You're right, just because it's an M6 doesn't make it faster...but that car is running 13.7s because either the guys driving it, can't (drive) or because that LS1 (the motor) just isn't as strong as most of the others. Not the tranny's fault.

And anyway, fast to me is trap speed, not ET. 9 times out of 10, a stock M6 should trap higher than a stock A4. There are always exceptions though, an A4 behind a "freak" LS1 could very well trap 107-108 stock...but most are around 104-106.

 

 

I just recently purchased a stik,and drove alot of cars before gettin the one I have. As many of you know it is hard to find a 6sp.So drove alot of autos ,WELL when I got in the 6sp I was amazed at the difference in acceleration,torque totally noticable.They are as a FEEL more faster.
If I had to do it again 6sp all the way,and as a matter of fact it depends on the track as the benificiality.I run road race tracks and the manuals dominate there.Kinda the only trans,but did track days in my auto v6 w/ success. as for my 6 if I have to choose again I would get 5sp.
They are FUNNER imo
T.

 

Manual transmission for me. it's fun and has better fuel econ. than the automatic.

 

I drive an A4, but I can't deny that 6-speeds:

• help increase gas mileage (no slippage, higher over-drive)
• use less fly-wheel horsepower to turn than autos, hence more rwhp
• weigh a little less than autos, therefore make the car lighter (which helps the mileage) and help the power-to-weight ratio
• have more gear ratios between 1st and 4th (where 4th gear is the 1:1 ratio) than an auto between 1st and 3rd (where 3rd gear is the 1:1). This helps keep the engine in its power band more of the time with obvious benefits
• have a definite "fun factor"

However, this doesn't mean that M6's are leaps and bounds faster than A4's, so it's still a driver's race between two equally modded cars. And, for me anyway, I do a lot of stop-and-go driving, so having driven standards enough, I do find it becomes a nuisance sometimes..............not to say I can't/won't/couldn't/wouldn't deal with it, but I appreciate my auto sometimes. As well, like others have said, unless you're a freaking "PRO", you'll never be as consistent with an M6 as with an A4.

Sooooooo, with all this in mind, as much as I wanted to get a 6-speed car, since I couldn't find the exact car I wanted around here with the M6, I took the car I wanted with the A4, and I'm still as happy as could be. That's my $.02.

 

This debate always makes me laugh. Especially the stick guys trying to justify getting a stick by saying: "more horses to the road, less parasitic losses, higher trap speeds"
Let me tell you, trap speed never won a 1/8 or 1/4 mile race. The guy that gets there first wins. Not the guy with the highest MPH.
You don't have to justify your decision.
Drive a stick because you love to drive a stick and be proud of that love of the sports automobile.
I love driving our 98 SS m6 car. It's a blast under any conditions.
But I bought a 2000 a4 Formula too and modded it a little because I also love the rush of blasting down the strip. And with the consistancy and speed of a high stall auto it's so much more fun turning the win light on more often.
So when someone asks: "stick or auto"
Say I drive a stick because........................I love it!!!!!
Or say I drive a auto because........................I love it!!!!!

Both of our cars are great and I love them both. Each for their own strengths. No justifications necessary

 

Personally if I could go back and buy an M6 Z28, I would like to go back to 11/01/2001, then I would have saved a lot of time and money and just bought a new 02 Z28 M6. Don't get me wrong, I love my Z now but I know I would have been happier to get an M6 just because Manuals are more fun to drive but don't take anything away from a Auto though.. After I bought my Z28, which I searched over a year to find a M6 Camaro/Firebird, but could not find one since it seemed that a lot of people who owned the M6's would not sell them but A4 were plenty, 2 months after buying my car 56 miles from where I live, the local chev dealer took in a 2000 Firebird Formula set up very similar as my 02 Z except it had an M6 but still it was going for $ 22,000 which was 1,000 more then what I got my 02 Z for... All in all I would have boughten an M6 if I could have but for the deal that I got for my Z w/ 9,942 miles for fully loaded minus the Performance gear, 12 Disc Changer and Sport Appearance package, I am happy with what I have for a Daily Driver...

 

I love the my manual, but there are times when I kinda wish I had an auto. Usualy when Im at the track because I cant drive, and I know i should be running quicker than I am.

 

I like my M6 for two reasons.
1. It is fun to shift in order to accelerate. I switched to Nitto's because I was smoking the tires in 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the track. On the street I was only chirping 3rd. True, it is less consistent and more work.
2. Downshifting. Nothing like downshifting and hearing the great exhaust note.

 

You can't go wrong with either tranny
M6=
A4=

It's when the modding starts, that's what's going to tell you who will win a race.

 

That is a very good point, and I think it's something that gets overlooked a lot. Thanks for reminding everybody about that!

 

Very true Al, but me personally, I'd rather have a car that runs 13.0@125 than a car that runs 12.0@110...that's just me though because I'm sure most people would take the latter.

 

buy a stick they are alot more fun to drive on the track and the street anyone can get a good time with an auto

 

I like my cars to be sticks and my truck to be auto.

 

Sometimes I wish I had an auto, when I'm driving with a coke in one hand and a chalupa in the other