If someone has the ability to get by car locks, car alarms and anti-theft computer chipped ignition keys then I'm guessing they can manage a clutch :jest:If a professional wants to steal my car then all they really need is a flatbed tow truck. They will raise one axle of my car, drag it up and onto the truck, chain it down, and be gone within a few minutes. :devil:

Many times cars are broken into by kids looking for a joyride or an easy ride to a concert or something. And these kids often don't even have a driver's license yet. This is what I was thinking when I wrote about not everyone being able to drive a stick shift. Check out these two news stories! (The first one is better...) :mad:

"Driver, 13, in stolen car injures officers, motorist" (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6333449/)
"13-Year-Olds Caught In Alleged Saturn Theft Ring" (http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/3785867/detail.html)

When I was 13 I might have stole a Playboy magazine but a car? I admit when I was first learning how to drive a manual transmission car 20+ years ago it was hard but really the only thing hard was getting the car going from a stop. After that it was cake and practice got me smoother with the shifting. But, this is...
:offtopic:

stick> stock auto

stalled auto> stick

my car is fun as hell to drive, and finding a stick ls1 car was a problem for me, the auto's seemed to be cheaper and more abundant.

My stock A4 WS6 went 13.23, seems pretty inline with the stock M6 cars out there.

If you want to keep it a daily driver M6 all the way.

For a track car, an A3 is the real deal.

The stock auto trannies in these cars are crap.

Some people go fast with them, but they are expensive to replace when they eventually wear out.

I agree with all the other posts here. Generally go for automatic if you want to be more consistent at the track, and generally go for M6 if you want to "bond" with your car.

Bond with your car? I'm not exactly ready to pick out curtains with my car just yet. You can still enjoy the bonding so to speak with a nice torque converter :jest:


Many times cars are broken into by kids looking for a joyride or an easy ride to a concert or something. And these kids often don't even have a driver's license yet. This is what I was thinking when I wrote about not everyone being able to drive a stick shift. Check out these two news stories! (The first one is better...) :mad:

13 year olds will not be stealing our cars anytime soon. Unless you leave the keys in the ignition or under a viser. Then it's a new ball game. Non-pro car thieves do not have the expertise to hotwire a F-body that has anti-theft devices such as our computer chipped ignition keys and horn car alarms.


When I was 13 I might have stole a Playboy magazine but a car? I admit when I was first learning how to drive a manual transmission car 20+ years ago it was hard but really the only thing hard was getting the car going from a stop. After that it was cake and practice got me smoother with the shifting. But, this is...
:offtopic:

Same here. I stole a playboy and maybe a few candy bars but that was about it. I got my first car at 16 and it was a POS 1972 MGB convertible with a manual 4 speed. It was a little tricky learning how to take off from a stop but other then that it was easy. By the time I had the car a month I was driving a manual like it was second nature.

Ever since I have had a manual I would never go back. Its way more fun, imo. The thing with autos is when you come off the throttle you don't get to hear the exhuast (which is something I love), it just gets quiet.

My stock A4 WS6 went 13.23, seems pretty inline with the stock M6 cars out there.

I have never seen a stock a4 take an m6 ls1 of any kind, and if so, the driver of the m6 has some problems

I have never seen a stock a4 take an m6 ls1 of any kind, and if so, the driver of the m6 has some problems

I have. Plenty of times.

I have never seen a stock a4 take an m6 ls1 of any kind, and if so, the driver of the m6 has some problems

My stock A4 took down several modded M6 cars at the track.

A4 all the way cuz i have one..but..if i were rich id have one of each an m6 and an a4.

I have never seen a stock a4 take an m6 ls1 of any kind, and if so, the driver of the m6 has some problems

Whats your best time?

4.56s :D
That would be great.

M6's are more fun handsdown. My 2000 was an A4 and my 2001 is an M6, I love it. What Girl doesn't like a stick? I know I do! :)

If you want to go fast in a straight line get the auto.

If your a true sports car fan and a true driver that believes braking and turns
are just as important as straight line performance get an M6.

A weaker manual car can easily over take a more powerful automatic on a road type course.

An automatic has two advantages drag racing and comfort. (Personally I feel more comfortable with a manual even in traffic...but i'm in the minority on that)

Forget road courses with an Auto. It is a serious handicap.

I buy a car to have fun and to enjoy the art of driving. In the art of driving
category the Auto is just crayons and a coloring book. An M6 is an entire art supply store.

As technology advances the line between manual and auto blurs but GM is at least a decade away to having a BMW type SMG type gear box.

Its a shame. I swear the people on this forum can easily run a better performance department than what GM currently has.

If you want to go fast in a straight line get the auto.

Definately but a 3000+ stall is the key. You can't just buy an A4 and call it a day.

If your a true sports car fan and a true driver that believes braking and turns
are just as important as straight line performance get an M6.

I used to think these cars were sports cars too. Then one day I got into a heated debate with a friend and he ended up changing my mind. Sports cars are two seaters, light weight, good suspension, refined exhaust note and of course a manual transmission.

Muscle cars on the other can have back seats, weigh more then 3300 lbs, have loud & obnoxious exhaust and can come with either manual or auto.

A weaker manual car can easily over take a more powerful automatic on a road type course.

Absolutely true. Autos do not shine on a road course like manuals do. But how many people actually race road courses? While some do, drag strips are far more popular. I saw a poll once asking what kind of racing you do. Here were the results and bare in mind this is from srt-4's which only come with a stick shift.

Drag Race - 48.99%

Autocross - 7.20%

Road Race - 21.10%

All of the above - 16.31%

None of the above - 4.48%

Rally Racing - 1.91%



An automatic has two advantages drag racing and comfort. (Personally I feel more comfortable with a manual even in traffic...but i'm in the minority on that)

I'm not really sure about comfort. I would call Autos advantages drag racing and easier on the weak 10 bolt.

Forget road courses with an Auto. It is a serious handicap.

True enough. But again, unless he's going to actually go to a road course (see numbers above) it's kind of a mute point. Although the same could be said about drag strips.

I buy a car to have fun and to enjoy the art of driving. In the art of driving
category the Auto is just crayons and a coloring book. An M6 is an entire art supply store.

Wow. All I can say to that is I hope you don't go cutting off an ear anytime soon there Vincent. That and pass me some of what you're smoking :jest:

As technology advances the line between manual and auto blurs but GM is at least a decade away to having a BMW type SMG type gear box.

Its a shame. I swear the people on this forum can easily run a better performance department than what GM currently has.

Amen to that.

manual

Ever since I have had a manual I would never go back. Its way more fun, imo. The thing with autos is when you come off the throttle you don't get to hear the exhuast (which is something I love), it just gets quiet.

Even in my v6 stnag, I love down shifting and hearing the exhaust.

get one of each and youll be set. :D

Depends what you want, in the thread starters case for street fun I'd say m6 because that is usally a ricer roll race. Now if we want a fast track car obviously auto. PS m6 with high hp and these spec IV cluthes and others alike SUCK for traffic!

search button. besides that people who say auto's are for pussy's are arrogant or stupid (probably both). the fastests cars are NOT M6s! Auto's are amazing because you get consistancy. The difference between 2 auto runs will probably be a matter of hundreths, with an M6 it can be tenths. Don't have to worry about a miss shift in an auto either. Just get a converter and gears in your WS6 and you will stop worrying about not having a manual. Oh and all this is coming from a guy with an M6 car.
call me arrogant or stupid

I row :drive: ( ps auto guys, that smily shouldnt be used by you lol )

Autos= :supergay: :wave-fing

I guess you could say I have seen many lower HP auto whip high HP M6's at the drag strip!

Dont bother me much... these cars should have never been optioned with a automatic transmission, if you care that much about drag racing and cant get consistant with a manual, do the conversion yourself, then i would be unique. Now its just

:supergay:

Dont bother me much... these cars should have never been optioned with a automatic transmission, if you care that much about drag racing and cant get consistant with a manual, do the conversion yourself, then i would be unique. Now its just

:supergay:

LOL do you understand drag racing ?? And why would an auto maker cut his sales down so much on a car, many people dislike 6 spds, I like both but love to take it to the track!

Yes I understand dragracing, practicly my whole family runs drag bikes localy. I understand how it works, braket racing that is.

But in a perfect world, NO car would have a automatic transmission, it would cut down on all the dumb asses we have driving today. I hate auto's, always have, always will. Will never have a automatic. NEVER

:drive:

Yes I understand dragracing, practicly my whole family runs drag bikes localy. I understand how it works, braket racing that is.

But in a perfect world, NO car would have a automatic transmission, it would cut down on all the dumb asses we have driving today. I hate auto's, always have, always will. Will never have a automatic. NEVER

:drive:

I love my M6 fun to drive.

beautiful car^^^^

I have both. If I'm in traffic all day, I go A4. If not, I go M6. Lovin it'

I have both because they both have their strong points...

A4 cars are awesome at the drag strip. M6 cars are more fun to drive and get better gas mileage on trips.

Yes I understand dragracing, practicly my whole family runs drag bikes localy. I understand how it works, braket racing that is.

But in a perfect world, NO car would have a automatic transmission, it would cut down on all the dumb asses we have driving today. I hate auto's, always have, always will. Will never have a automatic. NEVER

:drive:

Guess what tranny is in the quickest F-bodies in the country? Ronnie Duke, Joe Overton, Harlan, ect. Guess what transmission type has all the top 10 spots in ls1techs database as well as 17 of the top 20?

I'll give you a hint. It's not manuals :lol:

In a perfect world the manual would beat the auto in drag racing. But we live in reality chief so here is how the drag racing world really works:

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/etdb.php

You can keep your manual. I'll take the stalled auto and the win light :devil:

I have both because they both have their strong points...

A4 cars are awesome at the drag strip. M6 cars are more fun to drive and get better gas mileage on trips.

You lucky *&^#@*

You guys must not understand that I would take a 14 second lt1 m6 over a 9 auto. Actually id take the nine and sell it and get me a m6. I could care less about performance, I'm talking about kahunas :engarde:

You guys must not understand that I would take a 14 second lt1 m6 over a 9 auto. Actually id take the nine and sell it and get me a m6. I could care less about performance, I'm talking about kahunas :engarde:

That's great for you I guess. I could care less about your "kahunas". I would rather drive a 8 second auto over a slow M6 any day of the week. For me it's all about who crosses that finish line first :engarde:

manual is street.
auto is strip.
nuf said.

and people wonder why i close 90% of the a4 vs t56 threads, its always the same shit bullshit. fact remains, nobody from either camp is gonna convince the other to switch over and i've yet to read a thread where any of these posts have convinced the original poster which tranny to choose. tranny selection is personal decision, period.

Only a m6 owner could state it so clear^


LOL couldnt resist, but I agree. :kickingdeadhorse:

m6 IMO

and people wonder why i close 90% of the a4 vs t56 threads, its always the same shit bullshit. fact remains, nobody from either camp is gonna convince the other to switch over and i've yet to read a thread where any of these posts have convinced the original poster which tranny to choose. tranny selection is personal decision, period.

I honestly think half the people that start these threads do it just to start a flame war between the two camps. How many people really don't know what tranny they want? My guess is not too many.

Does it really matter anyway? After enough power and upgrades both camps tend to switch to a TH400 with T-brake anyway :jest:

omg loaded question...to sum it up...

race car (consistant 10's or lower) = auto
fun street car (anytime you can do) = m6

Couldn't have answerd this question any better! :judge:

I only read the first few posts because most of these threads turn into a :engarde: :punch:

Performance wise stock they are closer than most folks think. My 01 SS A4 ran a best of 13.0@107.59 bone stock and hot laps easy 13.1's@106.7 with only a lid.

Gas mileage difference is pretty much meaningless when you consider the cost of a new clutch and the greater risk to the already fragile f body rear end.

I've had a lot of manuals and a lot of sticks over the last 30 years, I can appreciate both, I went with an auto when I bought my first LS1 f body last year because of the fragile rear end and the fact that there is little performance to gain with an M6 anyhow. Seems my SS proved me right with the times it runs.

A4=fast track times from a dig
M6=fast street times from a roll

:jest: .........................Real Men Row Their Own............................. :jest:

I would have to say M6 for the fun factor and Stalled A4 for the strip car.

M6- Can handle alot more power, like my 427.

A4- Can't handle a Tornado. lol :jest:

The 4l60 is garbage, if you want your car for the track you'll pull out either one and slap a TH350 in there anyway.

So in my opinion...M6 hands down.


Peace,
Craig.

M6- Can handle alot more power, like my 427.

A4- Can't handle a Tornado. lol :jest:

The 4l60 is garbage, if you want your car for the track you'll pull out either one and slap a TH350 in there anyway.

So in my opinion...M6 hands down.


Peace,
Craig.

On the contrary, plenty of 4L60E's are running 400rwhp with 3500+ stalls. The key to making a 4L60E survive is keeping it cool. 24K coolers are a great investment and only cost $50!

Plus we do have a few options for running fast in built 4L60E's. Here is a sig of a board member here. Quite impressive I would say:

00 T/A Vert Incons
3855# Raceweight
9.98 @ 142
Rock On Transmissions 4l60e

Now that's not a cheap tranny. But then again high end clutches are not easy on the wallet either. And not everyone wants to make 500 rwhp+. For the bolt-on/Cam only crowd the 4L60E route with a stall and tranny cooler can make a relatively quicker and more economical street/strip car that can survive on the 10 bolt.

On the contrary, plenty of 4L60E's are running 400rwhp with 3500+ stalls. The key to making a 4L60E survive is keeping it cool. 24K coolers are a great investment and only cost $50!

Plus we do have a few options for running fast in built 4L60E's. Here is a sig of a board member here. Quite impressive I would say:

00 T/A Vert Incons
3855# Raceweight
9.98 @ 142
Rock On Transmissions 4l60e

When you consider the costs involved in building a M6 car to handle big power, it makes just as much sense to go with a 4L60E. Then when it dies either go with a Powerglide, TH400/TH350 or Rock On 4L60E depending on how much power you are planning.

Bolt-on's + Converter + slicks + stock 4L60E = One nice street/strip car that can keep the budget in check. You do this with a M6 and you better add a clutch and rearend to your Christmas list this year.
Make a M6 handle big power? How about a bone stock one behind my 427? Try that with a bone stock 4L60, it will not last one pass. I know "some" guys will have some stock 4L60's last a little bit, hell another Moderator I know mmiller had one last until he sold it. He was heads/cam clicking off high 10's/ low 11's. But he never ever drove it around.
But too many times have I seen people with just bolt-ons fry them, even with tranny coolers. Now I don't know how long they've lasted or the abuse they put them through.
Just out of the box, stock either tranny the 4L60 can't handle crap compaired to the T-56. You just need a good clutch.

True you can build up either one, but most go for a powerglide, TH350, or TH400.
Another person with a built up 4L60 I've met is an MTI customer Dave Marrow (sp). 427 C5R with gas running like 9.4-9.5's with a heavy ass C5 vette with a big ass stereo and monitors.


Peace,
Craig.

:jest: .........................Real Men Row Their Own............................. :jest:

:bs:

Guys with bigger stalls have bigger *****. Since manuals are running 0 rpm stalls well............. They tend to fall a little short compared to the 4000+ crowd :jest:

Real men take responsibilities for thier actions. Real men take care of thier families. Real men help the less fortunate when the opportunity presents itself. But a car or a transmission will NEVER make you a man. It's what you do and how you are when you are not driving your car that will determine that.

...Guys with bigger stalls have bigger *****. Since manuals are running 0 rpm stalls well............. They tend to fall a little short compared to the 4000+ crowd :jest:
LOL! :jest: No, no, no...the M6 has a "0- what ever your rev limiter is stall." It's a fully adjustable stall! haha


Peace,
Craig.

Make a M6 handle big power? How about a bone stock one behind my 427? Try that with a bone stock 4L60, it will not last one pass. I know "some" guys will have some stock 4L60's last a little bit, hell another Moderator I know mmiller had one last until he sold it. He was heads/cam clicking off high 10's/ low 11's. But he never ever drove it around.
But too many times have I seen people with just bolt-ons fry them, even with tranny coolers. Now I don't know how long they've lasted or the abuse they put them through.
Just out of the box, stock either tranny the 4L60 can't handle crap compaired to the T-56. You just need a good clutch.

True you can build up either one, but most go for a powerglide, TH350, or TH400.
Another person with a built up 4L60 I've met is an MTI customer Dave Marrow (sp). 427 C5R with gas running like 9.4-9.5's with a heavy ass C5 vette with a big ass stereo and monitors.


Peace,
Craig.

I have seen some have good luck and others not so good. My 4L60E is still holding strong with most bolt-ons, 3500 stall and 70K on the clock. So don't talk to me like every A4 owner will see thier tranny die after they add a lid :jest: And after reading a bit in the manual tranny section here, it's not like you guys don't have your share of "help my tranny is acting funny" posts.

While I agree with you that for 500 rwhp the T56 makes a good choice, I think the 4L60E makes a good one for 350-400 rwhp because you can get away with a stock 10 bolt. And I think we both agree that 700+ rwhp means you're screwed with either tranny and should be looking at the powerglide or TH400.

LOL! :jest: No, no, no...the M6 has a "0- what ever your rev limiter is stall." It's a fully adjustable stall! haha


Peace,
Craig.

ROTFL

Now that was funny. Good one Craig.

[QUOTE]Thanks guys, I'll have to look around for a good converter and some good gears ( I know I could use the search button, but any suggestions? ). I was nervous because before I started looking at Firebirds I was going to be getting an SRT-4 and I have 2 videos ( the only two I've seen so far ) of SRT-4's spanking auto's.

I can tell you from experience that an SRT-4 will not beat an auto LS1 stock for stock. I raced one that had exhaust on it from a roll and the SRT-4 didnt hang with me all that well. I have had my A4 for about 2 months now and dont regret getting an auto.

My 4L60E lasted for 522 passes down Willowbanks 1/4 mile ( Queensland Australia )
Firstly as a bolt on Maf tuned car running 13.726 progessing to high 11's cam only / mafless tuned pushing a 2800rpm Torque Converter plus 3.9 diff gears.....3660lb car ( SV8 Commodore VY 1 )
Only mods to the trans were aftermarket cooler and Castrol Transmax Z Fuild.
The A4 did not go bang, but time slips indicated a 1/10th loss at the 330ft mark due to trans slip...........confirmed with VCM log.....Transmission still performed well on street but the never ending quest for faster times dictated a new A4 was in order :judge:
With a new 4L65 , larger 232x234 Comp cam , 4.11 diff gears / 4600TC the car now runs consistent 11.50's...... hopefully the new A4 is good for yet another 500 :drive: without breakdown :hail:

It depends on personal tastes. With a stall, trans cooler and proper tuning they make a4's a killer combo!

A4 was better for me cause I wanted to get a few more ponies out of my car and not have to worry about the rear-end. If the T-56 wasn't a rear-end killer or I happened to find an ls1 to my liking in my price range with a 12 bolt or 9-inch I would've gotten it. But I couldn't.

A4s aren't bad. With a stall they're great off the line, and I can eat and talk on the phone while driving. But the M6 are still more fun (at least when not in horrible traffic.)

It's a personal decision. It depends on what you like. :)

My vote is for the 6speed manual all the way unless it is strictly a drag-only race car.

I looked forever for an m6 but couldn't find one in my price range. Then I came across a great deal on a '98 Formula a4 and couldn't pass it up. M6s seem really hard to come by in my area for some reason.

Still having lots of fun with my car but if I ever stumbled on a m6 that I could trade in my a4 for I would probably do it if the m6 was in good shape.

Which is better...Green or Blue? Too general to answer without more specificity.

I'll say M6 though since I've had both.

M6, I like bangin' gears and being able to choose any RPM to launch at. Plus with the 4.10's it really gives you a work out, daily driving.

Granted I only read the first couple pages and the last one of this post but.... some guy earlier said that M6's are not faster then A4 cars.... Thats not true at all.... stock for stock... the M6 will dominate if driven correctly....and to me if a car can pull on another car then its definitely faster then the other one... for example... a 70 mph roll :)

two words. chirp fourth!

and people wonder why i close 90% of the a4 vs t56 threads, its always the same shit bullshit. fact remains, nobody from either camp is gonna convince the other to switch over and i've yet to read a thread where any of these posts have convinced the original poster which tranny to choose. tranny selection is personal decision, period.

That's why I choose both.

i chose auto...and i drive an M6...

would love to switch to an auto...

It has been answered but here goes.

Road Racing and just having fun Manual
Drag racing and heavy commuter traffic automatic.

I work for more performance . I take more T56 Trans out and put 400 trans in.

I just have a question can you drive a stall converter on the street and use it as a street driven car how does that work , im new at this with the stall converter can someone please explain it to me Thanks a bunch guys , really appreciate it

I just have a question can you drive a stall converter on the street and use it as a street driven car how does that work , im new at this with the stall converter can someone please explain it to me Thanks a bunch guys , really appreciate it

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm

I have never seen a stock a4 take an m6 ls1 of any kind, and if so, the driver of the m6 has some problems
I have seen it. :nod:

Granted, if you have the PERFECT M6 driver of a stock LS1 and the perfect driver for an A4 LS1, the M6 should win. But a miniscule percentage of M6 drivers out there are perfect all the time, so there you go. I've seen quite a few A4s beat M6s stock-for-stock.

For the record, my A4 2002 Z28 with 3.23s went 13.2 at 105.

Sometimes I'd love to have the stick to row through gears with, but as soon as my buddies with the 5 and 6-speeds start bitching about not liking driving it all the time, I just hop in my auto and go cruise off. :) I'm satisfied with it most of the time.

Perfect driver? M6.

But an automatic never blows a shift or makes you
put down your Slurpee cup when something comes
up unexpected or you just get a little too excited.

A well tuned transmission (PCM) and a properly
selected torque converter make for a totally different
driving experience, than the stock A4 F-body.

If only the A4 were a double-overdrive A5....
nuff said

Manual tranny's are just more fun and less to worry about, IMO...

"better" i dunno... more fun, absofuckinlutly...

I feel like im not driving a car in a auto... Manuals are the only way to go

well ive driven both auto and stick, and once i get back behind a stick again i wont ever go back. autos just aret as much fun

I'm not a drag racer..

For me it's all about the driving experience.

the connection to the road
the control
it's about your car being an extension of yourself.

definitely a manual.

Plus it's a whole lot cheaper to rebuild a manual transmission than it is to rebuild an automatic.

6spd without a doubt

Why is this thread still going lol.

Fine i'll contribute. It's nice having an automatic in a truck or normal car. But in a performance car like our LS1's, an M6 is a must IMO. Everyone I've gave a ride said it's awesome when I row the gears. I also like it b/c I think I can control my MPG when I want (but with an LS1 it's hard to drain the lead out of my foot). Just my 2 cents.

JRP, can we lock every thread about manuals vs. autos

i mean asking that is like asking which is better coke or pepsi, the answer obviously is pepsi :jest: , its completely based on which you like better

JRP, can we lock every thread about manuals vs. autos

i mean asking that is like asking which is better coke or pepsi, the answer obviously is pepsi :jest: , its completely based on which you like better

if it was up to me i'd lock every single one of them. but as you can see, for some inane reason people like these threads as evident of the 130 replies.

Sorry to bring this back again. But is there any differences in the power an auto or manual could do with similar mods or in stock form?

Sorry to bring this back again. But is there any differences in the power an auto or manual could do with similar mods or in stock form?

yes theres a difference. the 4l60e has a higher parrasitic loss then the t56. add in gears a stall and its even more. if you want to play the dyno game with a 4l60e its an up hill battle.

Just another contribution from me.

Yes, everyone knows that I don't personally like automatics, and I AM one of the guys that at a car show when he walks up to a 68 Shelby and look in, and see its a Auto, will say so to whoever's with me..

My car's a six speed, and all my cars will hopefully be manuals. I'm gonna start looking for a cheap ass DD next winter, and it will prolly be a M5 DSM. When driving auto's, even stalled automatic LS1's, I feel no different than driving a econobox... Not saying the ls1 is a econobox, but its just not as fun as that manual for me...

BOTTOM LINE

These cars are for fun, not practicality, so manual for the win!! I DD my T/A, and still don't believe that its a practical car... But I love it.

I've watched this thread come and go over the last couple of months and definitley was not going to respond because the question itself is flawed (you'd need a shitload of qualifications to answer it [and i'm sure these qualifications were all covered by previous responses]). But... my stepson is 15 years old and learning to drive. He drives his mom's car sometimes (auto) and then my old Dakota (5-speed) whenever he can. Bottom line- he really enjoys driving the manual much more. Granted, I've probably influenced him but he says he likes the manual because it's more of a challenge and he likes the feeling of controlling the gears (he's going to be a car guy). My new Dakota is an auto and is now my daily driver (I used to drive the 5-speed every day), but now I've gotten to the point where I don't mind kicking back while driving to and from work- let the auto do all the work. But on the weekend I really look forward to taking the 6-speed out. I think if I didn't drive the auto every day, I wouldn't look forward to driving the Z28 quite as much. Both auto and manual are good. But it's great if you can jump back and forth between the two- I'd sure love to drive an auto LS1 once in a while.:cheers:

Sometimes im glad I got an automatic, other times Im wishing i'd had gotten a manuel tranny. I didn't know how to drive manuel when I was looking for a camaro so auto was the choice. But I have driven my dads 4cyle manuel truck and it is fun to drive, once im next to a fast car im reminded how slow the truck is and I just ponder how much more fun it would have been if I had a manuel tranny in my camaro with the power the ls1s have. I think if I was to do it again I would buy a manuel camaro. But for stop and go traffic their ain't nothing like an auto but for fun im sure the manuel is more fun to drive not that my car isn't it just that im sure the manuel would be a bit more fun to drive.

I also think you have the advantage of finding this site to research ls1 cars, I didn't have that luxary. If I did I know I would have gone with an M6 camaro.

a sport car is supose to be a m6 if you have a a4 it like haveing a famliy car that suck............you want to shift the gears

A built automatic with transbrake is way better for dragracing. Around the town a manuel is alot more fun. You get used to driving the M6 in traffic but when it comes to racing consistency an auto is the way to go. When I get the extra money I'll ditch the M6 for TH350 in a heartbeat. At least it will have a manuel valve body if that makes you feel any better.