Manual or Automatic?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,941
Likes: 499
From: Northern Virginia
Manuals are dying. http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobile...tml/?a=viewall
But yes, true manuals are going the way of the dodo. All the more reason to take advantage of one of the few remaining high performance cars that still offers the joy of shifting for yourself. And no, flappy paddles are not "shifting for yourself." That's just telling the computer to do it for you. might as play Grand Theft Auto on a Playstation and call it driving.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 387
From: Fort Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
If you look at the numbers, only a quarter of the people like manuals in the base & Z51 cars. I'm sure the numbers would have been higher for the autos had they started production at the same time as the manuals. Here's a reprint for the "Corvette Blogger";
Folks always like to know what the breakdown is with the 7-speed manual transmission vs the new 8-speed automatic. For the 2015 Corvette Stingray, that breakdown was 25.6% manual and 74.4% automatic. For the Z06, the take rate on the 7-speed manual was 51.6% while the new 8-speed auto accounted for 48.4%. The automatics started production a little over a month after the 7-speed manuals so perhaps this will change for 2016.
Folks always like to know what the breakdown is with the 7-speed manual transmission vs the new 8-speed automatic. For the 2015 Corvette Stingray, that breakdown was 25.6% manual and 74.4% automatic. For the Z06, the take rate on the 7-speed manual was 51.6% while the new 8-speed auto accounted for 48.4%. The automatics started production a little over a month after the 7-speed manuals so perhaps this will change for 2016.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Manual or Automatic?
I was able to drive both the auto 8 and the manual seven and hands-down the manual was the best way to go. The automatic transmission may shift fast and it may give you good performance but it feels like a video game... I'll just leave that to the millennial's.
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E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,947
Likes: 12,362
From: NE South Carolina
Because most people never have the opportunity to learn to drive them, and are too lazy.
But yes, true manuals are going the way of the dodo. All the more reason to take advantage of one of the few remaining high performance cars that still offers the joy of shifting for yourself. And no, flappy paddles are not "shifting for yourself." That's just telling the computer to do it for you. might as play Grand Theft Auto on a Playstation and call it driving.
But yes, true manuals are going the way of the dodo. All the more reason to take advantage of one of the few remaining high performance cars that still offers the joy of shifting for yourself. And no, flappy paddles are not "shifting for yourself." That's just telling the computer to do it for you. might as play Grand Theft Auto on a Playstation and call it driving.
Guess some of us who started with 3 speeds are going the same way! Hope they still have one for my 2019!
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
The decision is up to you. I went through the same exercise regarding whether to buy a Porsche Turbo S as it only come in PDK (Automatic). I prefer the manual execution of my sports cars. The overall decision isn't about how fast it will shift but the enjoyment and interaction of the transmission. I have the PDK in my Panamera and manual in the Carrera S so it allowed me to truly determine which I preferred overall. I tried to convince myself that the PDK manual sport mode would be the best of both worlds. For myself, I bored of this experience and chose to forgo the Turbo S. I also chose a M7 for this C7 as I didn't want the A8 for myself.
We all have different requirements so the decision is yours to make. I would suggest that you try to rent ( as suggested in an earlier post) and test drive as any times both transmissions needed to assist you with your transmission decision.
We all have different requirements so the decision is yours to make. I would suggest that you try to rent ( as suggested in an earlier post) and test drive as any times both transmissions needed to assist you with your transmission decision.
Last edited by F22g; Jul 22, 2015 at 07:11 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 8,244
Likes: 850
From: Hamilton Square NJ, Ocean City N. J. Key Biscayne Fla.
Twenty lifetime Vettes. And, only one automatic. An '82 Collector Edition. Hopefully, GM produces a GrandSport type C7. If so, I'll continue on with a manual. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,099
Likes: 64
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '09
This question gets asked alot and I wonder if the answers actually help the OP make a decision. Anyway, here's mine: Unless you don't know how or don't like manuals generally, like my wife, manuals are way more fun to drive.
I've been driving manuals since I was 20 (I'm 55). My first vette was an auto and I promised myself that, if I ever got another, it would be a manual. My next 3, all daily drivers, have all been manuals and I wouldn't have it any other way, even in Houston traffic. Unless I lose the use of my left leg, my next one will be manual also.
I've been driving manuals since I was 20 (I'm 55). My first vette was an auto and I promised myself that, if I ever got another, it would be a manual. My next 3, all daily drivers, have all been manuals and I wouldn't have it any other way, even in Houston traffic. Unless I lose the use of my left leg, my next one will be manual also.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
Trading my 15 m7 in. Going to try a8 in my ordered 16 plus my wife will be able to enjoy driving it as well. The 7 gets old. Hope my decision to try the auto works out. I also agree with others here who have said the exotics are all automatic and I think that's the way to go overall. Hoping the paddle shift is like an s5 I drove. It rocked.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,432
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 381
From: Southeastern PA
Because most people never have the opportunity to learn to drive them, and are too lazy.
But yes, true manuals are going the way of the dodo. All the more reason to take advantage of one of the few remaining high performance cars that still offers the joy of shifting for yourself. And no, flappy paddles are not "shifting for yourself." That's just telling the computer to do it for you. might as play Grand Theft Auto on a Playstation and call it driving.
But yes, true manuals are going the way of the dodo. All the more reason to take advantage of one of the few remaining high performance cars that still offers the joy of shifting for yourself. And no, flappy paddles are not "shifting for yourself." That's just telling the computer to do it for you. might as play Grand Theft Auto on a Playstation and call it driving.
a manual transmission adds the most "fun factor"!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 408
From: Greer, SC
While the A8 is a fine unit, I would never buy an automatic Corvette. I just prefer the control and rowing of the gears.
For those who don't plan on keeping their C7's stock, the M7's typically will see bigger gains in RWHP with the same modifications over the A8 but the A8 is faster in the 1/4 mile, mod for mod.
For those who don't plan on keeping their C7's stock, the M7's typically will see bigger gains in RWHP with the same modifications over the A8 but the A8 is faster in the 1/4 mile, mod for mod.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 277
From: Chattanooga, TN
Manual or Automatic?
I was lucky enough to find a dealer that would let me test drive the manual and auto back to back. Initially wanted the manual before driving the C7.
7 speeds was just too many. Wish they had stuck with 6 (like the new Camaro with the C7 engine).
The auto is freaking BRILLIANT. Lots of fun tricks like tap once and hold down shift paddle to go to the lowest gear. Hold up shift paddle to get it to go back into drive instead of manual mode.
With the 2-3 minute long traffic lights by my house, it was a no brainer.
Plus, much easier to resell the auto down the road. Hope to keep the car 10 years. Not sure if people will even know how to drive stick in 2025??!
7 speeds was just too many. Wish they had stuck with 6 (like the new Camaro with the C7 engine).
The auto is freaking BRILLIANT. Lots of fun tricks like tap once and hold down shift paddle to go to the lowest gear. Hold up shift paddle to get it to go back into drive instead of manual mode.
With the 2-3 minute long traffic lights by my house, it was a no brainer.
Plus, much easier to resell the auto down the road. Hope to keep the car 10 years. Not sure if people will even know how to drive stick in 2025??!
Last edited by 05XLRtoC7_San Diego; Jul 22, 2015 at 11:57 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 234
Likes: 21
From: Tulsa, OK
Because most people never have the opportunity to learn to drive them, and are too lazy.
But yes, true manuals are going the way of the dodo. All the more reason to take advantage of one of the few remaining high performance cars that still offers the joy of shifting for yourself. And no, flappy paddles are not "shifting for yourself." That's just telling the computer to do it for you. might as play Grand Theft Auto on a Playstation and call it driving.
But yes, true manuals are going the way of the dodo. All the more reason to take advantage of one of the few remaining high performance cars that still offers the joy of shifting for yourself. And no, flappy paddles are not "shifting for yourself." That's just telling the computer to do it for you. might as play Grand Theft Auto on a Playstation and call it driving.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,176
Likes: 263
From: Henderson, Nevada Nevada
They're not dying for that reason. Its because the new autos are really so much better than the old school autos. Faster shifting, more reliable. And important for the manufacturer - better at protecting themselves and the engine from damage from people who don't known how to shift properly, esp in these high powered cars. Less warranty repairs. And paddle shifting is you telling the tranny exactly when to shift. Which is just what your doing when you manually shift. But the auto is a lot faster and less likely to make an error than you ;-). And no, not the same as playing a video game, Lol. I do enjoy rowing through the gears in my manual. But the paddles can be just as rewarding, just in a different way. And the A6 can't be compared to the A8. COMPLETELY different animal!