DanZR1

I've been a "Stick Guy" for many years, all previous Corvettes (four of them in ~20 years) have been manuals. I recently made the grand compromise when I found a gently used C7 this July. It had everything I wanted, except it was an A8 (gag). The deal was too good to walk away from, so I pussed out and bought it, despite that blatantly missing pedal, left of the brake.

I went on a spirited 300 mile drive today through the Nevada and California desert. Almost completely deserted roads outside of Death Valley for most of the drive. Some arrow straight, some reducing radius off camber late apex nightmares. Some pool table smooth, some rough as a $10 hooker on a Tuesday afternoon. I finally got a chance to thrash the car, as it was designed to be thrashed. I drove it in Sport Mode all day, and alternated in letting the slush-box do the shifting for me, and using the paddles.

I gotta tell ya, I was mighty impressed. Whip fast shifts from any gear at any speed. That A8 tranny held gears on deceleration just like I would with a stick, and waited for my right foot at 3500 RPM to give it some more. Heel-n-toe downshifts without the third pedal. Nasty-sweet crackle/pop back rap shifts at redline, when you're WOT.

Oh, and torque converter slip? Yeah, if it's there, I couldn't feel it. Pinned me to the seat, and felt like every RPM was going right through my spine to the tires. It's smarter than I am too, no such thing as selecting the wrong gear, or missing a shift. Damn thing was reading my mind, and it was better at it than my hands likely could have done rowing my own.

I do miss having a job for my right hand to do, no doubt. That said, the much maligned A8 seduced me today. If I was ordering a new Corvette tomorrow, it would be a much harder decision making a transmission selection, than it was the previous four times. The damn thing is that good.

Hate away on the auto, stick Guys and Gals. I used to be one of You. Now, not so much...

WelderGuy

While the early problems (delayed engagement and hard shifts when cold) related to the A8 transmissions have been resolved, it appears that the problems related to the torque converter persist.

As long as the TC is working OK, most people will find the A8 is very satisfactory, but GM's design compromise to 'ride the clutch' to smooth out V4 pulsation will eventually cause problems with the TC. Avoiding V4 operation is the key to lasting enjoyment of your A8-equipped C7.

Weasel

It's not hard to avoid V4 operation.

Patman

It's good to hear as I'm also going from an M6 in my C6 to an A8 on my upcoming C7. I just wish that V4 mode on the A8 would only activate in eco mode like on the M7 cars. I'm hoping that Range gets it **** together and releases an update for the AFM disabler before the spring that works flawlessly on the 2018s. I will use the paddles a lot anyways, but there will also be times I just want to let it shift for itself.

RocksZC7

To disable the V4 mode, I went with the Diablosport I2 tuner. It works great with the stock Tune. You also have the ability to load 91 or 93 octane tunes plus custom tunes if you prefer. Before the Diablosport, I drove in Manual Mode on the A8 because I did not like the sound of the V4 mode and the way the TC felt.

Patman

I like the idea of the Diablo tuner actually, but am worried about losing my powertrain warranty, even though they claim this on their website, I just don't believe it:
Warranty safe-no watermarks, fingerprints, or counters


The nice thing about that tuner is that in addition to permanently disabling V4, I could get better throttle response, and I like the ability of having both a 91 and a 93 octane tune, as I would mostly be running 94 octane gas in mine when I get it, but occasionally I'd like to be able to run Costco's 91 octane (which up here is not only Top Tier, but ethanol free) so I like the idea of being able to switch to a 91 octane tune for those times.

767guy

Initially, when I got my 2018 A8 ( base) built mid June I drove the first 2000 KM in Manual trying to keep it out of V4 mode for all the reasons we have been reading about. My 2015 A8 after 2000km was a nightmare for 30 months ( hard 1-2 shift first of the day, rough shifts, groan in V4 mode at 1500 RPM with light acceleration, slip accelerating in M3 , three transmission tear outs )

HOWEVER, I am no longer trying to baby the TC . I paid 1900 for an Automatic because I did not want to be shifting all the Time. Also if the TC's are still bad I don't want to push the failure possibly outside of warranty as I drive about 25000 km a year....and I do not want the hassle of a Range device throwing CEL's , putting in a switch , going into 4th gear limp mode etc.

With your 2018 soon to be built here is some GOOD news:
* Since my 2015 there have been revisions to the TC
* My service dept told me they are up to GEN 3 transmission wise but I do not know what the changes are
* Driving my 2018 is day and night difference from my troublesome 2015. No 1-2 hard shifts, all shifts crisp but butter smooth, seamless transition into and out of V4 mode, no groan in V4 mode at 1500 RPM, absolutely NO RPM fluctuations on the tach steady state driving .
I am optimistic the issues I previously had are resolved. The car is a blast to drive in Automatic mode , just awesome.
The only issue I can still see is the reported slip in M3 which I did have on the 2015 . In manual 3rd gear during LIGHT acceleration you feel a slight bump or slip passing about 2200 RPM. On the 2015 I did a test drive with the shop foreman who saw this bump on his computer plugged into the OBD port. In consultation GM TAC told him it was TCC apply and is normal. Normally if you are driving in manual and paddle shifting it's because you are doing some spirited driving. Under those more aggressive driving conditions you pass through the TCC apply so quickly you will not feel it at all . I can explain why you don't feel the TCC apply in the Automatic mode but this post is already long enough.

Actually, the whole point of the post was to pass on that I don't think you need to worry about trying to baby the TC as you look forward to taking delivery of your new ride. Dive it in any mode you want, you will be amazed what a fantastic ride the C7 is to drive

Doug.
PS..........Don't forget to post pix

lakemg

One of the best A8 accolades that I have read...very nice write-up!

I too really like the A8 and I used to be a manual snob and wouldn't consider an auto, but today's autos are way different than the old turbo 350 and 400 from yesteryear...

iew

"Whip fast shifts from any gear at any speed" I don't think so. Paddle shifts in A8 are slow. Never have seen one shift fast. Go drive another brand with paddles and see the difference. My 16' has been in shop now for 42 days, drive train ate the crankshaft.

kitesurfer

Why do you say this? are you an engineer with inside knowledge? do you have personal experience ?

lakemg

Have you ever paddle shifted at WOT?

bjones7131

i have several times you better shift before nearing red line because the shift is not fast enough to prevent car from hitting the rev limiter. Now when I plan on a WOT i always shift into automatic mode. Paddle shifts are slower than allowing automatic shifting in my opinion.

1SG_Ret

Mine still occasionally lurches when driven normally and coming to a stop after some spirited running. Otherwise the tranny shifts fine and performs. Not good on a car that windowed for $60+k (even though I didn't pay that).

lakemg

Yep, you have to do essentially the same thing with a manual...(that is account for rate of rpm increase and time required to physically make the shift so that you can predict when to best make the shift). I do agree that letting the car do it in auto is the best method.

DanZR1

The shifts are certainly faster than I could be with a stick. But no, it's not dual clutch auto fast, either. Sorry yours is in the shop, that's always frustrating...

PobreWey

I've driven automatics all my life and my first manual was the c7. I'm glad I got the manual as I feel about 5 years old driving it. I've been in some seriously bad stop and go traffic and it still hasn't made me want to switch back. I've had previous cars with paddle shifter's and they can't be compared with a true manual.

Maxie2U

Uh, I don't find the paddle shifts in A8 slow at all especially under spirited driving. That said paddle shifting is slower when driving normal driving but I think that is by design.



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saleen556

I agree. I know many don't look at it this way but tuning a car and then putting it back to stock and trying to get warranty work done is fraud. Someday a dealer is going to make an example of someone for doing it. I'd be afraid of being that example myself. Not worth it. We pay to play. That simple. All about personal responsibility that lacks these days.

RiCorvette

OP, thanks for the review and helping one to feel a bit more comfortable choosing an A8 (a concession for my Wife, who can drive Manual but doesn't care to).

Would you be willing to share the course route? It sounds like a whole lotta fun, irrespective of the Tranny employed.

BYYEEEE

When I'm doing spirited driving in my A8 I'm always in Competition mode..Not just plain Track mode. Like the OP, I too am a manual guy who got a good deal on an A8, the A8 is great...but...i would rather have a good manual transmission.

You have to drive hard for the car to hold gear consistently, so taking a "spirited" drive is NOT the same as with a manual. Also in traffic holding a lower gear to be able to move in traffic, it will let go of the gear. This gives you that famous auto acceleration delay as it grabs the gear when use the throttle.

The current M7 has 2 overdrives that I feel hurts it performance wise. Still a 5-speed at heart. I think this is done to meet fuel economy regulations and to sway us manual guys to drive auto. I think GM needs to get the Auto (Overheating, TC, ect.) reliability issues sorted out, and also let us drive as inefficient as we want in Competition mode.

This is a fun auto and they've come a long way, but I'd rather have a performance oriented manual.
This is coming from a 2015 A8 owner who has put 62K miles on the car.

(PS. i actually went out and bought a 2016 Miata to deal with my manual transmission withdrawal )