davepl

It seems to me that one of the most common questions is from people considering the auto but wondering if others who have done so have any regrets. That's always met with opinions from the M7 drivers. So I thought it might be interesting to hear JUST from the automatic owners for a moment:

I made it public to keep the M7 guys from all voting!

thompstl1

I had a ZL1 Camaro with the 10-speed auto, and it spoiled me a bit to what an auto is actually capable of. However, I like the 8-speed a lot too. I've had more manual Corvettes than automatic and they each have attributes I enjoy.

LanceVette

Very pleased with mine. No problems. I'm glad I opted for the auto.

V Vette

All my previous cars were stick, now an Automatic and I'm loving it with paddle shifting option and a remote start key fob!

nightroddersp

I spend a lot of time in traffic jams. Love playing with a standard on the open roads, but hate highway and tunnel rolling parking lots. I know there is a possible issue with the A8 but like other cars, they will have problems too. I will enjoy it as long as it last.

jbenderl

2019, 3500 miles, very happy happy with the A8.

vader86

I spend too much time in traffic and my legs are too long to really work a manual in a C7, but the A8 could be improved.

Rebel Yell

I will say my first A8 (2016) was a bit screwy, but the one in my '19 is much much better. Quite happy with it now.

orca1946

Very happy in the 8 speed and shift when I want to.

Flame Red

I know - only a handful of us had A8 problem. 99.999999999% are perfect.

But my A8 was replaced with 100 miles on the clock and I have a feeling I am not the only one with the A8 shudder despite everything the fanboys say. Not just the Vette but across the whole GM product line.

Go with the manual and don't look back.

jbenderl

My previous response about being happy with A8 was not complete. I am happy with it in 'manu-matic' mode. It allows me to control the engine, shifts are very smooth, and it brings out the character in the car. It may not shift as quickly as the dual-clutch trannys, but the behavior is deterministic so you can easily learn how the transmission behaves and let the 'human brain computer' compensate.

In full automatic mode, I am not happy. AFM sucks. Let me repeat - AFM sucks (hello Chevy!!!). Constant shudder and vibrations, which all go away in manumatic mode. Also, the tranny always wants to be in 8th gear, so I am always fight against it for spirited driving.

ricks327

Love the A8. If I want a manual I have 2 others to choose from. 2017 Z51 with 11,000 trouble free miles.

Patman

I put down that I love the A8 but do sometimes miss the manual as I've owned about a 50/50 mix of manual and automatic high performance cars in my lifetime. I enjoy them each for different reasons. I got the A8 on this Corvette because my C6 was a manual and when I bought that car I promised my wife the next one would be automatic so she could drive it again. Even though I do enjoy driving a manual, I don't regret getting the A8 at all, it is an amazing transmission that shifts super fast at full throttle, but shifts very smoothly when you're driving normally. Having 8 speeds means it's never out of the powerband (unlike with my C5 which was an A4) I have 9700 miles on mine now and it has been flawless, hopefully it stays that way.

JC7

its damn good!

Carvin

Mine's great. Doesn't go into 4 cyl mode so much since it's a Z. 35K miles.

marsheng

2019 A8, Love my A8 ,full throttle shifts sound like a shotgun going off with the top down and are super fast.

Exia

My A8 has been great. I had a 2016 Camaro A8 that would do rough 1-2 shifts once a day but my 'Vette has had no issues. No rough shifts, no problems with AFM, its all seemless. My only gripe is the slower response when used in manual mode.

I'll soon be going M7 though because I want to be more involved in the drive. The A8 has fulfilled my expectations of a torque converter automatic but it can never replicate rowing your own gears.

BKorsaire

I was a strong supporter of the manual gearbox and the Corvette Z is the first automatic I've had. Now, I wouldn't change for anything in the world against an M gearbox. Anyway, all cars in this category are or will be automatic, look at Ferrari and Porsche...my wife appreciates the gear change without the brutality of my ex C6 GS. I hesitate so long timd before takin a decision but now 0 regret. I use my Vador only with the paddle.

javenius

I had a 2015 Z51 Vert with the M7. Drove it for 4 years and 40,000 miles up and down the east coast several times. Loved it but the wife couldn't drive it and being retired we are now taking long trips.

Traded it for a 2019 Grand Sport Vert A8 with Mike Furman in November 2018. 1400 miles now and I love the A8. Very smooth and fast! No regrets.

Jim

speed4tu

I jumped in here even tho I am no longer an A8 owner. Just traded my A8 Z51 a few weeks ago for an M7 Z06. The A8 was good for a while but once I got to 9-10k miles it was a constant shudder issue. I'm not one to keep carrying a new car back and forth for repair, traded for the Manual and couldn't be happier. I've always done manual sports cars and gave an auto a chance. Big mistake. Unless its a dual clutch next time I will not go back auto.