The A6 once tuned is actually an aggressive great shifter. Its a cheap enough fix that makes snap judgements not make much sense. I rented one in Memphis and had my laptop with me to make it the ride it should be from the factory...haha.

I like the A6 and have always marveled at how awesome the performance is with 3.42 grears.

 

I have a C6 automatic(Z51) and a C-5 manual. I ordered my C6 thinking that the Z51 would give me the pleasure of not shifting everyday as I do my C-5. Well I stopped driving the C6 and gave it to my wife. She drives to the grocery store and post office and loves it. I am still driving my 6 speed everyday and love the feel of the car. I also own several muscle cars all with 4 speeds that I drive on weekends. So what is the moral to my story? I HAVE TO HAVE AN OLD FASHION STICK SHIFT FOR MY DRIVING PLEASURE. GO FOR THE 6 SPEED, DON'T COMPROMISE WHAT YOU WANT AND YOU WILL ENJOY IT, BELIEVE ME.

 

I regretted getting an automatic in my 2008 for the first year. A good tune makes all the difference in the world, I am now very happy. I can't believe it is the same transmission.

 

I had an 05 manual, traded it in on an 09 auto. I would love my manual back!!!!! Paddle shift looks neat, but my wifes pathfinder shifts firmer than my Vette!!!! I know a good tune would make the trans alot more responsive but I don't want to deal with any warranty issues

 

FINALLY! ECS is offering A6 trans tuning via a handheld programmer!!

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The mail order tuning of the Corvette A6 transmission has always been a bit tough since the module is actually in the transmission itself, yet the tuning is one of the best gains you can do to a stock A6 vehicle.

Any performance enthusiast can appreciate faster shifts, less torque management, etc etc, but it was something we had to do in person, or you needed to purchase a tuning software system at a fairly hefty expense, especially when you add the cost of the tune on top of it. That also required the time to install your software, then walk yourself through the program for the first time, which can be a little time consuming for the average individual. Realistically all most want to do is down load a tune quickly, keep your original files for any reason, and go have fun without taking on a new hobby to do so.

Well we finally have the answer, ECS will offer our A6 trans tunes, along with our mail order tunes in a simple to use handheld programmer. We have been working on this for a little while now, and we are ready to go!

The hand held programmer, with both a PCM (engine) and TCM (trans) tunes are $495 shipped within the US.

You can download your tunes with a simple to follow programmer that walks you through it step by step, very fast and simple!

Finally the C6's have the ability to easily remote tune the transmissions like the C5's have been doing for years!

Thanks, Doug

 

I said I drove one. For two days. If that doesn't qualify as "knowing what I am talking about" I don't know what does? I am glad you like your automatic car, a lot of very fast drag cars are automatic too because it is a much easier transmission to race in a straight line with. If that's your thing, great. For me, the shift delays were inacceptable. Obviously you don't feel the same but the bottom line is I think some people buy into the "paddle shifter" gimmick thinking they are getting an F1 style dual clutch transmission with millisecond shift times, but in reality the A6 is the same outdated torque converter design GM has been offering since the first automatic cadillacs hit the market, and it has the same torque converter lag and shift delays to match; my advice was very simple: "Drive one to see if its for you". The only way I would consider buying an automatic car is if it had a real performance auto (DSG or Manu-Matic with faster shifts than are possible with a stick or if I was handicapped.

 

I asked this same question a month or two ago while looking for a car for my wife. I got two answers, "A6's are for girls" and "The A6 is the only way to go". I don't think it's a cut and dry as that. We were seriously considering a couple A6's we had found and went and test drove a couple. I down right did not like it, even knowing a tune would easily fix the sloppy shifts and that consistently it would probably be faster. For me it just wasn't fun, and she felt the same way. We purchased another M6. I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with the auto, and for you guys who love them I could care less what anyone else decides to drive. OP don't get caught up with the banter that often times goes on around here about Auto's being emasculating, drive both, and buy what you will have the most fun in. Enjoy your new car

 

It's a personal choice and one YOU need to be happy with. I chose the A6 because most of my driving is stop and go or flat interstate. I don't track the car either. I'm quite capable of shifting a manual equipped car so that was not the issue. You will always get the "an auto doesn't belong in a sports car" crowd everytime this topic comes up. I'm happy with my A6 and with 500+RWHP and a tuned A6 under my right foot, it's all the car I need.

The bottom line is it's your dime and your happiness that counts.

 

When tuned right, the A6 trans sees shift times of .150 -.250, and those shift times were with a 3600 stall. Not many manual drivers will ever see shift times like the A6, when the A6 is properly tuned.

 

Sorry, but the first automatic Cadillac was introduced in 1940 and had a fluid coupling, not a torque converter, until 1964.

The paddle shift on the Vette is merely a steering wheel location version of the same console concept used on many other automatics that is only provided to have the ability to acquire or retain a gear that would otherwise not be possible. It's certainly not intended to be a clutchless manual.

The OP stated his concerns were for a pleasure car, so unless his pleasure primarily involves ultra fast shifting and he wants to retain the stock tune, the paddle shift lag will suit him fine.

 

Get the M6

 

Mines a MZ6. I thought I'd possibly go with the auto too when I was getting ready for mine, but the manual won me over. I'm one that doesn't mind shifting and I like being able to actually feel the torque generated up through the handle . . . before throwing that sucker into the next gear!

 

Beat me to it...although the Hydramatic was first released in 1940 in Oldsmobile then Cadillac in 1941. But I can vouch for the fluid coupling as I had a '63 Olds with the 3-speed "Slim Jim" version, it was a dog off the line but once rolling it was a beast so I only did roll-on races.

The original versions of the Hydramatic were 4-speeds with a 3.82:1 1st gear to make up for the lack of torque multiplication with the fluid coupling.

 

That may be true, some people might actually be stupid enough to think/believe that, fortunately I wasn't one of them.
Of course one drive in the A6 and one would immediately realize that they're not in a car with an SMG/Ferrari F1 type automatic as those tend to be FAR MORE jerky and abrupt (I know this from both first hand experience and from reading other's findings on the topic)...not at all smooth, not too much unlike a poorly driven manual.
I suppose if that's what some people are into then those set ups will work well.
I'll assume that Audi's/VW's (and maybe Porsche's) latest DSG technology has improved upon the many flaws inherent in Ferrari's and BMW's systems and I also agree that most sequentials (clutchless manuals?) do shift at lightning fast speeds but they also cost substantially more (up to a $10k option in some cases) to own as well. As more people buy them though the costs should be reduced through the wonders of mass production across a wider range of vehicles.
Ultimately I'd love to see the Corvette Team incorporate their variation on the theme into a future model but until then the A6/6L80/6L90 will do just fine.






Absolutely false.
I've owned automatics all of my life (over 26 years of driving) and this 6L80 trans (whether it's in a Corvette, G8 GT, Camaro, Cadillac or even a truck) feels NOTHING like any of the automatics that came before it.
Yes it's of a "similar" design but it's clutch to clutch operation and complete computer control is very advanced...and GM will likely improve on it even further in the future.
No, this trans doesn't have much on the SMG/F1/DSG types mentioned above but for many trouble free (and smooth) miles in a combination comfortable daily driver/performance car it is almost ideal.

 

the latest dual clutch sequential manual gearboxes from ferrari, bmw, porsche and even ford now operate much smoother than the original single clutch designs...After driving the Audi/VW DSG I'd take one if offered in a vette for road racing/auto-x purposes. If only drag racing I'd get an auto, but for all around I'd stick with a stick(no pun intended) because it is the most involving/fun and want to be in complete control of a car this quick, not having it drop too many gears if not necessary like stated in another post.

 

A LOT of people think that, sadly. Last time there was a good auto vs manual thread here that was one of the MAIN arguments FOR the automatic transmission... It went something like: "Of course Automatic cars are better, just look at what Ferrari and F1 are using"
All modern sportscar automatic transmissions, aside from the Corvette, employ some form of clutch setup (DSG, manu matic, or similar). All the ones I've come across (Nissan GTR, Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari, BMW M3, Porsche), and some rather mundane cars too, like the Mitsubishi Lancer and the Golf GTI cars, will perform blip throttle downshifts for smooth, perfect rev matched dowshifts every time, and have 3 or more settings for shift "agressiveness". The "race" setting is extremely fast so they can be a bit harsh as you said, but the mild settings feel exactly the way you'd hope a proper automatic transmission would feel...

 

I'm guessing you haven't had an opportunity to drive many A6s with a tranny tune.

So, if you could have multiple "pushbutton" tunes, you'd be happy?

Essentially, that's what you have with a manual, because "you" create the "tune" you desire for the occasion. However, you still have to put up with the drudgery when you're not having the fun.

For the OP, it's all about his version of pleasure and fun.

 

And when you furnace brazed the torus and machined the vanes, you could create any stall speed you wanted. My 3500 stall with a 4.89 rear gear got the blower into the power range real quick.

 

No. I'd want a car without a torque converter because I can not stand the "lag" that it creates.

No, with a manual I have complete and total control over what happens in the drivetrain. If you don't understand that, you've never driven a manual car properly.

 

Damn, a 4.89 rear gear with a 3.82 1st gear and 3500 RPM stall must have made for one helluva launch...no wonder the hydramatic was so popular with drag racers in the '60s!