Ordered an Automatic. Having second thoughts...
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 722
Likes: 19
From: Sebring Florida
So i ordered my 1LT AW z51 Mag Ride Automatic about two weeks ago and I am having second thoughts on the automatic transmission. I have been reading some articles online about how the Automatic transmission is very slow and even GM is replacing it next year. However all those articles were about non z51 cars. Everyone that I have talked to has said that the z51 car is like a completely different car from the non-z51. So can someone with a z51 automatic please share your experiences with the Automatic transmission and the shift speed? I currently own a 2010 Camaro RS Automatic and the paddle shifters are horrible, is the experience similar? Would love to hear from someone that owns one rather than auto journalists.
BTW here are the links to the two articles that talked about the bad auto transmission.
http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2013/t...ven-this-year/
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=28875
BTW here are the links to the two articles that talked about the bad auto transmission.
http://www.thesmokingtire.com/2013/t...ven-this-year/
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=28875
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 466
From: Long Island New York
I have been reading some articles online about how the Automatic transmission is very slow and even GM is replacing it next year. However all those articles were about non z51 cars. Everyone that I have talked to has said that the z51 car is like a completely different car from the non-z51. So can someone with a z51 automatic please share
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 51
From: Georgetown TX
I have a 606hp Callaway with the very transmission you ordered in your new C7, and can assure you that you'll enjoy it very much. I don't notice any slow shifts, up or down. Step on the gas hard and your seat belt better be on and your tray table in the upright position. It's a feakn' rocket.
I was going to wait for the 2015 C7 before ordering but now I'm having second thoughts...mainly because of the new auto trans planned for 2015. I have driven the NEW and MODERN 7 & 8 spd auto trans missions on other cars and I will tell you they are a very large PITA!!! They are constantly "hunting" for the right gear at less than highway speeds resulting in a "chugging" or "surging" motion. I have little doubt that the new vette auto for 2015 will be any different until the kinks are worked out, and frankly (like others on this forum) I'm running out of time.
Bottom line: Ain't nothing wrong with the present A6, why not leave it the hell alone??
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,547
Likes: 609
From: Southeast, WI
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 127
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles California
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 342
From: St. Louis MO
I agree. Each iteration of the A6 has been an improvement over the A6 that came out in 2006 ( had an 06 C6/A6 that was a POS. My 2012 CTS-V A6 is a HUGE improvement over the 06, and an improvement over your 2010 Camaro with staged faster upshifts). The C7 has yet again another improvement over my 2012 CTS-V. It might be enough to keep you happy until the A8 comes out. The safe bet is go to with the Porsche PDK or wait till 2015 for the expected A8. You are the exact customer that GM must address with a modern instant shifting auto tranny as people ARE cross shopping Porsche PDK and BMW DCT versus the C7 with a holdover, albeit much improved, slushbox that is not in the league of the PDK/DCT.
If you want a preview of the 2015 Stingray A8, go test drive a CTS today. It paddle shifts close enough to the Porsche PDK that the only thing that will bother some people, (none of whom are mechanical engineers), is that it's not labeled a DCT.
BTW, if you really want a race car paddle-shift transmission for you mostly-track car, go get an EMCO sequential installed - it shifts faster and harder than a DCT and will last far longer in track duty. Sequentials FAR outnumber DCTs on the race track.
A DCT is a compromise for road duty, but is not necessarily the best solution for the track. Kinda like a duck - swims OK but not like a fish, and flies OK but not an eagle.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 77
From: Forsyth GA
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
Likes: 1,471
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 77
From: Forsyth GA
Or were you being sarcastic??? Can not really tell.
By the way how are you liking the White Vette, yours is one of the nicest I have seem pictures of so far.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,249
Likes: 545
From: Land of the free, home of the brave...
I was going to wait for the 2015 C7 before ordering but now I'm having second thoughts...mainly because of the new auto trans planned for 2015. I have driven the NEW and MODERN 7 & 8 spd auto trans missions on other cars and I will tell you they are a very large PITA!!! They are constantly "hunting" for the right gear at less than highway speeds resulting in a "chugging" or "surging" motion. I have little doubt that the new vette auto for 2015 will be any different until the kinks are worked out, and frankly (like others on this forum) I'm running out of time.
Bottom line: Ain't nothing wrong with the present A6, why not leave it the hell alone??
Bottom line: Ain't nothing wrong with the present A6, why not leave it the hell alone??
Last edited by Crossed Flags Fan; Dec 30, 2013 at 11:35 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 342
From: St. Louis MO
If they come out with an 8 speed or some type of PDK/DCT the 6 speed Auto resale will go down substantially years from now. Who will pick it over the newer Auto?
Or were you being sarcastic??? Can not really tell.
By the way how are you liking the White Vette, yours is one of the nicest I have seem pictures of so far.
Or were you being sarcastic??? Can not really tell.
By the way how are you liking the White Vette, yours is one of the nicest I have seem pictures of so far.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 77
From: Forsyth GA
The value of my C7 Z51 A6 will,undoubtably go down with time - the nature of the deal. But with only 15% of boomers able to drive a stick, and with probably 3% of millenials, in 6 years it will be worth a LOT more than an M7, and be much easier to sell. Of course, I'll probably trade it in on an MB S-Class hybrid, but who knows what we'll be driving by then.
Who knows if that will be the case with the Vette 6 years from now. I guess we will all see.
If I wanted a Vette last year and wanted an Auto I would not have waited either, at this point I might though.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 16,066
Likes: 4,148
From: Bergen county NJ
By your own words you ll probably be ordering a z06 in three years?
Get either the automatic or the stick shift stingray,,,,it's a short term experience.
For hills and traffic? Being that I've been driving in and out of manhattan lately?
It's not bad if the traffics light but man o man....with 2 hours of stop and go traffic ......it does blow...
It's all about the hours of the day you travel and the traffic you hit...15 minutes of bumper to bumper is nothing....then get the manual....even 1/2 an hour a day is not a problem...
I'd say 1 /2 to 2 hours of stop n go traffic....get the automatic. I hear it's awesome with the new programming and is definitely quicker in acceleration out of the hole...
Good luck and great choice mag ride, z51 1LT......
What color combo?
Get either the automatic or the stick shift stingray,,,,it's a short term experience.
For hills and traffic? Being that I've been driving in and out of manhattan lately?
It's not bad if the traffics light but man o man....with 2 hours of stop and go traffic ......it does blow...
It's all about the hours of the day you travel and the traffic you hit...15 minutes of bumper to bumper is nothing....then get the manual....even 1/2 an hour a day is not a problem...
I'd say 1 /2 to 2 hours of stop n go traffic....get the automatic. I hear it's awesome with the new programming and is definitely quicker in acceleration out of the hole...
Good luck and great choice mag ride, z51 1LT......
What color combo?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
I came out of an 8 Speed Automatic Genesis V6 Track and I will take the Vette A6 over that any day. It was stupid as it downshifted through all 8 gears when slowing to a fast stop. How many of us work a manual tranny that way? We may go from 7 to 5 to 3 to stop but we don't shift each gear on the way down like most autos will try to do.
I think 8 gears in an auto is too much and I don't understand the need for it if geared properly to the rear axel ratio. JMHO.
I guarantee you, YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE YOUR NEW CAR!
Congratulations.
I think 8 gears in an auto is too much and I don't understand the need for it if geared properly to the rear axel ratio. JMHO.
I guarantee you, YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE YOUR NEW CAR!
Congratulations.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 606
Likes: 7
From: Nashville, TN
Just look at the fast list sticky, the quickest stock times are with auto Z-51s. I drove a 6 speed manual performance car for a long time having bought into the notion that they put more power to the wheels. When I started drag racing it though it was apparent I had made a mistake as you have to be very skilled to shift it quickly and correctly every time. Nobody is going to post the video where they missed a shift and lost to a Subaru but it happened to me lol. Also I get tired of pushing the clutch in traffic.