C7 paddle shifting tips and tricks
11-24-2016, 01:14 PM
#41
TIP - If you want the car to hold shifts better and shift more agressively just tap the throttle to the floor for a instant (very quickly just tap it to the floor) and the A8 will enter Performance Shift Mode and the transmission will shift much more aggressively on it's own.
11-28-2016, 08:24 AM
#42
Pro
Thread Starter
So I did the "to the floor" throttle blip suggested earlier and even though I was going slow it added a whole new dimension to the paddle shifting speed and experience. For you more experienced paddle shifters, please keep those tips and tricks coming!
11-28-2016, 09:36 AM
#43
Le Mans Master
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Borla 60547 X-Pipe
11-28-2016, 10:19 AM
#44
Melting Slicks
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2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
11-28-2016, 11:20 AM
#45
Melting Slicks
I learned that in autocross you don't want to be shifting while the wheel is turned. Shift before or after the turn not in it. Less chance of the wheels breaking loose!
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11-28-2016, 11:34 AM
#46
Le Mans Master
When at a stop and I'm not trying to impress anyone, I just shift to 2nd before I take off. Eliminates the quick 1-2 shift, especially on a corner turn. The C6 models automatically started in 2nd from start, and you had to downshift to 1st if you wanted to start in 1st. I wish they had this on the C7. I find 80% of the time, I start in 2nd.
When making a turn from a stop, I start from 1st and just before turning make the shift with the paddle to 2nd....about a 1/4 sec delay in the shift.
11-28-2016, 11:38 AM
#47
Le Mans Master
11-28-2016, 09:48 PM
#48
Racer
A8 transmission problems
I have a 2015 Z51 with an A8 that has seen the track only once. Every so often I engage manual shifting while leaving it in drive and sometimes I go to manual and shift like I have done for all but one other vehicle I owned in the last 40 years. I have read and understand everything the manual says about paddle shifting.
I have read in several threads that some of you never use anything but the paddles and I wanted to open this thread for you to post any paddle tips and tricks you have learned. So far here is what I am noticing:
1. Using sound or the tach reading has me shifting around 2 k and running around 1.5 k in neighborhoods and city streets.
2. Braking along with downshifting is producing glorious burbling noises that I hope do not have any downsides in an A8 if over-revving is not allowed.
3. Shift denied messages are telling me when I am trying to get to a too high gear or too low gear and the more I paddle shift the less I run into them.
4. My paddles have a slight delay when shifting that surprises me compared to the way my son's GTR is shifting by paddles. I think he has a dual clutch transmission and we do not.
5. I used my auto mode on the track days I did and never felt I had a miss-shift. I have heard you typically only need 3 gears on most corners.
Please share any ahh hah moments you have had while learning your paddle operation and provide any ground rules you use with your paddle shifting that you learned beyond what the manual dictates. Thanks.
I have read in several threads that some of you never use anything but the paddles and I wanted to open this thread for you to post any paddle tips and tricks you have learned. So far here is what I am noticing:
1. Using sound or the tach reading has me shifting around 2 k and running around 1.5 k in neighborhoods and city streets.
2. Braking along with downshifting is producing glorious burbling noises that I hope do not have any downsides in an A8 if over-revving is not allowed.
3. Shift denied messages are telling me when I am trying to get to a too high gear or too low gear and the more I paddle shift the less I run into them.
4. My paddles have a slight delay when shifting that surprises me compared to the way my son's GTR is shifting by paddles. I think he has a dual clutch transmission and we do not.
5. I used my auto mode on the track days I did and never felt I had a miss-shift. I have heard you typically only need 3 gears on most corners.
Please share any ahh hah moments you have had while learning your paddle operation and provide any ground rules you use with your paddle shifting that you learned beyond what the manual dictates. Thanks.
11-28-2016, 10:56 PM
#49
Pro
Thread Starter
I have not had any problems thus far although some have told me that the problems, if any, are potentially going to manifest at ~10K and I am still at only 7K+. I have read some owners have gone 20K+ with no problems. I have a 3/15 build.
11-29-2016, 06:58 AM
#50
Safety Car
This is a great thread that I will review again . . . next April when my car comes out of hibernation.
For me, the only slow paddle shift was 1-2 while accelerating from a stop. WOT fixes it, of course, but not that practical. My take after playing around is that the shift is more dependent upon throttle position than RPM. I found it could be REALLY fast if I shift 1-2 at low RPM (1.25K or so) but at a higher throttle position while accelerating normally. Actually, this is kind of how it shifts in Automatic too. Interested to see if this works for anyone else . . .
For me, the only slow paddle shift was 1-2 while accelerating from a stop. WOT fixes it, of course, but not that practical. My take after playing around is that the shift is more dependent upon throttle position than RPM. I found it could be REALLY fast if I shift 1-2 at low RPM (1.25K or so) but at a higher throttle position while accelerating normally. Actually, this is kind of how it shifts in Automatic too. Interested to see if this works for anyone else . . .
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11-29-2016, 07:44 AM
#51
Race Director
I use mine a lot for fun but find them really useful in the heavy traffic we have in the DC area. Let the engine braking work instead of constantly tapping the brakes.
I also had the transmission tuned when I added the Eforce and it's much quicker shifting now.
I also had the transmission tuned when I added the Eforce and it's much quicker shifting now.
11-29-2016, 11:32 AM
#52
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
11-29-2016, 12:43 PM
#54
Pro
Thread Starter
11-29-2016, 12:51 PM
#55
Instructor
I definitely agree that the temps rise much faster when paddle shifting. Which is interesting because it seems to go against what people have reported they tell you at Spring Mountain. But I can definitely see it every time I paddle shift. If I need to cool temps down I shift back to full automatic and you can watch the temps drop almost immediately.
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beaversstonehaven (02-08-2017)
11-29-2016, 02:33 PM
#57
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
In M mode my engine oil temps rise by about 20 degrees to about 215. My trans temperature usually stays below 200.
11-29-2016, 02:58 PM
#58
Safety Car
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Generates more heat with all 8 cylinders firing
Driving in Auto mode even in hot weather mine runs 188-190 city or highway.
Pushing it in Manual or Auto for any length of time it'll run between 205 - 210.
My C7 w/Z51 runs an average of 20 degrees cooler than my C6 with the Auto ever did
11-29-2016, 03:32 PM
#59
Le Mans Master
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kvozel (03-11-2017)
11-29-2016, 03:42 PM
#60
Drifting
I guess it is all relative, but my Z51 sounds awesome both up and downshifting at nearly any rpm. BTW, I drive with the exhaust mode in sport all the time.
Happy driving!