1) ? Never heard of it
2) Double-clutching 1-2 the first time in the morning? Not a hardship in my opinion but maybe it is in yours.
3) ? Never heard of it
4) 20 bucks. I'm a baller so I can afford it.
5) Nothing wrong with the stock shifter. Nothing wrong with improving it either.

Only one person turned this into a M7 A8 debate...

 

Yes, I think we should define the severity of the "problem" here to. Notchy shifting on a cold day for 5 minutes between 1st to 2nd is one thing. Having your car sitting at a Chevy dealer to replace your torque converter, or entire transmission, is another.

And I don't get the CAG/eliminiator issue. If CAG is kicking in it it because you are granny shifting. The only time I have experienced CAG was when I intentionally tried to get it to kick in. I have yet to have it kick in for me because I shift at higher RPMs 100% of the time in lower gears.

 

Almost 12k miles on my '15 - flawless.

 

Hmm, compared to the "slush box" especially the 8 speed the M7 has no significant issues.

Yep, as some have stated, in the winter the 1st to 2nd shift takes some force but after ~5 miles the trans fluid warms and it's fine. If you live where your starting off at 40 or below some skip 2nd and go to 3rd until the trans warms up. In Eastern SC I just pull a bit harder. Did that with my September 2013 built C7, Z51 before I just sold it to buy a Grand Sport. Trans was like new when I sold it.

Have driven only standard shifts for 55+ years as my DD. Very good at heal-toe at higher speeds when driving "in anger." However Rev Match is the next best thing to syncromesh, IMO! At low rpm's it makes perfectly smooth transitions. Easy to skip gears. When in 7th on the Interstate foolish to do through 2 more overdrives (6th and 5th) to get to direct drive 4th for an off ramp! The shifter springs are set for that easy shift. Just pull back with no side pressure and you're in 4th.

Around town I often shift from 5th directly to 3rd when making a turn. Modulating the throttle to go from 1400 rpm to 2800 is not as easy as when down shifting where you'll wind up closer to redline.

Another neat feature is when on the Interstate in 7th (the only time I use 7th) and you want to pass someone quickly, shift back to 4th. Then if on cruise control no need to hit resume, when you go from 4th directly back to 7th, cruise control resumes automatically even though the clutch was depressed!

A major benefit for some of us is the car only goes into 4 cylinder mode when in ECO. I'm never in ECO, but your choice. Auto trans folks have to live with the 8 to 4 in all drive modes unless they use the paddles. No OEM way to shut it off! Aftermarket fixes trip codes and a "Tune" will void warranty! That is unlike a $20 CAGS eliminator to avoid the forced 1st to 4th shift, which does not trip a code. Not really essential in a C7 as it was in the C6 and prior Vettes but for $20 an easy install and some of us like to put in in any gear we wish when wish, especially in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

 

It's a non-issue (1 to 4). It concerned me initially, but it's easy enough to rev beyond the RPMs that invoke this. I even bought the $20 eliminator before I took delivery, but I have not bothered to install it. Anybody want it? I'll give it away. It's just not necessary.

In other respects this is the smoothest manual I have ever driven, and the fact that it has 8 notches to deal with makes that amazing. I have NEVER "accidentally" gone from 4 to 7. 7 is WAY over there to the right. And I use 7 constantly on the highway. It bogs a bit on a hill but it's easy enough to go to 6 for that. I just returned from a 3000 mile trip to Yellowstone and back. Lots of mountain passes and back roads off the Interstates. I had a lot of time to experiment with the transmission. IMO it takes a little more finesse to get the best out of it compared to a normal '4 on the floor,' but it really will take you to the gear you want with the right pressures. It's really grown on me. It's a joy to use.

 

CAGS - computer assisted gear shifting... 1 to 4 is a silly thing, there is a disabler for that.

I enjoy rev-match in certain circumstances.

You will also find that the gear selection indicator on the HUD is a wonderful way to learn a 7 speed. There is the occasional dead spot on a 7 downshift to either 4 or 6.

Drive it like a 5 speed at first and you'll be happy... then you can get used to 6-7, 7-6, 7-4 and my favorite 7-3 ( with REV match )

 

These are problems?

1) I've not heard a single instance of the C7 clutch pedal sticking to floor on this forum. I remember it being talked about more often with the C6 Z06 among drag racers after multiple runs. That's where the Ranger method came from. He was a hard-core drag racer.

2)You don't need to change fluid w/ a turkey baster or at all for probably 30K miles of normal use, but some like to be diligent w/ preventative maintenance. Even if you choose to do so, it's about as hard as checking the oil.

3) Notchiness in the 1-2 is a cold-only issue, and can be avoided for the few minutes it takes to warm up. By holding leftward pressure on the 1-2 shift, it is far smoother, and only in very rare circumstances is alignment required. Every manual I've owned (many dozens) are little different and require learning how they like to be treated. Most of the best German ZF and Getrag manuals in the various German cars I've owned had cold 1-2 "notchiness."

4) If it sounds like a coffee can at parking lot speeds, you don't know how to drive a manual, and probably shouldn't own one in the first place. Virtually all other manuals make funny noises w/ bad manual drivers, and are usually the result of depressing the clutch pedal w/ a foot still on the throttle.

5) You don't need the CAGs eliminator unless you just can't control yourself from shifting between 16-19 mph. You can granny shift before 16 mph, or your can wait until after 19 mph, which should be the whole point of having a manual in the first place.

6) Only a small fraction go to an aftermarket shifter, just like they can't resist installing all types of aftermarket parts. The OEM shifter is great, and not everyone thinks the MGW is an improvement. Some seem to prefer "bolt action," but I think many more prefer the silky smoothness of the OEM shifter.

 

I'm not getting in to the debate of Manual vs. Auto, but the 1-2 notchiness shift which is well referenced here isn't a real issue.

Its hardly noticeable, it needs to be cold out, it goes away quickly and it will not damage the transmission (its a characteristic of it).

 

Yes, please not another manual vs. auto debate, but calling things problems that aren't requires comment.

 

Right. Per the OP there just are not many major issues with the M7 in these cars. They are fairly bulletproof.

I would not hesitate to buy another one.

 

The M7, and its very similar sibling the M6 are very robust transmissions, OP.

You won't find a sticky thread at the top of the page tracking transmission issues with the M7. You will, however, find such a sticky thread tracking A8 problems.

 

Oh, I see. If something is annoying or goes wrong with the A8, that's a serious problem. If something is annoying or goes wrong with the M7, no problem at all. Kind of like how the C7 overheating at the track is a problem, but the C6 dropping valves is a "cute quirk"

If that's your criteria, then I agree, the M7 is problem-free.



Only in the low HP cars. The beefy one in the Z is fine. And as you guys say about the M7, like it means something, "my A8 is flawless".

 

I think that's largely true. I wonder if the narrower engagement of AFM on the Z reduces the opportunity of the TC to take the brunt of the transition b/n V8 - V4 operation. It seems the Stingray and GS A8 failures are getting tied to GM using the TC as a "buffer" of sorts for that transition. Apparently isn't a happy place for the TC to be long-term. The Z seems to operate less in that window.

 

Most of your announancies were either very minor or user error.

I would say that having your torque converter replaced, or transmission replaced is a little more serious than a notchy 1-2 shift during the winter time.

 

Dave,

You couldn't be further off the mark if you're aiming at me.

All of my comments about the A8 have been focused upon trying to understand the significance what's going on with the many problem reports here and looking at the small amount of data we have access to regarding how big or small the problem is. Nothing would make me happier than to see all of those reports go away.

Lastly, you've never seen me participate in the very silly "which is better" threads because there is no answer to that other than what a given person prefers.

 

I was gonna mention that. If the Z exhibits less problems with the TC, it's because it probably doesn't run in AFM mode nearly as much.

I was also gonna add about the cold 1-2. Overall, I've had 4 cars and still have 3 with basically the same transmission, and all behave similar. It's an "idioSYNCROsy". It's not gonna require complete tear down of the *** end of the car anytime soon, so I can live with it. Been living with it for 20 years. The C7 M7 is probably the least irritating of em all.

 

You listed six NON issues, NONE of which are really true or even worth mentioning. Are you seriously trying to make those comparable to torque converter issues?

Clutch pedal sticks to floor when speed shifting REALLY? Never heard of this.
Needing to change fluid with a turkey baster Huh? Let the dealer do it how often again?
Notchiness 1-2 shift requiring alignment of shifter Not serious. Might exist for 2 shifts when cold.
Sounds like a coffee can of marbles at parking lot speeds What? This doesn't even make sense.
CAGS and needing eliminators No, you don't. Just rev it a bit. An eliminator is unnecessary.
First mod always being the MGW shifter for some reason Not an issue. Stock works great.


Anyone who reads these forums knows a lot of guys have serious non-issues with their Corvettes. It's just that I've never seen so many non-issues in one place at the same time. I think it must be some sort of record. Congrats.

 

I see. So as an example, you're saying CAGS "isn't true", that it's not annoying, and just "rev it a bit" to work around it?

I bought a Z06 A8, which have bullet-proof transmissions, and it makes for the fastest, best-driving Corvette ever made. You can enjoy your "quirky" box with it's "idiosyncrasies" that are "serious non-issues" that are OK "because it's a Corvette"...

What crazy apologists! Check, please! I'm out of this loony-bin...

 

I've had no issues with my manual 7 except my own inability to pick the correct gear (its getting better now that I have 5,500 miles on the car) I do have the 1-2 cold shift but I'd buy one again, no regrets