I have a C7 M7 and will be ordering/purchasing a Z06 next year. (came out of a 2014 GT500 and I miss the HP). I was set on the M7 until I saw the demand for the auto. I am second guessing my decision and was wondering what the reasoning is behind the auto demand. I like the manual but have to admit I hate it in traffic, so much that I will take the DD at certain times. Please chime in and help me make a educated decision. My car will be a fare weather use DD, probably about 5000 miles per year with no track time.
Eric

 

From a post I did this AM in the C7 General section:

I did the same and drove an A8 Stingray and an M7 Stingray back to back. While the A8 was quicker in traffic, the M7 was just more fun to drive. I ordered my Z06 with an M7. R8C is set for Tuesday, 12-9-14.

Just my 02.

 

manual gives you more control and enjoyment (this part is personal preference), auto is going to give you faster and more consistent performance. I went manual as I enjoy driving manual and the auto has noticeable delay when using it manually (based off reviews and experience of users with the A8 on the standard C7). If they went with a DCT I would of went this route as I feel they compromised with the A8.

 

I'm fortunate enough to have another vehicle (Jeep Grand Cherokee) that I use as a daily driver. Otherwise I might consider a auto (then again maybe not ). I just love to shift through the gears. M7 Z06 will be in my garage.

 

Personal opinion: you will not be able to make a truly informed choice until the car is available for test drive. I understand people's enthusiasm but I don't think I could ever buy a car without driving it first.

 

First, I don't agree with some that have only been on a test drive and come up with all kinds of negative takes on the A8, to include long lags when activating the paddles in manual, which those who own and have had some time in the A8, refute. Second, your concern about the stick becoming a chore in traffic, is a valid point I share. Third, the thrill of the ferocious( Tadge's word, I like explosive for my description) of the power that the C7 Z06 has, puts one on a completely different level than the stock Stingray ( as you know from your GT500 experience). I'm in the same boat as you and am waiting to order a 2016 Z06 A8. For the last 5 years, I've had 2 fun cars, a 10GS 6 spd manual coupe with 587 RWHP/568 RWTQ from an LPE Maggie 650 supercharger package, and a 2006 C6/A6/F55 LPE maggie supercharged ( 471 RWHP/443 RWTQ) as my daily drivers( both of which I drove around stock for about 4 or 5 months, before doing the conversions).


Although driving the 10GS 6spd manual was a total rush with a little more power maybe than the C7 Z06, I drove the auto supercharged C6 3 or 4 times for every time I took the 10GS, for the very reason you are concerned about. The stick becomes a chore in traffic and frankly after many years of having fun with manual tranny's, the fun factor is out weighed by the chore factor in traffic. I have held off going to a stingray, as I know I would never be happy with the under powered only 460 HP of that model ( Just kidding. The stingray is a fast car and just fine for most vette junkies, but once you have experienced the mega power of forced induction right now explosive power of PD blowers like the C7 Z06 has, it's hard to go back).

 

Umm, people are lazy...

 

That.

 

And to think some still want a 1900's style manual shifter.......lol


http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...911-gt3-gt3-rs


"We get it. Enthusiasts like three-pedal manuals. We like to shift our own gears. We enjoy the feeling of nailing heel-and-toe downshifts a dozen times a lap, lap after lap. It's part of the experience.

Wrong.

It was part of the experience, once upon a time. Just like having a mechanic ride along on track was part of the Indy experience, once upon a time.

Just like skipping the seat belts because it was safer to be thrown free of the car in a crash, once upon a time.

Just like unassisted brakes were the epitome of feel and function.

Once upon a time.

The future isn't with the three-pedal manual. Hell, the present isn't even with the three pedal, if you're serious about racing your car.

What would a professional race team do with a traditional three-pedal transmission in a production-based Porsche 911 GT3? They'd chuck it and install a mechanically or pneumatically-operated dog-type sequential gearbox, most likely.

In fact, that's exactly how Porsche equips its own 911 GT3 Cup car: a sequential manual six-speed dog-type G97/63 gearbox.

Why? Because it's faster and more durable than a synchromesh three-pedal. And yes, it technically has three pedals, but the clutch pedal isn't used nearly as often owing to the gearbox's design--though you still do get the joy of the heel-toe downshift.
The PDK dual-clutch transmission is the closest thing we can get in a production street car. It uses electronics to automate much of the process for both street-friendliness and durability, but in many ways, it's a better approximation of current racing technology than an H-pattern. Especially once you start comparing to the almost fully automated gearboxes in open-wheel race cars.

Better yet, the PDK in the 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 isn't your run-of-the-mill street stuff. It's tuned for quicker, more aggressive shifts, modeled after the characteristics of a racing sequential gearbox. The one in the upcoming GT3 RS is likely to be even more high-strung."

 

I would have never been caught dead with an auto sports car. After many years, however things are changing. The way of the future is auto. Was looking at a Porsche the other week and unbelievably could barely find a stick. Same goes for Ferrari. I have a F1 on my current Ferrari and love it. Shift are fast, the sounds are incredible. I ordered a new Z06 with the A8. I don't mind the wait as the reward will benefit the agony of the months of extra waiting. As with all must think resale!

 

You should get what you will enjoy. I would not second guess my decision because of a lot of other people are getting a particular option. Everyone has their own reasons for what they purchase. Some people get A8 b/c the think it is faster, some b/c of convenience, some b/c it is the latest and greatest etc. These reasons are no more or less valid than many reasons for buying an m7 (enjoyment of rowing your own gears, proven technology/durability etc.) Especially since you're not going to track the car -- just get what you will enjoy.

 

Great Post! Drove the GT3 the other week with the PDK-awesome . I think the A8 ZO6 will be awesome also judging the video audio's we have seen and heard per forum of recent.

 

I have had C4 C5 C6 & C7 in coupe & convertibles!

I have always wanted Z06 but never wanted manual!
I know how to drive one very well, just don't want too.

Some of the demand is coming from folks like me, that always
wanted Z06/ZR1.

We wanted auto with removable roof/contv.

Use them for DD & for the whole driving experience of Corvette!

Maybe there should be 2 Z06 discussion areas! One for the track folks
& one for the daily drivers & waxers!

I don't care what car beat another by .5 sec or why can't the Z06 weight 200 lbs less!

I love Corvettes & now can get the best in A8 and take the roof off!

 

Well, it's been great the past 13 years with my `01 Torch Red ZO6 shifting to my delight...what a joy!
Pumping my left leg and shoving my right arm has had great benefits. I swear my left leg is twice the size of my right, and my right arm well you guessed it is twice the size of my left.
But what fun!

I like to think that as I have gotten older, I am a little smarter from all my life's experiences, and my ZO6 has certainly helped in that way.

When my new `15 Black ZO6 shows up it will come equipped with the new dual mode 8-speed automatic. No more pumping my left leg or shoving my right arm as this transmission will not only shift for me, I can shift it myself in manual mode. By pumping my thumbs on the paddle shifters located on the steering wheel I can make my baby climb up and down that rev meter as I desire.

Only problem I can think of now, is that in a few years my left and right thumbs are going to be about the size of my big toes from all the thumb pumping.

Oh my.....I guess that's the sacrifice of having all that fun pumping my thumbs.

 

Manual shifting is going to be a lost art in the near future (if not already). If the car "does everything" for you what exactly is the point "driving" it. Just test drive the new Infinity Q, computer does almost everything from steering angle corrections to braking, it sucks ! At the end of the day it's your personal preference and logistics, (try driving a manual on the freeways in Los Angeles, your left foot will need daily therapy). Let's just thank our lucky starts GM is still willing to put a manual in their sport cars. For me nothing beats the joy of controlling the up/down shifts. However for a daily driver the A8 is a better choice IMO particularly in So. Cal. I suspect the high demand for the A8 is Vette demographics (we're not getting any younger )

 

I went with the M7 because I enjoy a manual trans. I like the direct mechanical linkage b/n the engine and the drive wheels.

I also had the opportunity to drive a Stingray with the M7 just to try out the active rev match for the trans, which worked quite well.

And I have a DD and live in an area of little traffic.

All the above is subjective and personal reasons. OP, you just need to figure out yours. Good luck - good dilemma to have as the new Z in either M7 or A8 form will be a rockin' good time.

 

M7 for me as this will be a weekend car. I would have ordered an A8 if the car was a DD.

 

For me, it's simple. If I were driving this a lot in heavy, stop-and-go traffic, I'd really consider the automatic. But since I'm not, gotta go with the stick for the control and satisfaction of manually changing gears. Plus I've spent enough years of my life driving automatics. As for automatics ruling the future for many fast cars, then that means it's time to get a stick.

 

Maybe your right arm got to be twice the size of your left arm from those long showers you took as an adolescent -- when you got yelled at by your parents for using all the hot water.

 

Race car's use DCT's, not full torque converter automatics like the Z06.

Oh, and race cars use DCT's because they are faster, it's about winning races. Not because it's "more fun". There are plenty of top drivers out there that prefer manual trans versus auto's. Sure DCT'/auto's may be a fraction faster around a track, but manually shifting is way more engaging and fun than just blip'ing a paddle. I've owned both.

Still probably the greatest sports car ever, the F40, was manual only (below is probably one of the greatest car videos ever):