Drove 8 speed auto
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 93
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas
Ok fellas, one more comment on this from me then I'm done with this...for a while anyways...
I've had both manuals and autos in the 8 Corvettes I've owned. I traded a 2012 Grand Sport with manual for my 2014 Z51 Stingray convertible. I love driving cars with manuals and if the car I bought had a manual in it instead of the A6 I still would have bought it. See I didn't order my C7, I purchased one off the showroom floor as has been the case with ALL my (new) Vettes.
And I can tell you from someone who has driven them all and generally prefers manuals I'd get the auto in a heartbeat if I had it to do over again; it's that good! All this talk about lightning fast shifts, skip gear downshifts, double clutches, quintuple clutches, visceral manual boxes and so on means exactly squadush on the street, which is where MY Vettes live. If you track your car regularly then the manual is most assuredly the way to go. Otherwise it really doesn't matter, just drive what you got and enjoy it!
PS - The ZO6 I'm going to ORDER next summer will definitely have a manual!
I've had both manuals and autos in the 8 Corvettes I've owned. I traded a 2012 Grand Sport with manual for my 2014 Z51 Stingray convertible. I love driving cars with manuals and if the car I bought had a manual in it instead of the A6 I still would have bought it. See I didn't order my C7, I purchased one off the showroom floor as has been the case with ALL my (new) Vettes.
And I can tell you from someone who has driven them all and generally prefers manuals I'd get the auto in a heartbeat if I had it to do over again; it's that good! All this talk about lightning fast shifts, skip gear downshifts, double clutches, quintuple clutches, visceral manual boxes and so on means exactly squadush on the street, which is where MY Vettes live. If you track your car regularly then the manual is most assuredly the way to go. Otherwise it really doesn't matter, just drive what you got and enjoy it!
PS - The ZO6 I'm going to ORDER next summer will definitely have a manual!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,027
Likes: 319
From: N. CA
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/08/20/2...ew-quick-spin/
"When he reviewed the C7 for the first time, our own Michael Harley had these, not-minced words to say about the existing 6AT:
"The traditional six-speed automatic seemed to extinguish the C7's performance edge. I found it softer, slower and more lethargic (even paddle-initiated shifts had annoying lag). Even though it was every bit as quick in terms of outright acceleration, the gearbox took much of the excitement out of the driving experience."
Clearly there was room to improve.
Thankfully, I can now report that the improvements have been made, and that the new, General Motors-designed Hydra-Matic 8L90 is up to the task of shifting one of the best sports cars in the world. Take heed, 65-percenters."
"Down to it then. Executing shifts in manual mode feels dual-clutch quick, for sure. The Chevy guys were puffing out their chests talking about the speed of this 8AT versus Porsche's PDK, and the truth is that the reaction time from paddle-pull to upshift is right there. At least, as that's what my imperfect human brain can suss out – any advantage to the quickest dual clutches I've yanked would require a machine to judge."
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 138
Likes: 3
From: San Diego CA
This is good news to my ears. My 08 LS3 A6 doesn't shift as quickly as I'd like in paddle mode. I've even tuned it with the intune. So kind of regretted the auto (got it because the wife doesn't drive stick). with that said I'm a manual guy but am intrigued with the A8. I drove a challenger scatcat with the A8 (different tranny) and was really impressed with how responsive the paddle shifting was.
I think I'm ready to make the C7 leap and will have to do a manual vs A8 comparision.
I think I'm ready to make the C7 leap and will have to do a manual vs A8 comparision.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 91
Likes: 2
From: NY NY
Some preliminary observations-
Paddle shifting down the lower gears results in the engine flaring as the engine revs up, seemingly higher than necessary to match the lower gear. I was using it to downshift to slow the car down gradually as I would with a manual, but the blip on the throttle as it does so isn't very seamless. Probably won't be using it much as a result.
There occasionally appears to be a noticeable transition as the car is brought to a stop at slow speeds, maybe from it disengaging something.
One time I checked to rear view to make sure I didn't get bumped, but it was nothing.
Maybe there's a learning process involved, as it's still on break in miles.
Paddle shifting down the lower gears results in the engine flaring as the engine revs up, seemingly higher than necessary to match the lower gear. I was using it to downshift to slow the car down gradually as I would with a manual, but the blip on the throttle as it does so isn't very seamless. Probably won't be using it much as a result.
There occasionally appears to be a noticeable transition as the car is brought to a stop at slow speeds, maybe from it disengaging something.
One time I checked to rear view to make sure I didn't get bumped, but it was nothing.
Maybe there's a learning process involved, as it's still on break in miles.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 93
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas
Some preliminary observations-
Paddle shifting down the lower gears results in the engine flaring as the engine revs up, seemingly higher than necessary to match the lower gear. I was using it to downshift to slow the car down gradually as I would with a manual, but the blip on the throttle as it does so isn't very seamless. Probably won't be using it much as a result.
There occasionally appears to be a noticeable transition as the car is brought to a stop at slow speeds, maybe from it disengaging something.
One time I checked to rear view to make sure I didn't get bumped, but it was nothing.
Maybe there's a learning process involved, as it's still on break in miles.
Paddle shifting down the lower gears results in the engine flaring as the engine revs up, seemingly higher than necessary to match the lower gear. I was using it to downshift to slow the car down gradually as I would with a manual, but the blip on the throttle as it does so isn't very seamless. Probably won't be using it much as a result.
There occasionally appears to be a noticeable transition as the car is brought to a stop at slow speeds, maybe from it disengaging something.
One time I checked to rear view to make sure I didn't get bumped, but it was nothing.
Maybe there's a learning process involved, as it's still on break in miles.
For the street I love the auto whether it be 6 or 8. If I tracked my car regularly I would have to have a manual and my C7 ZO6 WILL have a manual.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 91
Likes: 2
From: NY NY
My '14 A6 does the same thing when manually shifting from 2 down to 1 unless you're almost completely stopped. I always thought that was a "torque converter" thing. (?)
For the street I love the auto whether it be 6 or 8. If I tracked my car regularly I would have to have a manual and my C7 ZO6 WILL have a manual.
For the street I love the auto whether it be 6 or 8. If I tracked my car regularly I would have to have a manual and my C7 ZO6 WILL have a manual.
The shift down to M2 actually accelerates briefly due to the blip in the throttle before easing back down again; apparently overcompensating the RPM matching.
Someone watching as it does it would probably think, "that guy doesn't know how to drive stick" - not suspecting it's automatic
Last edited by wingerr; Oct 25, 2014 at 12:46 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,582
Likes: 496
From: Hudson, NH
C7
The 2014 is just fine. The 8 speed IMO has 2 speeds too many to use the paddle shifters when cruising along at highway speeds. I have to repeatedly push it to get into fourth or lower. I don't feel a difference in crispness. Just one man's opinion who actualy owns one.
Last edited by Corvette03051; Oct 24, 2014 at 04:24 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 16,062
Likes: 4,148
From: Bergen county NJ
This is good news to my ears. My 08 LS3 A6 doesn't shift as quickly as I'd like in paddle mode. I've even tuned it with the intune. So kind of regretted the auto (got it because the wife doesn't drive stick). with that said I'm a manual guy but am intrigued with the A8. I drove a challenger scatcat with the A8 (different tranny) and was really impressed with how responsive the paddle shifting was.
I think I'm ready to make the C7 leap and will have to do a manual vs A8 comparision.
I think I'm ready to make the C7 leap and will have to do a manual vs A8 comparision.
Or at least as good.
Test drives are always a good idea.