Do Manual cars keep value better or Auto?
#21
Whether one is more desirable is context dependent. What kind of car are we talking about? what is it being used for? In the context of f-bodies when it comes to speed, even in their hey day, the auto's were preferred to manuals in drag racing because they are consistent. Manuals are largely preferred in some contexts because they are "cooler" and "the driver engagement" thing. It was never really about speed, except maybe in road race/autox.
If a guy is looking to have a purpose built drag car yeah they’re going to look for an auto, or more than likely they’ll put a beefier auto in whatever they’re racing. The road course guy is of course going to opt for the manual like you said.
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OddJack (03-06-2024)
#22
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Back in 1967 when GM introduced the TH400 in the GTO, sales of M4 cars immediately began to drop. That transmission was so capable and reliable, easy for daily driving and easy to set up for performance at the strip. Sure, the skilled shifter could beat the automatic from time to time, and generally the manual might be "quicker" in magazine tests, but most of the time in the real world the automatic got the win.
Yet the manuals remain more desirable due to relative rarity and for nostalgic reasons. It's no different with our 4th gen cars. My A4 car is still my daily driver, but I mostly just putt around town with it. And although I don't go to the dragstrip like I did 15-20 years ago, I keep my drag radials on in warm weather in case there is a challenge on the street.
But generally, I drive my M6 car much more aggressively on the street than the A4. It's just for the fun of banging gears, I guess, and that's what people who know about these cars are mostly looking for in them.
Yet the manuals remain more desirable due to relative rarity and for nostalgic reasons. It's no different with our 4th gen cars. My A4 car is still my daily driver, but I mostly just putt around town with it. And although I don't go to the dragstrip like I did 15-20 years ago, I keep my drag radials on in warm weather in case there is a challenge on the street.
But generally, I drive my M6 car much more aggressively on the street than the A4. It's just for the fun of banging gears, I guess, and that's what people who know about these cars are mostly looking for in them.
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