Driving Impressions 2011 GS Auto
05-01-2012, 10:31 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Driving Impressions 2011 GS Auto
In the past all my Corvette's were a 6 speed manual, my Last car being a PDK thought I would try a Auto? I would have to say the paddle shift not as good as a PDK but very impressed next to a 6 Speed Car. It shifts on the paddles when promted , if you miss a shift ,as I am learning, there is give , ex on the Corvette hit plus up shift , hit below down shift, orginally I thought hit one side up, one side down, not the case. the tourqe of the engine makes this a good system, and in auto mode above 3k the car just wants to go, I like this route better than a 6speed ecspecially in trafic, plus it has many ups, I think Chevy has come along way in their A6!
05-02-2012, 02:27 AM
#2
Drifting
I have not owned, but did test drive, a PDK in a Cayman S and currently own a 2011 A6. I think there's only a superficial similarity in how the two operate. The PDK is a high technology implementation and the A6 in the Corvette is not. The PDK shifts way faster, without lag, up or down, multiple gears almost as quickly as a single gear. The A6 in the Corvette has varying amounts of lag, depending primarily on whether or not the torque converter has locked and the current engine speed. There's an RPM flare on the 3-4 shift that is annoying.
That all being said, on a road course/HPDE/autocross, the lag can be anticipated and in all actuality, to drivers at least at my level, I'd probably be insignificantly faster with a PDK in the Corvette versus the current A6. I'm just not good enough to exploit the split second shifts and even on tight courses, there aren't many occasions when you need a downshift to happen super quickly and right then, so the major performance advantage is in upshift speeds during acceleration. In just leisurely crusing, the A6 is perfectly fine, and IMO a torque converter automatic is just a more relaxed stop-and-go traffic vehicle than most automated manual transmissions.
That all being said, on a road course/HPDE/autocross, the lag can be anticipated and in all actuality, to drivers at least at my level, I'd probably be insignificantly faster with a PDK in the Corvette versus the current A6. I'm just not good enough to exploit the split second shifts and even on tight courses, there aren't many occasions when you need a downshift to happen super quickly and right then, so the major performance advantage is in upshift speeds during acceleration. In just leisurely crusing, the A6 is perfectly fine, and IMO a torque converter automatic is just a more relaxed stop-and-go traffic vehicle than most automated manual transmissions.
05-02-2012, 06:17 AM
#3
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I'd say the level of tech and sophistication of the PDK and other similar trans are quite a bit above the A6. I recall that one of our vendors, LGMotorsports, was once selling the racing clutchless trans they use. Even tho it's for racing (and thus more costly than a PDK), the costs were multiples of what a regular automatic would cost.
05-02-2012, 10:07 AM
#6
Team Owner
If the A6 makes you happy then get it. I drove one and had the opposite feelings and that is why I got the M6, but to each their own.
05-02-2012, 10:08 AM
#7
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I'd say the level of tech and sophistication of the PDK and other similar trans are quite a bit above the A6. I recall that one of our vendors, LGMotorsports, was once selling the racing clutchless trans they use. Even tho it's for racing (and thus more costly than a PDK), the costs were multiples of what a regular automatic would cost.
05-02-2012, 10:10 AM
#8
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In the past all my Corvette's were a 6 speed manual, my Last car being a PDK thought I would try a Auto? I would have to say the paddle shift not as good as a PDK but very impressed next to a 6 Speed Car. It shifts on the paddles when promted , if you miss a shift ,as I am learning, there is give , ex on the Corvette hit plus up shift , hit below down shift, orginally I thought hit one side up, one side down, not the case. the tourqe of the engine makes this a good system, and in auto mode above 3k the car just wants to go, I like this route better than a 6speed ecspecially in trafic, plus it has many ups, I think Chevy has come along way in their A6!
05-02-2012, 10:13 AM
#9
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St. Jude Donor '13
I have not owned, but did test drive, a PDK in a Cayman S and currently own a 2011 A6. I think there's only a superficial similarity in how the two operate. The PDK is a high technology implementation and the A6 in the Corvette is not. The PDK shifts way faster, without lag, up or down, multiple gears almost as quickly as a single gear. The A6 in the Corvette has varying amounts of lag, depending primarily on whether or not the torque converter has locked and the current engine speed. There's an RPM flare on the 3-4 shift that is annoying.
That all being said, on a road course/HPDE/autocross, the lag can be anticipated and in all actuality, to drivers at least at my level, I'd probably be insignificantly faster with a PDK in the Corvette versus the current A6. I'm just not good enough to exploit the split second shifts and even on tight courses, there aren't many occasions when you need a downshift to happen super quickly and right then, so the major performance advantage is in upshift speeds during acceleration. In just leisurely crusing, the A6 is perfectly fine, and IMO a torque converter automatic is just a more relaxed stop-and-go traffic vehicle than most automated manual transmissions.
That all being said, on a road course/HPDE/autocross, the lag can be anticipated and in all actuality, to drivers at least at my level, I'd probably be insignificantly faster with a PDK in the Corvette versus the current A6. I'm just not good enough to exploit the split second shifts and even on tight courses, there aren't many occasions when you need a downshift to happen super quickly and right then, so the major performance advantage is in upshift speeds during acceleration. In just leisurely crusing, the A6 is perfectly fine, and IMO a torque converter automatic is just a more relaxed stop-and-go traffic vehicle than most automated manual transmissions.
The shift lag can normally be anticipated and made a non-issue.
The slow shifts reduce acceleration, but the C6 with an A6 is still a very fast car.
The car magazines have often complained about herky-jerky shifting around town from the automatic manual trannies, I hope GM gets it right when they some day start making one.
05-02-2012, 10:21 AM
#10
Burning Brakes
The lag and gear hunting irritated me when I had my 08 A6. My 07 was a M6, so when I bought my 08 I went with the A6 because I liked the idea of no clutch or so I thought I did. Once the newness wore off the A6 I missed the hell out of my M6, so when I bought my 11 there was not a second thought about going with the M6.
05-02-2012, 12:01 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
Drivers of A6s are faster than most drivers in MN6s...
some MN6 drivers will chime in and claim that they can outperform the A6, I've seem many of them embarrassed when they are proven otherwise
some MN6 drivers will chime in and claim that they can outperform the A6, I've seem many of them embarrassed when they are proven otherwise
05-02-2012, 04:01 PM
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St. Jude Donor '15
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05-02-2012, 07:42 PM
#15
Drifting
05-02-2012, 07:45 PM
#16
Drifting
Good points.
The shift lag can normally be anticipated and made a non-issue.
The slow shifts reduce acceleration, but the C6 with an A6 is still a very fast car.
The car magazines have often complained about herky-jerky shifting around town from the automatic manual trannies, I hope GM gets it right when they some day start making one.
The shift lag can normally be anticipated and made a non-issue.
The slow shifts reduce acceleration, but the C6 with an A6 is still a very fast car.
The car magazines have often complained about herky-jerky shifting around town from the automatic manual trannies, I hope GM gets it right when they some day start making one.
05-02-2012, 07:50 PM
#17
Instructor
Thread Starter
I have the paddles, and the car shifts when promted, up or down, in paddle mode, a tune to tighten everything up and it should be allot of fun.
05-02-2012, 08:48 PM
#18
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05-02-2012, 09:35 PM
#20
Drifting
Okay, then I guess to you, anyone driving an old pickup truck with a manual transmission is a sports car driver.