I'm curious to hear any advice on specifically driving the Grand Sport (3.42 gears). I recently purchased a 2011 GS M6 and it's not my daily driver. I've been driving manual trannys for 30 years but this is the first manual hotrod. So, even though I'm not new to the manual transmission, I'm reasonably new to driving a manual muscle car.

I'm enjoying driving the GS and have learned that 1st gear tops out at about 55mph and 2nd gear tops out at about 95mph. I'm trying to learn the downshift speeds and techniques.

1st gear: I've never downshifted into 1st gear with any vehicle I've ever driven but I've also never driven a vehicle that would do 55mph in 1st gear. It seems if I'm rolling at 20mph then downshifting into 1st gear a reasonable.

2nd gear: I downshifted into 2nd at about 50mph but didn't get on the throttle quick enough and it felt like I had applied brakes to the rear wheels, LOL. I learned that I need to promptly provide some gas to get the rpms up to match the engine speed. I welcome advice on this.

Any other tips/tricks welcome. Any advice on launching from a stand still on the street? Tires are Pilot Super Sports. I'm pretty sure I have a friend that want's to race me in his 2019 5.0 M6. I kind of miss my 2000 Camaro SS A4 with the Yank 3600, LOL.... I had that car figured out.... but look forward to having the Vette figured out too.

 

I only go to first when I’m stopped and getting ready to take off. You should try the launch control for take off, it’s pretty cool. Push your traction control button twice, you’ll be in competition driving mode. Put it in first gear, gas pedal all the way to the floor, it will hold a certain RPM by itself then dump the clutch and keep the gas pedal to the floor. The car will regulate by itself to take off without too much spin. Have fun but be safe!!!

 

You don't need to downshift to first. Your car has a boatload of torque, there is no need.

 

Those speeds seem off to me. I think first should only top out around 50mph, and 2nd in the low 70mph range, 3rd is around 105. I'm sure someone will correct me with exact numbers. Either way, no need to downshift into first. The only time I do that is when under 5mph. The new mustangs are crazy fast with the automatic 10 speed, the manual will be a drivers race against your car. Your best bet is going to be either a 30-40 roll in first or a 55-50 roll in 2nd. The LS3 makes way more torque down low compared to the coyote, but the coyote pulls a bit harder up top stock for stock. My car pretty much dead hooks from a 40 roll in first, just enough spin to not completely dead hook which is exactly what you want.

 

I certainly need more seat time and I might be mistaking about the 1st and 2nd gear shift mph at near redline. As you might expect, I'm paying more attention to the tach. Sounds like I have another excuse get out and drive the car. 😁

I was hoping this thread would generate some chatter on this subject that might help more than just me.... I guess its possible that everyone has it figured out but me. Haha.

I'll try launch control sometime. I've read about the die hard drag racers say they do way better than launch control on their own. But I watched a Video about the C6 launch control where they were comparing the C6 computer to a Pro driver and the 0-60 was nearly a wash between the two.

 

Also. I appreciate the advice on not dropping down to 1st except off the line. This mimics what I've done for years driving a manual. I'm sorry to say that's one thing I miss about an auto, at 20mph I'm pretty sure it would automatically downshift to 1st at WOT.

 

if you tried to do the same thing in a manual, you'd likely upset the whole balance of the car on the road....

best advice i ever got was "listen to the motor... if it sounds wrong, you're likely in the wrong gear"....

i save the angry sounds for the track

 

I want to say that unless in S, automatic c6s start in 2nd. Maybe they only drop to 2nd. Can't remember.

 

The first Vette I ever drove was an 07 A6. IIRC, from a 15-20mph roll, it shifted into 1st which provided a very impressive G force.... from a stock LS2.

 

Learn something every day. Is this year or sub-model specific? That same launch control built into my 07 Base?

 

The car may be a hot rod, but 95% of the time you don't drive it like a hot rod. I've been driving manuals for the past 50 years. One thing you notice and I hate about modern cars with manuals is rev hang. The revs drop instantly on my C3. On my M6 C6 I shift slowly enough to let the rpm drop on each upshift. That way the trans just about drops into the next gear. Conversely, I blip the throttle on each downshift, using my ears and gut to manually rev match. I never downshift into first if I'm moving. The C5/C6/C7 will never shift as nice an old Muncie, or even a new Camaro, just physics, I like driving fast , but I'm not risking damaging my trans. My nephew blew his trans on his Z06 at a track day at Buttonwillow, and I've blown many a VW transaxle bracket racing back in the day, but those were relative cheap and easy fixes.

 

What is the reason for the shifts into the lower gears?

 

I've tried launch control a few times at the drag strip. Honestly, it's been trash for me which is probably operator error. I get more tire spin with launch control. It's a pretty straight-forward system so I don't know what I could be doing wrong. Oh well, practice makes perfect.

Like others, I rev-match during spirited driving when going into lower gears... or just when I want to hear my Corsas pop and crack. And I don't use 1st unless I'm leaving from a stop. Jeremy Clarkson did a neat demonstration on Top Gear when the C6 Z06 was first released showing just how much torque these cars make.

 

1:40 starting time......

 

I did some testing this evening and your correct, all shifts were around 6200-6300rpm.
1st gear tops about 50 mph
2nd gear tops about 70 mph
3rd gear tops about 100 mph

I'm under the assumption that downshifting into a gear where torque is maximized would yield greater acceleration. For instance, If I'm cruising at 50mph in 4th gear and want to pass someone, I believe it would be faster to downshift into 3rd gear.

I watched some vids on rev-matching today and it's a term I wasn't really familiar with. On the way home today in my daily driver 5 speed Tacoma I realized that I naturally do this.
Pretty cool video.

 

I don't have a lot of street driving experience in them so the only kind of rev matching I know how to do is heel and toe downshifting when I am engaging the proper gear for an approaching corner. I was just curious if you were trying to get the car into a lower gear smoothly in preparation for an upcoming corner and for that I may have had some ideas.

Have fun with your car and enjoy it as often as you can!!

 

Get yourself a proper throttle pedal if you like to heel-toe. I had this Elite Engineering pedal in my Z06 many years ago. After I wrecked that car, I knew I'd one day need this pedal again, and so I removed it. Now it's in my GS.

 

That pedal is awesome! How is the install?

 

Getting the OEM pedal out can be a little frustrating because the pin holding it is pressed in and it's a tight space, but it's pretty easy overall.

 

It's easier to remove the entire pedal assembly. It includes two bolts and an electrical connector. The bolts are easier to reach with some socket extensions. The connector is still a pain to reach and release but it is much easier to work on with the whole assembly removed.