Wow! You folks have been awesome!

I live in Toronto, Ontario Canada. This part of the country is known for two seasons: Winter and Construction. Despite this, I love driving my 5 speed Saab Aero 9-5. Judging from the responses, I am tending more towards the manual 6 speed for the sheer control as Triggerrick put it. The choice between auto or manual is easy for us as my wife SHWIMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed), also prefers stick - I am one lucky guy there.

The next decisions involve money and availablility. I think that at my age of fifty something, I don't want to look like "an old man on the make". The color has to be black for me with black or grey interior. I even wish to have the wheels painted black. It will look lethal

 

I will get my Victory Red 07 next week, guess I will look like the Old Man on the Make. Thats Ok, but when they see my sexy wife next to me they will know I'm taken.

 

I really hope I haven't offended anyone with my remark. It is intended as a persaonal statement on me with regards to "the old man on the make". So did you get paddle or stick shift Janstubbs?

 

Finally test drove a C6 2007.

I went to Wilson Niblett Chev - the BIGGEST Corvette dealer in Canada. What a difference in the QoS (quality of service)! First of all, the rep was more mature (read: older) and understood how this type of acquisition is a serious one. I explained to him my dilema about paddle versus stick and the first thing he asked me was whether SHWIMBO drove stick. I thought this to be one of the most pertinent questions any salesman should ask as she does drive stick shift. This immediately put us on the right foot. We were soon discussing the features and functions that I wanted in this car. As they had over 15 C6's in various configurations available, he suggested we go out for a spin. I chose to try paddle shift as I am intimately acquainted with stick shift in its various iterations. Now here are my impressions.

While this car is truly a work of art and genius, I was not impressed with the paddle shifting. The downshifts were instant but try as might and at various rpm's, I found upshifting rather sluggish. I may be 50+ but I shift at least twice as fast when I want to. The handling with the Z51 package is utterly incredible. What a differnce compared to the turbo lag I am accustomed to. Braking and everything about this car was amazing. The blue model I drove would not be my first choice but it was still very nice.

On a final note, I was really impressed with body stiffnes and how quiet the car was even with the translucent roof installed. We drove through some swtichback roads and went over some light train tracks which I was ready to cringe expecting noises or bottoming out. To my surprise neither occured whatsoever. I hope to try the 6 speed next week and offer a better comparison. Thank you.

 

What is wrong with being an old man (I am). On the make? -- Well, not sure what that encompasses but I have always loved beautiful women -- the only thing better than beautiful cars. But I have a lovely wife and no need to look elsewhere -- (she was in Penthouse in '79 but I am not telling which month's issue). Everyone assumes if you have a shiny vette you are on the make, but maybe you just like good cars. Drive what you want. Don't worry about what others think.

 

I was amused by your Old Man on the Make remark, not offended. Although I am not on the make, cause I don't need to be, I sure wouldn't hesitate to get whatever color you are avoiding if I thought it would help me on the make. As it turns out my wife is happy I am getting the Victory red, although she said it would not be the color she would choose if it was her car. She thinks it is a good color for a man. Go figure. As Jack Nicholson said, don't bother trying to understand woman, they make their own rules.

I am getting my 6 speed manual next week, because I read on this and other places that the paddle shifter would frustrate me with slow responses. I am now driving an automatic 05 Mustang Gt which I like very much but the drive by wire stuff is VERY annoying. When you hit the gas, it takes a finite amount of time to consider what it should do, and then it lurches a bit when if finally does it. I got the automatic because I was annoyed with the '99 GT throttle response to letting off on the gas between shifts. RPMs drop so slowly that it was still revved too high when I let the clutch out. I sure hope the Corvette does not have this problem. Anyway the wife is going to get the GT, cause she prefers automatic.

Anybody else annoyed with modern cars poor response to letting off on the gas? For C6 Corvette is there a "tuning" or mechanical fix for it?

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Lee,

You are indeed one lucky man. I too believe my wife to be incredibly pretty as a slim and shapely 50 year old. And in the end, it is not about getting old but about "being" old. Tahnks for your input. Your and everyone elses has been invaluable. Bonnie and I are going to test drive the 6-spd next week.

 

It will definitely be manual shifting for me. Bonnie and I went to the dealership and test drove a 6-spd on Saturday. What a difference! An interesting note about the manual gearbox which I haven't noticed on the forums, is the "1 -> 4" on the tachymeter when you fire it up. I later discovered when shifting below 2500 (I recall), the second gear position would be "gated" and force you into fourth. The salesman indicated that this was a gas saving function. I actually liked it. What an amazing design!

 

I'm from "Old School". Any given gear, at any given time, but hey, if it works for ya, it works for ya.

 

Some of you probably saw the comparison test in the latest Road and Track of two new Porsche Turbos -- m6 vs. Tiprtonic 5 speed. The Tip is faster to every speed and in every range. They explain why.

Still, I do prefer a manual in a fun car.