The Camaro Club (UK)

I will be on the hunt for a 4th gen very soon, I have been doing a lot of research but I would like some honest opinions on the manual/auto gearbox comparison from UK owners. I have read that the six speed manual is a real beast and that the automatic is a bit more sedate. Obviously as a rule autos are always a bit slower, but my question is by how much and what do you think of them generally? My brother until recently had a twin turbo supra and the auto box on that was generally considered better than the manual with similar launch times, so I thought I would check. Personally I think the auto would generally be a nicer drive, I have driven several big engined autos and they were lovely, and especially being left hand drive, would be easy with auto, but then I keep reading such good stuff about the manuals, give me your thoughts please.

manual cars in any shape or form of Yank or pretty rare, so you'd be lucky to even find one. So that does point to the American Trannys having been pretty widely tested and proven.

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Steven
Webmaster
83 Chevy G-20 A-Team Van 305/700R4

The auto is great around town, will never go back to a manual again.
However, if you are the racing sort, you have much better control with a manual and of course you get a few miles per gallon less with an auto.
A mechanic friend told me to watch out for problems around the 100,000 mile mark, but then he is used to British cars so probably the American auto could well be better, and then again it is the luck of the draw and of course how the car has been driven!

Regards

DS

I know the manuals are rare, but I have just in the last few days found 4 for sale in the UK, and I don't mind travelling to get what I want. I read on the American LT1LS1 forums that there are advantages and disadvantages to both, that the auto box had some problems, but that the clutch on the manual was very weak. I think to be honest I am not going to be too fussed, just go for the best car and not be picky about it, its going to be lovely no matter what.

Hi,

I got hold of a 1997 Z28 F1 auto a few weeks ago. There is a "jerk" when you drop the car in gear but other than that I like the auto box. Its my first auto by the way.

I had been looking for a while and it doesnt seem hard to find a manual Z28.

Performance is quite frightening on my model. Hard acceleration at any speed seems to pin you in your seat. Mine seems to hold the road and corner well but I must admit that with an auto you use the brakes more.......having said that I didn't buy it to throw it about so its not an issue.

Auto or manual, is always down to personal preference regardless of what other people think (unless certain gearboxes are to be avoided of course!). The Yanks are well versed in building auto boxes, and modifying them etc. If I recall it will be the 4l80 auto box in the 4th Gen, if you end up going with an auto, and at a later date fancied manual, you can always get a paddle shift kit installed The T56 is a good manual gearbox, although not as strong as the T56 in the Dodge Viper (but you can always swap the viper internals into the camaro casing). All down to what you want from the car, if you drag race it, then auto boxes will give you a consistent launch, if you want to be in more control, then go manual (I am converting my 68 to manual - but that's my personal preference).

Sorry it's not a definite answer to your post, just thought I'll get you thinking from a different angle is all....

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'68 Camaro

I can't offer un-biased advice as I'm an auto hater and on my 2nd manual z28. However IMHO..
- An auto will probably be quicker off the mark and then 99% of manual starts
- The manual isn't as robust as the auto, if you want to add serious bhp, you may well problems with the manual.
- Manuals are around and not that rare, so if thats want you want, you can find them
- Personally I like to slide around wet roundabouts, and so a manual is my choice for control.
- Listen for a noisy diff on manuals. there are not that strong (well LT1s anyway) and the lack of 'cushion' of the torque converter puts them under extra strain.
- the low reving nature of the engine is a good match for an auto.