Should the C8 Corvette Come With a Manual Transmission as an Option?
10-14-2016, 07:50 PM
#21
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Yes, they should keep it, and it should be the no-cost option --- if it has to become an option. Put it this way: Porsche has its "shape" for, and from the "911" of the mid-1960s. Let the manual trans be the signature of Corvette. That way, maybe they'll get even more "crossover" buyers. JMO.
10-14-2016, 07:58 PM
#22
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St. Jude Donor '12
Keep the manual please however there needs to be a major change. Why on earth does GM continue to make a clutch design that allows the clutch dust to enter into the fluid? It turns the fluid coal black in a short time and if you don't flush it out at least every couple of years the slave cylinder will be damaged. Cant they make something with a better design?
With that said, I prefer the manual trans. My current C7 and only auto trans corvette is not as fun as the manual in my opinion.
With that said, I prefer the manual trans. My current C7 and only auto trans corvette is not as fun as the manual in my opinion.
10-14-2016, 09:10 PM
#24
Melting Slicks
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Keep the manual as an option.
As another forum member said: "You go for a drive with a manual. You go for a ride with an automatic!"
Ron
As another forum member said: "You go for a drive with a manual. You go for a ride with an automatic!"
Ron
Last edited by RonC7; 10-14-2016 at 09:10 PM. Reason: .
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Landru (10-20-2016)
10-14-2016, 10:07 PM
#27
Melting Slicks
10-15-2016, 12:11 AM
#28
Race Director
The funny thing is the perception that somehow Dual Clutch AUTOMATICS are actually manuals....THEY'RE NOT. If a transmission will shift itself, it's an AUTOMATIC. I don't care if it's dual clutch or torque converter. Does it have 3 pedals? No? Then it's an automatic. The Ferrari guys convinced themselves YEARS AGO that they were still driving manual transmission cars because they had paddles like Michael S. And they were WRONG. I get that modern autos are superior to 3 pedal in literally every performance field. But don't lecture me about a DCT verses a TC auto because in the end, BOTH are AUTOMATICS, and BOTH require LESS skill to go fast.
Argue all you want...facts are facts. No doubt a good auto is better/faster than a human with a 3 pedal car. And I don't give a continental damn
Argue all you want...facts are facts. No doubt a good auto is better/faster than a human with a 3 pedal car. And I don't give a continental damn
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10-15-2016, 01:06 AM
#29
I doubt it would be that much.
Where would they go anyway?
When the time comes, what Sportscar will have a clutch pedal?
And another thing...has Porsche lost customers because of the PDK?
I get that modern autos are superior to 3 pedal in literally every performance field. But don't lecture me about a DCT verses a TC auto because in the end, BOTH are AUTOMATICS, and BOTH require LESS skill to go fast.
10-15-2016, 01:09 AM
#30
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I hope they will continue with the manual, but frankly, I have my doubts. With 77% of C7's being automatic, there will come a point where engineering a manual doesn't make financial sense (see Ferrari).
Further, if the C8 offers a dual clutch automatic (rather than a TC auto), I think that will end the manual. Paddles are paddles but dual clutch autos seem to get a hall pass verses paddle equipped TC autos. Both autos have their plusses and minuses....If the dual clutch comes to pass in the C8, it will be fun to hear the screams when folks get the maintenance bill (just ask GT-R owners). It will make the hand wringing over mag ride shock cost look like child's play.
Further, if the C8 offers a dual clutch automatic (rather than a TC auto), I think that will end the manual. Paddles are paddles but dual clutch autos seem to get a hall pass verses paddle equipped TC autos. Both autos have their plusses and minuses....If the dual clutch comes to pass in the C8, it will be fun to hear the screams when folks get the maintenance bill (just ask GT-R owners). It will make the hand wringing over mag ride shock cost look like child's play.
I too think the days of the manual tranny are numbered, but hope it doesn't come about for a while.
10-19-2016, 06:18 PM
#31
Racer
Manual Trans
[QUOTE=MacMulkin;1593255993]What do you think? Kill the manual or keep it?
I could care less that an auto trans is faster than a manual by a half second. It is just not near as much fun. Not even close for me. Though clearly I am in the minority.
I take pride in my ability to row back and forth through the gears with precision and ability.
My Suburu has an automatic. So does my Jeep Wrangler.
I have owned four Vettes, two Miatas and one Porsche, all with M drives.
It will be very disappointing if GM deep sixes a manual trans Corvette.
I hope dealerships like MacMulkin (I purchased my 427 there) as well as others (Corvette Forum perhaps) can influence GM to retain the manual.
However it is interesting that while providing my feedback to this question, it was running a 50 plus percent vote to retain, but in fact only 20 percent of Vettes are sold with manuals.
I would think that if GM thought they could make money with both trans offered, it would be done.
Apparently they must not think so.
Nor does Ferrari or Lamborghini. Few Porsches as well.
Good luck and I appreciate you doing this.
I could care less that an auto trans is faster than a manual by a half second. It is just not near as much fun. Not even close for me. Though clearly I am in the minority.
I take pride in my ability to row back and forth through the gears with precision and ability.
My Suburu has an automatic. So does my Jeep Wrangler.
I have owned four Vettes, two Miatas and one Porsche, all with M drives.
It will be very disappointing if GM deep sixes a manual trans Corvette.
I hope dealerships like MacMulkin (I purchased my 427 there) as well as others (Corvette Forum perhaps) can influence GM to retain the manual.
However it is interesting that while providing my feedback to this question, it was running a 50 plus percent vote to retain, but in fact only 20 percent of Vettes are sold with manuals.
I would think that if GM thought they could make money with both trans offered, it would be done.
Apparently they must not think so.
Nor does Ferrari or Lamborghini. Few Porsches as well.
Good luck and I appreciate you doing this.
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CandyRed77 (10-20-2016)
10-19-2016, 06:28 PM
#33
Team Owner
so will a manual be offered in a Camaro, is so what's the difference assuming the C8 will not be a mid engine?
10-19-2016, 07:27 PM
#34
Burning Brakes
The manual transmission is going away just like the 'buggy whip' and my grandmother's buckskin bra.
Get over it and move forward...... (go out and drive an Aston Martin, Porsche or some of the other dual clutch automatics).
Get over it and move forward...... (go out and drive an Aston Martin, Porsche or some of the other dual clutch automatics).
10-20-2016, 09:39 AM
#36
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St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
I don't think so. If the C7 did not have a manual, I would have purchased an automatic. In fact, I was intent on buying an auto tranny Vette when a salesman convinced me to demo a M7. The rev matching did it and I was won over, but it was close. I believe I'm not alone. Many of the buyers I've talked with would have purchased a C7 even if it didn't have a manual. As older buyers age out, the manual will be less in demand. At some point it will cost GM more to maintain the manual than it's worth and that will be the end of it.
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sunsalem (10-20-2016)
10-20-2016, 09:51 AM
#37
10-20-2016, 09:51 AM
#38
Race Director
Voted to keep manual, even if only offered as an option.
The Corvette driving experience is not based solely on how fast it does or doesn't shift.
And if Ferrari wants to do away w/ manual, fine.
But, I'd bet Ferrari might just see the error of their ways in sales and offer manual in the not too distant future, too. Sales dictate design, as always. Not, the other way around.
The Corvette driving experience is not based solely on how fast it does or doesn't shift.
And if Ferrari wants to do away w/ manual, fine.
But, I'd bet Ferrari might just see the error of their ways in sales and offer manual in the not too distant future, too. Sales dictate design, as always. Not, the other way around.
10-20-2016, 10:59 AM
#39
If a manual is the sole reason for buying a Corvette, perhaps it would be better to stick with a previous gen or get a new Miata.
And if Ferrari wants to do away w/ manual, fine.
But, I'd bet Ferrari might just see the error of their ways in sales and offer manual in the not too distant future, too.
Sales dictate design, as always. Not, the other way around.
10-20-2016, 11:00 AM
#40
Pro
Keep the manual available! 
Even if this means it needs to be an option that we need to pay for to offset the engineering cost and return on investment because of the lower volume.
All 3 of my Vettes are manauls, and I highly doubt I would ever buy an automatic, DCT or anything else that doesn't have 3 pedals. I just enjoy rowing the gears too much!
Even if this means it needs to be an option that we need to pay for to offset the engineering cost and return on investment because of the lower volume.
All 3 of my Vettes are manauls, and I highly doubt I would ever buy an automatic, DCT or anything else that doesn't have 3 pedals. I just enjoy rowing the gears too much!