My paddles seem to work very well, and while maybe not be as good as the F1, I have read that for auto cross, better times are achieved with C6 paddles vs manual, and these are with pro's behind the wheel. For the average Vett driver or enthusiast, I ask again, what is the advantage of the manual over the paddles?

 

DUH...I must have had a brain fart...Sorry!

 

Ain't none.

 

Ya, but I'd like to hear that from torchredfrc!

 

Wow, I didn't mean to upset anyone with my reply. I'm simply saying that (for me) the paddles left something to be desired. The "wave of the future" as far as paddle shifting goes isn't achieved in the A6 w/paddles and as far as I'm concerned the paddles are just for asthetics. This is just from my amateur experience with both a manual transmission and a car with paddles. Personally, I find that I can get faster shifts with the manual transmission and I am a enthusiast so for me the paddle shifter didn't do what I wanted.

Is that what you wanted to hear Monts or where you just trying to start a arguement?

 

It is a lot of fun, and you really can't hurt anything- give it a try.
I found it to be a lot of fun in the twisty little roads of rural Kentucky...

 

Without HUD (1lt) is there any way to monitor the shift? Perhaps on the dash or DIC?

 

So you're of the opinion that the paddles are so good looking that they're there solely for the purpose of sprucing up the interior?

Ooookay....

 

 

torchredfrc, it is your opinion and experience and that's fine. I guess I was hoping for more evidence that backs up your opinion.

It is hard to imagine being able shift faster using a stick, otherwise why did the F1 cars make the switch?.

 

Slightly off topic...but not too far. If you shift with the paddles and come to a stop, we all know it only shifts down to 2nd (on its own). Does the A6 shift down to first if you are in S without the paddles engaged or is it also only to 2nd?

 

Obviously the F1 transmission has a HUGE advantage over a manual transmission. The implementation in the C6 is nothing even close to the speed of a F1 transmission. That is all I'm trying to say.

And yes... to everyone else that has quoted my post. I strongly feel that the paddles in the C6 where just for bragging and are simply the Corvette implementation of EVERY OTHER GM car that has a shiftable (button shift) automatic transmission. Ever driven a new Malibu? It has a similar feel when it is shifted with the buttons as the C6 paddles.

 

If what you are saying is true, how is it that the auto crossers are getting better times with the C6 paddles than with the "faster" manuals?

 

For me, the paddles are difficult to use in autocross because you must spin the wheel for many of the tight turns, then when accelerating out of the turn it's hard to find that tiny paddle and get the delayed upshift before hitting the rev limiter in first. If you're on a road course where you can keep your hands in the same place on the wheel, it's great.

 

... I never said the manual was faster. I'm done argueing with you Monts. My post was reflective of my opinion and how there really was no advantage of the paddle vs the manual transmission. Again, my opinion. Havn't you guys heard the old saying about opinions and a certain body part that we all have (and how the all stink)?

 

I've got to agree with you here... to say that the paddles are even close to what an F1 trans. offers is ludicrous...

The difference though, is not having to take your hands off the wheel while shifting through the turns, hence the location and look of the paddles. Some of the GM trans need you to push the gear selector and thats not near as fun. I have the A6 with the paddles and LOVE the feel and location of the paddles, though the + is sometimes hard to find in real fast moving situations.

I've been in a F430 with the F1 trans. and i almost like the feel and funtionallity of the paddles on the vette better. COSMETICALLY ONLY! Performance wise the F1 kicks AZZ.

 

F1s kick *** figuratively and literally.

Therein lies the problem for non high performance driving.

In every day use feeling that kick in your back with each shift is annoying.

 

I have said this in other posts, I think the shifting is backwards ... I want to "pull" to upshift and "push" to downshift. I also think the shifting is way too mellow...I want neck snapping shifting when in the throttle.

 

100%

 

“And yes... to everyone else that has quoted my post. I strongly feel that the paddles in the C6 where just for bragging and are simply the Corvette implementation of EVERY OTHER GM car that has a shiftable (button shift) automatic transmission. Ever driven a new Malibu? It has a similar feel when it is shifted with the buttons as the C6 paddles.”
- torchredfrc
CF Senior Member

Well, it may be “just for bragging” – or a gimmick – to you. I have no problem with that.

And many here prefer a true (with a clutch) manual trans. I have no problem with that (them) either.

I do not understand why these fine folks have such a problem with GM offering an improved A6 trans. with an ability to provide some additional control over shift timing.

Since no one is forcing anyone to buy this trans., and GM is (clearly) not removing availability of their beloved Manual, I do not understand why so many people have and express such strong feelings against this being even offered on the Corvette. . .?

I owned and drove true manuals for many years. I will not buy one again. There are those of us that either have physical reasons for requiring an automatic and / or just a preference (or even a spousal preference) for an automatic. How can offering us this new choice be perceived as such a bad thing?

And if / when I actually wanted to record absolute, ultimate 0 – 60 or quarter mile times, I would leave my automatic in “full auto.” mode.

But here is what my understanding of what the current C6 manumatic \ paddle shift does that most other, ‘regular’ automatics (including the ones in the Malibu & Impala, even the SS) cannot do:

1 – You can pick and hold second gear. For example, I could (and likely will, when an ’07 is at my disposal) lock my trans. in second gear, and allow it to \ force it to stay there. Since second in the C6 A6 appears to cover from 0 mph to well over any US speed limit (at least 80 - again, this is in second gear), regardless of throttle position, rpm or vehicle speed.

I have used this ‘lock in second’ – or even ‘lock in third’ feature often during my evening commute out of Mid-Town Atlanta in previous sedans I have driven with this feature. No shifting. Plenty of torque to accelerate, since with 5 or 6 lanes of stop / start / slow traffic, not much acceleration is required – or possible. No shifts. Smooth.

2 – I can force an upshift at less than max. rpm when accelerating at (or close to) WOT.

I find that many times I enjoy the thrust of full throttle, but choose to shift well before max. rpm / red line, as I am just enjoying myself, not racing. (And for the few times when I am REALLY in a hurry, and want max. rpm shifts, I would leave it in ‘S’, with the Paddles not activated. The computer and trans. ought to work together very well under these circumstances to provide a very quick, but not brutal or harsh shift – at exactly the right time.)

3 – On the highway, at typical freeway speeds of 65 – 80, I will be able to ‘lock’ the trans in fourth gear, or fifth or sixth – depending on conditions & my mood. Thus, regardless of throttle position, it will not downshift. I will certainly see TCC unlock / lock if I am aggressive with the throttle, but it will not downshift to a lower gear.

4 – Activating the paddles, I expect that I will be able to also hold a higher gear ( fourth for example ) at speeds where the automatic would generally downshift one or 2 gears even at light throttle or coasting. My current GM Paddle shift V8 (GP GXP) will allow fourth ( highest ) gear to be held down to below 25 mph. In traffic, moving slowly, varying speed somewhat, but not stop and go, this strategy sometimes works very well for me. [ The 2006 owner’s manual on page 2-29 says that the minimum road speed for an upshift to fourth is 22. And to fifth is 28. Sounds reasonable to me, again when traffic situations mean no significant acceleration is possible anyway . . ]

Again, I am not suggesting that these specific attributes mean anything to those who prefer a manual trans. – just that they are attributes, over and above those of a ‘regular’ \ non-manumatc trans., that mean a lot, to me. And since manumatic functioning is now appearing on almost anything with sporting intent, regardless of whether or not either a ‘real’ (as in: row through an H pattern) manual and / or a Sequential Manual (as BMW and others are offering) is offered as well. There seems to be a market for this

Most automatics with a 4 (or D4) or 3 or 2 or 1 position on the trans. shifter gate (or a separate O/D lockout button) will typically allow the trans. to shift as it thinks best among any of the gears up to the number shown. Meaning, in 4 or D4 it will typically shift through 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 as required, just never upshift to fifth. And in 3 it will utilize 1 – 2 – 3, but never 4 (or 5, if the trans. has that many gears) regardless of speed or throttle position. It rarely means that the trans. will actually select & hold only that gear.

Related: And even with a (more) typical PRND54321 ( for a 6 speed, obviously ) automatic floor shift, I also have found that trying to push from one detent to the next – without overshooting, requires too much concentration \ distraction – vs. just a press or pull of the TAPShift buttons ( or a whack at the trans. shifter, in those with a separate gate for manumatic function). And this arrangement still does not offer all of the advantages listed above. Even the Jaguar’s J-Gate does not really provide a satisfying alternative – for me. And I have driven several Jags with the J-Gate – for many, many miles.

So – No, this is not a Manual Trans. with Paddles, like various Ferraris and BMWs and some others offer. I see it as Paddles added to a very good, state of the art, 6 speed automatic trans.

And clearly – unlike the current C6 manual trans. – one can leave the trans. in either D or in S and forget about it completely while slogging home in heavy traffic, if the mood strikes and \ or the conditions dictate.

And for those of us with either a preference for - or a requirement for an automatic trans., I see this as a large step forward, and I applaud GM for spending the R&D $$s to bring this level of additional control and driver participation into production on the Automatic Corvettes.

Just my 2 gallons worth of opinion. . .
- Ray

Note: My current GM car is a 2005 Grand Prix GXP V8, with TAPShift & paddles. It will allow second gear start. Speed range in second gear is 0 to (approx.) 100 MPH. And it is a 4 speed – not a 6 speed.