Corvette eight speed automatic
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 38
Likes: 11
Corvette eight speed automatic
Good afternoon Corvette community
I just placed an order for 2017 grand sport Corvette I ordered it with the automatic transmission. Reviewing the form i've noticed that this transmission has many issues, am I making a mistake by ordering this transmission.
I just placed an order for 2017 grand sport Corvette I ordered it with the automatic transmission. Reviewing the form i've noticed that this transmission has many issues, am I making a mistake by ordering this transmission.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 655
Likes: 114
From: Orange County, Southern California
No problem with mine, absolutely love it. I expect you will too.
Last edited by blkvet6; Aug 20, 2016 at 03:19 PM. Reason: Misspelled word.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,515
Likes: 1,301
From: Windermere FL
Yep, despite Tadge's and GM's take, it is reliable. 
Mine was replaced with 100 miles on the clock. Yeah, yeah, yeah - you get all the GM fanboys here saying no issues - just a bunch of whiners. If so, why were there so few problems reported by the '14 cars that had the bullet proof A6? Many, many '15 and '16 owners are struggling. Did they fix it in the '17s? - yet to be determined. Quite a few are trading in the A8's for M7's. Some lemoned them. Some are going through the variety of fixes, Strator, Converter, TCM software versions and learning procedures. Seems like GM has no clue. They come up with a new theory every 6 months or so.
For me, I had to have an auto. The traffic and 20 minutes lights in Central Florida is too much a PITA for a stick. Mine has been ok since it was replaced but that's a little over a year and only a few thousand miles. Thankfully the '15 came with a 5 year 50K drive train. I certainly would consider a GM extended drive drive warranty at least since you only get 3 years. Unless you are going to heavily mod it.
I would only state that if your A8 works right, you will love the car.
Mine was replaced with 100 miles on the clock. Yeah, yeah, yeah - you get all the GM fanboys here saying no issues - just a bunch of whiners. If so, why were there so few problems reported by the '14 cars that had the bullet proof A6? Many, many '15 and '16 owners are struggling. Did they fix it in the '17s? - yet to be determined. Quite a few are trading in the A8's for M7's. Some lemoned them. Some are going through the variety of fixes, Strator, Converter, TCM software versions and learning procedures. Seems like GM has no clue. They come up with a new theory every 6 months or so. For me, I had to have an auto. The traffic and 20 minutes lights in Central Florida is too much a PITA for a stick. Mine has been ok since it was replaced but that's a little over a year and only a few thousand miles. Thankfully the '15 came with a 5 year 50K drive train. I certainly would consider a GM extended drive drive warranty at least since you only get 3 years. Unless you are going to heavily mod it.
I would only state that if your A8 works right, you will love the car.
Last edited by Flame Red; Aug 20, 2016 at 03:37 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,980
Likes: 3,826
From: Bainbridge Island WA
Statistically speaking, you are unlikely to have a problem. For those who have had problems, yes, they're serious, but you have to ask yourself that given nearly 80% of all corvettes made are autos, why would you decide not to get one?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
If you want an auto buy an auto.
There has been some issues but there are 40,000 of them out there and ne of the most complicated mechanical parts of any car is the automatic transmission. As fas as I knoe none of them have failed to the point the car wont move anymore and spit parts out the bottom.
Even a 'good' one has its quirks, especially if you drive it very easy and look for problems. I still havent found a perfect auto trans. My wife's old 2015 Cherokee went through three new 9 speed auto transmissions in a year, not because they didnt feel right, because the car stopped moving.
If you plan on keeping the car past the 5 year/60K mile powertrain warranty you may want to change your mind. Your money, your call.
There has been some issues but there are 40,000 of them out there and ne of the most complicated mechanical parts of any car is the automatic transmission. As fas as I knoe none of them have failed to the point the car wont move anymore and spit parts out the bottom.
Even a 'good' one has its quirks, especially if you drive it very easy and look for problems. I still havent found a perfect auto trans. My wife's old 2015 Cherokee went through three new 9 speed auto transmissions in a year, not because they didnt feel right, because the car stopped moving.
If you plan on keeping the car past the 5 year/60K mile powertrain warranty you may want to change your mind. Your money, your call.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,488
Likes: 1,028
From: MN
If you are going to ask approval here, you might be in for an earful. My A8 has been great. Some have had serious problems. Recent changes to the TC might reduce the problems a little, but that remains to be seen.
Do you want a manual? Do you want an automatic with option to shift? I have owned sports cars with both, and, for my use (no track, daily driver, spirited weekends on occasion) really like the A8.
Do you want a manual? Do you want an automatic with option to shift? I have owned sports cars with both, and, for my use (no track, daily driver, spirited weekends on occasion) really like the A8.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
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
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 213
Likes: 64
The transmission works on my 2017 but in a very unrefined clunky somewhat jerky manor most noticeable at slower speeds, a poor design is a poor design no matter how many parts they try and revise to make it better. You can only put so much lipstick on a Pig. I'm thinking 2018 will bring in the A10 and it can't be too soon enough IMO.
Last edited by Team Player; Aug 20, 2016 at 03:44 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 364
From: California
1953 Corvettes came Auto only, My early build 9/15 Base A8 transmission has been flawless and fantastic, not even a re-flash. The only place I have heard any problems is here on the form and that is very few. I am sure you well be more than pleased with your choice. If you ever do any 1/4 or 1/8 mile runs at your local drag strip you well be disappointed with how much slower it well run if ordered with a manual compared to the same car with a A8. When I go to the strip and others are running manual C7's they tell me that they wish they bought a A8 when they see how well my 8A performs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
The transmission works on my 2017 but in a very unrefined clunky somewhat jerky manor most noticeable at slower speeds, a poor design is a poor design no matter how many parts they try and revise to make it better. You can only put so much lipstick on a Pig. I'm thinking 2018 will bring in the A10 and it can't be too soon Enough IMO.
The C7 A6 was really no better as far as low speed clunkiness, I drove a '14 auto for a year. But both the A8 and A6 work pretty well when you are on it hard. Right now I have a '16 GMC A6, '15 Audi, '16 Acura and the C7 in the family and the only auto that works what I would call 'perfect' is the Acura. And people complain about them because its only a 6 speed lol.
Who says the 10 speed wont have any more problems, remember the A8 was awesome according to everyone when it came out.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,782
Likes: 106
From: Salado TX
I've had nothing but trouble with my 1/26/15 built car. The transmissions they are putting in 2017's have some different internals than the 2015 and early 2016s so it should be better for new owners.
("""Team Player""" ring a bell? 
)
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 8,244
Likes: 850
From: Hamilton Square NJ, Ocean City N. J. Key Biscayne Fla.
OP- As you can see by the responses to your post, opting for an A8 is a crap shoot. The odds are that you may never have a problem. But, if you are "unlucky" you will be dealing with an ongoing bag of headaches.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 920
Likes: 87
Yep, despite Tadge's and GM's take, it is reliable. Mine was replaced with 100 miles on the clock. Yeah, yeah, yeah - you get all the GM fanboys here saying no issues - just a bunch of whiners. If so, why were there so few problems reported by the '14 cars that had the bullet proof A6? Many, many '15 and '16 owners are struggling. Did they fix it in the '17s? - yet to be determined. Quite a few are trading in the A8's for M7's. Some lemoned them. Some are going through the variety of fixes, Strator, Converter, TCM software versions and learning procedures. Seems like GM has no clue. They come up with a new theory every 6 months or so.
For me, I had to have an auto. The traffic and 20 minutes lights in Central Florida is too much a PITA for a stick. Mine has been ok since it was replaced but that's a little over a year and only a few thousand miles. Thankfully the '15 came with a 5 year 50K drive train. I certainly would consider a GM extended drive drive warranty at least since you only get 3 years. Unless you are going to heavily mod it.
I would only state that if your A8 works right, you will love the car.
Mine was replaced with 100 miles on the clock. Yeah, yeah, yeah - you get all the GM fanboys here saying no issues - just a bunch of whiners. If so, why were there so few problems reported by the '14 cars that had the bullet proof A6? Many, many '15 and '16 owners are struggling. Did they fix it in the '17s? - yet to be determined. Quite a few are trading in the A8's for M7's. Some lemoned them. Some are going through the variety of fixes, Strator, Converter, TCM software versions and learning procedures. Seems like GM has no clue. They come up with a new theory every 6 months or so. For me, I had to have an auto. The traffic and 20 minutes lights in Central Florida is too much a PITA for a stick. Mine has been ok since it was replaced but that's a little over a year and only a few thousand miles. Thankfully the '15 came with a 5 year 50K drive train. I certainly would consider a GM extended drive drive warranty at least since you only get 3 years. Unless you are going to heavily mod it.
I would only state that if your A8 works right, you will love the car.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,488
Likes: 1,028
From: MN
Just in case you missed this: A poll to try to add perspective.
LINK
Not to downplay those that had serious problems. I know what it's like to be on that side too. Before I got tired of it and bailed, my 2003 911 had the clutch replaced, two radiators replaced, and finally the whole engine replaced. It this typical of Porsche? I am sure not, but it DOES make it hard to buy another . . .
LINK
Not to downplay those that had serious problems. I know what it's like to be on that side too. Before I got tired of it and bailed, my 2003 911 had the clutch replaced, two radiators replaced, and finally the whole engine replaced. It this typical of Porsche? I am sure not, but it DOES make it hard to buy another . . .
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 364
From: California
Wait until the release all of the improvements that well be available on the 18's, if no big changes then wait for year end incentives on the 17's. They may have a slight HP Bump and the 10 speed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,032
Likes: 173
From: Upstate NY
you make excellent and truthful points ...one other concern should be considered by OP ... the complaints and the lack of leadership regarding this issue by GM, would suggest that a real fix has not happened...additionally these A8 problems unless they are corrected with 100% certainty ..resale values will suffer..
Seems you just cannot allow yourself to enjoy what you've got, sad.
Last edited by mikez06; Aug 20, 2016 at 04:11 PM.