Manual or Automatic
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 511
Likes: 12
From: Parkville Maryland
[QUOTE=robertbrucef;1587134778]
My first car was an automatic, not by choice, it was given to me. Every thing I have ever owned since, had a clutch.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 26,794
Likes: 614
From: Elmhurst, IL (West Suburb of Chicago) & Home of MEGA Horsepower
St. Jude Donor '06
If my left (clutch knee) was not so arthritic and if I was not into drag racing I would say Manual all day long. 
BUT, my left knee is very arthritic and I LOVE drag racing, so auto it will be!
BUT, my left knee is very arthritic and I LOVE drag racing, so auto it will be!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Bradenton Florida
I prefer to eat my ice cream cone without worrying about shifting!!! LOL.
Seriously though, I have a lame left leg which couldn't handle a clutch without tremendous strain. Glad to see the Z06 now has options for the disabled too.
Seriously though, I have a lame left leg which couldn't handle a clutch without tremendous strain. Glad to see the Z06 now has options for the disabled too.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 70
Likes: 5
From: Santa Rosa cal
Hi, My concern is the auto on the z06 will it have 2 modes
1, leave it in auto mode it dose the changing for you
2- put it in manual mode and drive it like a manual g/box using the paddles
I'd like to see a video showing the response times and operations of the auto box
on track and on town driving.
1, leave it in auto mode it dose the changing for you
2- put it in manual mode and drive it like a manual g/box using the paddles
I'd like to see a video showing the response times and operations of the auto box
on track and on town driving.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
My current C7 is a manual, however, my Z06 will be the 8 Speed Auto. I was at a Corvette Show in Annapolis, Md. last Saturday. On average, 7 out of 10 Vettes were Automatics. I walked every row of cars and this was the case. There was 8, C7's present and six were Autos. I would have never thought this would be the case.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,312
Likes: 72
From: East Amherst NY
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 604
Likes: 129
Only manuals for me. I had ACL surgery and was back driving my manual in less than a month. For me, some pain is better than an automatic transmission.
BUT I agree that if I was into drag racing, I'd go with the automatic. They are much easier to consistently reproduce your times.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 183
From: Evansville IN
How will GM market the 8 spd auto? I hav'nt had an auto since my 89 Z28.(1989) I like the 7 spd I have now in my C7 Z51 but this A8 sounds awesome. (for road courses) I would like to drive one before I buy but that's not gonna happen. I did drive a friends A6 C7 and liked it. It shifted much quicker than I expected. Guess I'll have to buy and hope I like it just like I did with my C7!!!
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
I had tons of manual cars in my past but moved to real hilly place with lots of traffic now and sold off my 08 z06. I bought SL55 which doesn't come with full manual option and like it just fine and lately picked up my 911 turbo with auto. Big difference to me is you can manually shift the autos but full manual is full manual. I agree a bit that you do get a bit more of that "driving feel" from full manuals but I don't personally need a clutch pedal to feel like a man.
I plan on getting an auto c7 base or z06 within next year or two . May get a c6 auto base
or grand sport to tide me over if price was right. I would consider a full manual car possibly bit more once try out the hill assist feature that is on the new corvettes but still think will be going auto in pretty much all my future cars. I do have a hard on though for a Viper and so far they are only offered in full manual and don't even have hill assist although they have put that on Challenger and would think Viper would get it sooner or later. But maybe Viper will also come with auto option.
Its great when companies offer people both full manual and auto option like GM is doing. That is the smart way to do it. Viper is being stubborn only offering full manual. Almost all the high end cars like Porsche, Ferrari, Lambo etc come with autos some no longer come with full manual option anymore. I still think both ways is best . Let guys have what they want.
I plan on getting an auto c7 base or z06 within next year or two . May get a c6 auto base
or grand sport to tide me over if price was right. I would consider a full manual car possibly bit more once try out the hill assist feature that is on the new corvettes but still think will be going auto in pretty much all my future cars. I do have a hard on though for a Viper and so far they are only offered in full manual and don't even have hill assist although they have put that on Challenger and would think Viper would get it sooner or later. But maybe Viper will also come with auto option.
Its great when companies offer people both full manual and auto option like GM is doing. That is the smart way to do it. Viper is being stubborn only offering full manual. Almost all the high end cars like Porsche, Ferrari, Lambo etc come with autos some no longer come with full manual option anymore. I still think both ways is best . Let guys have what they want.
Haha, so Kelowna is Hill -Billy central. I lived in Reve a few years back.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,084
Likes: 3,056
From: CA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,328
Likes: 405
What bothers me about the manual is the lack of advancements over the past 50 years. As they've added 5th and then 6th and now 7th gear, they were all overdrive gears. If you look at the 4-speed transmission gear ratios from the 60's, the first four gear ratios of the M7 are almost the same with 4th gear of course being exactly the same. For all the weight gained with the M7, there was no performance gain whatsoever. It's now just as heavy as the A8 and the technology applied to the A8 returns fuel economy on par with the M7...manual transmissions have gone backwards with respect to performance as far as I'm concerned. An M22 from the 60's would perform better on track than the M7 due to it being 100 Lbs lighter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 615
From: Springfield TN
If you spend any time on Porsche boards, you will have noted there have been some real issues with PDK--not often, but when there are problems, these transmissions cannot be repaired here in the states and Porsche replaces the trans with a new unit, which will be huge bucks when warranty expires. Do you dare track such an expensive item?
If you get the new 8L90E and doubly if you track it, what is its durability and what does it cost to service? I suspect it will run pretty well, but it may have real heat and durability issues. Will Chevy cover you for track failures on this trans? (Chevy has stepped up on the warranty issue with track use pretty well, as well know.) If you track, do you want to wait a year or two and see how the 8L90E does, or do you just get a new Z as soon as possible?
In theory, I would like the auto with paddles. I can forget about my clutch and stick, but---will the auto hold up on the track? Only time will tell....
P.S. Does anybody else long for a sequential manual box? Seems like a great compromise to me.
If you get the new 8L90E and doubly if you track it, what is its durability and what does it cost to service? I suspect it will run pretty well, but it may have real heat and durability issues. Will Chevy cover you for track failures on this trans? (Chevy has stepped up on the warranty issue with track use pretty well, as well know.) If you track, do you want to wait a year or two and see how the 8L90E does, or do you just get a new Z as soon as possible?
In theory, I would like the auto with paddles. I can forget about my clutch and stick, but---will the auto hold up on the track? Only time will tell....
P.S. Does anybody else long for a sequential manual box? Seems like a great compromise to me.
Last edited by quick04Z06; Jun 23, 2014 at 03:06 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 616
Likes: 156
From: West Lafayette Indiana
I have not had a Z06 in the past because no automatic was available. This is the first time I have really been tempted to move up to the Z06.
I have driven many manual transmissions in my life but I want an automatic if I can get the money to get a Z06.
I have driven many manual transmissions in my life but I want an automatic if I can get the money to get a Z06.
