View Poll Results: Are you Happy with yout A8 Decision?
Voters: 234. You may not vote on this poll
Auto Owners Only - Are You Happy With the A8?
03-20-2019, 10:17 AM
#41
Up until this car, all of my previous Corvettes were manuals. Manuals are more fun, but the harsh reality of living in Southern California is daily traffic jams, and frankly, driving a stick in heavy traffic is a PIA. So given that reality, I don't regret buying an automatic.
Phil
Phil
03-20-2019, 11:24 AM
#43
Looking at Kelley blue book values for equivalent C7 cars in manual and automatic transmission, it appears that manuals are holding their value better than automatics. However depending where you live...they may be harder to sell. When I ask local Carmax...they say no difference in trade in for either...
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V Vette (03-20-2019)
03-20-2019, 11:48 AM
#45
Racer
03-20-2019, 11:50 AM
#46
Instructor
Why do some people turn these polls into "this is better than yours' attitudes? Who gives a Sh*t what you think is better, if your happy we are happy. For example, there was a new Vette owner the other day who was proud to show the new car, guess what, a member decided to show what he got and posted a picture of his car??? No wonder we all can't get along and we ALL have Corvettes! Geesh!
03-20-2019, 12:04 PM
#48
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Nov 2015
Location: Lake Havasu City Arizona
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I swing both ways. (On the transmission 
)
When I looked for my car there were certain items I wanted and found one that fit the bill. I didn't care if it was auto or manual. I might get a manual on the next one just for a change of pace. Mine has 93,000 miles on it and has been perfect. But others with the A8 have had major issues. I know it's a minority, but it makes me a little leery.
)When I looked for my car there were certain items I wanted and found one that fit the bill. I didn't care if it was auto or manual. I might get a manual on the next one just for a change of pace. Mine has 93,000 miles on it and has been perfect. But others with the A8 have had major issues. I know it's a minority, but it makes me a little leery.
Last edited by joemessman; 03-20-2019 at 12:04 PM.
03-20-2019, 12:10 PM
#49
Racer
Well said!! I would actually post more but it gets old when some knuckleheads have to always be looking to start an argument. I’m not overly sensitive, thin skinned, or any other label one pins on me. I’m just interested in learning more about my Corvette and reading what others have experienced along the way.
03-20-2019, 02:33 PM
#50
Race Director
Only18% of american drivers can operate a manual according to US News & World Report so market is so much smaller than for a A8.
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V Vette (03-20-2019)
03-20-2019, 03:10 PM
#51
Posted something earlier but for some reason it did not show up. I did a search on Kelley blue book values for equivalent automatic and manual C7 cars and it appears that the manual transmission versions have less depreciation over the years. But depending on the area...you may find it harder to sell. I also checked with Carmax and they indicate no difference in trade in to Carmax for Auto vs Manual C7 Corvettes. Just thought I would share...
Last edited by Blue Curvette; 03-20-2019 at 03:11 PM.
03-20-2019, 03:44 PM
#52
Burning Brakes
I sometimes miss having a manual, but I test-drove the M7 and A8 back-to-back before buying. Didn't like 7 gears- was too confusing.
If I wanted to go back to a manual- I'd get the 6 speed Camaro over the M7 Vette
If I wanted to go back to a manual- I'd get the 6 speed Camaro over the M7 Vette
03-20-2019, 03:51 PM
#53
What I think would be interesting is to know the AGE of the people that like the idea of a manual trans.
If I had to take a shot in the dark guess I would think they are at LEAST 50+.
On the other hand I suspect that anyone under the age of 50 is far more likely to say give me an auto or even better give me a dual clutch (IE C8 Corvette).
If I had to take a shot in the dark guess I would think they are at LEAST 50+.
On the other hand I suspect that anyone under the age of 50 is far more likely to say give me an auto or even better give me a dual clutch (IE C8 Corvette).
03-20-2019, 03:52 PM
#54
Le Mans Master
What I think would be interesting is to know the AGE of the people that like the idea of a manual trans.
If I had to take a shot in the dark guess I would think they are at LEAST 50+.
On the other hand I suspect that anyone under the age of 50 is far more likely to say give me an auto or even better give me a dual clutch (IE C8 Corvette).
If I had to take a shot in the dark guess I would think they are at LEAST 50+.
On the other hand I suspect that anyone under the age of 50 is far more likely to say give me an auto or even better give me a dual clutch (IE C8 Corvette).
03-20-2019, 07:08 PM
#55
Racer
True but I don't think the "been there done that" argument works with this M7 crowd - it really doesn't matter how many manuals you have had in the past OR might presently have in your collection at this time.
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V Vette (03-20-2019)
03-20-2019, 08:03 PM
#57
The age thing is right, I have owned 8 Corvettes in my lifetime starting in 1968. All seven previous Vetts were 4 speeds, my C7 Z06 is the first Auto trans because I’m old and want to enjoy my ride during my upcoming retirement this June. The A8 is perfect for me😁
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V Vette (03-20-2019)
03-20-2019, 08:46 PM
#58
Race Director
What I think would be interesting is to know the AGE of the people that like the idea of a manual trans.
If I had to take a shot in the dark guess I would think they are at LEAST 50+.
On the other hand I suspect that anyone under the age of 50 is far more likely to say give me an auto or even better give me a dual clutch (IE C8 Corvette).
If I had to take a shot in the dark guess I would think they are at LEAST 50+.
On the other hand I suspect that anyone under the age of 50 is far more likely to say give me an auto or even better give me a dual clutch (IE C8 Corvette).
I taught my three daughters to drive with the understanding they couldn't drive anything until they could drive everything. So they learned to drive a stick and had to be able to drive in reverse as good as forward. Two of the 3 first cars were sticks. I figured less chance of friends (or more boyfriends) driving their cars.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; 03-20-2019 at 08:57 PM.
03-20-2019, 09:01 PM
#59
It's not without its flaws but its not as bad as everyone cracks it up to be. I would have gotten the m7 but got the A8 it due to arthritis (I'm 31) and yes I have the warble and shudder. Still, I love the way it shifts (on paddles) and those two problems don't really bother me much since my driving habits helps me avoid them.
03-20-2019, 09:31 PM
#60
Melting Slicks
After owning nothing but manuals for 35 years I bought a 2015 Stingray A8 in 2015 for two reasons: I found a new car in stock at a nearby dealer with all the options I wanted except the M7 and I knew modern slushboxes were excellent performers. My last one was a THM in a 1971 Camaro, so I decided to try something different, but my attitude began to deteriorate on the drive home from the dealer when I first noticed an odd shudder at times. It reminded me of a bad U-joint and reporting to the dealer was unproductive since it was early in the A8 life cycle and there was little or no service history on the problems familiar to all of us now. In the first month I couldn't reproduce the shudder again but as time progressed I started noticing it and the tach fluctuations on rare occasions, but not frequently enough to demonstrate it to a dealer. After 18 months it began to get worse and at the two year mark had the TC replaced along with the 3X flush.
On top of all that my car also had the delayed engagement issue plaguing some A8s, but it only occurred about every three months and I could never reproduce it while at a dealer. Even though the tranny was out for the TC swap, GM would not fix the delayed engagement problem because I couldn't reproduce the behavior at a dealer. To add insult to injury, when picking the car up after the TC service it wouldn't go into gear immediately and of course no one was around to witness it. Since it was a sporadic problem I knew it wouldn't repeat it, so I didn't even bother mentioning it to anyone.
So the shudder and tach fluctuation problem was fixed, but the other issue was still there and by that time I had had enough. Reports of people having the TC swap more than once wasn't helping my attitude. What's more I missed shifting and I immediately started car shopping while the car was in the shop. Two weeks later I bought my current m7 GS and life is good again. To answer the question in the thread subject, I consider the A8 to be a good performer and I had no complaints about its behavior or functionality, but the specter of having a repeat experience in the future didn't help my attitude and I wouldn't buy another one. Had I not had all of these problems I would probably still own that car, but I would also miss shifting. The TC problems are what pushed me over the edge and back to my destiny of being shifty person once again.
On top of all that my car also had the delayed engagement issue plaguing some A8s, but it only occurred about every three months and I could never reproduce it while at a dealer. Even though the tranny was out for the TC swap, GM would not fix the delayed engagement problem because I couldn't reproduce the behavior at a dealer. To add insult to injury, when picking the car up after the TC service it wouldn't go into gear immediately and of course no one was around to witness it. Since it was a sporadic problem I knew it wouldn't repeat it, so I didn't even bother mentioning it to anyone.
So the shudder and tach fluctuation problem was fixed, but the other issue was still there and by that time I had had enough. Reports of people having the TC swap more than once wasn't helping my attitude. What's more I missed shifting and I immediately started car shopping while the car was in the shop. Two weeks later I bought my current m7 GS and life is good again. To answer the question in the thread subject, I consider the A8 to be a good performer and I had no complaints about its behavior or functionality, but the specter of having a repeat experience in the future didn't help my attitude and I wouldn't buy another one. Had I not had all of these problems I would probably still own that car, but I would also miss shifting. The TC problems are what pushed me over the edge and back to my destiny of being shifty person once again.
Last edited by iclick; 03-21-2019 at 08:31 PM.