I'm getting a M6 2005. This will be the first manual transmission car I've owned. So I'm curious as to how long it should last. I do plan on driving it hard the 1st year 75% of the time...if that helps any. Once it goes I will replace it with a nice performance aftermarket one.

I love hard 1st gear launches. I am sure my clutch will not last a long time with this much torque. I also do all kinds of maneuvers that hopefully will prolong the life of the synchros such as double clutching. I rarely downshift to slow down but like I said, I am very hard on the 0-1 and 1-2 gear shifts. Fortunately, I don't drive the goat in stop and go traffic so I don't have to ride the clutch for long periods of time.

When it's time to replace, I will switch to SPEC 2 or 3 anticipating the power add ons that will be modded to the GTO.

Clutch life isn't harmed while the engine is engaged or disengaged, so letting the engine slow the car down isnt bad, just don't let it do it while you hold the clutch in.

So just avoid clutch burning launches, and make most of the driving clutch in or clutch out and you should be fine, where in powershifting, downshifting, and other stuff won't harm the clutch it will harm the transmission.

Manual transmissions don't "go" so to speak like auto trannies do. With manuals you just have to replace the clutch every so often unless you abuse it, like shifting with clutch still partially engaged.

Thanks for the wisdom guys. Appreciate it. ;)