Nope. You have to be a member. Here, you don't have to be a member to view anything.

 

If it were an SMG or DSG then something...this system is just like the Mercedes SpeedShift system...automanumatic. I stick with a 6 sp MN anyday
M

 

just wait until someone comes up with the "smart" idea to remove the shifter in the manuals. they would leave the clutch but put a row of buttons on a hand rest located on the center console. push button shift with a clutch.

 

inappropriate links

 

Curious. I wonder if anyone has done an age vs stickshift poll.
I would if I knew how...

 

To see the pictures, click the link. No membership (or jacket) required.
Link to CorvetteConti

 

Don't foget that we already have 'torque management'.

 

I have test driven early F1 shifters in the Ferrari and Maserati and they stink in stop and go traffic, later models are a bit better but not awesome, they do however shine on the track or the open hwy. Don't forget the cost of repairs to such systems when they malfunction. It's upward of $8 gees on the 360 Modena.

 

It's great that GM/Chevy is moving technology forward. I just hope they do it right.

If these pictures indicate what is coming then the "button shifting" won't do anyone much good. The reason is ergonomics - the buttons are too small, in a bad location and are difficult to access. These types of buttons have been done before in other autos and they are essentially useless especially if you're an enthusiast.

For example, the Lexus IS300 automatic comes with buttons on the face of the steering wheel for upshifts and buttons on the back of the wheel for downshifts. You simply put the auto's console lever into "manual mode" and you can then shift via the buttons.

Well, fuggedaboudit because it's worthless. The buttons are too hard to locate when you're busy driving wanting to shift.

The buttons need to be paddles that are independent from the steering wheel accessible all the time even when the wheel is slightly turned. (Try pushing a button on or behind the wheel when the wheel is turned - that's really not possible!).

Lexus finally figured this out and in their upcoming IS350 they'll have real paddle shifters (see pic below)...

 

5 years late? Late for what? No competing vehicle has one which handles the torque. In fact, only Mercedes has any 6-speed automatics which can handle 430 or more lb.-ft. And, well, none of those vehicles are direct competitors with the Corvette.

 

I think we are all missing the most important point here, if the "other" forum's photos are at all accurate. WHERE DO WE REST OUR WRISTS FOR READING THE PAPER AND DRINKING COFFEE? With those little deely-boppers right smack on top of the wrist rests on the steering wheel, there is no place to flop your wrists. I like to put the paper forward of the wheel, so it rests on the inst panel, that way I don't get news print on my shirt when I turn the pages. I was hoping with the new steering wheel I would have a place to rest the coffee cup, too, but looks like I'm OOL.

 

Not only that, but the damned steering wheel is almost an inch smaller in diameter which makes it tougher to steer with your knees.

 

I attended the Skip Barber Racing School (3 days) about a year and a half ago. Part of the school was learning to double-clutch, something I had learned to do as an adolescent. (I'm now 62.) The class was very mixed by age ranging from 16 through 60 (me). Without exception, the more "seasoned" participants (45 plus) were able to master the procedure much more easily. Some of the younger ones appeared to have never used a clutch before. If the poll you are suggesting ever gets done, I would be surprised to find that geezers who own ultra high performance sportscars do not strongly prefer manual transmissions. Just as you can't teach an old dog new tricks, you can't "unteach" them either.

 

Somebody else has got'em.

http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=88624

 

You bring up a good point, I'm 42 and my car has always been a manual (with the exception of a '77 Camaro with an auto that I had for a year and hated driving it... too boring...). As I was learning to drive a stick, I use to laugh at the guys manually shifting there automatics.. kind of felt that they were 'wannabe' manual guys, but never learned how to drive a manual. I think that prejudice has stuck with me. Granted there are some that for physical/medical reasons may not be able to drive a manual, but 60+% of Corvette owners??

I have noticed a trend, with fewer manuals on the road, fewer people have a desire to learn on a manual and when given the option, take the easy way out... It would be interesting to see how many people that buy an automatic have never driven a manual .....

My wife can not drive a manual... so her car is an automatic... and I have a beater that is an auto (her old car...), but I prefer the manual, and if I'm in traffic so be it (in all honesty though, I don't take the Vette downtown DC for other reasons...)

 

Now do you believe what I have been saying for so long?

 

Just a suggestion, but if they wanted to stay in step with the C5-R/C6-R, GM could opt for a transmission which takes on the appearance of a normal manual trans shifter, yet all you have to do is push it forward for an upshift or pull it back for the downshift of a gear(s). Then again, I guess the paddle shifters allow you to keep both hands on the wheel.

 

True, much like the other systems (Autostick, Steptronic) have...there is a chance that the C6s shifter might have that feature as well, if you look closely at the shifter in those pics it looks a little canted to the left as if there might be a gate over the right for that very possibility but I wouldn't bet on it. It's also possible that the lower area down by/below the 'M' on the shift indicator will be a '+shift' and '-shift' area as you described as well maybe?

 

look excatly like the DC ones, except the watermark has been cropped..

 

I'm not trying to start an auto vs stick debate, but statements like these are unfounded. SMG or no an actual stick is never going to go away, ever. We are the one country in the world that prefers automatics, so our opinion is a bit biased over here. But ask for an automatic in another country and they look at you funny.

Also let's not forget a market segment that we all like to pick on here, the import tuner community. Pretty much all of these guys drive stick and wouldn't dream of getting an SMG or anything equivalent. This is why you don't see an EVO or STi or S2000 with a slushbox / SMG. These are the new kids that are coming up, the video game generation that people here say will want the latest gizmo. Umm, to that I say you don't know why people play video games. It's about the gameplay and challenge, not the latest and greatest technology. Regardless of how hi-tech a new gizmo is, if there aren't good games for it, it will fail (proven several times in history already). An SMG / slushbox will NEVER be as challenging as mastering a stick. Nor will it offer you that level of satisfaction in that mastery. This is what video game player seeks, I know as I make them for a living .

It's not about a 'purists' thing, nor is it about an age thing. With a stick there is a level of connection the driver gets with the car that is not equaled by any other transmission method. That level of connection is what stick drivers want and look for. It's unbeatable in terms of excitement, control, feel, precision, and just pure joy for us. It has nothing to do with the whole 'sports cars should all be stick because they're sports cars' crap, it's about that connection. An SMG just does not offer that same level of connection. In fact I know several SMG guys that are probably going to go back to a stick on their next car because of this. To them the SMG was a compromise because of a significant other, or they were getting a communal family car, it was not the prefered choice.

I'm not bashing autos in any form either, nor am I bashing auto drivers. You get what you prefer and be happy as it's your car . I know I personally don't care what you drive and nor will I look down upon you for it. But I will state that stick is never going to go away. If anything stick has been making a come back over the past few years. There are several cars that have come out that are stick-only when they could've been going with slush boxes at the least. These cars range from high-priced exotics to low-level affordables. Plus there are a lot of cars where stick is the prefered and default option. Even Mercedes on their new SLK 350 put a 6-spd stick as the prefered base choice. These guys never offer a stick option, yet for their brand new model they put it in as the preferred base choice!! Marketing research and demand must have prompted that. Also consider the cost difference to the manufacturer. Sticks are far cheaper to make, maintain, R&D, and build than an auto, especially an SMG or tiptronic equivalent.

Enjoy what ya like