C7 to be the last manual Corvette?
09-17-2018, 03:21 PM
#181
Heel & Toe
I purchased an C7 with an A8 and that lasted approx. 2 weeks and here is why. I come from the BMW M world and the DCT in these cars is amazing. Millisecond shifts all the way up and down the gears. Want to go from 5th to 2nd, blip the paddle 3 times and by the time you released the paddle, you were in 2nd. The Corvette A8 was in no way a slouch, as it did shift "OK". If I downshifted from 5th to 2nd, by the 3rd paddle it was still disengaging 3rd and not even going into 2nd yet. OK, this was something I could overcome and just time my shifts different. The one thing I COULD NOT overcome is that "Shift Denied" and the inability to STAY in manual mode. It would always shift back after a period of time and take control back. In the M cars, the damn thing would let you blow it up if you wanted. I felt like GM was saying, "Sure its an automatic, but here are some paddles to play with, if the car wants to..." IF GM sees fit to go only automatic, dct, etc.. They will need to step up their game because they will be going against companies that have put many years and endless research into these systems. Until then, I am VERY happy with the M7 in my Z06 I traded the auto for!
Last edited by Z06*Mike; 09-17-2018 at 05:38 PM.
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dvilin (09-17-2018)
09-17-2018, 03:22 PM
#182
The first Corvette manual I drove was in 1972 - a C3, 350 '70 or '71. I was at a house party where this 4-speed Corvette needed to be moved from the driveway for another car to leave. I volunteered to move the C3 and was hooked. I never forgot how much more fun it was than the new C3, A3
I bought a fewyears later. The cr@ppy C4/C5/C6, were all worth skipping. I've got the best Chevrolet manual ever - the mighty M7 C7.
Last edited by Skid Row Joe; 09-17-2018 at 04:56 PM.
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09-17-2018, 04:53 PM
#183
I purchased an C7 with an A8 and that lasted approx. 2 weeks and here is why. I come from the BMW M world and the DCT in these cars is amazing. Millisecond shifts all the way up and down the gears. Want to go from 5th to 2nd, blip the paddle 3 times and by the time you released the paddle, you were in 2nd. The Corvette A8 was in no way a slouch, as it did shift "OK". If I downshifted from 5th to 2nd, by the 3rd paddle it was still disengaging 3rd and not even going into 2nd yet. OK, this was something I could overcome and just time my shifts different. The one thing I COULD NOT overcome is that "Shift Denied" and the inability to STAY in manual mode. It would always shift back after a period of time and take control back. In the M cars, the damn thing would let you blow it up if you wanted. I felt like GM was saying, "Sure its an automatic, but here are some paddles to play with, if the car wants to...".
Unbelievable! No wonder the Kool-aid drinkers try endlessly to defend their mistake purchases. 
09-17-2018, 06:30 PM
#184
Safety Car
Do you the paddle shifters use the paddles to shift when you drive to the grocery store or to work in the morning? Or is it just a weekend thing and you just leave in Auto the rest of the time?
09-18-2018, 03:51 PM
#186
Team Owner
Member Since: Jun 2005
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
In the 60s, you could easily beat most automatics (performance-wise) with a manual, now, not so much.
Outside of the technology/performance gap, fact of the matter is, the pro-manual crowd is small and getting smaller, because right now, the kids learning to drive just aren't getting exposed to manuals, go to a car rental place and see if they have a manual car. I get the auto-driving car argument, but the reality is, manuals are going away right now, drivable cars will still be here for probably a couple generations at least.
Even though I'm not a fan of manuals, I do feel for you guys who do like them, because they are definitely going away soon.
Outside of the technology/performance gap, fact of the matter is, the pro-manual crowd is small and getting smaller, because right now, the kids learning to drive just aren't getting exposed to manuals, go to a car rental place and see if they have a manual car. I get the auto-driving car argument, but the reality is, manuals are going away right now, drivable cars will still be here for probably a couple generations at least.
Even though I'm not a fan of manuals, I do feel for you guys who do like them, because they are definitely going away soon.
09-18-2018, 03:59 PM
#187
Burning Brakes
GM built 33,836 coupes and 4,629 convertibles in 1975.
No sane manufacturer would throw away nearly 14% of their business by not offering a convertible. Correct?.
But GM dropped the convertible and in 1976 they built 46,558 coupes and 0 convertibles. An increase in total production of 7,993 over 1975.
No sane manufacturer would throw away nearly 14% of their business by not offering a convertible. Correct?.
But GM dropped the convertible and in 1976 they built 46,558 coupes and 0 convertibles. An increase in total production of 7,993 over 1975.
09-19-2018, 08:31 PM
#189
Burning Brakes
This is probably old news to many of you, but I found this last night. Sounds like it can shift pretty hard when driven hard.
https://youtu.be/TyV8K7Vrp7k?t=1m45s
Have a good one,
Mike
https://youtu.be/TyV8K7Vrp7k?t=1m45s
Have a good one,
Mike
09-19-2018, 09:30 PM
#190
Le Mans Master
Also, IMO, the difference in exhaust sound has to do with a non-production system and obviously a different configuration than the C7.
Interesting stuff!
Have a good one,
Mike
10-06-2018, 04:18 PM
#191
Well, we can get rid of the manual transmission. And, add sensors to help stay in lane, apply the brakes sooner and more capably than a human.
Or parallel park the car for us.
Soon, we'll be able to get in our Corvettes, and speak the destination, sit back and read our phones and tablets.
The technology is nearly here, just think, you'll be able to leave the driver seat empty (weight savings, and in most cases these days that is substantial lol), sit yourself in the passenger seat of your Corvette, and let it drive.
And not long after that, our Corvettes will be Autonomous.
You'll be able to send your Corvette out on its own. You won't even have to be involved. You will be able to do something else entirely while your Corvette drives around on its own.
Won't that be wonderful. At last you'll be able to see your Corvette as others do, as if it isn't even yours anymore. It will belong to itself, with no need or desire for a driver.
God sakes, I hope Chevy resists the sheer idiocy of building the Corvette without a manual transmission at least available for the DRIVERS who still want one.
Or parallel park the car for us.
Soon, we'll be able to get in our Corvettes, and speak the destination, sit back and read our phones and tablets.
The technology is nearly here, just think, you'll be able to leave the driver seat empty (weight savings, and in most cases these days that is substantial lol), sit yourself in the passenger seat of your Corvette, and let it drive.
And not long after that, our Corvettes will be Autonomous.
You'll be able to send your Corvette out on its own. You won't even have to be involved. You will be able to do something else entirely while your Corvette drives around on its own.
Won't that be wonderful. At last you'll be able to see your Corvette as others do, as if it isn't even yours anymore. It will belong to itself, with no need or desire for a driver.
God sakes, I hope Chevy resists the sheer idiocy of building the Corvette without a manual transmission at least available for the DRIVERS who still want one.
10-06-2018, 08:46 PM
#192
Melting Slicks
As for autonomous cars. Insurance companies will make that decision for anyone without the cash to afford them the luxury of manually driving a car.
10-06-2018, 09:33 PM
#193
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Member Since: Sep 2007
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I’m all for less of most unneeded technology, but that “includes” the inability to use cell phones when driving! In fact have my iPhone set not to receive or send calls while driving! Never connected Bluetooth in the Vette so I would not be tempted.
Until then or when laws and insurance companies treat using a phone while driving like DUI, I think collision avoidance is a useful feature- needed for some! In fact it will be in all cars in 2022.
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced the manufactures of 99% of U.S. automobiles had agreed to include automatic emergency braking systems as p[standard on virtually all new cars sold in the U.S. by 2022.”
Until then or when laws and insurance companies treat using a phone while driving like DUI, I think collision avoidance is a useful feature- needed for some! In fact it will be in all cars in 2022.
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced the manufactures of 99% of U.S. automobiles had agreed to include automatic emergency braking systems as p[standard on virtually all new cars sold in the U.S. by 2022.”
Last edited by JerryU; 10-06-2018 at 09:41 PM.
