I live in Jax (Jacksonville) Fl and the dealers here have finally started to get at least a little bit of Corvette inventory. Nothing like what our forum dealers have, but a few.

My goal today was to "try" and drive a manual and an auto trans car. One dealer has a LB 1LT Base Manual and another dealer has a DSOM 2LT Z51 with the 8sp Auto.

I started off at the dealer with the LB 1Lt Manual and had a nice conversation with a young salesman who was one of their 2 Corvette "Specialists". He was friendly and loved talking about the car. He and the other Corvette guy had just been to the Ron Fellows school earlier this year. The fact that these 2 went to the school gave the dealer an additional whopping 5 allocations this year!!! Well, when I popped the question about taking it for a spin (I had told him my intent of comparing the driving of an Auto vs. Manual) he broke the news that they don't allow test drives. I had a feeling that was the answer as this ONE corvette they had was wedged into the showroom making access difficult anyway. I was able to sit in the car and get a feel for the interior and noted the lack of adjustments on the 1LT drivers seat, although it was fairly comfortable. I thanked them for their time and headed for the other dealer across town.

I arrived to a busy dealership and went straight to the DSOM sitting in the middle of the front porch of the building. Not inside, not quite outside. It was open so I helped myself to the interior and checked everything out. It had the Auto Trans, Kalahari interior, Chrome Z51 wheels, PDR/Nav, and Magnetic Ride. After sitting in the car and checking out the exterior for probably 15-20 minutes no one had offered help. There was even a salesman standing on the steps to the front door not 10 feet from me and didn't say a word. I went up to him and asked if there was a corvette specialist in the dealership and he said there definitely was. That was it, no offer to get him, nothin. I asked if he was busy, he said he thought he was. Silence. Take a hint dude.
So I busted out with "Would you mind getting him?". He said he could have him paged. GEEZ!
Well, the word was that he was finishing up a deal on a Camaro and would be with me in a few. So I hung out around the car while waiting and another salesman (somewhat of a redneck kinda fellow) came over and sat in the car and started chatting with me about the price of the car and how anyone who bought it just did it for the attention. How it was really an unnecessary kind of purchase and couldn't understand why anyone would need anything other than a basic truck or car. So they could provide for their family instead. The whole time this dude is talking I was wishing I was recording it for playback to the GM of the dealership. Is this guy actually trying to talk me OUT of buying a car? Un-freakin-believeable!

Well, finally the Corvette guy got freed up and came over and instantly offered to get the key. He returned with the key and handed it right to me and said "you gotta start it up!". To make a long story short this guy was a great guy to talk to. An older fella who started going over every feature of the car as if I had already bought it. After all that I asked about driving it and he said it wasn't possible. I replied with a "how about just in the parking lot" and he surprisingly agreed. It wasn't really enough to get a true feel for the car, but it gave me some perspective of what it's like. Which was better than nothing!

So I'm left with a huge question in my mind. I still don't know if I should get the Manual or Automatic. I drove manuals in my younger years for 15+ years, but nothing like a Corvette. Haven't driven one in probably 15 years since then. I'm used to auto's now. Initially I was solidly sold on the Manual for the driving experience, but now leaning towards the Auto because it would just be more relaxed in rush hour and for touring. I'm all confused.

At any rate, this DSOM is a car I could see myself in. Auto or Manual aside. And because it's a local dealer, I could possibly work out a trade for my truck that's been for sale for 3 months.

Lastly, here's some pictures for your enjoyment.

 

suggest trying to drive some used C7 units at Carmax, or at a larger dealer that has a few on the used car lot
(though I doubt there are any used with the A8 just yet)

 

[QUOTE=Gary '09 C6;1588374447]suggest trying to drive some used C7 units at Carmax, or at a larger dealer that has a few on the used car lot
(though I doubt there are any used with the A8 just yet)[/QUOTE

Took delivery of my 7 spd. 3LT Z51 today. I have only driven one automatic Vette, and that was the 87 my wife had when I married her.

I loved the new 7 sped. shifter was tight, contrary to some reports of others. One thingI liked was that the HUD showed what gear you were in and on the dash it showed the gear you were in before you let the clutch out.
That came in handy a couple of times.

My C5 was a 6 spd. and my C4 is a 6 spd. and I embarrassed to say , I stalled it when I went to turn around in the dealers lot when I was leaving

 

I've test driven the A8 and the M7, and personally chose to order the M7. The A8 is very good, but still lacks the connectedness and control of a true manual. For me, the tenths you give up in performance numbers are worth the feeling of being connected directly to the wheels.

 

66.7% of the sales of the 2015 Corvette C7 is the automatic.

I have the 7 speed PDK auto in my 2014 Porsche 981 and love it. Car is responsive either in automatic or with the manual paddle shifters in Sport Plus mode.

I understand the 8-Speed auto on the C7 is just as responsive.

 

[QUOTE=Calif Vetteman;1588374647]Have you ever found it difficult to stay in the gear "slots" (don't know what to call it) from like 3 to 4 and 5 to 6? I've only ever driving 4 or 5 speed manuals and with all the gears of the 7sp, I'm curious as to how easy it is to get the intended gear without going from like 2 to 5, skipping the 3-4 slot. make sense?

 

I know what you mean and that's exactly why I think I'd prefer the manual!

One salesman today said "You'll never be faster than the automatic in shifiting". It was never my goal or thought to be faster. It's more of a control thing.

 

This is something automatic people dont quite get. Some of us arent in it for the last 1/10th of a second of performance, but for the enjoyment manual gear boxes bring.

Of course I totally get why others prefer automatics too, and dont have an issue with their preferences at all.

 

I had a similar experience with the test drive. I had to bypass the Corvette specialist and the sales manager and track down the GM to explain that I wasn't buying his $77k car without one.
I understand their concerns but I'm no kid (66+). I explained to the GM that I was cross shopping with 911s and the local Porsche dealer will give me a 911 for a weekend test whenever I ask.

 

I test drove both before placing my order, and it was for the M7. Driving the auto made that decision easy. Traffic, faster, cruising, etc. etc. no way would I settle for an auto for any of the reasons often cited.

 

I did the same and drove an A8 Stingray and an M7 Stingray back to back. While the A8 was quicker in traffic, the M7 was just more fun to drive. I ordered my Z06 with an M7. R8C is set for Tuesday, 12-9-14.

 

Sounds like that one salesman at the second dealership will give you a good price for your truck, since that is the only kind of vehicle anybody should want.

I've had salesmen trying to talk me out of a cheaper product to get a more expensive product, but not so much the other direction. What a bonehead.

 

Many wonder how you find all the gears with the seven speed manual. First off, the first four gears are just like a four speed manual of yesteryear. The lever is spring loaded to center (standard H pattern). To find fifth let the lever spring to center coming out of fourth and move it over about a quarter inch to the right of third (you will feel the gate). Sixth just slide the lever along the shifter box side (don't worry about reverse takes special effort to select it). Seventh, move lever towards fifth apply extra effort to the right to enter into the gate, you will quickly acquire the feel. Reverse from center position lever aft towards the right side and special effort into the gate (again an acquired feel). At first use the spring centered position and move the lever to acquire the gear you want (big plus, the gear selected is displayed on the DIC/HUD).

Note: my clutch took 2,000 miles to break-in. It would grab and stalls were all to common. Hill assist also requires understanding and experimentating.

You will simply love it!

 

What is a DSOM?

 

Daytona Sunrise Orange Metallic.

 

I wonder what the % is for cars that are ordered. A lot of dealers have mostly automatics in stock and I would think some buyers get the auto because they liked all the rest of the equipment and didn't want to wait.

 

Thanks for that detailed description! I'm sure it's an easily learned process. It used to be so natural when I daily drove a manual.

 

My test drive was great.....lady salesperson, simpy stated, "Here's the key, enjoy".

 

Answer: 66.7% Automatic....as listed in the chart, 33.3% Manual for all production YTD is my understanding from what GM reports.

Once the car is delivered to the dealer, GM considers it as SOLD.

 

That describes why I chose the M7 for my 2014