Does anyone have a good A8
10-22-2017, 05:34 PM
#61
Burning Brakes
10-22-2017, 05:47 PM
#62
Yeah, I think he meant, he'd like them to stay in place and not rotate.
10-22-2017, 05:52 PM
#63
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Nov 2015
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10-22-2017, 05:53 PM
#64
Agree, I always thought that was awkward on my F-Type ZF A8. It had a very short 1st gear, and was at high revs often before completing a turn. 
Last edited by Foosh; 10-22-2017 at 05:55 PM.
10-22-2017, 06:30 PM
#65
Racer
I have 2600 miles on the 18 z51 I bought less than two months ago. I've owned ten or so vettes over the years (first one was a split window '63 I wish I still had!) and this is the first auto. The A8 has performed flawlessly and I am a convert to auto now. I don't use the paddles much cause they seem kinda rinky dink compared to shifting a manual but I love the responsiveness of this trans which shifts way faster than I ever could! I am going to get one of those Range disablers tho cause I HATE driving a four cylinder car! LOL
10-22-2017, 06:44 PM
#67
Race Director
3500 mi and one year later, love my A8..
two things..
1. According to Corvette engineer Jeff Strausser who owns a C7 Z06, GM has changed the formula for the A8. something HE said has been done by numerous mfr's over decades when they come out with a new transmission and something doesn't work the way they anticipated.. saying trans fluid changes can happen numerous times during a run of any particular transmission.. his words not mine.. saying it's not UNCOMMON to do this.. that's why they are doing this "triple flush" for owners that do not like the feeling of the TC pulse in light throttle cruise above 40 45mph...
2. Many people claiming their "Converter and/or Transmission are bad" aren't telling the full story. not broken, just doing something you don't like, almost like buying a car with a hard ride then 6mos later the newness wears off and little things annoy you. I believe ALL A8 LT1 cars behave this way. some owners don't notice, mind it, have a clue and others it drives crazy...
if you think the A8 in a vette has a bad rep because of this issue, look up the current gen pickups... i have one and at 75mph the truck has an oscillation in any gear, neutral even off and coasting.. it's the body mounts and some harmonic resonance making it's way into the truck.. all of them have it some worse than others.. google it..that's real and effects more than one million trucks.. not 40k corvettes lol... More than ONE MILLION...
two things..
1. According to Corvette engineer Jeff Strausser who owns a C7 Z06, GM has changed the formula for the A8. something HE said has been done by numerous mfr's over decades when they come out with a new transmission and something doesn't work the way they anticipated.. saying trans fluid changes can happen numerous times during a run of any particular transmission.. his words not mine.. saying it's not UNCOMMON to do this.. that's why they are doing this "triple flush" for owners that do not like the feeling of the TC pulse in light throttle cruise above 40 45mph...
2. Many people claiming their "Converter and/or Transmission are bad" aren't telling the full story. not broken, just doing something you don't like, almost like buying a car with a hard ride then 6mos later the newness wears off and little things annoy you. I believe ALL A8 LT1 cars behave this way. some owners don't notice, mind it, have a clue and others it drives crazy...
if you think the A8 in a vette has a bad rep because of this issue, look up the current gen pickups... i have one and at 75mph the truck has an oscillation in any gear, neutral even off and coasting.. it's the body mounts and some harmonic resonance making it's way into the truck.. all of them have it some worse than others.. google it..that's real and effects more than one million trucks.. not 40k corvettes lol... More than ONE MILLION...
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Gonzo (10-25-2017)
10-22-2017, 06:47 PM
#68
Used 2017 GS A8, 8900 mi, that is a former track run car from Spring Mountain/Ron Fellows Driving School
I can assume / hope that any problems would have surfaced during it's use there.- I've had it for 2 weeks now;
some Freeway, but mostly city driving and no problems encountered.
I can assume / hope that any problems would have surfaced during it's use there.- I've had it for 2 weeks now;
some Freeway, but mostly city driving and no problems encountered.
10-22-2017, 06:53 PM
#69
Instructor
3000 miles and it works like a charm
worried about it a lot due to all the stuff I read here
so far it's perfect
I use the Range AFM defeater all the time
in manual mode I wish you could shift it with the shift lever rather than paddles. I friend with a F150 with the new A10 has a +/- toggle on the side of the shift lever
worried about it a lot due to all the stuff I read here
so far it's perfect
I use the Range AFM defeater all the time
in manual mode I wish you could shift it with the shift lever rather than paddles. I friend with a F150 with the new A10 has a +/- toggle on the side of the shift lever
Last edited by drobbins; 10-22-2017 at 06:54 PM.
10-22-2017, 06:58 PM
#70
I think this is the problem some have with the lag. What I’ve noticed is that when I’m in manual mode and I am shifting, I instinctively was easing off the gas. I have since started to retrain my mechanics to maintain smooth constant pressure on the throttle so that the transmission shifts smoother like it would in pure auto mode. I do this during both upshifts and downshifts and the shift is far quicker and smoother than when I let of the gas.
10-22-2017, 07:04 PM
#71
Race Director
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2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Only time will tell. If it is the AFM system that is wearing out TCs, one would expect more and more to fail as the mileage racks up. It's also interesting that those who drive in M mode w/ paddles seem to report problems less, which lends more credence to the AFM/TC damage theory.
The early A8s seemed to experience more early and the later ones seem to be better now, but I want to see what happens w/ these cars starting above 20K miles and beyond.
The early A8s seemed to experience more early and the later ones seem to be better now, but I want to see what happens w/ these cars starting above 20K miles and beyond.
I think most Corvettes are still weekend toys and pleasure cars so when I read comments of "2000 flawless miles" I would certainly hope so after dropping 70K+ on a new car. Let's start seeing some 10+ years and 75K+ miles like the C5 and C6 generation automatic transmissions before we decide if this particular tranny design can be considered good or not.
Since the 2014 C7 had the A6, we're still only looking at 3.5 years of production out of the A8.
10-22-2017, 07:13 PM
#73
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
So far so good.
9,350 miles on my 2016 Z51 so far.. flawless performance from the A8. The more I drive it the more I like it.
Last edited by ExRedRacer; 10-23-2017 at 03:12 AM.
10-22-2017, 08:39 PM
#75
2016 Z51, gt to 20k with 99% paddle shift only, no lie 21k exactly started to feel “bucking” , totally in manual mode, as I would glide to a light and “surging” from 2nd to 1st, all signs of the bad TC. Took them 20 minutes when I brought it in to make the call. Rides amazing now. They had that new TC in in less than a day (Stingray Chevrolet)...all the best
10-22-2017, 08:56 PM
#76
Burning Brakes
Approaching 22k in a ‘16 Stingray...no issues.
10-22-2017, 09:10 PM
#77
Burning Brakes
10-22-2017, 09:19 PM
#78
Seeing that there are so many GM cars and trucks using the A8, are there any confirmation stories about how good they are?
Here, I will start. I have only great things to say about my 2017 Z51 A8, it's shifts are quick and solid. It cruises well and it seamlessly switches from V8 to V4 and back again when power is required. Using the paddle shifters is fun but the automatic selection has more accurate shifts with no human lag.
It is my impression that the 2017 models have been modified with different TC and are using different fluid. These Mods have remedied the majority of problems related to the TC.
I invite all members to write there good experiences with the A8
Thanks, looking forward to hearing all the good stories.
Here, I will start. I have only great things to say about my 2017 Z51 A8, it's shifts are quick and solid. It cruises well and it seamlessly switches from V8 to V4 and back again when power is required. Using the paddle shifters is fun but the automatic selection has more accurate shifts with no human lag.
It is my impression that the 2017 models have been modified with different TC and are using different fluid. These Mods have remedied the majority of problems related to the TC.
I invite all members to write there good experiences with the A8
Thanks, looking forward to hearing all the good stories.
10-22-2017, 09:20 PM
#79
Burning Brakes
Drove exclusively in M mode with paddles at Spring Mountain. Great experience for high rev driving on a track. Don’t need the revs on the streets or public highways.
We drive cars that can do 50 mph in 1st gear!
10-23-2017, 12:05 AM
#80
