The 310 / 325 / 335 / 345 HP numbers that GM published are complete crap IMO. They base them on the fact that the different cars (Z28's / T/A's / SS's / WS6's) receive slightly different exhaust systems and intake systems, but they aren't huge differences, and the fact remains that the LS1 ENGINE makes ~350 HP (ie: Corvette) but they never want to rate the F-bodies quite as high, so they're under-rated.

I'd like to see a "stock" LS1 F-body (Z28 or T/A) against an SS or WS6, and a Corvette all strapped to a chassis dyno and see what the true RWHP numbers would be.........ALL cars COMPLETELY "stock". I think the differences would be minimal, and nothing says that the 'Vette couldn't actually dyno less than even a Z28 or T/A.

 

"own the track" might be slightly exagerated stock (a4) vs stock (m6).. unless the car is going to live at the track and you are going to drop thousands and thousands of dollars on it.. id go m6 man.. manuals are just so damn fun to drive.. and if u do intend to mod a car that you can still drive to work and get some good 1/4 times on; i still dont think a few tenths on the 1/4 is worth having to drive an auto (imo)

/tek.

 

I agree with that IF you are not going to mod your car. Then by all means the M6 is a better choice and the faster car. A4's can only beat a well drivin M6 at the track if they have a good torque converter and traction.


The problem with manuals at the track is that they are very hard on the rear ends. It's cheaper to make a auto into a low 12 second car then it is a manual because you can utilize a torque converter for 1k and run on the stock 10 bolt and stock gears. A manual needs to get a 12 bolt (2k) and 3.73 or 4.10 gears are a must as well. After that it's pretty even as far as both need headers, lid, exhaust, ect.

If your not gonna mod then get a manual. If your gonna mod and want to run at the track it's definately worth driving a A4. The fastest cars on the ls1tech database are all automatics. They are a2's and a3's by that point and have tons of money into them but in the top 20 only one M6 is there and he was number nine on the list.

Some people can't drive a stick no matter how much practice they have. They need to have an automatic. Some people love driving stick shifts so passionately they can't fatham an automatic sportscar. They need an M6. For everyone in the middle you need to decide based on how serious you want to be about 1/4 mile tracks vs fun on the street.

M6's get better gas mileage, fun to drive and are faster in stock form. But they are harder on rear ends and offer much greater risk of human error.

A4's are easier in heavy traffic, easier on stock rear ends, can use torque converters to gain .04-.08 improvement at the track (allowing them to beat similair hp M6's) and have minimal human error possibilities. But they get worse gas mileage, lose more HP in the drivetrain are considered less fun to drive by most.

Automatics do not rule the track. But high stalled automatics with traction do and that's why so many die hard LS1 track guys go with an automatic.

Sorry for rambling but I have to defend the honor of my A4. Ok it has no honor yet but I'm working on it.

EDIT: I'm not saying M6's can't be fast at the track. I have seen lots of 11 second passes from M6 LS1's. It just takes more mod money to get them there.

 

The red SSs with rally stripes.

 

LOL....... i knew that would be the one