A8 v 7 speed manual
05-07-2018, 08:19 AM
#1
A8 v 7 speed manual
I always had Manual Corvettes but I noticed 90% of the Vette at Dealers have the A8. Is no one buying the 7 speed manual anymore? IMO a sports car should be a Manual
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ptran00 (05-20-2018)
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05-07-2018, 08:39 AM
Drifting
I had to order mine also. Automatics may be this and that, but manuals are just more fun to drive IMO.
05-07-2018, 08:29 AM
#2
Automatics shift super fast today and with very little lag. Eight speeds allows the engine to be in the right RPM range compared to an older three or four speed automatic transmission back in the day which can lug the engine. Today's automatic transmissions are modern technology, manual shifting is antiquated. It's like fuel injection compared to a carburetor. They both do the same thing but one is way more advanced, more efficient and reliable than the other.
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05-07-2018, 08:34 AM
#3
Melting Slicks
Again, if you want an M7, you have to order the car for yourself. Dealers stock what they can move the fastest. 1 and 2LT's with autos.
Occasionally they will order an M7 for stock but most only order it when it's a paid customer order.
I'd actually be very curious to see the percentage of M7's which are customer ordered cars like mine was vs customer ordered autos.
Occasionally they will order an M7 for stock but most only order it when it's a paid customer order.
I'd actually be very curious to see the percentage of M7's which are customer ordered cars like mine was vs customer ordered autos.
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05-07-2018, 08:46 AM
#5
Team Owner
[QUOTEa=Ozzstar;1597148301]Automatics shift super fast today and with very little lag. Eight speeds allows the engine to be in the right RPM range compared to an older three or four speed automatic transmission back in the day which can lug the engine. Today's automatic transmissions are modern technology, manual shifting is antiquated. It's like fuel injection compared to a carburetor. They both do the same thing but one is way more advanced, more efficient and reliable than the other.[/QUOTE]
Funny post.
Funny post.
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05-07-2018, 08:50 AM
#6
Team Owner
There is a long list of reasons the majority of owners get the Automatic transmission. Some are honest and legit, many are funny and ridiculous.
Bottom line dealers order mostly automatics as that is what sells best.
Bottom line dealers order mostly automatics as that is what sells best.
05-07-2018, 08:50 AM
#7
Automatics shift super fast today and with very little lag. Eight speeds allows the engine to be in the right RPM range compared to an older three or four speed automatic transmission back in the day which can lug the engine. Today's automatic transmissions are modern technology, manual shifting is antiquated. It's like fuel injection compared to a carburetor. They both do the same thing but one is way more advanced, more efficient and reliable than the other.
05-07-2018, 08:53 AM
#8
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by dvilin
There is a long list of reasons the majority of owners get the Automatic transmission. Some are honest and legit, many are funny and ridiculous.
Bottom line dealers order mostly automatics as that is what sells best.
Bottom line dealers order mostly automatics as that is what sells best.
I know some guys can't shift anymore because of bad knees and such and I respect that. Some of the other "nonsense" reasons we hear on here are just that. JUSTIFICATION because of the "my car is better than yours complex" we see on here all too much.
Last edited by ssidekickbp; 05-07-2018 at 08:54 AM.
05-07-2018, 09:18 AM
#10
Melting Slicks
When I ordered my 14 Stingray there were no cars on dealer lots. I had no doubt I was getting an M-7. I feel a sports car on mountain roads needs a manual, more fun for me.
Dealers only seem to stock Auto's.
Was getting an oil change in March on my 14 Stingray. Dealer had a Carbon 65 on the floor. I just loved the color. Was not worried as I was sure it was an auto. Didn't even look at the car.
Saw one in FL a week later. In the sun it really grabbed me. Super sharp.
Looked on my local dealers web site. His Carbon 65 was a M-7. We worked a deal and its mine now.
Dealers only seem to stock Auto's.
Was getting an oil change in March on my 14 Stingray. Dealer had a Carbon 65 on the floor. I just loved the color. Was not worried as I was sure it was an auto. Didn't even look at the car.
Saw one in FL a week later. In the sun it really grabbed me. Super sharp.
Looked on my local dealers web site. His Carbon 65 was a M-7. We worked a deal and its mine now.
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cspnboy (05-10-2018)
05-07-2018, 09:21 AM
#11
Burning Brakes
My theory is this and no one shoot me:
1. Majority of Corvette owners are an older population. Older people have more health problems such as bad knees, etc etc. And I feel they are just too lazy to shift (not in a bad lazy way, it's just more work and they just want to get in and go and not have to do anything besides steer).
2. As a daily driver, manuals suck unless you drive 5 min to work which is unlikely for most people.
3. Drag racing, automatic is faster
4. Millennials and newer generation of younger people have no clue how to drive stick because everything is automatic and paddle shifters.
5. No maintenance really
Personally I searched high and low for an M7. I am 33, shifting is just 110% more fun. I had a 2008 G8, lots of mods, but shifting was always missing. Sure the automatic shifts faster, but on track days I enjoy shifting and when I am cruising through the mountains, it's just more fun. To me, it's a sports car. Sports cars should be manual. That's why I always loved the Viper, manual only. But if you go to a car search site and filter by manuals, it eliminates about 75% of available Corvettes. And the C8 is only coming in automatic. I don't daily drive mine, it's more of a car show/track/fun cruising car. If I had to daily it, might be a different story.
1. Majority of Corvette owners are an older population. Older people have more health problems such as bad knees, etc etc. And I feel they are just too lazy to shift (not in a bad lazy way, it's just more work and they just want to get in and go and not have to do anything besides steer).
2. As a daily driver, manuals suck unless you drive 5 min to work which is unlikely for most people.
3. Drag racing, automatic is faster
4. Millennials and newer generation of younger people have no clue how to drive stick because everything is automatic and paddle shifters.
5. No maintenance really
Personally I searched high and low for an M7. I am 33, shifting is just 110% more fun. I had a 2008 G8, lots of mods, but shifting was always missing. Sure the automatic shifts faster, but on track days I enjoy shifting and when I am cruising through the mountains, it's just more fun. To me, it's a sports car. Sports cars should be manual. That's why I always loved the Viper, manual only. But if you go to a car search site and filter by manuals, it eliminates about 75% of available Corvettes. And the C8 is only coming in automatic. I don't daily drive mine, it's more of a car show/track/fun cruising car. If I had to daily it, might be a different story.
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ptran00 (05-20-2018)
05-07-2018, 09:29 AM
#12
Le Mans Master
If you think the market for sticks is small now, just wait till the millennials get older and can afford a more expensive car. Insurance companies will be giving anti theft discounts for owners of sticks.....
05-07-2018, 09:34 AM
#13
IMO the world is just getting lazy and distracted. If you look around at people driving they are usually doing something else in the process. It's much easier to do with an auto. As well as with traffic these days many prefer not to have to shift gears. The auto is a little faster however there is no driver engagement and the paddles are a joke. If you shop around you'll find an auto though. They are just rare.
05-07-2018, 09:49 AM
#14
Le Mans Master
A lot of people get modern torque-converter automatics with paddle switches for requesting up/down shifts with dual-clutch transmissions. DCTs are truly more advanced than either the A8 or M7, but they don't come for free: they're more expensive, complex, larger, and probably heavier for a given torque rating. But I imagine the driving experience is fantastic.
Have a good one,
Mike
05-07-2018, 10:03 AM
#15
Le Mans Master
The older generation remembers manual shift from their youth so still wants it in their "fun" cars even though it's no more relevant today than it would be to adjust your own spark or fuel mixture. Drivers used to have to do that too! I bet great-grandpappy Dave thought letting the car do that on it's own killed driver involvement.
Manuals are like stripped down, low-weight, no-option cars. They're what everything thinks everyone -else- should buy to prove they're hardcore. But no one does.
The proof is in the pudding, they sell about 20% what the A8 does.
And suffice to say the M7 crowd isn't exactly the "young" branch of the Corvette family tree.
All that said, however, and even though my Z is an A8, if I only had one "fun" car, it'd be a Z and it'd be a stick. Since I am not that limited, the Z is an auto and the M-21s and M-20s are in the old cars.
Manuals are like stripped down, low-weight, no-option cars. They're what everything thinks everyone -else- should buy to prove they're hardcore. But no one does.
The proof is in the pudding, they sell about 20% what the A8 does.
And suffice to say the M7 crowd isn't exactly the "young" branch of the Corvette family tree.
All that said, however, and even though my Z is an A8, if I only had one "fun" car, it'd be a Z and it'd be a stick. Since I am not that limited, the Z is an auto and the M-21s and M-20s are in the old cars.
Last edited by davepl; 05-07-2018 at 10:05 AM.
05-07-2018, 10:09 AM
#16
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by DAVE396LT1
The older generation remembers manual shift from their youth so still wants it in their "fun" cars even though it's no more relevant today than it would be to adjust your own spark or fuel mixture. Drivers used to have to do that too! I bet great-grandpappy Dave thought letting the car do that on it's own killed driver involvement.
Manuals are like stripped down, low-weight, no-option cars. They're what everything thinks everyone -else- should buy to prove they're hardcore. But no one does.
The proof is in the pudding, they sell about 20% what the A8 does.
And suffice to say the M7 crowd isn't exactly the "young" branch of the Corvette family tree.
All that said, however, and even though my Z is an A8, if I only had one "fun" car, it'd be a Z and it'd be a stick. Since I am not that limited, the Z is an auto and the M-21s and M-20s are in the old cars.
Manuals are like stripped down, low-weight, no-option cars. They're what everything thinks everyone -else- should buy to prove they're hardcore. But no one does.
The proof is in the pudding, they sell about 20% what the A8 does.
And suffice to say the M7 crowd isn't exactly the "young" branch of the Corvette family tree.
All that said, however, and even though my Z is an A8, if I only had one "fun" car, it'd be a Z and it'd be a stick. Since I am not that limited, the Z is an auto and the M-21s and M-20s are in the old cars.
I'm 32....
05-07-2018, 10:14 AM
#17
Le Mans Master
Oh, no doubt. Auto Vettes have outsold manuals by a large margin for decades. Dealers no longer have manuals in their inventory, and again haven't for a long time.
So, which is it? Do dealers not put any manuals into their inventory because customers don't want them, or do customers buy autos because that's what's in inventory?
In the end, I'm just glad I've got the opportunity to get a manual Vette. I had to look longer and farther away to get what I wanted, but at least it was out there.
Have a good one,
Mike
So, which is it? Do dealers not put any manuals into their inventory because customers don't want them, or do customers buy autos because that's what's in inventory?
In the end, I'm just glad I've got the opportunity to get a manual Vette. I had to look longer and farther away to get what I wanted, but at least it was out there.
Have a good one,
Mike
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ptran00 (05-20-2018)
05-07-2018, 10:17 AM
#18
Burning Brakes
Am I validated????
05-07-2018, 10:21 AM
#19
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by smajicek
is this a legit reason for AUTO, when I ordered my 2104 Z51 A6 I wanted M7 but the wife cannot drive a manual so I ordered A6, she drove it 2 times and it scares her she cannot see with those big fenders? she enjoys looking down from above driving her Toyota Sienna. What was I supposed to do, return my car for a M7 when it took me 6 months to get mine from time of order?
Am I validated????
Am I validated????
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smajicek (05-07-2018)
