Trebor

2014 A6 stingray, 23,000 miles. Purchased late last summer. I'm the second owner. I enjoy using the paddle shifters, but I have noticed when down shifting the lower gears 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 from say 40 mph the shifts seem harsh, not smooth. I noticed the computer never shifts to first gear if I don't shift and just brake it goes to 2nd. So I started only going down to 2nd when downshifting to a stop. Has anyone personally experienced or heard that paddle shifting accelerates the demise of the transmission?

Vetteman Jack

Have not heard of any detrimental effect from paddle shifting unless you are doing something totally wrong.

And yes, if you let the car downshift by itself in manual mode, it only goes to 2nd.

Devereaux

UNLESS you come to a COMPLETE STOP, when it will shift to 1.

bearone2

no, only 2nd!!

DoubleG

yeah, mine never goes to 1st

DoubleG

Same car as you but with 55k miles. As long as you are shifting in a common sense rpm range ( I would also think the computer wouldn't let you if it was wrong) it should be smooth. Mine is except when going into second. It is a little rough, but I usually stop downshifting after third. But when downshifting from 40 mph, you would be good. Mine revs and sinks in with the speed smoothly. Is your tranny fluid needing to be changed?

Always Red Dave

It actually helps with not letting the car go in ECO mode which has caused A8 Tranny problems. I only use paddle shift mode in my A8 C7.

UpNorthC7

Yes. At the risk of insulting someone, who buys a Corvette to drive it in ECO mode?

ZMC2001

I totally agree, but I could see where it would be helpful/save fuel cost if going on long road trips or long highway cruises. I have never done it and actually I got rid of the entire AFM/DOD/VVT system as soon as I could. Complete liability in my opinion with how many DOD lifters have failed. To answer the OPs question, I mainly drive mine in manual as well and I don't think you are going to hurt the transmission by doing it. Maybe if your letting it wind out to 6500rpm every shift, but if just using it for normal driving and shifting up around 2500rpm and downshifting around 1500ish rpm, you shouldn't have an issue in my opinion.

kodpkd

I have the 2014 A6. Started hearing about the trans issues. I started using the paddle shifters when driving in town. I believe the trans will shift about half as much, than if you use the automatic mode. When I started using the paddle shifters, I would down shift at higher rpm's vrooooooom, that is fun. I decided this probably isn't a good thing over the long term. When just putsing around town I wait until the RPM's get close to 1000 before down shifting. You can hardly tell it's shifting. I do get a bit of a hard shift going into second, I think the nature of the beast. On the highway I use the auto mode most of the time. I also wait until it's warmed up to get aggressive.

DoubleG

I don't like auto mode because I'm constantly in 6th gear even if I'm only going 50mph. It should never be in 6th gear that low when it's good for 180mph. I don't like lugging an engine if I can avoid it. It's bad for mechanical components. I always try to keep my rpms around 2000 in normal driving. That's just me and yes I also believe it shifts less when in manual compared to auto

Vetteman Jack

Mine stops in 2nd and if you want first gear, a pull on the - paddle will get it into first.

Skid Row Joe

No.

aklim

What would you be doing? If you are long distance cruising where you engage cruise control and let it go, why not? In the city? Probably not. If you don't have to burn it, I guess the question is "why not"?

aklim

Is it lugging? I never noticed it lug in any gear the car shifts to.

DoubleG

I'll be specific. Driving 50 on a flat road at a constant velocity in 6th gear....no I don't hear it lugging (I know the stress is increased on the mechanical components compared to 5th gear though because that's just physics). Now if I hit a small incline without a real big need to accelerate more, I hear the engine lug mildly (even if I do accelerate slightly, it won't shift gears so this increases the stress even more). Since the engine torque is so high, I know I don't have to compensate, but the added stress on the engine isn't needed. AND given the notorious torque tube issue, I'm going to avoid lugging stress. It all adds up.

BWF07

Your 2014 is equipped with the same transmission that was in the C6. I had a C6 for 11 years and paddle shifted 90% of the time. So, of you are in the manual mode and you simply let the trans do the down shifting, it will never go into first unless you manual do it. As for the downshifting, if you are going to fast it will not allow the downshift. same as on upshifts, if you are going to slow it will not allow the upshift. I can say anything about the harsh shifts, because my C6 had a tune that also included the transmission.

bearone2

aklim

I'm a little fuzzy on this one. Isn't more power sent from the engine at a higher rpm than at a lower rpm? IOW, at a give speed, rpm in 6th gear is lower than in 5. So aren't you pushing more power from the engine? If so, why would it be less stressful in 5 than 6? I agree that if there is lugging, it will stress the drivetrain more but I thought the torque tube problem is from the engine and exhaust heat toasting the guibo? Supposedly, after 15 there is some sort of improved heat shielding but I'm not totally sure if that fixed the issue. I thought of going with the carbon fiber one if I had to change the TT but if the rubber pieces are going to fail, what would the point be? Someone suggested changing to a solid one but that means I have to choose between daily harshness and longevity vs a short but comfortable life. Hoping there is a better answer when it is my time to change the TT but I am skeptical that there will be.

DoubleG

"I know the stress is increased on the mechanical components compared to 5th gear"

All gears do is make the work done by the engine easier to transfer. You said, "at a give speed, rpm in 6th gear is lower than in 5. So aren't you pushing more power from the engine?" Actually no. You give the engine the "potential" to push more power by increasing to 6th gear, but in 6th gear the engine is working harder to produce the same work compared to 5th at the same speed. That's why it's easier on the engine at 50 mph in 5th gear than in 6th. It's just like a block and tackle system. I think you already know all this and I'm not going to get into rpm ranges.

The torque tube issue is due to vibration from the engine, especially in V4 mode. That is according to the youtube video where the corvette engineer is explaining the car. That's why the rubber dampeners fail. Heat might be a factor too, but it's not the main reason. Hence, I don't want to introduce extra vibrations into the drivetrain if I don't have to (yes, V4 mode is already tuned out on my car). I also don't want to add stress and wear to my bearings and other mechanical components just because. I don't care if it comes to racing because rpm's are always in a good range for transferring power. It's normal driving where the automatic tranny has me in 6th gear when I'm doing 40 mph.

You might have said this wrong, but your statement contradicts itself, "Isn't more power sent from the engine at a higher rpm than at a lower rpm? IOW, at a give speed, rpm in 6th gear is lower than in 5. So aren't you pushing more power from the engine? If so, why would it be less stressful in 5 than 6?" Because more torque is available at a higher rpm, which makes "work" easier which means less stress. That's why I say it's better to be in 5th than 6th at 50 mph.

Yeah, I don't understand changing TT material like to carbon fiber. The whole problem is the dampeners on each end.

I admit that I might be a little more aware of this because at the moment I have a spark knock problem with the engine under load. It makes it easier to tell when load increases on my engine. I need to check my spark knock sensors and yes it does give me a code. But my whole life I've never liked "lugging an engine". My dad was a drag racer so maybe that's why I like speed and power.