rboineau

For those of you who have driven both a C5 manual and a 2008-up C6 manual, is the shifting quality significantly better in the '08+ C6? I've only been able to locate a couple people locally who could speak to this topic and got completely different opinions.

The car magazines that tested the '08 cars said the shifting was better but didn't go into details. With C5 shifting so abysmally bad, there was sure room for improvement.

Now I'm not talking about just the shifter, which many C5 owners have changed to C6. I've sampled a C5 so altered, and in my opinion it didn't help shifting at all ('tho the C6 **** is certainly an improvement).
In fact, with the shorter shift lever after the change giving less mechanical advantage, I thought that the shifting was heavier, harder and worse.

To really help the C5's miserable shifting, it needed more than just a shifter change and I'm trying to find out if that was done for the '08-up cars. Maybe some internal improvements in the trans? Thanks.

dougbfresh

Go drive one.

lwise4

I had a 08 and have had 4 C5's. The 08 did shift a bit better but in my opinion, not much. The 03 Z06 that I now have was ****ing like all my other C5's. I replaced the shifter with a MGW and it is about 40 percent better. I still don't like it but it is one of the things that you live with. I also drove a BMW Z4 and it was as smooth as butter!

Bill Dearborn

The transmission in the 08s and newer cars is much improved but I need to preface my experience with the 08 transmission with some of my experience with the C5 transmission. I shift by placing my hand on top of the shifter. Neither of my C5s which I owned for 6 years each ever gave me a problem when shifting. Both the 97 and the 03Z had longer throws but could be shifted by using the fingers and the heel of the hand. I tried an aftermarket shifter on the 03 and after a year I went back to stock as the aftermarket thing had too much centering force that made it difficult to shift from third to second or from fourth to fifth and downright hard to get into reverse. You can bang shifts all day if you use the C5 correctly.

The 08 transmission has internal changes and the shift effort has been reduced considerably so GM was able to use a shorter shifter arm. When shifting my 08Z I can shift from first to second using just 2 fingers instead of 4 and the movement is less. Shifting to from second to third or fourth to fifth is still just a push with the heel of the hand. With the reduced motion and reduced shift effort in the 08 I can shift the car easily with barely any arm movement compared to the C5s. Just basically moving my hand back and forth with some wrist movement.

If you are a person who grabs the shifter in your hand and tries to aim it into the gates then you may benefit from an aftermarket shifter that has springs to override your strength.

Bill

mcgilles

I've tested a 2010 C6 GS and my answer is absolutely yes! that C6 shifted so beautifully compared to the horrible shifting feel of the C5 it was amazing. the clutch was tremendously easier to push down as well. I wish I knew what it would take to make a C5 shift like that because they still look better, but that C6's shifting action was nothing short of amazing after driving a C5 for years.

imavettegirl

no.

my 2001 Z06 with b&m shifter shifts just fine.

_zebra

i just installed the RSD Snap shifter in my 2000 & it's a world better. it's basically a 09/10 Z06 shift assembly with a shortened & angled stick, so it's not exactly like a factory one, but it's a lot smoother

hzz

I have a 99 and an 07, both 6 speeds.

In my opinion, the 07 shifts better than the 99.

Quite a bit smoother, and just "feels" better, more refined.

The C6 shifter **** is nicer than the C5-I am going to put a C6 shifter into my C5 in the spring.

I know it still won't shift like a C6, but at least the **** will feel better in my hand.

Just my opinion, others may disagree.

ztheusa

What are you talking about. The C5 shifter is GREAT!

hzz

If you say so

trackboss

On my '99 I simply cut off the barrel, with the rubber inside, and welded the top to the shifter and it made a world of difference. I've even had a shop owner ask me what shifter I had cause he thought it worked so well. The rubber in there just destroys the whole feel. It's an easy modification to do.

skyavonee

Which is why many people (myself included) add a spacer to the trans detent bolt after installing a short throw shifter. It makes the shifting much easier. If this is news to you, do a search for "detent bolt" or "anti venom".

road dog

The C5 shifter is just fine if you take your time and shift with patiences and shift before you let up the clutch THE C6 is not better . you just need to know your shifter . What you feel is better is thats its shorter and leads you to belive it's better with the anti venom mod you'll get the same feel with a RSD snap shifter.

VGLNTE1

I drove a 2009 Z06....There was no difference.

ragtopws6

The 2 transmissions are different in that they use different synchronizer keys. The 97-07 T56's use the stamped steel (except fopr 1-2) keys. When you have it out and move it with your hands, it takes quite a bit of effort to move the synchro ring. Now the TR6060 (08 and up) has a plastic key with a built in check ball that takes almost no effort to move back and forth.

I have built both transmissions and driven them so I do have first hand experience with them. Without a doubt, the C6 with TR6060 is better shifting transmission.

rboineau

I thank you gentlemen who took the time to post in response to my question about shifting.

imavettegirl

all the posts were about a discussion of what you asked.

chill out.

_zebra

what?! it just looks like a simple thank-you to the people who answered his question.

Weezle

Get a Hurst Billet for your C5, best mod I've done so far...

Jazzkat

I installed C6 shifter and filled with Amsoil ATD and I think it made a significant difference. It is not as smooth as my M3 was (flamesuit on) but I think it is a comfortable shift. As previously mentioned, the C6 **** is very nice.

Can't comment on C6 action.