CorvetteBrent

One can only imagine how eagerly Russian hackers and/or hackers affiliated with various terrorist groups are salivating at the prospect of hacking into automated or self-driving car networks and causing a line of 1000 of those cars to pile up on a freeway, for example. Does anybody doubt that, with enough persistence, those bad people can figure out a way to do that? Given enough time and knowledge, anything can be hacked into.

CorvetteBrent

Yes, there are several cars out there with both a paddle shift and a lever.

joemessman

I agree with you all the way. I used to get paid to try and hack computer networks in order to harden their security. And it is truly amazing how much lack of security there is out there. Listening to some of the reliable futurists on various podcasts, etc., it seems the default for all cars within 15 years will be to self drive.

CorvetteBrent

I see your point, and while it may be generally correct, there are exceptions. For example, I recently met a wealthy local businessman who sold his Lamborghini Gallardo to buy a new Corvette ZO6. He explained that, while he could easily afford the Gallardo's $3400 oil changes (rear clip must be removed to change the oil), he was sick and tired of the Gallardo's unreliability requiring it to spend 9 months pf every year in the dealer's shop awaiting parts and repairs. He remarked that he bought a ZO6 because he wanted a car he could jump into and drive anywhere in America without an overriding fear of breaking down. He added that he believed the ZO6 was capable of racking up 150,000 miles without a re-build, unlike a Gallardo.

JerryU

Was searching for what shifters looked like in a DCT.

Found this very interesting video that shows one (although not in a performance car the computer logic it describes is interesting.)

It does show a shift lever much like our conventional automatic BWM X5 SUV. The BMW has steering wheel levers but also a similar shift lever to whet the car in the video uses. You can up or downshift with either. However this "What not to do with the DCT" has useful info. The C8 may use a somewhat different logic but I had wondered how it knew if it should preset in the next higher or next lower gear? He describes the logic. If the assumption its programed to use is incorrect it will just delay the lighting fast shift slightly!

VetteDrmr

That was a really good intro video for someone that has no experience in a DCT/SMG vehicle; thanks!

BTW, does anyone have any knowledge about what kind of job it is to do a clutch job on a DCT system, or how long in normal use a DCT system lasts? I've only had to replace the clutch once in my '00 FRC, after 8 years of autocross and DEs (only a couple of trips to the 1/8 mile), and that was due to a failure of several the PP spring actuator pivots.

TIA, and have a good one,
Mike

ladder13

pdiddy972

I'm sure desirability plays into it as well.

Judgment Day

That's a rather interesting take. I wonder if those same enthusiasts will demand for the return of a manual transmission if it truly isn't available for the upcoming C8 versus just taking their business elsewhere...? It's seemed to have an influence on Porsche, but I'm not sure if that particular Corvette demographic is proactive.

Foosh

I sold my Jaguar F-Type after 18 months and purchased a C7 because I missed having a manual transmission. It isn't available on the V8 F-Type. The paddle-shift auto was excellent, but boring to me, and I just could not make myself love it. The car was flawless otherwise.

If the C8 is not offered as a manual, I'll go with the best sports car still offering it. In the meantime, it will likely motivate me to hold on to my C7 longer than I normally keep cars (3-4 years).

To those making the point that manuals are archaic and that we should embrace new technology, I certainly do when it serves my purpose, and when I find that technology useful and/or enjoyable. However for me, driving a sports car is about fun, and a big part of that fun is manual shifting. Sail boats are archaic too, but it's an awesome experience to enjoy mastering one.

Driverless cars will be the new wave soon, and I suppose we're all supposed to embrace that technology too. Actually having to steer and otherwise maneuver a vehicle will be an archaic concept.

Uh, no, sorry, not for me.

ptalar

I am sure a lot of people cross shop many cars at different levels. Each car has its pros and cons.

ptalar

I have to agree that autonomous cars will be the death knell for many sports cars as we know it. Going autonomous is a much bigger leap in technology that will make many unhappy than going from a manual to auto trans. Sadly, I think autonomous cars will be mandated on us eventually in the name of safety and to line the insurance company pockets. Vettes, Ferraris, Porsches that we know will be left to collectors on display or relegated to special tracks to be driven as occasional entertainment just as horseback riding is relegated to horse trails.

kennyjames21

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.

Foosh

A lot of folks talk in terms of manual sales of C7s being "only" or "down to" 20-ish%. That's still 8,000 cars a year, which is more than the number of cars (not SUVs) that Porsche sells annually in the US. I just can't see GM risking that many sales in the 2-seat sports car segment. Sure, if there's no choice, some will settle for a DCT, but a lot of die-hards like myself will not.

BlackHoleGravity

I suspect if the C8 kicks major *ss, a lot of manual only folks might change their mind. There aren't a ton of manual options out there for top performance cars.

LT1 Z51

The death of manuals in performance cars was caused by two things, in my opinion.

1. Europeans focusing on technology and having the "best" and "fastest" which leads you to the car shifting its self and the transmission being integrated into other systems.
2. Asia and the Middle East becoming the main drivers (and buyers) of ultra luxury products. Manual transmissions there are viewed as a poor people's item and so the rich don;t want to learn that skill.

If you think about it look at the sales of Ferrari, Lambo, Aston, and McLaren in the world region wise. Then look at the manual transmission markets in those places. Only in the US, and to a limited degree in Europe are manuals looked at as a "superior skill" product. The V10 M5 only got a manual because of the outrage the US had over the SMG. The current gen has no manual, and doesn't even have a DCT anymore.

However there is hope, the rich always want what is exclusive. Eventually manual transmissions will become "boutique" and at that point the rich will want them. But driving your own car at that point will also become "boutique" as will human interfaces (instead of machines, think how you have to pay extra to talk to a bank teller now).

Judgment Day

Also note that the average was brought down to 20-25% since, as with all generational vehicles, sells less as it ages. It was essentially 1 out of 3 (instead of 1/4 or 1/5) upon release for the first couple of years when people "had" to get it. The Z06 in particular was over 50% for manual transmission in its first year of production.

SuperdadZ06

I am with you and will not settle. If I cant get a manual sports car I will get a sports sedan like the RS7 I have already and live with that

mschuyler

Don't autos already do that? Nobody is arguing that autos aren't "faster." After all, all you have to do is mash down the gas pedal and steer straight. It's not rocket science. There's nothing else for you to do.It's just one more step to a self-driving car. Then you can just sit in the car and enjoy the ride like you would on a bus or a train. Both may "kick ***," but is that really the point?

falcon5619

Agreed. The issue is not really about whether the auto performs better it is about the level of driving engagement. For me, the Corvette is a sensory car. Top down, V8 rumble and exhaust note and rowing your own gears. I have tried autos and paddle shifting and it just isn't the same as using a clutch and shifting yourself. I bought a 2016 Camaro 2SS with the A8. The first week I was like wow this transmission is nice, shifts fast, the paddle shifts still had too much delay but I didn't enjoy paddle shifting anyway. About a month later I was bored to tears. Sold it for an M7 Stingray and had a big smile on my face again.

You either love the driving engagement of a manual or don't. I respect that but it will be a sad day when there is no manual transmission in a sports car like the Corvette. If it is a financial issue then they should just flip the sales model and instead of charging extra for the auto, make the auto standard and then charge for the manual for those enthusiasts that prefer it.