kev1949

After selling my beloved 3LT C6 two weeks ago, I am suffering from Corvette separation anxiety.I want to get into an automatic transmission after driving a stick for 18 years. I found a real sharp new 2017 C7 coupe with everything my C6 had and more, and the price seams reasonable. Could you guys give some advise to this old geezer as it will be my trifecta. Should I really be concerned about the automatic trans or should I go for it? Thanks in advance.

Rebel Yell

The A8 problems were solved in the 11/15 forward built cars. My 03/16 build has been flawless. Now that's not to say that there has been zero problems since then. We know anything mass produced will have problematic examples from time to time. IMHO

cowboy casey

the 14 A6 auto have been bulletproof, the A8 has had its issues but most are just fine... You really only hear and read about the bad ones...

ON RAMP SLAYER

Theres still new 17's?! Bet theyre discounted heavily!

dashotgun

I have been driving stick shift in my sporty and sports cars since I first learned to drive 50 years ago. I bought a 2016 z51 with the A8 works flawlessly although I did put in the range afm to be sure. I don't like the sound of it shifting when not under a lot of power my S4 with a DCT sounded better. In WOT throttle it sounds fine. i recently did the tail of the Dragon the auto shifts better then I do used the paddles and concentrated on the road. It does not take away from the driving feeling in fact it enhances it. Sticks are fun but so is the auto

joemessman

Anecdotally I would say there would be a 5% chance maximum of getting one with issues. The vast majority have been fine as far as I'm concerned. I have followed this issue closely. Mine has been the best automatic I have ever driven and I have almost 70,000 miles on it. Knock wood. So If you want the A8 and want my opinion, go for it. It will still be under warranty just in case.

Black18C7

I was kind of in the same place as you. Both my C6's were manuals and the last four of my five cars were as well. When I bought my 08 C6 I test drove an automatic and HATED it. Just couldn't do it at the time. Fast forward 10 years and driving manuals in Northern Virginia traffic and I was done with it. Got the A8 on my 2018 and love being able to just put it in drive and go.
Full throttle shifts are fast and I love the bark when it shifts. Shifting with paddles in normal driving is aggravatingly slow however. I rarely use them because of it.

It's my DD and after 3,600 miles I have had no issues yet with the A8. No hard 1-2 shift after a cold start or any of the other issues reported here.

Stan0324

Original owner 15 A8 built in July 2014
No problems at all.

Avanti

By far and away most have no problems... and, their owners tend not to bother reporting that, here or elsewhere. All the best no matter what you decide.

iclick

If the 2017 A8 was built after about the first of the year 2017 you may be okay, at least as far as can be foretold based on reports here. Before that is a crap shoot, IMO, but in any case I wouldn't buy one given that I owned a 2015 A8 that had every issue known to that genre. I just wouldn't want to be forced into buying an extended warranty for that reason or take a chance going on without one after the warranty period expires. My 2¢.

SilverGhost

Follow the lead of it's big brother, the 2019 ZR1 and eliminate the AFM. GM did it on the 2019 ZR1 for free; it will cost you $189 for a range AFM disabler. Best money you will ever spend on your new 2017. Know that the A8 transmission handles the ZR1 715 lbs of torque 755 hp just fine, so it can be a bulletproof transmission for a C7 with only 460/460 ponies. My C6's were good cars, but my 2017 C7 purchased 4 months ago is like driving a solid block of unobtainium; it is sooo tight, and I have the convertible! You are one with the C7.

Red C8 of Jax

Go for it. A POLL on this forum showed the majority of A8 problems (torque converter) were in the 2015-2016 years.

Vette_17

OP,
I have NEVER owned a sports car that WASN'T a manual.....until my '19 GS. I also wanted a change and dont regret it for a second. However, I do agree with some other members that the manual paddle shifts are way to slow/delayed for this type of performance car. Hopefully this is rectified in the C8

Vetteman Jack

curve65

You should go for it my friend, life can be short and you should enjoy the ride. I'm not going to worry bout mine. Gonna put the miles on her and if something happens then I'll worry bout it. Good luck to ya!

Null Pointer

Yes, there are quite a few still available, I just picked up a brand new 2017 Z06 vert. I noticed some dealers are starting to discount them a lot and some aren't, which is why they are still carrying them in inventory. To the OP - go for it!

Flame Red

My A8 was replaced with 100 miles on the clock. I would recommend that if you are buy this from a Stealership, you have them throw in a B2B GM Extended Warranty for as long as possible. Or buy your own from Dennis Fletcher on this forum. Too many of these A8, even the later ones, seem fine for many tens of thousands of miles, and then have problems out of the blue. GM is betting their warranties will run out before they have to be torn down. Many, many threads here. The best one is the Sticky at the top of this forum.

69L79

If I bought an A8, which I never would, I would make sure I had an extended warranty.

dbirdhouse1

….leaving the manual tranny sect is like changing religions, are you spiritually/psychologically prepared? Remember, it
probably wasn't that long ago when you looked down on those that chose the heresy of an automatic tranny....and now
you as well? Of course, as it's all in gest, you can't lose either way, enjoy. I'll just hop in my '14 Z51 7MT Conv, oh wait,
I need to go to the hardware store, I'll just hop into my wife's Prius.....oops....

Skid Row Joe

This ^^^^ :yes: