Automatic v. Stick
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,032
Likes: 4
From: Houston Tx
St. Jude Donor '06
Automatics with paddle shifters are LAME!
I have them on my daily driver - 2011 Ford Taurus and almost NEVER use them.
Remember the automatics on the console that you would flick left or right to shift?
They were a joke.
The 7 speed maual with close ratios is just way too much shifting - give me a 5 spped option and I might have foregone the automatic.
Just saying.
I have them on my daily driver - 2011 Ford Taurus and almost NEVER use them.
Remember the automatics on the console that you would flick left or right to shift?
They were a joke.
The 7 speed maual with close ratios is just way too much shifting - give me a 5 spped option and I might have foregone the automatic.
Just saying.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 30
From: Fairfax VA
I live in the Metro DC area...anyone that wants to shift in this traffic can be my guest. The manual shift was the biggest reason I got rid of my Camaro which I loved, wasn't going through it again.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,966
Likes: 1,295
From: SouthEast PA
Unmodified C8 of the Year 2021 Finalist
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
Of the first 16 cars I've owned all were manual except for the 67 Olds 442. My '65 C2 was a 4 speed manual. My last 7 cars we're all auto except for the '05 C6 that was manual that I loved. I guess I must admit to a trend here so an A6 C7 is probably in my future.
Howerver, when in a C7 at Carlisle I want through all seven gears of the new seven speed and was quite impressed. The transition from gear to gear upward was effortless and precise and smooth dropping through the next gate. Given, this was just a static shift experience but impressive to me none the less. Those that get this transmission will not regret it IMO.
P.S. I did not feel at 69 the clutch was any harder to depress than my '05 C6 so that is not an issue for me.
Howerver, when in a C7 at Carlisle I want through all seven gears of the new seven speed and was quite impressed. The transition from gear to gear upward was effortless and precise and smooth dropping through the next gate. Given, this was just a static shift experience but impressive to me none the less. Those that get this transmission will not regret it IMO.
P.S. I did not feel at 69 the clutch was any harder to depress than my '05 C6 so that is not an issue for me.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 16,066
Likes: 4,148
From: Bergen county NJ
I'm 54 and I'm not ready to give up a manual just yet...i have the luxury that I change my travel time to miss the majority of traffic..
Anything at a sub crawl real stop and go for more than an hour and the manual does blow....
For those that do... I recommend a change in travel time....early or late ...anything to avoid the here mentality....
Otherwise gm needs to step up its game in non manual transmission cars....
I look forward to driver impressions and road comparisons of automatics and manual cars...
I'm betting the A6 is the quickest vette in accelerating this year..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 54
From: Granbury, Pecan Plantation TX
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 16,066
Likes: 4,148
From: Bergen county NJ
That would be an interesting test...
The manual 911 versus manual z51 MRC 7 speed..
I remember years back...the CTS v automatic was chosen for the best "ring time"...
It was that good..
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 193
Likes: 1
From: NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,890
Likes: 1,198
From: Ft. Myers FL
As much as I love shifting and like the 1350 bucks to use on another option I now have a 06 A6 which I bought brand new. Why? Because I fried the clutch in my C5 and because I got tired of losing to auto's at the track. Now what most folks don't realize is the software in the A6 actually adapts to your driving style over time. When you first drive an A6 it'll feel sluggish and boring. After a few months if you drive aggressively it'll shift quicker and perform better. Mine, of course after almost 8 years, runs great and with a heavy pedal will squirt between 1-2 & 2-3 gears. So, I'd probably go with the A6. 
Oh I forgot...I also have a screwed up right shoulder too....getting old sucks . 
Oh I forgot...I also have a screwed up right shoulder too....getting old sucks .
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Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 39
From: White Oak NC
But YOU don't have to use all 7 gears. If you never shift into 6th or 7th, it's just like having a 5-speed. Or shift 1-2-3-7, and you have a 4-speed. With the LT1 making so much torque, nearly all the time you can go 1-2-7 and you're all the way back to three on the tree.
I'm sticking (get thee to a punnery) with manual because it's more fun, and we don't have traffic jams here, and fewer people will ask to drive my car that I'll have to turn down. I don't do slushboxes if I can help it. But if I develop health problems that keep me from manualing, then I'm sure I can learn to live with automatic.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,217
Likes: 153
From: Ft Mill, SC
I recently replaced my 06 C6/A6 with a new 2012 CTS-V A6 and the difference is literally nite and day. The 2006 A6 is a POS by comparison. The 2012 and later rev matches on downshifts( as opposed to lurching on downshifts in the 06 A6) and pre stages fluid on upshifts when using the paddles making for faster shifts. The C7 A6 is supposed to be 35 percent faster yet. I'm done with sticks and my C7 will be an automatic when I replace my 2010 6 spd manual GS.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 2
I recently replaced my 06 C6/A6 with a new 2012 CTS-V A6 and the difference is literally nite and day. The 2006 A6 is a POS by comparison. The 2012 and later rev matches on downshifts( as opposed to lurching on downshifts in the 06 A6) and pre stages fluid on upshifts when using the paddles making for faster shifts. The C7 A6 is supposed to be 35 percent faster yet. I'm done with sticks and my C7 will be an automatic when I replace my 2010 6 spd manual GS.
Last edited by 450hp mike9; Sep 7, 2013 at 12:31 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 54
From: Granbury, Pecan Plantation TX
I recently replaced my 06 C6/A6 with a new 2012 CTS-V A6 and the difference is literally nite and day. The 2006 A6 is a POS by comparison. The 2012 and later rev matches on downshifts( as opposed to lurching on downshifts in the 06 A6) and pre stages fluid on upshifts when using the paddles making for faster shifts. The C7 A6 is supposed to be 35 percent faster yet. I'm done with sticks and my C7 will be an automatic when I replace my 2010 6 spd manual GS.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 10
From: Cumming GA
On order: Torch Red Z51
I was talking to my dealer today and the subject of M7 VS A6 came up as to order #'s. In the coupe the ratio is nearly 45% M7 VS just over 50% A6 so far for Verts. As someone posted earlier, most folks under 40 only 'know' automatics. And most of us nearing 65 or + want manuals but are dealing with reality, physical limitations. And of course there are exceptions both ways.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,768
Likes: 19
From: ABQ NM
What with synchromesh, hydraulic clutch assist and rev matching there's not much "manual" left in manual shifting, so I got an A6 which is a far cry from Chevy's original two-speed Powerglide.
Tech aside, I'm lazy and can't be bothered with playing with another foot pedal and stick in the city.
Tech aside, I'm lazy and can't be bothered with playing with another foot pedal and stick in the city.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,355
Likes: 12
Here is one of my favorite places to take my Corvettes and I have been doing so since my first in 1985. If you think you need a manual transmission to get excitement on this road in your Corvette then you are NOT doing it right.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 487
Likes: 1
From: San Jose California
If you clutch and shift absolutely perfect the M7 may be quicker 0 to 60 and 1/4 mile times.
If your human, the A6 is quicker and you'll never blow an engine with an accidental down shift.
On the course, if you don't track the car on a regular basses, the A6 in "track mode" is quicker and safer for the average Joe/Jane. The new A6 is so intuitive as to not shift in hard turn and upset the car's balance yet it attempts to rev-match the down shift to keep the engine in it's power band on deceleration, ever ready for you to pour on the power. An amazing transmission.
If your human, the A6 is quicker and you'll never blow an engine with an accidental down shift.
On the course, if you don't track the car on a regular basses, the A6 in "track mode" is quicker and safer for the average Joe/Jane. The new A6 is so intuitive as to not shift in hard turn and upset the car's balance yet it attempts to rev-match the down shift to keep the engine in it's power band on deceleration, ever ready for you to pour on the power. An amazing transmission.
I may end up with an auto
because my wife can't/won't drive a stick and I am hoping to keep her longer than any car (33 years so far). Problem is, I know she'll drive the car 5 times over it's life and I have to live with an auto for that! I too will be driving in traffic, but I've never minded sticking too much in that. 7 gears seems like too many, but I am am assuming you don't use 6 and 7 until you are on a stretch of open highway and for fuel eco. Hell why not put a hi-low in it and you can pretend you are a long haul trucker....geesh!I wish they would have done more to the automatic to make it more of a competition auto. Maybe it's ok, but everything I've heard from the engineers and GM management makes me think it might be nuetered.