Even with all of that in mind, some people reject the automatic transmission in the Corvette, leading to a built-in complaint about the C8. Just over a year ago, “C6 Snowboarder” started a thread that has since been used to gather up several merged threads. In that year, the thread has been viewed more than 631,000 times, leading to 8,344 replies spread across 418 pages.
That thread is titled “Manual Transmission threads merged here…Lack of Manual – impact on sales?” and in it, the debate of manual-versus-automatic is argued in full force. It is pointed out that members of the C8 engineering team have stated that the manual won’t fit in the new Stingray, but some Corvette fans are undeterred in their complaining. They want a manual and they won’t take no for an answer, even though the answer is already no.
In that thread, there is also a poll, asking if a manual transmission in the C8 Grand Sport would be good enough. The options are “Yes that’d be adequate”, “No… All trims should be able to have manual” and “I don’t care either way”. The “yes” voters have accounted for 19.3% of those polled while a whopping 40.7% went with “no”. That might make you think that there is overwhelming support for the manual on a broader scale, but 39.9% went with “I don’t care either way”.
Although the C8 Corvette offers superior performance with the new dual-clutch transmission, do you think that Chevy needs to figure out a way to include a manual? Click here to head into this long discussion to share your views on a manual in the C8.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
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