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'08 AT: How Close To MT In Functionality?
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Cocoa Beach FL
'08 AT: How Close To MT In Functionality?
'08 AT experience only pls: if you use the paddles exclusively with the AT, does the experience match the MT (left foot aside) or does it still seem like a slushbox? How quick the shifts? How tight the link between mill & wheels? Tks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,933
Likes: 13
From: The Beautiful Inland Empire WA.
We went for a cruise yesterday and I resolved to use only the paddles for the whole day -- for the first time.......its OK, I guess, but unless you are on the throttle pretty good, the shifts are on the slow side....not nearly as fast as I expected. The rev matching on the down shifts (08 and newer only) -- are kind of neat to experience, but if you have an automatic trans, why NOT let the car do what it was designed to do...by itself?
Now if I was on a really curvy back road and pushing the envelope, I think that the paddles would come in very handy.......for regular, every day use? Let the car do it for itself, other than assisting in slowing for lights, etc.......
Now if I was on a really curvy back road and pushing the envelope, I think that the paddles would come in very handy.......for regular, every day use? Let the car do it for itself, other than assisting in slowing for lights, etc.......
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 5
From: Nevada
The 08 paddles are a nice diversion and perform better in all respects than I expected. They are fun to fiddle around with. Having said that, if you enjoy the experience of shifting the car regularly, the paddles would be a mistake. Buy the stick.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: CA
They put paddles on these cars for the guys that have to let the wifes drive. I can here it now... wife says "I'll give you permission to buy a Vette only if it has a auto transmission, I want to drive it to the farmers market". And then husband with little or no ********* says... "yes dear, anything you say dear". And then he thinks to himself... I can make the auto sound like a real stick shift with the paddles.
Well.. at least neither one of them will risk stalling it at the light
Its a performance and sports car for crying out loud. I have the auto in my wifes Honda Accord.
Well.. at least neither one of them will risk stalling it at the light
Its a performance and sports car for crying out loud. I have the auto in my wifes Honda Accord.
Last edited by Whaler21; May 26, 2008 at 01:24 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 0
From: Canton/Detroit Michigan
The convenience of an auto. The ability to select and hold the gear of choice. It's about compromises. If you prefer an auto, it's nice to be able to pick the gear you want and hold so that you don't get a 2 gear shift when you don't really want it.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 188
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
I, for one, think the AT is great, especially around town, and on the highway, your not shifting that much anyhow. If your doing the twisties, then the MT just keeps you from having to go downshift through the gears. Plus, as it has been addressed before, if you do some spirited driving with the paddles, the computer begins to remember that, and will shorten the shift times to a point where I bet it would match what any clutch shift could do. Plus, if you get lazy at the stoplight, it will drop it into 2nd for you free of charge.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Maine
I love the paddle shifts there not slow on my 08 I love it super fun to drive and with the npp oh my it sounds great. if you compare it to a manual your being silly it's not a manual!!! When I shift there no lag there is about 1/3 to a 1/2 of a second between gears or so its right there. With traction control off or in comp driving mode the tires spin at will from 1st to 2nd when getting on it super 
I would do it again but if your all about manual it's not for you drive an 08...
I would do it again but if your all about manual it's not for you drive an 08...
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 48,767
Likes: 50
St. Jude Donor '03, '17
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
I drove an 08 AT today for the first time. My wife has a 03 BMW M3 with SMG, so I am MORE than familiar with a TRUE paddle shift clutch less transmission. I can tell you that I was impressed. I have driven the new 335i turbo coupe from BMW with the auto and paddles and can promise that the vette shifts faster. With a relearn and a tune, I bet this thing would shift nearly as quick as her M3. The rev matching is not as quick, but still good and I was amazed at how low a gear you can go into at say....70mph. I would defiantly reconsider it with a tune and the kit to make both (-) paddles to shift the car instead of the tiptronic type shifters with your thumbs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 8
From: San Francisco Bay Area California
The A6 is so good at what it does that the paddles are really not needed very often. I really like them when banging along in really tight twisties, though. For example you can late brake into a tight turn and flick a downshift to be in the right gear for exiting the turn without trying to work all three pedals of a manual at once. As you exit the turn you are already in the right gear with the revs perfectly matched. You have to experience this to believe how well it works.
Night Race Blue 427
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,794
Likes: 6
From: Muncie, Indiana ...... Can I buy an amplifier on time ... I ani't got no money now but I'll pay you before I die
I've been playing around with the paddles quite a bit lately. There is a slight lag in the shifts. To me the lag time is less then the time it would take to depress the clutch move the shift lever to the next gear and let out the clutch on a manual transmission. I have always had manual Corvettes but due to health reasons I went with an automatic this time. I now really enjoy the A6.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 32,921
Likes: 2
From: Coppin' a tan from the Messiah's aura
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
They put paddles on these cars for the guys that have to let the wifes drive. I can here it now... wife says "I'll give you permission to buy a Vette only if it has a auto transmission, I want to drive it to the farmers market". And then husband with little or no ********* says... "yes dear, anything you say dear". And then he thinks to himself... I can make the auto sound like a real stick shift with the paddles.
Well.. at least neither one of them will risk stalling it at the light Its a performance and sports car for crying out loud. I have the auto in my wifes Honda Accord.
Well.. at least neither one of them will risk stalling it at the light
Its a performance and sports car for crying out loud. I have the auto in my wifes Honda Accord.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,143
Likes: 0
From: Retired USCG North Georgia
My new 08 C6 has paddle shifters and they are okay, but it is still an automatic. My wife's car has paddle shifters also, but her's is a lot better. She has an Audi with a DSG tranny and if the Vette shifted like that it would be great.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 668
From: North Fulton Georgia
When I was in the market for an 08, I test drove the AT first since I was thinking that way my wife could drive it in an emergency situation. I went 2 miles, made a u-turn and knew it just wasn't the same as the MT for the control and "fun" factor. Maybe it was just me, but I could not imagine owning this this car without a manual tranny.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 327
From: Margate, FL
St. Jude Donor '09
I have never used the automatic in my 08, I used the paddles from day one, and it sure seems like the car learned and adapted to it.
It shifts on the fly for me, I love it!