Casey VP26

I have had my 2016 Z51 A8 about 3 1/2 months now and just last week started to drive the car using paddles while in Drive. I am having a ball. I never knew how much fun to up or downshift in drive and the tranny always defaults back to Drive. I love it I keep returning to my hometown and driving around downshifting to 3 or 2 to hear the pipes rumble. I hope everyone enjoys their Corvette as much as I am enjoying mine.

mikez06

Glad you also are having a blast with your A8.
I just love this transmission, it certainly has adaptive learned well!

dvilin

Sounds like you are one happy owner who knows how to enjoy his Vette.

Strake

VP 26...... GO NAVY....

My Dad was the XO of VP18 out of Jax when I was a little kid and he was in Iceland.

We just put our order in for an A8 this week. We've had the last 5 Corvettes with Manual trans. Wanted to see how much fun the A8 can be this time around.

kp

I hate the V4 mode on hilly roads so i just leave it in manual quite a bit.

Coming to a stop and using the paddles to put it in 1st at 10mph or so lets out a pretty good rev-matching roar with the exhaust on sport or track. Good for waking people up when coming to a stop sign

Dif

Had the A6 in my 2009 and used the paddles 50% of the time.
If accelerating through the gears I'd use the paddles once in a while but mostly let the Trans do it's thing in full auto mode/drive.
With 1800 miles on my 2016 with A8 I haven't used the paddles quite as much yet.
With the A8 lower gearing I just haven't felt the need to use the paddles as much except for occasional down shifting coming to a stop.
One thing I find with the A8 using the paddles to Accelerate under heavy throttle, is it Revs up through the gears a lot Faster and can hit the Rev Limiter a lot Faster than the A6 did
Happy with the A8

crawfish333

I like using them in the twisties. I had a little trouble getting used to the paddles in the C7 after using the ones in the C6. The C7 is a little more responsive, but old habits are hard to break.

Casey VP26

Hey Strake, Yes Go Navy My new vanity plate is "USA-USN" on the vet. I also live in Pa. (near Allentown). Please tell your Dad Thanks for Serving, my son also served 3 of his 21 years in JAX. VP 26 split deployment 1/2 to Iceland, 1/2 to Rota, Spain, I went to Rota.


I hope you will enjoy your A8 as much as I do. Thanks and Good Luck.

proexpert

I'm getting the A8 when my turn comes. It's good to read threads like this one, thanks.

Bill17601

Interesting. I think the point of all this is paddle shifting. I own a 2014 6 speed auto Corvette, a paddle shift on a VW GTI, and a paddle shift 2016 Lincoln MKX.
Each one of them is a little different but they all can be fun if your shooting a back road or blasting through some twistes. Downshifting the Stingray makes great sounds through the corners with the pipes in Sport mode.
Life is good.

alamo1974

kenownr

Just to add a point to the post:

From a tip here on the forum if your in Sport or Track mode and in D or M mode and tap the downshift paddle once, then hold if down the transmission will shift to the "lowest" available gear. I tried it at about 30/32 Mph the first time I did it and it slammed right back to 1st gear at a pretty high RPM --- Got My Attention LOL.
The next time I tried it I was in D, Sport mode at about 45/50 and it grabbed 2ond gear very nicely

thrilled

Lot of info about A8's n this forum.A lot of it negative.Supposely it's A good transmission til
It's not.Keep your fingers crossed you won't have any problems.

mikez06

And some of the negative threads I take with a huge grain of salt

jcp911s

I have a 2016 Z51 with Mag Shocks and A8, so it has the additional trans cooler.

I took it to Summit Point for a HPDE, and it performed well.

First day, I drove in straight Track Mode, and the Traction Control was awful. Second day I disabled the TC, and the car was unbelievable.

I'm used to driving a 911, so I kept it in M mode and shifted with the paddles, so I could judge how the car performed in a given gear in a given turn.

The trans performed flawlessly, shifted predictably, and did not have any over-heating issues.

I'd give it a big thumbs up so far.

dino333

If you think thats fun go to the Corvette owners school at Spring Mountain. A8 paddle shift on a road course is a blast. You only use 3,4 and 5. I highly recommend it!

Vetteman Jack

Good deal that you are enjoying the car so much. Hope you get many years of driving pleasure from the car.