This is my first manual tranny and I have never regretted it. You'll get used to shifting quickly and start to do it without thinking about it. If you plan on going to the strip regularly and want consistent times, an A4 is a better option. The stock clutches are s***, so living in San Fransisco without a lot of experience will probably wear out your clutch sooner. If you've never really driven a stick, then you probably wouldn't regret an automatic, but once you have a stick, you won't go back!

 

IMO, it sounds like you've maybe got some issues with getting the M6, so you know what?? Get the A4 and you won't have to worry about a thing. I'll admit, I really wanted to get a 6-speed when I bought my car last June, but I was very particular about the color and the options that the car had to have (black or NBM, T's, GFX), so the transmission certainly wasn't going to be the deciding factor since the selection of cars around here is a little limited.

Seriously, there is NOTHING WRONG with getting the automatic. Aside from the occasional drag-race or auto-cross event, you're daily-driving the car, right?? That being said, the auto is probably going to be nicer for you all-round --- especially in a hilly city --- but if you decide you want the 6-speed, that's cool too. I have driven standard plenty --- two of my previous cars have had standards --- so I know what the hype is about. But trust me, I'm 21 (which means I'm still "young, bold and daring" ) and I don't think I have any less "fun" in my car just because I don't have the M6 .

Strength/reliability wise?? I'd say:
M6 > A4 > rearend > clutch. But hey, there are exceptions to every rule, right?

IMO, get whatever you want. Don't get something based on what others think you should get. Sure, I know standards are fun, but I'll guarantee that every M6 driver f's up every now and then, but I've never had a bad launch with the A4.

HTH

 

Ok, having had to go through 6 4L60E automatic transmissions behind an LT1 in 3 years I have to say T-56 (6 Speed manual). That is the ONLY reason.. Dont care what someone says is a drivers car and whatnot.. My auto tranny was able to out shift anyone alive.. why? Cause its faster than a human as any auto can be.. but.. they failed on me too much.. So I went with the manual mainly because more people know how to work on them and they seem to be more reliable.

Its up to you, but for me, I went manual after 6 trannies... on a weaker car.

 

hotrodgirl, just curious. What made you decide on the M6? Had you driven someone else's M6 or any other manuals? I'm only asking because I looked at the production numbers and out of 24,800 LS1s sold (not including birds) only about 10,200 people (41%) opted for the M6. This means that most people (59%) took the A6. The M6 folks are in the minority. Perhaps the lack of experience with a clutch pushes some people in the direction of the Auto- and I DO understand that some people legitimately prefer automatics. I do think that manuals are more reliable and cheaper in the long run but I got mine mostly for the fun. Still, I'd love to see the demographics regarding the M6/A4 folks. Also, do the M6 folks seem a little arrogant or smug?

Finally, how can you recommend the M6 and not mention replacing the stock shifter? A lot of people complain about the Hurst- me too. I'm installing my new B&M Ripper this weekend.

 

I've read your posts before about the 6 trannies in three years, but were they all rebuilt in the same casing, or did you have completely different transmissions installed each time?? (or a combination thereof??) I know that 4L60E's aren't quite as "tough" as older TH350's and TH400's, but it sounds like either there was a problem in the actual casting itself, or whoever rebuilt the transmissions didn't know what he was doing. Also, how many miles were put on, and how/where was the car driven?? Lets put it this way.....my car is daily-driven, and it has just over 12,000 miles (almost at 20,000km) on it. I drive the $h!t out of the car (I'm 21 and still full of "pi$$ & vinegar"!!) and yet so far it's holding up fine. Maybe that will change one day, but a friend of mine has a '96 T/A with the 4L60E (with ~130,000km/~80,000miles on car) and it's still on the original tranny. IMO you probably had a little "bad luck" mixed with potentially a "lemon" of a transmission, and maybe a slightly "less knowledgeable" tranny tech.

Just food for thought.

 

I've heard many people say I wish I had gotten a 6-speed, but I never heard someone say I wish I had a automatic. Just my observation but I say M-6 all the way

 

autos are killer from take off


m6 is da **** for cruising and messing around

i love my m6

 

Hey, did you just buy that car? My cousin was looking at a silver 6spd a few months ago. I think Firebird opens May 29. Be there if you can. I'll be the guy in the putrid light blue Z. Do not be too optimistic about your E/T's at firebird, I ran a best of 13.5 and I have a torque converter and nitto's. Best Z06 time I've seen is 13.3. 12.3 on spray. Best stock 6 spd LS1 is 13.9.

 

dude 13.9 on ls1 stock.......u must suck at shifting


u granny shifter

 

Yah, my 4L60E at 2,700 ft elevation at a poorly prepped track doesn't know how to shift.

 

well if u drive around in frisco alot i would say A4.
i used to work off of broadway and i dont think an M6 would b all that fun on all those hills. but other than that id say get an M6.
this is my 1st manual and ive never felt so incontrol of my car.

i also had an A4 for a week before i got my M6 and gettin sideways is A LOT easier with an M6


and 1 last thing...with an M6 u EARN what ever 1/4 time u get.

 

True, but you could save yourself tons of money trying to make a car run 12's with a 14 second driver. Put a 12 second driver in a 14 second car and you may get 13's! At least with an auto, there's not too much room for error, so whatever the car runs is pretty much what the car is going to run.

 

Yep

 

well, mine had a stall and thats the only carry over part that was in the trannies.. The first one when I got it was unknown.. just had a shift kit.. it went out within 2 weeks of me getting car.. limped to work.. sent car to the dealer, they sent it to the person who previously owned the cars mechanic, he sent it to a tranny rebuild place.. Got car, still wasnt right.. (needed fluid).. got fluid added and tranny seemed fine.. then it went out again.. Wouldnt go into any gear... no forward motion.. Send to a "tranny guru". Buillt my friends 700R4 that is still running strong!. Frist tranny from him (#3) lasts just a couple thousand miles, and was replaced under his warranty with #4 because they messed something up.. This tranny was kewl.. till just after the warranty ran out.. then it goes south.. #5 was done by an old guy that knows his way around a tranny backwards and whatnot (also built a friends tranny that has lasted).. It didnt last but 8K miles.. Finally went to AAMCO.. They did it right #6.. it worked and felt great.. but then I had motor problems and got rid of the car once the bearing spun.

Sux but I only spent about $1600 out of pocket for all of them.. I had 2 warranties on the car and maxed both out. That car could just be problematic but I wasnt going to chance it. I know people that can work on the T-56 blindfolded so I figure it was my best bet.. Sure the launch in my A4 was killer and it was alot of fun but at least with the M6 i can say I get a little better gas mileage and still have better gearing.. (3.42 as opposed to the 3.23 at best for autos)

 

so what do you earn when you accidentally mis shift? A broken engine? WOO HOO! Thats a wonderful deal! SIGN ME UP!

It isnt about earning anything.. I can go out and beat you in races 100 times.. but the 1 time you beat me is what you will remember.. So, in reality its just a personal issue.. its what you prefer.. When my auto was beating sticks I didnt come back with HA! I am in an auto! Heck, half the time I was hoping it doesnt break! Then I was thinking "please shift right" "No issues. no issues" became my prayer.. hehe
Nothing worse than racing and limping home.. win or no win...

But I dont race for $ I race for grins.. thats what I am about..