pika

Hello everyone,

I have been lusting after the C7 since it came out. I am planning on starting my search for one.

I want to get a 7 speed, and I have been driving a 6 speed econobox for a few years now.

My question is, is the shift pattern hard to get used to? I sat in one at the car show and it seemed hard to select the right gear. the first 4 were pretty simple but it seemed confusing on how to select 5th or 7th or similar. How much force would I need to exert towards the right if I want 5th relative to 7th?


I would think since reverse is below 7th there would be some sort of lockout so I don't select R instead of 6th?

Thank you for your answers to what I am sure is a newbie question, and I know it would take some practice.

Kamran

Your instrument cluster will always show what gear you've selected. If in doubt look before releasing clutch. I've not yet used 7th. At highway speeds, rpm is pretty low, and if you accidentally go into 5th from 6th, although not recommended, not devastating. If you think you are going to be making that mistake, use the rev matching option and you'll be fine, unless you are in mid triple digit speeds, not highway speeds

pika

Oh that's great to know it will tell me the gear on the cluster! Right when I shift, even before I let off the clutch?

Kamran

Yes. Once you select it, you can keep your foot on the clutch for a split second and do a quick glance at instrument cluster to see the selected gear in "big" font!

Kent1999

For me, engaging gears 1-5 feels normal and easy, and I don't remember ever missing a gear. For most people, 6th and 7th gears are unneeded, and very seldom used. Unless you do a lot of long distance freeway driving, you'll likely never engage anything above 5th gear.

My daily commute is about 30 minutes one way, about 15 mins in town and then 15 minutes of 75mph stretch on the highway. In all my days of commuting, the only time I shifted into 6th or 7th was just out of curiosity.

Maxpowers

The gates are tight but you get used to it with a little practice.

JK 23112

I only have 190 miles on my new 2017 Stingray 2LT with the seven-speed manual. I find that going through the first five gears is a piece of cake. I quite often try to shift from fifth into sixth and end up getting 4th by mistake. I have to pull the gear shift handle slightly to my right and then there is no problem at all. I think GM did that on purpose to make downshifting from 5th to 4th a lot easier when you need some power.

Going from sixth to seventh is smooth as butter, although you seldom need 7th gear because it is so darn tall. At 80 mph in 7th gear, the engine is only turning 1500 rpms.

Don't worry about reverse. You'll NEVER hit it while driving and you have to really push hard to the right and down for it to engage. I have tried to back into my driveway and catch sixth instead of reverse if I am not thinking about it.

The 7spd gearbox is very good, rather smooth and a lot more fun than the A8 (in my opinion). Get a manual and enjoy the car!!

P.S. As others have mentioned, you will see the chosen gear displayed in the speedometer before you let off the clutch, if that makes you feel better. My car, being a 2LT, also shows the gear in the heads-up display - which is VERY NICE.

davidtcpa

First, there is never any mistaking what gear you are going in. The gates are pretty solid and I have never missed a gear.

Second, you will rarely get out of 5th gear driving around town, unless you go on the highway, and it is still simple like I said above.

Zymurgy

Yes, it has a Reverse Lockout:

Snowwolfe

Only have limited seat time using my M7 but the shifting is precise and solid. I wouldnt worry about 7th gear. Seems like a total waste to me unless you are cruising at 85 mph or higher.

Joe_Omega

If you are experienced driving a manual then the transition into the M7 is cake. I have had mine now for a week and have not missed a shift. If you are new to a manual it might be a slight challenge for 5th, 6th, and 7th but shift slow and precise and the speed will come with repetition. Before you know it you will be a pro and it becomes second nature.

msm859

Well for me all the gears seem normal. On 4th Corvette since 2001 - all manual transmissions. I use 6th and 7th virtually every time on the freeway. Not sure why anyone would not want to - less wear on motor and better gas mileage.

UsernameProtected

^^^^^^^^ Exactly

cor66vette

That is spot on!

Kent1999

Been driving manual trans Corvettes for 30+ years. To me, with the C7's gearing, engaging 7th (or sometimes even 6th) on anything less than 75 mph and flat level road feels like I'm lugging the engine.

Indy-hp

When I got my C7, I'd been driving M6 vettes for 15 years. The only shift I had to get used to was 4th to 5th. If I pushed right too hard, I'd get 7th instead of 5th. It took my arm few months of daily driving to learn exactly how much right pressure I needed to hit 5th every time.

dvilin

In about a half hour of driving and shifting the gears you will be all set.

Thunder22

I rarely get above 5th, but when i do, on a long highway stretch, 6 and 7 are easy to find.

sTz

M7, Really? I don't believe that I've ever used 6th and 7th... and seldom 5th.

OP, if you have any familiarity with a manual, then muscle memory will kick in and you'll be fine.

I find the M7 to be very user friendly.

defaria

I had no problems adjusting. With all the power and so many gears you can easily downshift from 7th -> 4th and just gun it. I hear that 5th is the gear you'd use if you were trying to take it to the limit.

As a DD I use 7th all the time (as well as 6th and 5th). But I do admit sometimes I find myself cruising on the highway and then notice that I have not yet bothers to shift into 7th.

I don't understand these "never been in 7th gear" guys. 7th works well for me for anywhere about 70 MPH and above (provided you're not say going up a steep hill). Maybe those guys have never taken their cards up to say 75 - 80 MPH...