View Poll Results: Hiw does the 7SMT shifts?
Very easy to shift, no issues
36
87.80%
Sometimes I miss shifts, not very accurate
5
12.20%
Very often missing shifts
0
0%
Voters: 41. You may not vote on this poll
7 SMT difficulty to shift?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 793
Likes: 142
From: Texas
7 SMT difficulty to shift?
Hi all my C7 Z51 had an AT. I have experience driving MT in other cars 4, 5 or 6MT and now planning to go back to drive a MT. Is there any difficulty of driving with the 7MT like missing shifts?
Last edited by 911Hunter; Dec 28, 2025 at 07:45 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
Only like most manuals where its cold and notchy when you first start the car up.
Otherwise the hardest things are shifting down from 7 to 5 and maybe sometimes hitting 7 instead of 5 when coming from 4. But that's only if you're ripping it through the gears.
Otherwise the hardest things are shifting down from 7 to 5 and maybe sometimes hitting 7 instead of 5 when coming from 4. But that's only if you're ripping it through the gears.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 209
Likes: 276
Saying so, I can go up to 5th and that is low rpms at highway speed limit, I don't really shift till 6th or 7th. I use to miss a bit when going into 5th , sometimes I would engage 7th by mistake. But now that I changed the box to a MGW short throw, I don't miss shifts anymore. Also, if playing with the rev match, the transmission follows your intention, so if you are revving up and change gear it naturally goes to the next, but if you are idling or decelerating goes back
Last edited by PicaVette; Dec 28, 2025 at 08:26 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 569
From: Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
I've driven manuals all my life...my C3 M4 was super clunky...the C5 M6 smooth but had a quirk that it would jump out of first if you didn't press it in firmly enough. Had other brands as well but to be honest the C7 M7 is one of the smoothest gearshifts I've driven over the past half century. I know some owners have mentioned it not being so...perhaps it's isolated to the odd case? Regardless I love it and enjoy it every time I drive it (which is daily for the 8-9 non-winter months here).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
This is the issue with these threads, you will get a bunch of people who say things are fine.
Maybe I'm a pessimist, but nothing is fine, everything can be better. To say something works, to me is to say its absolutely perfect and has no issues. I don't think that's feasible. Probably we all are saying the same things here, and you're not going to really get an answer. Unless you're looking for its not absolute garbage, in that case. True its not. The thing shifts absolutely normal and works as you'd expect.
You'd need to probably give some examples of things you'd find unacceptable.
Maybe I'm a pessimist, but nothing is fine, everything can be better. To say something works, to me is to say its absolutely perfect and has no issues. I don't think that's feasible. Probably we all are saying the same things here, and you're not going to really get an answer. Unless you're looking for its not absolute garbage, in that case. True its not. The thing shifts absolutely normal and works as you'd expect.
You'd need to probably give some examples of things you'd find unacceptable.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 126
From: Missouri
This is the issue with these threads, you will get a bunch of people who say things are fine.
Maybe I'm a pessimist, but nothing is fine, everything can be better. To say something works, to me is to say its absolutely perfect and has no issues. I don't think that's feasible. Probably we all are saying the same things here, and you're not going to really get an answer. Unless you're looking for its not absolute garbage, in that case. True its not. The thing shifts absolutely normal and works as you'd expect.
You'd need to probably give some examples of things you'd find unacceptable.
Maybe I'm a pessimist, but nothing is fine, everything can be better. To say something works, to me is to say its absolutely perfect and has no issues. I don't think that's feasible. Probably we all are saying the same things here, and you're not going to really get an answer. Unless you're looking for its not absolute garbage, in that case. True its not. The thing shifts absolutely normal and works as you'd expect.
You'd need to probably give some examples of things you'd find unacceptable.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 897
From: CONCORD CA.
I've had the issue with my C7 (7 spd manual) and previous C6 (6 spd manual). I have to really be careful when shifting aggressively from 2 to 3 gear. I had a more than a few times getting hung up here. Not sure if an aftermarket shifter would address this.
Otherwise, the only other time I have an issue, is when the gear box is cold (very notchy). Once it's up to temp, the 7 spd shifts great.
Otherwise, the only other time I have an issue, is when the gear box is cold (very notchy). Once it's up to temp, the 7 spd shifts great.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 1,149
From: Wauconda Il
No worries with the 7 speed manual. It shifts fine you may hit 5 instead of 7th occasionally buts that’s about it.Thats the only problem I ever had. It shifts pretty easily into gear with long throws. When I switched over to the MGW short shifter the shifts were much shorter, but felt a little notcher if that makes any sense. I love my MGW shifter though
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 76
Likes: 60
Sometimes when driving on the street I won't pull it into 2nd hard enough and it'll pop out.
It's not the worst shifting manual I've ever driven but it's far from the best.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 793
Likes: 142
From: Texas
I test drove a C7 Stingray with the 7MT, and frankly after missing some shifts while driving, I prefer the more accurate shifting of the 6MT Tremec in the Camaro, never missed a shift, very precise.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 321
Likes: 55
From: Knoxville TN
Biggest issue is going into second until the transmission is fully warmed up. Very difficult and notchy. the only issue I've had with missing shifts is during a track session where you need to pay attention especially on going into 3rd or 5th.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,910
Likes: 1,955
From: Colo Spgs, CO
My wife and I have never owned anything but 3-pedal vehicles. (Hard to do, but both of us strongly prefer them.)
I've optimized most with a combination of 2-3 minor mods - MGW (or similar) shifter, braided stainless clutch line, and Amsoil SS ATF. Obviously, YMMV.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 1,334
From: Kingston, Ontario
First gear can pop out when its cold if you aren't assertive at putting it in gear. I don't have that issue with my Camaro.
Because its a 7 speed the distance between gates is smaller and its common for people learning the car to miss 5th and hit 7th. This is just something you get used to, doesn't take long. 1-4 aren't an issue and 6th is easy since you can't go further right as reverse is locked out. 7th feels like a reach but not any more than 6th in my Camaro. 5th is the only one that might slip you up.
I have a Camaro as well and its easier to shift because its only 6 gears, the 7 takes maybe a day or two of ownership to get used to due to the extra gear. Its a non issue once you drive it a little.
Because its a 7 speed the distance between gates is smaller and its common for people learning the car to miss 5th and hit 7th. This is just something you get used to, doesn't take long. 1-4 aren't an issue and 6th is easy since you can't go further right as reverse is locked out. 7th feels like a reach but not any more than 6th in my Camaro. 5th is the only one that might slip you up.
I have a Camaro as well and its easier to shift because its only 6 gears, the 7 takes maybe a day or two of ownership to get used to due to the extra gear. Its a non issue once you drive it a little.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 139
Likes: 112
From: South Carolina
Got a Grand Sport M7 in Sept, have not had a manual shift since 2010
For me…..no issues
Can not speak for you….Forum Talks about how much better the MGW is over stock, for me stock shifter works well
For me…..no issues
Can not speak for you….Forum Talks about how much better the MGW is over stock, for me stock shifter works well
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 1,212
Likes: 939
From: Georgetown, Tx
There is a moment in time between gear changes where the engine is decoupled from the transmission and the differential. The decoupled components in the traditional drivetrain (Camaro included) are the clutch disk and the transmission input shaft.
But, the decoupled components in the C5 through C7 Corvette are the clutch disk and the internal torque tube components such as, the drive shaft, two flexible joints and the transmission input shaft.
So there is much more rotational mass/energy stored in this decoupled assembly than would be found in the traditional drivetrain setup.
I believe this freewheeling mass in the torque tube spins down slower during the decouple state than found in the traditional setup, (albeit a very short moment in time) accounts for some of the unusual problems we find with the C7 manual transmission. Problems where sometimes a gear may not fully seat and pops out back to neutral, or a gear that may grind a little before seating.
I really like the C7 Z51 performance transmission. Mine still has the OEM shifter with OEM fluid and works great, but it is different.
Even though I've logged a few 100K miles on a manual transmission, I've had to relearn what I thought I knew about 'rowing' through the gear train after driving the C7.
But, the decoupled components in the C5 through C7 Corvette are the clutch disk and the internal torque tube components such as, the drive shaft, two flexible joints and the transmission input shaft.
So there is much more rotational mass/energy stored in this decoupled assembly than would be found in the traditional drivetrain setup.
I believe this freewheeling mass in the torque tube spins down slower during the decouple state than found in the traditional setup, (albeit a very short moment in time) accounts for some of the unusual problems we find with the C7 manual transmission. Problems where sometimes a gear may not fully seat and pops out back to neutral, or a gear that may grind a little before seating.
I really like the C7 Z51 performance transmission. Mine still has the OEM shifter with OEM fluid and works great, but it is different.
Even though I've logged a few 100K miles on a manual transmission, I've had to relearn what I thought I knew about 'rowing' through the gear train after driving the C7.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 11,139
Likes: 1,912
From: Missouri City, TX