GOC

Autos may be more fuel efficient and faster in a straight line nowadays and may be faster on some high speed tracks. It is also nicer to drive in traffic for most, even though I feel M7 keeps me awake during traffic. There are many legitimate reasons for someone to choose A8 over M7 or vice versa.

For non professional racers like most of us, anyone who's taken their sportscar to the canyons for a run would tell you it is more fun with a manual. The feeling you get when you downshift at your command as you approach a curve and speed out of the exit, shift again, then quickly down shift again at the next curve. Then again, the M7 would get taken at the drag strip. At the end, everyone has different needs so it all comes down to what you want. It's a great car with either transmission.

theplatinumog

Why are there so few a8's (especially zo6's) at the track?

I believe sports cars can be automatics, just not the c7. What sport is an automatic Corvette good at, tennis?

davepl

My A8 has never been passed by an M7. Not at the road course, not at the drag strip. And technically, not at the street.

So I guess that's what the A8 is good at: Winning!

You can be fast or retro. Pick one.

DWillys

This is getting ridiculous. unsubscribing...

theplatinumog

Fair enough. There has to be fast auto drivers out there, I just never see them. What tracks do you frequent? I would love to see. I'm not doubting you.

But only what? 20% of Corvettes are manuals? And yet it must be at least 80, maybe 90% manual corvettes out there on road courses.

theplatinumog

You have never been passed on a road course, really? Ever...

Big Lebowski

Who’s Eisenhower?

davepl

Oh all the time, I wave better drivers in lesser cars by all the time too. But not by an M7 Z06, which I know because I've never seen one at the track. Only A8s and Stingrays. Draw your own conclusions.

[Hint: the driver matters more than the transmission, so why argue about the transmission like it matters]

patentcad

There is something to be said for historical oblivion. It did help America elect its president.

Fcal

Yeah, the car is winning, not the driver.
When an M7 wins, it's the driver's skill.

theplatinumog

I think you are kind of proving my point. Have you ever seen an automatic zo6 (c7) at the track? I haven't, not running hard anyways. I sat in 6 corvettes at Thunderhill last weekend, none of them had an automatic. 3 c7 gs's, my z51, and 2 c6 race cars.

I am aware driving has much more to do with it. I used to pass c7 zo6's like it was the thing to do in the intermediate group. When they had an auto, it just added to my satisfaction when they hung their arm out the window.

I ran in over 110 degree ambient a few times last year. Not a z06 in sight, and definitely not an automatic one.

saleen556

theplatinumog

Wow, reading my posts I sound so one sided. Truth is, I ordered the m7 because it's what I believe in. But I am very very glad to have the choice, because I doubt I will he able to work a clutch forever.

Sitting in traffic and physical limitations are totally legit excuses. If I sat in traffic a lot, I may own one. All of driving is done for pleasure and for me, the m7 can't be beat in engagement. There are a lloottt more m7's at the race track than a8's.

I am thankful for the choice but feel a little bad for a8 owners. Especially those effected by the TC fails. Also, those cheap plastic sounding paddles are pretty bad. I don't think the m7 is perfect at all. I sure wish it were a 6 speed though. Porsche makes their gt series cars 6 speed manuals. Could you imagine missing that 2-3 or 4-5 upshift in a m7 zr1 ssccaarrryyy

davepl

Whenever an argument about which transmission is better arises, the A8 owners will tell you why they like their choice of trans and the M7 owners will tell you all about the A8 owners and their choice.

Deep, deep insecurity on both sides. You've got a lot of A8 owners who are afraid of looking like weak-kneed old men who bought automatics so that their wives would let them buy a fun car. And you've got a lot of M7 owners who have wide swaths of their self-esteem wrapped up in how fast they tell people they can pull second gear and that it somehow matters, and if it's slower than the A8 can do it, then what?

And I just keep kicking the hornet's nest to see who comes out to play!

Iconic

You left out the guys that drive an M7 who do not remotely GAFF if another fellow Corvette owner drives an auto. I have more friends that own Vette autos than I have friends that own Vette manuals.

stephen1254

I knew it! You're a weak-kneed old man!

Skid Row Joe

Sounds like the A8 guys aren't able to drive the M7, for whatever reason(s). That's what it boils down to. That's too bad, but not the M7 guys' fault. Platinum kinda smoked the one guy out with actual specific examples. The M7s are faster at the Track.




.

Big Lebowski

Maybe this is a "glass half full" thing, but I don't see insecurity on both sides as much as I see PASSION on both sides.

Honestly, I know the numbers, which is why I bought an A8 Z06 and after driving it for almost 3 years I would agree an A8 IS FASTER. Stupid fast to be honest. I also know my heart, which is why I am SO HAPPY to have recently bought an M7 Z06.

Manual shifting is like a convertible...once you get it in your blood, there is no going back (with the exception of medical reasons).

I firmly believe, it is a an amazing car that can be so passionately enjoyed by both transmissions! Just my $.02

davepl

Yes, if you can only own one car "fun", it should be a manual convertible. I agree with you there.

Let's say you're in my boat - you already own an LS3 '69 Camaro with a Tremec TKO-600 stick. And a '69 2+2 with an M20. And another '69 2+2 with an M21. And a BMW with an SMG flappy paddle box.

Now you're about to buy a Z for daily driving and you hate your C6Z because you commute in stop and go traffic. If you're me, what do you buy?

Do you really buy yet another stick? If so, you're more hardcore than me!

dvilin

A famous golfer who slept in the White House.