Muscle Car w/ Automatic

[ZombieEatsYou]

"It's not a muscle car if...
...it's not a V8..
...it's an auto...
...it's not black...
...it doesn't have stripes...
...has HIDs...."
All that is the owner's own opinion, that's what matters. I for one, have bad feet due to diabetes and one pedal in DC traffic gives me enough pain - I don't need, or want, two. If auto or manual makes you happy, then be happy!

[Robbreptile]

Ever been to a drag strip and watch the pro street, modifieds or slightly altered stocks. They usually run powerglides to turbo 350 or 400. Check out pass time on Speed channel and listen to what type of transmission. Not sticks and it that series every split second counts. Also in the nineties Car and Driver and Road and Track ran a stick vs automatic in three separate cars with each transmission and what they found was that the stick is faster in 0-60 but the automatic was faster in 1/4 and top speed due to the way the power is spread evenly and no missed shifts in the GM muscle cars while Ford and the imports the automatic just plain sucks. Be careful about the macho attitude because if you can beat these guys with your stick shift don't brag too much about a stick in a sports cars. Automatics are deadly consistent on the drag strip. If you are road racing then the stick will have an advantage.

[RudySRT8]

Don't listen ~!!! I know with the Challenger the auto is even faster then the manual and the Camaro's are just as fast and you don't have to worry about shifting. This is a new Era and technology is at it's peak ... don't listen to "you have to get manual". I can't drive a stick if someone gave me a million bucks. Hopefuly at the SRT Experience I will "learn it in 15 minutes".

[Moose]

I've heard that same debate, manual v. auto, from the Corvette crowd.

Choose whatever works best for you, whatever you want, and enjoy it.

IMO, manual or auto, in my eyes, it's still a muscle car.

And if you still have any doubt, watch some of the older muscle that comes across the stage at the Barrett JAckson auctions. Auto's may sell for a little less, but they're still muscle cars in the eyes of most.

[justmeron]

I say just get the auto. You arent gonna race, daily driver, live in a hilly area and there is a tap shift option on the auto. Or at least on the 2LT I orderd. I have always had an auto. except for one car i had.

[Embalmer]

THEE main reason to get a manual: FUN.

Driving this car as an automatic? Might as well be driving your moms car

Don't worry about not being good at it...you'll learn. Daily driver for me and MANUAL all the way.

[greenrail]

Get what you want. As said earlier, many drag racers use modified Autos in their cars. I prefer a stick, so that's what I ordered. If you like the Auto and it fits your driving needs that is what is important.

[DDustiNN]

Don't listen to anyone who tells you that manuals are the only "manly" car. Automatic vs. manual transmission is purely personal preference. For me, I'm going auto because it will be a daily driver and I encounter a lot of rush hour traffic on the way to and from work. It is 25 miles one-way, so as much as I stop-and-go, a manual would just be annoying and inconvenient in this case.

So don't listen to anyone else - make your decision based on what YOU want, not what other people think you should have. While you're flying by all of their cars on the road, they won't be able to tell if it's auto or manual... they'll be like "damn, check out that CAMARO!"

...and that's all that matters

[ShnOmac]

I am one of those who is sitting on the fence with this one as well..........

I have driven many of auto's and manuals...... for me its really a matter of environment. Love a stick when roads are open! Love a auto when roads are stop and go! I have lived all over the US and other countries( thanks to uncle sam). Every time I buy a new car it is based on where I live at the time....... For example when I was in California ( LA area) I was all about the auto.... When I was In the pan-handle of florida I was all about the stick. I guess Im tryin to say buy what you want....dont worry about what other people think....afterall your the one driving it not them!

[HeatherR]

I would say get what you want to drive, and don't listen to other people.

The difference of "how fast" manual vs. auto is won't be a factor for most drivers.

Personally, faster or not a manual is way more fun to drive! Even for a daily driver I must have a manual, but that is just personal preference. If you just don't know how to drive it I would say learn how before you make your decision (if you have time). I think you may be surprised what you're missing!

Rolling backwards, hills, etc. are usually concerns only to people who don't know how to drive stick, once you learn they really become non-issues. Also, I have never driven a manual car that doesn't roll backwards (BMWs included).

But, don't think you must order manual because if you don't it won't be a true muscle car-that's BS. I just would hate for you to miss out on how fun a manual can be in any car, but it is REALLY fun in the Camaro!!

[Joe Remi]

I prefer manuals, but realistically you'll have a hard time shifting it better than a modern 6-speed auto would. I used to own a 2000 Porsche Boxster S with an auto and tap shifters. After playing with the shifters for a couple weeks I got lazy and just left it in Drive. Going bonzai on my local mountain it shifted the same way I would have: hold the revs to redline on full throttle, multiple downshifts braking for a corner. I couldn't believe how good it was, and that is now 10-year-old technology.

The only reason to get a stick is 'cause you like to shift (and weight savings). IMO you won't outperform an auto with it. If I spent a lot of time in traffic and on hills (I don't) I would get the auto. Still might.

[Matrix]

In a PERFECT world the stick with its 25+ odd HP is faster.
In reality I doubt it will ever happen unless you are an accomplished professional driver which I doubt anyone of us but a few really are. One fraction of a fraction of a sec delay in shifting in the process of teh quarter mile and the auto will beat you.

I would say auto is the best all round car.

[Lakailb87]

After driving a manual for a while it becomes like second nature when it comes to shifting. I never worry anymore about what gear I need to be in going into a turn its just becomes automatic. I also used to be freaked out about hills myself when I first started driving stick. The second or third time out I was in a 1990 Jetta driving through SF, now that was scary. After a couple weeks of driving though you get completely comfortable with it and you will be happy with your decision, it is so much more fun. The only time manuals suck is when you are living in LA and have to sit through hours and hours of traffic... ugh.

[edog]

I am getting an Auto. I love driving stick, but years back injured my left arm. It makes it difficult if I want to get down on the car.

I test drove a Mustang to get a gas card from one of the auto shows. He said, all I have is stick...I said buckle your belt. I got down on it in some of the straights, but I would not be interested in risking it with my Camaro. I do not mind wrecking a stang.

Bottom line, get what you want. For those who say the stick is the only true muscle...I can show you differently. Also, with tap shift you have the ability to get squirrly on the snake roads and hills. You can have a blast. I will miss the roll back and thrust that you can control with the stick. I am sure the auto can control the thrust but it will not allow you to roll the car back and forth.

Oh well, se la vie...An automatic for me!