What little I've seen from the A8 crowd has been very mild and is always in response to something the M7 crowd started. For the most part, the A8 crowd just sits back and takes it...the M7 crowd is making themselves look bad with their emotional responses, yours included.

 

Your comment about having to "wait" for a downshift/up shift when the TCU thinks the next gear needed is in the opposite direction used to be true, but not anymore at least with DCTs placed in high performance vehicles. If you don't believe me go and drive a new M3/4. Drive it in Sport or Sport + and the DCT in position II or III. Then try and tell me there is any kind of noticeable lag when requesting multiple gear shifts in any direction; it simply doesn't occur. In my F82 M4 I can accelerate hard from say 2nd to 3rd, but even if I then change my mind and request a 3rd to 2nd shift instead of a 3rd to 4th, the gear change is essentially instantaneous. The 'mechatronics' have improved so much in the last five years that even I am amazed at the shift speed in a DCT, and I've been driving 'automated manuals' since my '02 E46 M3.

Bish

 

Who are you to "think" why anybody gets an A8? Are you a mind reader? Who are you to decide what constitutes a "real enthusiast"??? This is the kind of negativity/derogatory comments from the M7 crowd I'm talking about.

BTW, there's no need to double clutch because there are these mechanisms in manual transmissions called synchronizers that match the input/output shaft RPMs for you...welcome to the 21st century. Also, rev matching is part of the heel-and-toe downshift (not heel to toe). And "dumping clutch"...how old are you?

Read the post above yours...

 

Ummm...perhaps you need to go back and read post #27 thoroughly. This began because JerriVette was boasting about the technical superiority of the A8! He then attempted to clarify his point, by saying that by "technically superior" he really meant faster.

Please point me to the post in this thread where someone touts the M7 as being better or technically superior than the A8. Most guys like me that prefer the manual gearbox are willing to concede that the auto can consistently shift faster. But, that doesn't make it a technically superior car. At this stage in the game, who even knows what the track reliability will be with the A8? Therefore, I'll say it again...it was an asinine statement. Completely subjective. Totally unnecessary. Meant to provoke.

Kia introduced a new 7 Speed DCT this year. By virtue of its transmission, shall we assume that Kia's are also technically superior to the archaic M7 Z's?

Again, I don't give a damn what transmission you have, and hope the feeling is mutual. I have several rides with paddles already, and find them somewhat boring most of the time. If I know that I'm going to drive in heavy traffic, I have other auto choices to pick from.

I'm an advocate for choice. Drive what you want, for whatever the reason. But, regardless of your preference don't bring that mine is better than yours crap here. There is already way too much of it.

 

I went with a manual because I'm a road racer and I like the feel of a manual. I plan on doing a bunch of time trials with the car in between my race sch with the car.Drive it to the track and back. Also will drive it as much as possible on the street.But it will never be a DD for me. So until I can drive an A8 on the track its M7 for me. I do hope I will be able to drive an A8 tho to see how good it is. If it's as good as they say and I like it that much I'd sell the M7 and get the A8. I currently race a early 2000's GT1 TA car. Its very fast and light so this will be a big change on the track for me.I'm not used too power brakes,abs, or traction control on a race track.

 

I concur. MY Z06 M7 is going into production tomorrow. white, red int. 3LZ, black wheels, red calipers. I also live in an area with little traffic, and plan to use the car as a "road car" on long trips to BC, CA and OR coasts. MY DD is an H3 so all is good for winter, then the "great white shark" for summer use.

 

I ordered the M7 because I really enjoy the reward of getting it right on-track. I was sorely tempted, though, as the A8 really allows you to play more with left-foot braking. I agree with Preston Lerner, who wrote the following in this month's issue of Automobile:

Corvette engineers insist that the Z06’s eight-speed automatic—no dual-clutch wizardry here, just a conventional torque converter—produces the fastest lap times, even without working the shift paddles on the steering wheel. I have more fun rowing the seven-speed manual in this Z07-spec car, although I reluctantly find myself using the automatic rev-matching feature because it’s so foolproof that it seems pigheaded not to.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...#ixzz3Kb1y6Z3O

 

I used the term automated manual, because that is what a lot of the literature still refer to them as. Yes, the Ferrari F1 and BMW SMG were automated manuals. The DCT is an evolution of this. The GM 8L90 and a typical DCT do not shift gears the same way. Every shift in the GM requires the use of 3 clutch plates. Two brake clutches and one of the forward clutches (of which three exists). This is not the way a DCT shifts.

With that said, I do not prefer the M7 nor am I bashing the A8. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the A8, and it comes down to a preference. I currently own an RS5 with a dual clutch and I love it. I am sure the A8 will run similarly to the feel. Kudos tp GM for the design.

 

I had an auto in my C6. It was cool but I did miss the gear shifting. I want to have pure fun in my Z so I'm going with the M7.

Plus I always hated the look on peoples faces when they ask "Is it a stick?" and I tell them no, auto...

Should matter but I always thought to myself...They are right! Just my opinion and experience.

 

I ordered the M7. I did so because:

1. Autos are for pussies.
2. I've driven a 991 with PDK, and it was fun/different for about 10 min, then I was bored.
3. The wife will let me drive her GL350, when I want a nice tame ride.
4. I have fun shifting gears. I enjoy the challenge of launching the car and doing a nice 0-100 run. I also enjoy downshifting and matching the gears.
5. Autos are for pussies.

T

 

I had no other option; no dealers in my area were allowing test drives this past spring. To the OP, only you can decide. I went M7 because I love shifting and I have a commuter car so the Vette is just for fun. There is a lot of back and forth here on what is better, but frankly we should all be grateful that GM gave us the choice of what to buy. Something that more and more makers are taking away....

 

Thanks for the feedback. I look forward to people getting their cars and providing reviews. After the A8 is out and I hear the pros and cons I will make my decision. I plan to keep my cars for 3 years and then get the latest and greatest, so if I make a wrong move I will correct it next time around. I have always had manual fun cars and think it may be time to try the other option for once. Let's hope the cars start coming in so we all can hear how great they are.
Eric

 

 

You're cherry picking one data point to support your hypothesis when almost nobody will ever see top speed. On all other contests of speed, the C7 Z06 A8 will beat your ZR1 so yes, it is technically superior if that's how you want to determine technical superiority. BTW, have you seen the top speed for the A8? It's going to be higher than the M7, I can promise you that...the gearing is better matched for top speed. Using your hypothesis above, that alone makes it technically superior.

Seriously, I don't understand how you can ignore the technology in the 8L90. It's also difficult for me to understand why any "real enthusiast" wouldn't want to go faster but I accept their preference of the M7 because it's "more fun" to them. You've made your choice, now go enjoy it.

 

There was nothing in post #27 derogatory about the M7, wasn't even mentioned...he simply made a statement of fact about the A8 as his reason. You got upset because you couldn't handle the truth, therefore the emotional response. If you don't like having the slower Z06, that's your problem.

PS Go take a look at post #7, it started much earlier with the M7 crowd.

 

If you get the auto I hope someone knocks on your door and kicks you in the both shins.

People are getting the auto because most (not all) corvette buyers are older gentlemen (sorry but true) who do not feel like shifting or simply have bad knees. Most will say they want the added performance capability, but the truth is...most of these cars will never see 90MPH.

That said, based on what you wrote about driving a manual in traffic, I would advise you to buy the auto. If driving a manual is a nuisance to you in traffic, you should not own one. When you drive a manual, it should be something you don't have to think about....especially if you are only driving 5,000 miles per year.

 

It finally happened...we agree on something Quagmire.

 

I've seen DCTs referred to as automatics in literature but never automated manuals, they are no where close to the same. You could just as easily say the DCT is an evolution of torque converter automatics.

You need to get a book about the details of the 8L90 and DCTs, they do shift gears the same exact way. The 8L90 has one clutch releasing and one clutch applying on each shift just like the DCT, that's why it's called clutch to clutch architecture.

 

So when you get beat by a Z06 with an A8, that makes you ***** whipped.

 

I made a response to a derogatory post by an M7 person which is exactly in line with my first post you quoted...thanks for pointing out how accurate it is.