A decent driver can close the gap and the manual has the advantage when it comes to drivetrain loss. Pulls on the street are a completely different story along with the rest of motorsport.

It's hard comparing apples to apples when you're relying on internet stats. Anyway, it will take a decent sized stall to overtake a M6 car stock for stock (the converter being the only exception) on the strip, but the A4 is a one trick pony. You may have a tenth or two on the M6 but the stall isn't something you'd want to live with every day because of poor gas mileage, driving isn't as fun, lack of control, and you don't look nearly as badass.

You still need to figure out what you want from a sports car. Do you want ***** to the wall performance that's a harrowing DD or a fun grand tourer that easily triumphs everywhere but the strip? You can't have both.

Back on topic... I'd work within your budget for a manual car, LS or LT. There's nothing more fun than chasing friends down country roads, banging through gears at warp speed.

 

If a guy in a stock M6 can't take a guy in a stock automatic (all other things being equal with the cars), then the guy with the stick can't shift worth a crap, plain and simple. The M6 has one extra intermediate gear, plus you have the availability to rev the engine closer to it's power band before dumping the clutch, something you can not do with a stock automatic/t.c. Back when I had my 94 with the 3.4, a guy at the tire store I went to was commenting on how my car was such a dog compared to his (unmodified) 3.4 Camaro with a manual T5. So he took me for a ride, and holy crap what a noticeable difference there was in acceleration.

 

Hm, it was to my understanding (Or what I've been told) that manual gears are only benificial to experienced road course race drivers, guess I have alot to learn in the racing world, but it will all come to me, still got alot of years ahead of me

 

The auto is totally unpredictable. You could get a shift kit but the trans will need to be built or all that downshifting will take its toll.

A friend's uncle brings always his automatic Volvo wagon to autocross events. It's like riding a bull through the corners.

 

geez, you guys gonna drag the ol' auto through the mud, huh?

I have a drag car and there is not a better tranny in the world for drag racing then an auto. YES stock for stock a manual will beat an auto, but it won't be able to do it consistently and anything about a basic modded car will be faster with an auto, no doubt

 

Well bottom line, if he isn't going to use the car as a strip piece then why is the debate really necessary? As if his money or livelihood is relying on the track time. It's not, get something you're comfortable with and will enjoy. Keep that v6 and save the cash to find something better, eventually those scholarships and free money will run out trust me. Then comes the task of finding a good job out of school, not that high school fast food BS that gets you nowhere. Finding the job for what you went to school for and keeping that job is more important then finding another vehicle.

LSx easier to tune and more beneficial, LTx the old work horse! Whichever you choose it's not really gna be a huge loss one way or the other. We all have fun with our cars and with what we have so to each their own.

 

Thanks J, just the post to tweak the thread.. Idk how the whole debate even started..

 

To go back on topic a little the LS1 is a better setup and everyone knows it. Because of that you can find some amazing deals on Lt1's. I have everything I need in my garage to assemble a M29 (6 speed) 93 car with a low miles engine. For about 3K and that include a extra M29 tranny and a second rebuildable Lt1.

 

Appreciate it Gorn, im leaning alot on the LS1

 

4.6 Mustang ^_^!!!