DWRAT

Thanks everyone,
I'm not a auto or manual guy, i just don't want a problem car.
The A8 sounds great, but not with all the TQ issues.
My 2008 Z06 manual trans was flawless so i'm sure I will go that route.
Dan

JenFZ09

If you know how to drive a manual car, buy the M7. I will leave off my reasons so as not to offend anyone. If you pm me, I'll send you a bulleted list.

JenFZ09

Agreed!

BELVIN20

Agreed with above posters, but M7 for me all the way, have it in my 2016 Z

Vetteman Jack

It's only a choice you can make though.

AdventurePoser

Your reasons for enjoying an M7 should not "offend anyone." Opinions are like necks; everyone has one!

Enjoy the ride!

Judgment Day

I'll buy that A8, so it can churn out the dollar bills that I can use to buy an M7. That Scrooge McDuck Money Bin isn't going to fill itself

gjnockie

Buy a manual if you don't mind it shifting like crap into 2nd gear most of the time. Mine does and so do many others. Good luck with whatever decision you make. Maybe you will get a good one.

RandomTask

+1 for the manual. . .

Or get an auto if you like a nice, hot, no fat, no whip latte after a relaxing yoga session with the girls. . .

But I'm not judging . . .

Scruff Vette

If you don't mind rowing through 4 gates and hope to grab the optimal gear for your driving situation, go for it.

6speedC6

If the A8 shift anything like the A6 don't even consider it. I hated mine so much I traded it for the wifes bmw! Hopefully more A8 guy will enlighten you

RedC7AZ

If the A8 shifts anything like my A6 go for it.

coupeguyz51

Yes. Buy a M7. That's my opinion, others will vary.

TruIdentity

Would like to add my $.02. I am new to vettes but not performance cars, most of mine have been manuals even though I drive in a good amount of city traffic.

I'm shopping for a C7 and test drives just don't cut it so I just rented a 2017 C7 2LT with the A8 and base suspension (no Z51 no MRC) for (3) days. I literally drove it around the entire peninsula of Florida from northeast to Miami to Naples to central FL back to NE, putting on over 1,000 miles.

While the A8 is very convenient (especially in nightmare Miami traffic) I would not consider a vette with the A8. That transmission shifts fast in auto mode but after 1000 miles I came away with the feeling that entire setup is geared towards economy. It downshifts fast and takes off like a rocket at any starting speed when get your foot into it (and the following upshifts are also very fast), and this is very satisfying.

But under every single other driving method and driving mode (tried ALL except Eco), I felt like the car insists on staying in the highest and most fuel efficient gear possible regardless of setting or what the driver is doing. I also noticed under hard acceleration some 'jitterness' going on, which I got the impression was the tranny, but it could also be the trac control or eDiff working, as I left all nannies on (although I don't recall seeing the trac control light each time I noticed this).

This may be operator error, but in track mode, spirited driving still results in upshift to highest gear possible as soon as you back off even slight on throttle. I could never get the car to hold gears, or even worse, downshift when braking hard in auto mode. So what if you're going into a corner, lift off a little, carry the speed but want to get back on it during exit? The car is back in gear 8 and has to downshift. Again, maybe I didn't have the settings right, but I didn't care for this.

Interestingly, I also rented a 2017 Camaro SS recently, and while that was base suspension, if I drove it hard in track mode it held gears and downshifted. No idea why it operated differently, I think its the same A8.

You can manual downshift with the flappy paddles to hold gears or engine brake but the manual shifts are laggy. I counted 1-2 secs delay between pulling it and the shift. That's a lot of distance traveled waiting for a shift when driving fast. Also the paddles make a weird plastic clacking sound (minor but noticeable, maybe just my rental).

So IMO, based on my rental experience, if you drive in a lot of stop and go traffic, never drive hard and never track, etc... maybe an A8. Otherwise, manual is only way to go.

I sure wish I could rent a manual before buying...

Scruff Vette

Stab the throttle and very quickly lift your foot. Performance shift algorithms PAL or PAS will kick in (depending on mode SPORT or TRACK). I had my car for several months before I discovered this little gem on this forum and tried it. Amazing. Works as advertised.

Tadge Juechter -
"The performance shift algorithm is an 8-speed paddle shift automatic feature that operates in Sport and Track mode with the shifter in “D”. Sport mode enables the lift-foot algorithm, Track mode additionally enables PAS which brings lateral acceleration into the equation. PAS is the more aggressive level of performance shift, it will force the lowest possible gear for a given speed range. Lateral acceleration plays a role in activating the feature and is also used to negotiate gear state, for example: Downshifts are not allowed above a certain lateral acceleration (don't want to have any abrupt torque changes that might disturb the chassis).

During an acceleration PAL is activated during a lift-foot throttle maneuver which is calibrated above a threshold pedal position and a calibrated pedal rate of return. These calibration values are set to prevent the algorithm from activating during normal driving conditions. Unlike PAS which selects the lowest available gear, the lift-foot algorithm will hold the gear the transmission is currently in until it times out (then normal shifting will begin)."

Davids65

I love my M7 but only you can make this decision!
I have had the pleasure of buying a 17' Grand Sport M7 on a Saturday then the following Friday I returned to the same dealer and picked up a Grand Sport Vert for my mother which I then drove to Florida from NY. My mother's car is an A8 I have to admit they are both fun to drive but I really enjoy being in control of the gear and no paddle shifters just don't cut it for me. My C7 was an auto and this was one of the big reasons I traded up.

oyealiz

M7 was my choice, independent of the automatic quality. This is so much a personal preference, though.

Always Red Dave

RedC7AZ maybe he was talking about his C6 A6 which a lot of C6 owners do.

RedC7AZ

Yes, I assumed he was too, so I wanted to draw the distinction between the A6 in the C6 vs C7, which was much improved.

2K14C7

For 14 years I drove an automatic Vette. The M7 in my C7 is just so much more fun to drive. It's the fun quotient that makes it for me.