View Poll Results: Which would you rather have?
305 w/ Manual Transmission
69
54.33%
350 w/ Automatic Transmission
58
45.67%
Voters: 127. You may not vote on this poll
Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: Looking For the ONE
Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Well, ive been looking around local ads and on the for sale list on this site to buy a late model camaro. I've been doin a lot of research and learned alot of things but I couldn't find an answer to my question so i decide to put it up on here. My question is: Whats better in the lines of performance(i.e. 0-60, 1/4 Mile, etc...), a Z28/IROC with a 305 w/ Manual or a 350 w/Auto Transmission? and Why?
I've been bothered by this because i really want to buy a camaro with a stick shift but not at the cost of performance. This is my first post on the site so i hope it goes well and i just want to see what you guys think, and im not trying to start a civil war, im just looking for some advice on what would be better choice and what i should be looking to buy.THANKS!!!
P.S. IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE I WAS LOOKING FOR A CAMARO FROM 1990-92.
I've been bothered by this because i really want to buy a camaro with a stick shift but not at the cost of performance. This is my first post on the site so i hope it goes well and i just want to see what you guys think, and im not trying to start a civil war, im just looking for some advice on what would be better choice and what i should be looking to buy.THANKS!!!
P.S. IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE I WAS LOOKING FOR A CAMARO FROM 1990-92.
#2
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Johnstown, PA
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 94 camaro z28
Engine: lt1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Well the 350 700r4 is better in a straight line and the l98 has more potential than the little 305 but theres no doubt a stick is more fun everywhere and good G92 cars aren't very much slower than the L98.
#3
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ahead of you...
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
5 Posts
Car: 1984 LG4 Camaro
Engine: 350 Roller Motor
Transmission: Level 10 700R4
Axle/Gears: Strange 12 bolt 3.42
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Obviously the 350 makes more power, but loses some in the auto trans compared to the 5-speed.
But, in terms of upgrading, the 350 wins hands down. You can run almost any high performance head with a 350 (hard if not impossible with the 305's smaller bore), plus you have the 45 cubic inch advantage for TQ production.
But, in terms of upgrading, the 350 wins hands down. You can run almost any high performance head with a 350 (hard if not impossible with the 305's smaller bore), plus you have the 45 cubic inch advantage for TQ production.
#4
Supreme Member
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Hard question would you rather do an engine swap or a trans swap?
If I bought the auto I would not let anyone know so I could keep my man card until I got my manual swap completed. If I had a 305 I would drive it until I had my new engine built and ready for a swap.
If I bought the auto I would not let anyone know so I could keep my man card until I got my manual swap completed. If I had a 305 I would drive it until I had my new engine built and ready for a swap.
#5
Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 Formula Firebird
Engine: L98 with headers/exhaust
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 10-bolt
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Straight-line performance? L98/700R4 easily. Autocross? 305/T5.
#6
Supreme Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 9,666
Received 546 Likes
on
376 Posts
Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
Engine: LB9. Dual Cats. Big Cam
Transmission: World Class T-5
Axle/Gears: BW 3.45
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
I'd take the slightly less power for the third pedal every time.
#7
Supreme Member
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Trending Topics
#8
Supreme Member
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Dont look at which is better off the showroom floor.If you have any plans on modding the car then this is null and void.
You can start with the 305/t5 if you want a stick car fun to drive.Save up and simply swap in a 350 in mere hrs and bolt everything right back on.Around here..finding 305/t5 cars is rare and finding parts to convert an auto 350 car to manual is becoming rare also.Though if you keep the t5 and swap in a 350..you better be easy on hard launches,the t5's dont like the shock of tq for long before it breaks.
Though if you do go with a 350/auto car..dont worry about having your man card pulled either.A well built 700R4 with a good stall can be very deadly surprise to the nay sayers who might pull up next to you and watch your tailights when you stall the car up and take off.Slap a ratchet shifter on it and bang gears that way..trust me it will change their minds about having an auto car with some good tq from the l98.Add a set of gears 3.73 or 4.10 and the car is a whole new animal!
Pick your poison,there are pros/cons to both depending on what you want as the end result.
You can start with the 305/t5 if you want a stick car fun to drive.Save up and simply swap in a 350 in mere hrs and bolt everything right back on.Around here..finding 305/t5 cars is rare and finding parts to convert an auto 350 car to manual is becoming rare also.Though if you keep the t5 and swap in a 350..you better be easy on hard launches,the t5's dont like the shock of tq for long before it breaks.
Though if you do go with a 350/auto car..dont worry about having your man card pulled either.A well built 700R4 with a good stall can be very deadly surprise to the nay sayers who might pull up next to you and watch your tailights when you stall the car up and take off.Slap a ratchet shifter on it and bang gears that way..trust me it will change their minds about having an auto car with some good tq from the l98.Add a set of gears 3.73 or 4.10 and the car is a whole new animal!
Pick your poison,there are pros/cons to both depending on what you want as the end result.
#10
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Johnstown, PA
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 94 camaro z28
Engine: lt1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Dont look at which is better off the showroom floor.If you have any plans on modding the car then this is null and void.
You can start with the 305/t5 if you want a stick car fun to drive.Save up and simply swap in a 350 in mere hrs and bolt everything right back on.Around here..finding 305/t5 cars is rare and finding parts to convert an auto 350 car to manual is becoming rare also.Though if you keep the t5 and swap in a 350..you better be easy on hard launches,the t5's dont like the shock of tq for long before it breaks.
Though if you do go with a 350/auto car..dont worry about having your man card pulled either.A well built 700R4 with a good stall can be very deadly surprise to the nay sayers who might pull up next to you and watch your tailights when you stall the car up and take off.Slap a ratchet shifter on it and bang gears that way..trust me it will change their minds about having an auto car with some good tq from the l98.Add a set of gears 3.73 or 4.10 and the car is a whole new animal!
Pick your poison,there are pros/cons to both depending on what you want as the end result.
You can start with the 305/t5 if you want a stick car fun to drive.Save up and simply swap in a 350 in mere hrs and bolt everything right back on.Around here..finding 305/t5 cars is rare and finding parts to convert an auto 350 car to manual is becoming rare also.Though if you keep the t5 and swap in a 350..you better be easy on hard launches,the t5's dont like the shock of tq for long before it breaks.
Though if you do go with a 350/auto car..dont worry about having your man card pulled either.A well built 700R4 with a good stall can be very deadly surprise to the nay sayers who might pull up next to you and watch your tailights when you stall the car up and take off.Slap a ratchet shifter on it and bang gears that way..trust me it will change their minds about having an auto car with some good tq from the l98.Add a set of gears 3.73 or 4.10 and the car is a whole new animal!
Pick your poison,there are pros/cons to both depending on what you want as the end result.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 702
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1992 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700R4 Overdrive Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.23:1 Positraction
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Give me The L98 and 700R4 till the Death I'll put my Life on its hands, anybody that knows how to shift an Automatic will always beat a 5speed, Like Myself.
#12
Supreme Member
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
The problem with t5's isnt so much hp..but handling such brute tq is what shatters them so easy.Going auto is great for having a consistent street/strip car..yes but you need to throw more power to make up for drivetrain loss to the wheel.
Or just build a mild 350 with a lt1 t56 ..good clutch setup with minor t56 upgrades.You have a very fun car with good mileage and will hold its on on the track both strip or road course
Or just build a mild 350 with a lt1 t56 ..good clutch setup with minor t56 upgrades.You have a very fun car with good mileage and will hold its on on the track both strip or road course
#13
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Johnstown, PA
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 94 camaro z28
Engine: lt1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
The problem with t5's isnt so much hp..but handling such brute tq is what shatters them so easy.Going auto is great for having a consistent street/strip car..yes but you need to throw more power to make up for drivetrain loss to the wheel.
Or just build a mild 350 with a lt1 t56 ..good clutch setup with minor t56 upgrades.You have a very fun car with good mileage and will hold its on on the track both strip or road course
Or just build a mild 350 with a lt1 t56 ..good clutch setup with minor t56 upgrades.You have a very fun car with good mileage and will hold its on on the track both strip or road course
#14
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 176
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 Camaro Iroc Z
Engine: 305
Transmission: MK6 World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt had 3.45's, now 3.27 gears
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
HAhahahahaha Funny cause i have beaten plenty of auto powered cars that have been shifted pretty darn well, it takes skill to drive a stick! A monkey can drive a auto lol Just slam the pedal! You can stall a stick to any rpm you want, something you auto guys WISH you can do in stock form!!! Autos must have a neck snapping shift kit to decrease E/T and a stall convertor to get a nasty launch. A stick can be driven smooth and hard when you want unlike a built auto. Stock for stock a stick is way faster and i have proven that to each of my friends whom hate my car cause it has beaten there slow turds with LESS mods!!! 305 cause it came with a 5 speed , and i wont have to butcher my ride swapping to a 350 with a T56!!! If the L98 came WITH the ZF 6 speed i would have gotten a 350 but since it came auto i decided on a LB9 Iroc! Go stick or go home!!!! Its like buying a automatic ZR1 for gosh sakes WHAT A WASTE!!!
#15
Supreme Member
iTrader: (16)
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Originally Posted by lozantius82
You can stall a stick to any rpm you want, something you auto guys WISH you can do in stock form!!! Autos must have a neck snapping shift kit to decrease E/T and a stall convertor to get a nasty launch...
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: greenfield indiana
Posts: 913
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 86' IROC-Z....and 5 other 3rdgens
Engine: 383 hsr
Transmission: built 700r4
Axle/Gears: stock 3.23, 10bolt
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
i can sway either way. but im more of the auto guy. i have both (more autos though) and im actually driving a stick 92 rs at the moment to and from work. but i like my auto 3rdgens way more. although this whole summer, the stick rs is growing on me. it has a fun factor i guess, but when you just flat arnt trying to "have fun" and just want to get to work or anywhere, the stick can be annoying, so the auto is great. and autos are a drag racers choice of trans
#17
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 176
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 Camaro Iroc Z
Engine: 305
Transmission: MK6 World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt had 3.45's, now 3.27 gears
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
lmfao, auto guys "wish" they can do in stock form??? Who stays in stock form???? How many stick guys do you know that can pull 1.2x - 1.3x sixty foots at the track? Hmmmmmmm? Boosted engines with stalled automatics w/transbrake will annihilate sticks off of the line, trust me. Yes, it takes skill to run a stick shift, I've owned plenty of them, but who really cares in today's day and age anymore, I know I don't...
To each there own but sticks have there place in drag racing and when people buy a sports car stick is the #1 choice! Because its fun, and with the right driver its fast!!! Streetlethal yeah go boast about your trailor queens consistant 60 foots, but this is the real world (away from the track) people want to be able to cruise at low rpm's, stall at any speed, drive there cars easy, and bang those gears when they want!!! With a stalled auto you loose that peppy throttle and gain one soggy throttle that you must press down just to get going in traffic. A shift kit is permanent too and you can't make that go away either! I can drive my car smooth, bang my gears, stall my speed, and save gas with my low 5th gear!!! ALL THIS IN STOCK FORM!!!! STREETLETHAL HMMMMMM THINK REALSISTIC and give this kid some good advice! If he wants to fall asleep behind the wheel of a boring auto, or have some real fun with a 5 speed!!!
#19
Supreme Member
iTrader: (16)
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Originally Posted by lozantius82
Give me a break man, do you really think somebody will slap a transbrake on there daily driver???
#20
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 176
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 Camaro Iroc Z
Engine: 305
Transmission: MK6 World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt had 3.45's, now 3.27 gears
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Give me a break man, do you really think somebody will be banging gears during each and every stop light in their daily driver? The transbrake is activated through a switch, it isn't on all of the time, only when racing. As for giving this kid some good advice, I always give the proper advice, not good advice. For a daily driver, there is no need to burn out the clutch by banging gears all of the time because it is more "fun" than an automatic, because it isn't. A stalled automatic w/transbrake will outperform any stick shift in racing, while remaining TOTALLY docile on the street when it needs to be. Umm, you think that isn't "good" advice?
#21
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: Looking For the ONE
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Thanks everyone for you input but i think im gonna chase down a 305 with a manual trans., with the 305 only 2 tenths off its big brother im sure i could make up for that with some work.Thanks guys
and Remember E.L.E... EVERYBODY LOVE EVERYBODY!!!!!
and Remember E.L.E... EVERYBODY LOVE EVERYBODY!!!!!
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 702
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1992 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700R4 Overdrive Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.23:1 Positraction
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
HAhahahahaha Funny cause i have beaten plenty of auto powered cars that have been shifted pretty darn well, it takes skill to drive a stick! A monkey can drive a auto lol Just slam the pedal! You can stall a stick to any rpm you want, something you auto guys WISH you can do in stock form!!! Autos must have a neck snapping shift kit to decrease E/T and a stall convertor to get a nasty launch. A stick can be driven smooth and hard when you want unlike a built auto. Stock for stock a stick is way faster and i have proven that to each of my friends whom hate my car cause it has beaten there slow turds with LESS mods!!! 305 cause it came with a 5 speed , and i wont have to butcher my ride swapping to a 350 with a T56!!! If the L98 came WITH the ZF 6 speed i would have gotten a 350 but since it came auto i decided on a LB9 Iroc! Go stick or go home!!!! Its like buying a automatic ZR1 for gosh sakes WHAT A WASTE!!!
After seeing this guys posts and his way of Talking and getting a message across, he's a Fanboy of sticks, and probably can't drive an auto. I know his kind, always bitchin about how Automatics are for P*ssys or for Grandma drivers, smh Guys like this Take the fun out of Places like this, their not content in making their opinion and being done they have to keep Trolling everybody else's comment about autos.
P.S. I own a 4th gen M6 and always Get angry if I drive it too much in Traffic Especially in Los Angeles, Every red light having to mess around with gears, That's Why Auto Beat out Stickshifts, You can Shift it Manually If you want to, But the beauty of it is You Don't Have To if you don't want to.
#25
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: Looking For the ONE
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
P.S. I own a 4th gen M6 and always Get angry if I drive it too much in Traffic Especially in Los Angeles, Every red light having to mess around with gears, That's Why Auto Beat out Stickshifts, You can Shift it Manually If you want to, But the beauty of it is You Don't Have To if you don't want to.
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
I was in the market for my first Camaro a few months ago and I too wanted a stick. Looked high and low and found tons. The big bad 305 tbi. A whopping 170hp. Finding an lb9 stick, especially in an iroc, is getting very hard. When I finally got my 350 with the auto of course, I felt great and it felt mean and fast. But now it doesn't and I want to mod it. Thank you Jesus for not giving me a 305. It will be fun until you want to go faster because the corolla in the next lane just smoked your ***. Then when it comes time to mod you'll wonder why your gains are less than imressive. 305's can be built but they are nothing compared to a comparable 350.
#27
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Toronto, Ohio
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 355
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 4th gen 10 bolt 3.42 posi
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Have fun with your sticks, but when you miss a gear or fry your clutch or bog it and I cruise away in my auto, don't be mad about it or make excuses.
As for this whole fun to drive crap that EVERYBODY loves to bring up in these discussions no matter what car it is, well I guess you don't have enough motor and need everything you can come up with to make the poor thing "fun". If you have enough motor and it is set up right, you don't need a stick to make it fun, it just is. And let's not go without noticing that nowofdays a stick is no longer faster in most cars, the autos are. The only reason people still buy them is because they are still stuck on their old school thinking and just ignore the facts and numbers. Let's look at the Veyron for example. One of the worlds fastest and most expensive cars, and do you see a clutch pedal in it? Nope. It might be a dual clutch box, but it is an automatic nonetheless. Then there is my buddy with his 10.3 second 4th gen.. Does he have a stick? Nope, just a typical GM auto and his wife drives it to get groceries. They also have an 11 sec. GN, and you guessed it, auto.
Also, who in the hell wants a wear part on their car that requires dropping the damn tranny to fix everytime you kill it??
The auto is the way of the future because it is BETTER. Why do you think you keep hearing all this "save the manual" crap now?
Oh and as far as old muscle cars go having sticks, whoopty do. That was a different time with much less technology or knowledge compared to now. I mean hell, we had 3 spds. at most back then in an auto, and now we are up to 8 and even 9. And even back then, if you were drag racing you had a powerglide, not a stick. The guy I crushed a few months ago in his 4 spd. 60's Impala that tried to run on me seemed to be plenty impressed with my auto as I blew by him and he gave me the thumbs up.
Either way, to each his own way of thinking, just expressing my way.
As for this whole fun to drive crap that EVERYBODY loves to bring up in these discussions no matter what car it is, well I guess you don't have enough motor and need everything you can come up with to make the poor thing "fun". If you have enough motor and it is set up right, you don't need a stick to make it fun, it just is. And let's not go without noticing that nowofdays a stick is no longer faster in most cars, the autos are. The only reason people still buy them is because they are still stuck on their old school thinking and just ignore the facts and numbers. Let's look at the Veyron for example. One of the worlds fastest and most expensive cars, and do you see a clutch pedal in it? Nope. It might be a dual clutch box, but it is an automatic nonetheless. Then there is my buddy with his 10.3 second 4th gen.. Does he have a stick? Nope, just a typical GM auto and his wife drives it to get groceries. They also have an 11 sec. GN, and you guessed it, auto.
Also, who in the hell wants a wear part on their car that requires dropping the damn tranny to fix everytime you kill it??
The auto is the way of the future because it is BETTER. Why do you think you keep hearing all this "save the manual" crap now?
Oh and as far as old muscle cars go having sticks, whoopty do. That was a different time with much less technology or knowledge compared to now. I mean hell, we had 3 spds. at most back then in an auto, and now we are up to 8 and even 9. And even back then, if you were drag racing you had a powerglide, not a stick. The guy I crushed a few months ago in his 4 spd. 60's Impala that tried to run on me seemed to be plenty impressed with my auto as I blew by him and he gave me the thumbs up.
Either way, to each his own way of thinking, just expressing my way.
The following users liked this post:
Dthrash89 (01-17-2024)
#28
Senior Member
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Toronto, Ohio
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1991 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 355
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 4th gen 10 bolt 3.42 posi
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
I was in the market for my first Camaro a few months ago and I too wanted a stick. Looked high and low and found tons. The big bad 305 tbi. A whopping 170hp. Finding an lb9 stick, especially in an iroc, is getting very hard. When I finally got my 350 with the auto of course, I felt great and it felt mean and fast. But now it doesn't and I want to mod it. Thank you Jesus for not giving me a 305. It will be fun until you want to go faster because the corolla in the next lane just smoked your ***. Then when it comes time to mod you'll wonder why your gains are less than imressive. 305's can be built but they are nothing compared to a comparable 350.
#29
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 176
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 Camaro Iroc Z
Engine: 305
Transmission: MK6 World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt had 3.45's, now 3.27 gears
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
After seeing this guys posts and his way of Talking and getting a message across, he's a Fanboy of sticks, and probably can't drive an auto. I know his kind, always bitchin about how Automatics are for P*ssys or for Grandma drivers, smh Guys like this Take the fun out of Places like this, their not content in making their opinion and being done they have to keep Trolling everybody else's comment about autos.
P.S. I own a 4th gen M6 and always Get angry if I drive it too much in Traffic Especially in Los Angeles, Every red light having to mess around with gears, That's Why Auto Beat out Stickshifts, You can Shift it Manually If you want to, But the beauty of it is You Don't Have To if you don't want to.
P.S. I own a 4th gen M6 and always Get angry if I drive it too much in Traffic Especially in Los Angeles, Every red light having to mess around with gears, That's Why Auto Beat out Stickshifts, You can Shift it Manually If you want to, But the beauty of it is You Don't Have To if you don't want to.
Last edited by lozantius82; 07-27-2012 at 02:13 PM.
#30
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
If your all for that nostalgic muscle car feel, why don't you go buy one and drive one? We're talking bout thirdgens and while they are the last of the muscle car feeling camaros, they are not classic muscle no matter how much you want them to be. You want the classic muscle car feel, go buy one. Not a thirdgen. Your argument is unfathomably weak.
#32
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Johnstown, PA
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 94 camaro z28
Engine: lt1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Have fun with your sticks, but when you miss a gear or fry your clutch or bog it and I cruise away in my auto, don't be mad about it or make excuses.
As for this whole fun to drive crap that EVERYBODY loves to bring up in these discussions no matter what car it is, well I guess you don't have enough motor and need everything you can come up with to make the poor thing "fun". If you have enough motor and it is set up right, you don't need a stick to make it fun, it just is. And let's not go without noticing that nowofdays a stick is no longer faster in most cars, the autos are. The only reason people still buy them is because they are still stuck on their old school thinking and just ignore the facts and numbers. Let's look at the Veyron for example. One of the worlds fastest and most expensive cars, and do you see a clutch pedal in it? Nope. It might be a dual clutch box, but it is an automatic nonetheless. Then there is my buddy with his 10.3 second 4th gen.. Does he have a stick? Nope, just a typical GM auto and his wife drives it to get groceries. They also have an 11 sec. GN, and you guessed it, auto.
Also, who in the hell wants a wear part on their car that requires dropping the damn tranny to fix everytime you kill it??
The auto is the way of the future because it is BETTER. Why do you think you keep hearing all this "save the manual" crap now?
Oh and as far as old muscle cars go having sticks, whoopty do. That was a different time with much less technology or knowledge compared to now. I mean hell, we had 3 spds. at most back then in an auto, and now we are up to 8 and even 9. And even back then, if you were drag racing you had a powerglide, not a stick. The guy I crushed a few months ago in his 4 spd. 60's Impala that tried to run on me seemed to be plenty impressed with my auto as I blew by him and he gave me the thumbs up.
Either way, to each his own way of thinking, just expressing my way.
As for this whole fun to drive crap that EVERYBODY loves to bring up in these discussions no matter what car it is, well I guess you don't have enough motor and need everything you can come up with to make the poor thing "fun". If you have enough motor and it is set up right, you don't need a stick to make it fun, it just is. And let's not go without noticing that nowofdays a stick is no longer faster in most cars, the autos are. The only reason people still buy them is because they are still stuck on their old school thinking and just ignore the facts and numbers. Let's look at the Veyron for example. One of the worlds fastest and most expensive cars, and do you see a clutch pedal in it? Nope. It might be a dual clutch box, but it is an automatic nonetheless. Then there is my buddy with his 10.3 second 4th gen.. Does he have a stick? Nope, just a typical GM auto and his wife drives it to get groceries. They also have an 11 sec. GN, and you guessed it, auto.
Also, who in the hell wants a wear part on their car that requires dropping the damn tranny to fix everytime you kill it??
The auto is the way of the future because it is BETTER. Why do you think you keep hearing all this "save the manual" crap now?
Oh and as far as old muscle cars go having sticks, whoopty do. That was a different time with much less technology or knowledge compared to now. I mean hell, we had 3 spds. at most back then in an auto, and now we are up to 8 and even 9. And even back then, if you were drag racing you had a powerglide, not a stick. The guy I crushed a few months ago in his 4 spd. 60's Impala that tried to run on me seemed to be plenty impressed with my auto as I blew by him and he gave me the thumbs up.
Either way, to each his own way of thinking, just expressing my way.
I mean thats great that you can have a huge motor and do 10's in the quarter but that isn't always fun is it? sticks are meant to be more fun not faster at drag racing and if you think that youve gotta make huge power to have fun then i feel bad for you. just ask a miata owner whats fun, ill bet he wont say winning drag races cause thatll never happen but his car is fun nonetheless, you know why? Its because when you drive a stick you actually are an important part of the equation of how the car drive where it shifts and how hard it shifts, youre more involved, which is fun to plenty of people who dont care about numbers. And for your information automatics are a thing of the past too only there is no reason to go back like people who drive sticks do.
those dual clutches you called automatics are anything but, theres no torque converter and as the name implies they have a set of clutches to change the gears which more closely resemble a manual trans than an automatic. Oh and how come any journalist will tell you that stock for stock a standard is always faster than a true auto huh?
#33
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 176
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 Camaro Iroc Z
Engine: 305
Transmission: MK6 World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt had 3.45's, now 3.27 gears
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Quite the fanboy yourself aren't you? Fun is part of driving believe it or not,
I mean thats great that you can have a huge motor and do 10's in the quarter but that isn't always fun is it? sticks are meant to be more fun not faster at drag racing and if you think that youve gotta make huge power to have fun then i feel bad for you. just ask a miata owner whats fun, ill bet he wont say winning drag races cause thatll never happen but his car is fun nonetheless, you know why? Its because when you drive a stick you actually are an important part of the equation of how the car drive where it shifts and how hard it shifts, youre more involved, which is fun to plenty of people who dont care about numbers. And for your information automatics are a thing of the past too only there is no reason to go back like people who drive sticks do.
those dual clutches you called automatics are anything but, theres no torque converter and as the name implies they have a set of clutches to change the gears which more closely resemble a manual trans than an automatic. Oh and how come any journalist will tell you that stock for stock a standard is always faster than a true auto huh?
I mean thats great that you can have a huge motor and do 10's in the quarter but that isn't always fun is it? sticks are meant to be more fun not faster at drag racing and if you think that youve gotta make huge power to have fun then i feel bad for you. just ask a miata owner whats fun, ill bet he wont say winning drag races cause thatll never happen but his car is fun nonetheless, you know why? Its because when you drive a stick you actually are an important part of the equation of how the car drive where it shifts and how hard it shifts, youre more involved, which is fun to plenty of people who dont care about numbers. And for your information automatics are a thing of the past too only there is no reason to go back like people who drive sticks do.
those dual clutches you called automatics are anything but, theres no torque converter and as the name implies they have a set of clutches to change the gears which more closely resemble a manual trans than an automatic. Oh and how come any journalist will tell you that stock for stock a standard is always faster than a true auto huh?
#34
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 176
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 Camaro Iroc Z
Engine: 305
Transmission: MK6 World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt had 3.45's, now 3.27 gears
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
If your all for that nostalgic muscle car feel, why don't you go buy one and drive one? We're talking bout thirdgens and while they are the last of the muscle car feeling camaros, they are not classic muscle no matter how much you want them to be. You want the classic muscle car feel, go buy one. Not a thirdgen. Your argument is unfathomably weak.
#35
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Fun in a car equals this: G's pulled on a skid pad, quarter mile times, the looks you get, the sound of your engine, beating the big talker in the next lane, the knowing your car can beat most anything you'll see on the street. No where in there is a manual required. Stock for stock a manual is quicker yes, but not with the kinds of drivers are out in the real world who don't know what they are doing. As far as my pointless comment: ok?
#36
Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Johnstown, PA
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 94 camaro z28
Engine: lt1
Transmission: 4l60e
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Fun in a car equals this: G's pulled on a skid pad, quarter mile times, the looks you get, the sound of your engine, beating the big talker in the next lane, the knowing your car can beat most anything you'll see on the street. No where in there is a manual required. Stock for stock a manual is quicker yes, but not with the kinds of drivers are out in the real world who don't know what they are doing. As far as my pointless comment: ok?
#38
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Elmwood Park, NJ
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 84 Trans AM
Engine: Goodwrench 350 Crate motor
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
I can see where an auto trans may have the advantage for consistent quarter mile runs, but lets be honest, for the majority of us driving on the street which are not always perfectly flat, nothing is worse than having an auto bumbling about trying to figure out what what gear is best for a hill or a decline.
Yes you can shift it manually but there is lag and it makes the car feel like an appliance, like pushing buttons on a blender.
Real men do all the decision making at the right time when it comes to gears. Manual trans FTW!
Yes you can shift it manually but there is lag and it makes the car feel like an appliance, like pushing buttons on a blender.
Real men do all the decision making at the right time when it comes to gears. Manual trans FTW!
#39
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Elmwood Park, NJ
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 84 Trans AM
Engine: Goodwrench 350 Crate motor
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Driven properly and not abused a clutch should at least last as long as an auto in the same car. Only difference is when the auto goes out it's a hell of a job taking it apart.
And lets not even talk manual trans vs auto reliability and rates of failure over here. Has there ever been a 700r4/460LE that did not leak trans fluid?
Yes it's true, autos are the way for the future and the newest ones do out perform manuals. But reality check here, we're driving 23+ year old cars that will not adapt to the newest and latest 8, 9 speed, dual clutch paddle-shift my *** auto transmissions, so as far as third gens are concerned, it's a moot point. (I'll take back what i said once i see a Bugatti Veyron trans into third gen swap DIY on here!)
BTW, these cars are some of the simplest ever to do a clutch change. Drive shaft out, trans cross member and torque arm unbolted, trans to bell housing bolts out, and the trans is on the floor.
#40
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
A lot of us auto owners are defensive on here because we didn't really have a choice. We can't exactly order these cars designed to our liking anymore. We want one, we find the one that is in our budget and not a pos, and we buy it. We can't always choose the drivetrain. Us 350 owners chose power over a manual. Not necessarily disliking manuals but knowing the 350 would give us more of what we wanted. A lot of us would choose a manual on it of we had the choice. Then you manual worshippers give us flak for driving an auto. We get defensive and pissed off.
#42
Supreme Member
iTrader: (33)
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Boosted Land
Posts: 5,945
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 92 Z28
Engine: Boosted LSX
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
I'll answer YOUR question/comment.
Easy part. Buy a 91-92 Z28 that you find and like. Drive it as is (auto) for awhile. Save some $$ and put a T56 in it since your want a stick.
My supercharged 383lt1 is an auto (built FTI th400 with a nice tight ptc converter) I much rather a T56 in it.
#43
Supreme Member
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Alamogordo, NM
Posts: 3,740
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
9 Posts
Car: 88 Formula 350
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 9" 3.89
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
I went through 2 700r4's before decided to swap to a T56. Rowing gears is just too much fun!
#44
Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Batesville, AR
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1990 Formula Firebird
Engine: 350 (5.7) TPI
Transmission: WC T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 POSI
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Yep. I won't lie and say I drive this Firebird like it's on it's last leg... Put the 350 in it, installed a new clutch because already had it all apart and I drive it hard. It's not my DD anymore so the above statement is no longer true. My F150 with the straight six and 5speed is by no means a vehicle you can drive hard. I just grandpa along in it.
Last edited by Andrew James; 08-05-2012 at 02:33 AM.
#45
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 89 RS 89 iroc 87 firebird
Engine: 3.1 Turbo/ 355 twin turbo
Transmission: a4 w/ 4500 stall/ a4 / t5
Axle/Gears: strange s60 /w 3:42's
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
Your full of it man, A built trans is not docile, and yes i know what a transbrake is. I had a built 700R4 3800rpm stall, manual valve body, with trans brake on my 72 nova with a 406 SBC. It was NOT docile plus every shift was aggressive, and in traffic the convertor was so loose id had to press that pedal down further! Its all about skill with a stick, and if you guys prefer stick thats fine but don't lie to the kid by saying a auto is more fun to drive when in fact its not. The 5.7 was 2 tenths faster in stock form than the G92 5 speed which is not much of a big deal! The 5.7 would have been a homerun if it was offered in the 5 speed instead of the boring auto. why do you think people opted for a mustang or the 305 camaros? Cause auto throws out the fun factor!!! READ THE POLLS BUDDY AND DO YOU NOTICE STICKS ARE IN THE LEAD??? LOOK AT ALL THE REAL MUSCLE CARS FROM THE 60'S THERE ALL STICK!!! ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT DISAGREE WITH ME OUR YOU AUTO GUYS....OPEN UP UP YOUR MINDS AND STOP DENYING THE FUN NOSTALGIC MUSCLE CAR FACTOR AUTO WILL NEVER BRING!!!! ENOUGH SAID!!! BUNCH OF WHIMPS!!!
my rs has a worked to the teeth 700r4 and 4,500 rpm 8.5 inch converter and its a daily driver.
it shifts nice and soft on the street just like a stock trans. dosent take much pedel at all to move the car it acts liek a stock trans with a 2,200 stall until u put ur foot in it, once u get on the throttle that thing will make the gear change faster then u can push on a clutch pedal
on the street it makes all up and down shifts like normal when the shifter is in od and is full manual in any other range
#46
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 91 Z28,64ImpalaSS4094spd,67 Galaxy
Engine: Dart 415Profiler hd,cmprlrs,Hlly750
Transmission: Built 700R4, 3200 stall
Axle/Gears: 3:89 Moser 9"
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
It's all a matter of personal preferance, some people like manuals, some like automatics. I do know this a properly built auto will shift quicker than the manual will, also like the post above states can be docile or downright violent in how hard it'll shift if built properly. I laugh when people get on here saying this or that is better, there are way too many variables to make that kind of claim. I personally love manual transmissions. I drive a very built automatic due to injuries sustained to my left foot and ankle many yrs ago. I just don't have the range of motion needed to drive a manual hard and fast anymore. It took awhile to get used to automatics, but now I love them....
#48
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 176
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 89 Camaro Iroc Z
Engine: 305
Transmission: MK6 World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt had 3.45's, now 3.27 gears
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
u had a pos converter then, and a built auto very well can be docile on the street when built the correct way.
my rs has a worked to the teeth 700r4 and 4,500 rpm 8.5 inch converter and its a daily driver.
it shifts nice and soft on the street just like a stock trans. dosent take much pedel at all to move the car it acts liek a stock trans with a 2,200 stall until u put ur foot in it, once u get on the throttle that thing will make the gear change faster then u can push on a clutch pedal
on the street it makes all up and down shifts like normal when the shifter is in od and is full manual in any other range
my rs has a worked to the teeth 700r4 and 4,500 rpm 8.5 inch converter and its a daily driver.
it shifts nice and soft on the street just like a stock trans. dosent take much pedel at all to move the car it acts liek a stock trans with a 2,200 stall until u put ur foot in it, once u get on the throttle that thing will make the gear change faster then u can push on a clutch pedal
on the street it makes all up and down shifts like normal when the shifter is in od and is full manual in any other range
Last edited by lozantius82; 08-10-2012 at 03:27 AM.
#49
Re: Whats better??? 305 w/Manual OR 350 w/Auto.
actually sticks do not have there place in drag racing. Every car there with serious horsepower is and automatic...that is a 2 speed powerglide with and air selenoid shifter. out of 200 cars at the strip maybe 10 will be manual, and they will lenkos. not the cute little 5 speeds in the third gen camaro lol. all in all, it is way more fun to grip the steering wheel and try to control 500 hp than it is to to manually shift a 305 haha