Jedi-Jurist

There are few tracks where you can get a Z51 up to 5th gear, but when you want to, no one wants to hit 7th by mistake. I think I may have a solution for GM, and apologies if this has already been suggested or discussed (I've never seen or heard of it).

Everyone knows you can't shift to reverse while moving forward - it's "locked out," right? Why not add a lockout feature for 7th while the car is in track mode? Better yet, make it fully customizable on MyLink so you can choose when 7th will be available. Maybe only on Weather-Tour and not Sport or Track - the choice should be yours. That way you can confidently throw it towards 5th without worrying about getting 7th by mistake. You'll never use 7th on the track anyway.

I'm no mechanic or software engineer, but it would seem to me to be a pretty easy software fix (?). Anyway, my $0.02.

arcticblast

This sounds like a great solution.
I've personally hit 7th a couple of times from 4th at about 145. It kinda kills the momentum.

jedblanks

To me the gates are like this

1-3-5---------7
2-4-6------R

Seems almost impossible that you could hit 7th without trying. It is way the F over there.

DAFFYDRUNK

Never had an issue myself, but I've seen the gf do it. She also tries to go to from 5th to 7th on purpose and ends up back in 5th. haha.

ratman6161

I was thinking the same thing. My experience with it is still less than two weeks but so far its just the opposite of the problem under discussion here. You have to push way over for 7th and I sometimes get 5th when I wanted 7th. I've also occasionally ended up with 4th when I wanted 6th.

I suppose in the excitement of being on the track it might be different>

johnnypro

I agree, 7th gear seems to be way to the right. Also, it "feels" different from other gears so you can notice a misshift just by how it seems to "smush" into gear in 7th.

With that said, I'm going to assume that the reason people mis-shift is that they are accustomed to 5/6 speed gearboxes. To prevent mishifts into third instead of fifth, I think a lot of people are used to just shifting it up and to the right as far as possible. In most cars this would get you into fifth every time, in the C7 you'll get dumped into 7th.

When I shift into fifth, I just point my palm to the right, rest my hand lightly on the left side of the shifter, and push up. Because of my hand position, it naturally pushes slightly to the right and slips easily into fifth every time.

dvilin

Exactly, you have to really go far right to hit 7th. Should be non issue.

Nosferatu

Before I took ownership, this was my concern, but after driving it, 7th is wayyyyy out there.

The one gear switch I had a problem with was going from 7th to 5th to gently pass someone. I've gotten it down now, but it took some practice.

jedblanks

I guess it could be more of an issue if you come from a 5-speed, as 5th always had that same feel to it. The last 5 speed I drove was in the 90's (mustang? cougar?), everything else has been 6 speed.

Indy-hp

I've been driving a MN6 daily since 2000. When I picked up the C7 in February, I would hit 7th looking for 5th on the MN7 fairly frequently during the first 500 miles. However, I haven't hit 7th by accident in the last 1,000 miles (knock on wood).

0-60B4U

How many rev's you pulling in 4th at 145?

sycraft

Its right at 6300

Jedi-Jurist

Have you tracked the car and tried to get to 5th? I have, and can tell you that when you're trying to quickly shift to 5th, it's easier to miss than when you have all day to make the shift nice and smooth. Anyway, the point is that on the track, you'll never, ever need 7th (or 6th for that matter) as both are pure overdrive gears. So if a lockout can be done, why not?

VatorMan

Methinks you are gripping the shifter too tight. Cupped palm down shift. Loose fingers and heel of palm up. I haven't had that problem-yet.

TeamOGI

I received some great info this weekend at PittRace from my instructor - he noticed that I missed 4th to 5th a couple of times and made this suggestion (I have been using the method for less than a week so not sure if it will fix my issues):
Shifting 1st & 2nd - place hand on the outside right of the ****
Shifting 3rd & 4th - place hand on the top of the ****
Shifting 5th & 6th - place hand on the inside left of the ****

So far it has helped me in street traffic. After a few weeks it should become a habit so we will see if it helps on track.

dvilin

You asked and I answered, you are having a problem and want a lockout, not a problem for me and others, so good luck with that.

Jedi-Jurist

My question was whether you've been on track trying to go to 5th. If not, you're contribution isn't really relevant to this thread.

dvilin

You do not have to be on a track to shift into 5th gear quickly. Many others have posted that they do not have your problems with shifting. Perhaps an A8 is in your future.

RUSTYNKL

I have been to Spring Mtn many times and when turning, a lot of them, ESP. right turns your body is going left and you are trying to push the shifter to the right. It is not easy, but that is part of the FUN!

bodak1

You guys are getting unnecessarily mean spirited with an innocent post.