High Performance Driving with a Automatic C6?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 942
Likes: 0
From: Fremont, California
High Performance Driving with a Automatic C6?
Anybody take their automatic equipped C6 to the track or autocross yet? Was wondering how it performs given the rigors of the track?
Without manual control of the gear position, it would seem you would get upshift at unexpected points or even worst downshifting?
I've seen this sort of thing cause spinouts on friends C5 Auto.
So how are people finding the Auto in a track setting?
Without manual control of the gear position, it would seem you would get upshift at unexpected points or even worst downshifting?
I've seen this sort of thing cause spinouts on friends C5 Auto.So how are people finding the Auto in a track setting?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,162
Likes: 10
From: Chicago Illinois
RacerChris I'm curious too. A friend of mine purchased a used C5 last month. He was not fimiliar with the car. It was an Auto. I took a few highway ramps to show him the cornering ability and had trouble keeping the revs high enough to keep a controlled manuever. When I did lose the revs, I tried the throttle and the rodeo ride started. With my MN6, This has never happened. Well, Automatic mavens, what's the secret? 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 839
Likes: 0
From: Salinas Ca
Originally Posted by FLC6
I just use the selector and shift manually.
I wish I had the nerve to disable the "downshift lock-out" button however. Trying to remember to push the button down costs me time.
hmm...would also be kinda cool to have that "locking" feature keep you from slipping into neutral........
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: Biggest Valley in the World, CA
before getting my C6 i ran my A4, '98 Z28 at the track for a total of 17 days and never--not once--had a problem caused by my auto shifting at some inoportune time....
me thinks it's just one of those self-serving myths coming from the M6 crowd.......really.......i had to listen to all kinds of crap about A4s at the track.......i just put mine in 3rd and left it there.......when exiting a turn, and getting on it, i would just make sure that i was almost straightened out before flooring it
by the way, i had excellent times in comparison to other drivers with M6 cars.....i felt it no disadvantage at all to have an A4....
me thinks it's just one of those self-serving myths coming from the M6 crowd.......really.......i had to listen to all kinds of crap about A4s at the track.......i just put mine in 3rd and left it there.......when exiting a turn, and getting on it, i would just make sure that i was almost straightened out before flooring it
by the way, i had excellent times in comparison to other drivers with M6 cars.....i felt it no disadvantage at all to have an A4....
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 942
Likes: 0
From: Fremont, California
Originally Posted by natejohn
ME2
I wish I had the nerve to disable the "downshift lock-out" button however. Trying to remember to push the button down costs me time.
hmm...would also be kinda cool to have that "locking" feature keep you from slipping into neutral........
I wish I had the nerve to disable the "downshift lock-out" button however. Trying to remember to push the button down costs me time.
hmm...would also be kinda cool to have that "locking" feature keep you from slipping into neutral........
Please keep in mind I only have an MN6 and have never driven an Auto on the track. But let me give you a scenario I am concerned about.
At the end of a short straight, there is a 90, followed by another 90, then a long straight. You enter the first 90 and go hard on the brakes, revs drop, but the other 90 is coming and you are able to maintain speed through the first 90, so you don't hit the gas hard. As you exit the second 90, you accelerate hard. Since you have maintained speed, the auto stays in second, but as you hit the gas, it downshifts into 1st and revs pop up fast. This is exactly what caused my friend's A4 to spin. I was right behind him with my MN6, but stayed in 2nd because I was already at speed. So power came on slower and I exited the turn in control.
How would this scenario be improved with the C6 Auto?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,560
Likes: 4
From: Tobacco Road NC
I have done serious autoXing in both manual and automatic Vettes. Truthfully, I found it easier to autoX an automatic, but I won season series championships in both. With the auto, you can concentrate more on steering and lines, and you get nice, even torque application out of corners. Since autoX is as much about precision as all-out speed. it's all about what a person can effectively control in a very busy environment. 
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 29
From: Georgia
Chris,
If you use the manual control on the C6, when you are in second, it stays in second EVEN if you floor it.
ie, if you’re friend was in second and he exited the corner and floored It, the car would stay in second and not downshift.
If you take your Corvette to a racetrack I would highly recommend manually controlling the gates. This could prevent unwanted shifts at inopportune times
If you use the manual control on the C6, when you are in second, it stays in second EVEN if you floor it.
ie, if you’re friend was in second and he exited the corner and floored It, the car would stay in second and not downshift.
If you take your Corvette to a racetrack I would highly recommend manually controlling the gates. This could prevent unwanted shifts at inopportune times
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 3
From: Granada Hills CA
Originally Posted by FLC6
I just use the selector and shift manually.
I can tell you from experience without some manual shifting input ability, the auto left to shift for itself makes for some hair raising moments in any type of aggressive driving.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,292
Likes: 0
From: Md
Originally Posted by FLC6
Chris,
If you use the manual control on the C6, when you are in second, it stays in second EVEN if you floor it.
ie, if you’re friend was in second and he exited the corner and floored It, the car would stay in second and not downshift.
If you take your Corvette to a racetrack I would highly recommend manually controlling the gates. This could prevent unwanted shifts at inopportune times
If you use the manual control on the C6, when you are in second, it stays in second EVEN if you floor it.
ie, if you’re friend was in second and he exited the corner and floored It, the car would stay in second and not downshift.
If you take your Corvette to a racetrack I would highly recommend manually controlling the gates. This could prevent unwanted shifts at inopportune times
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 10
From: Reno NV
Originally Posted by Mike Siska
FLC6....I thought the new A4 had a shifting algorithim that allowed for "performance" driving at the track where it would stay in gear until you wanted it to upshift. Now I'm confused.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 942
Likes: 0
From: Fremont, California
Originally Posted by Mike Siska
FLC6....I thought the new A4 had a shifting algorithim that allowed for "performance" driving at the track where it would stay in gear until you wanted it to upshift. Now I'm confused.
That is what I understood also. Anyone have first hand experience with it?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 3
From: Granada Hills CA
Originally Posted by Mike Siska
FLC6....I thought the new A4 had a shifting algorithim that allowed for "performance" driving at the track where it would stay in gear until you wanted it to upshift. Now I'm confused.
As soon as it has visual accuity programmed into it I feel it would be acceptable for performance driving situations.
The Algorithim does not see when when I am approaching a corner hot and want to kill off some speed without cooking the brakes. Plus the inaccuracy of using the throttle to bring on the downshifts is just plain dangerous. You are counting on your foot to make some desicions that are pretty fine in nature, even a slip of your foot can cause a serious problem in a hurry. Not that any of us ever drive where there might be bumps.
I own an A4 equipped car and I think it's great for cruising, but I'd get the Mn6 next time without thinking twice, more control I believe.
