NAV

I have a C7 Z51 7speed manual on order and am having second thoughts about keeping the manual vs. changing to the auto transmission. My 2005 C6 Z51 was wonderful except for the transmission and the BLOWS stereo.
I really did not mind the transmission when I was driving for fun, I minded it when I was commuting as the C6 was my DD and the C7 will be also. The transmission would randomly refuse to go into first gear no matter what I did and left me no choice but to start out in second gear. The shifter was "clunky" and did not have a "crisp" feel to it. It felt more like a cheap knife instead of a scalpel, ie. no finesse. It was so bad that If I had to drive in a congested area, I wouldn't take the car because I couldn't stand to do the first-second-first for 1/2 hour or more!
So, those of you who have had both-how does the 7 speed in the C7 "feel" compared to the C6?
Thanks,
Bill

Walt White Coupe

First you should feel what the transmission in an 08 feels like compared to your 05. I had the same experience with my 05 but when I went to an 09 with the newer transmission it was like night and day. I don't have first hand experience but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that the C7 is more like the "latter" C6 trans.

herman2p

My 2008 manual z51 and z06's were fine. No difficulty getting them into gear or driving in traffic. I would expect the C7 to be an improvement.

Walt White Coupe

The newer transmission was first installed in the 08 cars so you have the newer version I was talking about. I can't imagine it being better than that one but it would be nice if it were.

bimmerborn

2008 Z51. No problem like what you described. Second was "notchy" till I changed the transmission fluid to a better one.

NAV

I changed the fluid to Royal Purple-no difference!

Thanks for all the replies. It seems as though the C 7 should be better but you never know!!

1986C4Z51

I haven't tried Royal Purple, but I've had good results with Red Line MTL. You've tried a shifter realignment?

Greg00Coupe

Had a 13 GS 6 speed. Came from a C5. The C6 was a great improvement....... lot more torque to even out the shifts...... I mean 1st to 3...4th 5th whatever you want.

In the C7....lot of torque more choices.

Frankly I find myself going 1 3 5. I'm sure they have a good reason but 7th....... not needed. Frankly I used 6th in the C6 only cruising on the freeway. If I remember in the manual it gives 72+ as the shift point into 7.

Both transmissions where very smooth.

NAV

Yes, took it to a good Chevy service dept. with 2 certified corvette techs who told me that it shifted like all the first year C5's and that Chevy would not not authorize the "fix" for the failure to go into first gear unless it would never go in! I hope that someone with a C7 manual will chime in and tell me the transmission is smooth as silk and no worries!

Duke/Earl

I had a '05 C6 Z51. It had the no go into 1st gesar problem. It turned out the Tremec messed up on the 1st gear design. There is a service bullitin on this. My dealer replaced 1st gear in mine under warranty. I got the service bulletin number off of the Forum.

Duke/Earl

It was a Z51 only problem. They would fix it, if it happened at least 10% of the time.

NAV

I forgot the % failure before the "fix" was approved under warranty...the techs did put 50 miles on it in the 2 days they had the car and said the failure to go into first did occur, but not often enough to be covered under warranty.
I obviously don't want a repeat of that problem and bean counter approach to fixing it, hence my post. Like I said I really hope a C7 owner will respond and tell me that the transmission is wonderful without any problems!!

Duke/Earl

I am a C7 owner. Have had no problems with 1st gear at stop lights.

NAV

That's what I want to hear!!!

How does it shift...nice feel?...shorter throw compared to the C6?...no "clunking" (especially between 1'st and 2'd like in the C6)?

I really appreciate your time to answer these questions...thanks so much

JoesC5

The 2005 had the T-56 transmission and it was replaced by the TR-6060 in 2008. The C7 uses the TR-6070 transmission. Other than the 2nd and 3rd gear nibbles, the TR-6060 transmission in my 09 Z06 works great. A change was made later(than my 09) to the syncro's to help with the nibbles, and since the C7 transmission is the same as in my 09(except for the syncro material and the addition of the 7th gear) it should not be a problem. The 1st to 4th CAGS was eliminated on my 09 by a $20 kit and 30 minutes to install.

TurrizT

I had a 2007 C6 z51 and now a C7 manual z51. THe transmission is good. Better than the C6. I wouldnt say mine is smooth as silk or the best manual tranny that I've ever had. My BMW 335 6 speed had a better feel to it. But I think my slight issue with the C7 manual is more the feel of the clutch and engagement at low speeds. It's a bit noisey and feels clunky when driving at low speeds compared to my 335. The shifter itself feels great and goes into gears just fine. There is the occasional 1st to 4th shift thing though.

Duke/Earl

The Z51 had different gear ratios. The first gear was poorly designed, and caused the problem.

Duke/Earl

The C7 does have a shorter throw, but it is not easier to shift than my '07 Z06.

ufaj26

I think it shifts fine but I'm still getting used to where reverse is.

JerryU

I'm also getting used to 7 gears! As others have said I had no problem with 2nd to 1st in my C6 Z51 and have had no problem with the C7. Have now found the gears better once I accepted that there is a reverse lockout! I now downshift from 7th to 6th by pulling straight back as if going into reverse! It slides nicely into 6th without going into 4th as it was when as trying to carefully fine the correct gate! Love the automatic rev matching.