I'm new to the forum so be gentle. For a little background, I'm in my 60's and have never owned a Vette. It's on my bucket-list and I'm about to make the leap. I have my eye on a very low mileage 2013 Grand Sport 2LT with the paddle shift automatic. My question is what is your experience with this tranny as far as durability and service? My Silverado has 141,000 miles and all I've done is change the fluid and filter once. Can I expect that type of service with the paddle shift? This will be a street car for pleasure not a track car.

 

Welcome to the forums. My car is a 2010 with the A6. Expect to catch a little flack from of the "purests" about having a vette with an auto tranny. It's never bothered me. There are times when having a manual would be cool, but there are many times when having the A6 is very nice. I drive my car 90% or more of the time with the paddles and really enjoy it. From what I've read, it's a pretty good transmission. Stay away from 6th gear when running the car hard. It's been said that 6th is a pretty weak gear, so use it only for highway cruising/fuel savings.

 

I have been running my A6 pretty hard over the last few weeks at the track and it has not missed a beat in 60,000 miles

I did experience dreaded shift flair issue where the trans learns your driving style and adapts . Then when I would drive it hard it felt like it was slipping into 2nd gear .

All GM A 6 transmissions can show this behaviour and luckily that a simple TCM reset cures the issue ...

I love my Auto .... had sticks all my life and now it's time to relax lol

Dave

 

I have an '07 with the A6 trans and love it. I almost never use the paddles (I live in the Central Sierras of CA) even in the mountains - - the tranny does an excellent job of shifting when it needs to and never makes the car feel like it's bogging down. The 6L80 is a pretty heavy duty trans and should hold up well unless you abuse it. I you encounter the shift flare at any point, your dealer (or you if you have a scan tool / computer) can do an adaptive relearn with the TCM.

Steve

 

The trans doesn't like to be hammered on and forced to downshift. I always downshift easy with the paddles and then get on it if I'm having fun. My trans tune is killer so I'm usually in D.

 

personally i felt the paddles shifted a little slow. a tune helped that right up. like Curt said a good tuner will set you up with a good tcm tune as well its been one of the best mods since i got the car.

 

Thanks to all. I love swapping gears as much as anyone. We have six collector cars - ALL CHEVYS. I have an original restored '32 Chevy 5-window coupe, a '35 Chevy Sedan street rod, a national show winning '55 Nomad custom, an original '56 Nomad, a project '56 Nomad custom and an original '59 Chevy Apache. Of course, the '32 is a stick, the '35 tranny is a 350 (with a 383 stroker), the '55 has a 700r4, the original '56 is a powerglide, the custom '56 will have a Tremec T-56 (and an LS1 out of an '02 Z-28) and the Apache is a 3-on-the-tree. The street rod with the 350 auto will smoke any of them red light to red light. These are all show cars that get less than 3,000 mile annually combined.

That being said, I've never owned a Vette and have always wanted one. I've decided that at 68 I can't wait if I want to enjoy driving it. I found a really nice garage kept '13 GS with 7,500 miles. I want something to drive for pleasure and will never take it to the track. I don't need a stick shift to prove anything. I do want a reliable car I can drive anywhere, anytime. I'm going to do my best to close the deal within the next two weeks. If I do I'll be posting it. With that low mileage it still has a year on the factory drivetrain warranty. Tell me what you know about extended factory warranties. Can I get something that will extend the time to 7 or 8 years? or more? Not interested in an aftermarket warranty. Thank again to everyone.

PS: BTW driving the '55 Nomad from Florida to Roanoke, Virginia next week for the Chevrolet Nomad Association National Meet. In August we're driving it to Bowling Green for the Tri-Five Nationals

 

Welcome to the forum.
I purchased my first vette, a 2006 C6 back in 2009. All my other previous sports cars were sticks. This time around, I had decided on an auto, and the paddle shifters helped that decision. This car now has 87K miles on it, has been on numerous long distance road trips, and hasn't missed a beat.
I have not changed the filter or trans fluid yet, but will likely do that at 100K miles. I will not flush it however.

I use the paddles 75% of the time, and they have worked well. It's not as much fun to drive as a stick, but I'm done playing around and just want the creature comforts, ease of city driving, and a nice looking C6 to drive on our road trips.

Post some pics when you get the new ride.

 

I have an 08 with the a6 A&A kit headers etc. and was using the paddles most of the time but still getting shift flairs.Couple of weeks ago i had Chuck Cow do his tranny tune and it is like a different car.Now i put it in sport mode and let do its thing.It stays in its power all the time depending on what gear it needs to be in at that speed.Best money i have spent on it yet.The way it shifts reminds me of a extended cab s- 10 i built with a 383 stoker 400 turbo and shift kit.

 

Sarge, the 2013 GS with the A6 is very reliable. The A-6 transmission has proven to be a reliable and dependable performer. When you go into 'S' and paddle shift the car, it doesn't feel any different than any other high performance sports car and it will rev match as you downshift. Starting in 2012, the A-6 transmission programming was changed to allow quicker shifts which will help keep you from hitting the rev limiter at 6,000 rpm's.

It's too bad you don't have plans to take it to the track, I enjoy hpde events and found it to be the safest place to explore the limits of these cars, especially the GS at 7/10's level performance. If you change your mind about track driving and have never done it before, you'll start out in the novice group with an instructor and you will stay below 5/10's because there is a lot to learn. Still very much fun.

As for catching 'flack' for having an auto in a high performance sports cars, all the formula 1 cars have paddle shifters. Can't imagine any more high performance than that!

 

Thanks Mike. I agree with everything you've said. I have done some research and decided that I wanted a 2012 or 2013 GS. I know they made improvements in 2012 and more in 2013. I want a C6 because of performance and price. Comparable C7's are considerably more money and, let's face it, just 4 years ago this was the state of the art. You may have swayed me about the track although that's not the purpose for the purchase. I friend races a rotary Mazda at Homestead and Sebring in a hobby class - no money and no trophy - just fun. He's trying to talk me into it too. We'll see. I keep my cars. My Silverado in 15 years old and I love it - Quadrasteer. I've had my '56 Nomad since 1984. My grandkids have already decided who gets which cars when I die. Now they'll have to decide who gets the Vette.

 

I have a good friend that races Spec Miata and probably getting the same encouragement as you. I like to point out to him How much more track time I get with hpde than he gets racing. My other issue is I don't fit in a Miata very well! I'm 64 years young and love my track days, the car is mostly stock except for a couple of minor suspension upgrades. I want to keep it fun and inexpensive and typically run in B group. Feel free to PM me if I can answer any questions for you.

 

Thank you VERY much!

Glad you like my Tune and CoW BOOSTER!

It was a pleasure meeting you guys!

Chuck CoW

 

Thanks Mike. Let's see if I get the car and we'll talk.

 

 

You said it would be different and you were right.With the supercharger and the tranny tune it is so much more fun to drive even without the paddles.My friend Charlie is real happy with his supecharged LS 2 and your tune also.

 

I'm just glad you guys came to visit! Hope to see you guys again some time soon!

Stay (Chuck CoW) TUNED!
Chuck CoW

 

I have '11 A6 GS and have it tuned almost never touch the paddles but did 2 days ago found this black bad boy Z06 on the highway after the fire works show as I was headed home so down shifted to 4th (3.42 gears here) The freakish dude didn't even allowed for me to come next to him, when he notice my intention to catch up to him he nailed it, didn't help him I went rite past him plus 4 or 5 car lengths but he wasn't convinced when I slowed down he came around at wot again with the same outcome again.

He thought the GS didn't stand a chance lol
I'm 64 by the way.

 

Welcome.

The autos are great, especially if you are not adding power.

As for car being state of the art 4 years ago, that is a bit of stretch, since not much changed and most of the car was designed/engineering in ~2004-2005. So saying it is only 4 year old tech isn't exactly accurate. 6 speed auto tranny came out in 06. The motor in 08 which is just a basic revision of the LS platform. Electronics/etc are all a few steps behind c7 stuff.

 

The A6 tranny is pretty much bullet proof, the A8, well.....we will see