Jsilvester81

yes the car itself is faster as it should be
475hp vs 650hp

the A8 transmission is not as polished as the PDK which is the superior transmission.

davepl

What, exactly, does the PDK do faster or better or smoother or more polished than the A8? Anything besides part-throttle-gear selection?

I'm asking, not trolling. If you told me it shifts in traffic as smooth, seamless, and undetectable as a hydramatic, I'd be surprised (because they didn't in the past).

Everyone says the PDK is better, no one clarifies why...

Jsilvester81

I am a M7 guy but if anytime in my z is traffic.. what a waste. I agree pressing the clutch 600 times to go work or come home is miserable. For that fact steeping on the the break and accelerator 600 times to go 10 miles in an automatic sounds miserable as well.

Warp Factor

You don't need to put it drive and go ZZZZZZZ. In manual shift mode, it behaves very much like paddle-shift double-clutch manual (which is what most of the high-end performance cars have) if manual shifting is your deal. But if rowing that pointy thing on the center console is important to you, you might not be happy with it.

I was kindof ambivalent on which to get, so several factors helped me make up my mind:
1. We have two other manual shift vehicles, so it wouldn't be like we'd be losing access to that.
2. I knew that autos are nothing like what they used to be, and that in most situations, this one would be faster than the manual.
3. I wanted my wife to be able to enjoy the car as much as I do, and her commute sometimes ends up being bumper-to-bumper stop-and-go freeway traffic. Our last Corvette was a manual with an aftermarket metallic clutch (not the most user-friendly clutch), and she found that it hampered her enjoyment enough that she seldom drove the car. But we even get guys here who say what a pain a manual is in situations like that, even with a stock clutch. So I could completely understand.

By the way, you can stop worrying. If you get an automatic, it won't automatically make you impotent. That's not why it's called that.

Jsilvester81

TrUe if smoothe shifting is important to you A8 is great

PDK is not smoothe like a Lexus
PDK were never intended to feel like a Lexus
only to shift lightning quick all the time

It shifts immediately at any gear and any throttle application. No lag ever.

the A8 is only lightning quick at WOT
as we all know, the A8 paddle has lag is real.

650hp car that shifts smoothly sounds more like a Bentley than a "supercar"

to each there own. It's a great torque converter auto
but no DCT.

Warp Factor

There's more to smooth shifting than comfort. Easier on the drivetrain, and maintains traction better on the shift (kind of important on cars with as much power as ours). It's not hard to get an auto to "bang" shifts, but it doesn't turn out to be the latest and greatest thing. More "old school", really.

As has already been mentioned in this thread, many "supercars" are now switching to a system similar to that of the Corvette auto.

Z0HS1CK

I agree.

It's the reason why i didn't buy a GTR which is, IMHO a better transmission, more responsive than the A8 in the vette.

I drove a GTR before and the first 10 miles were amazing. The paddle shifters and how quick the shifts were felt like no other car is faster (maybe all auto guys think this? lol).

But then towards the end of the ride, coming home and driving in town i felt incredibly bored. Unless you're constantly racing someone, i would get bored out of my mind. I would literally have to do pulls everywhere i go.

Warp Factor

Then buy a motorsikkle with a manually shifted transmission, which will be lots quicker than the ZO6, for a lot less money. And if that doesn't turn out to be enough drama, you can have the added challenge of dealing with people who don't "see you", because they're accustomed to noticing cars and trucks.

Z0HS1CK

I have a motorsikkle already. A gsxr. And my Z will walk it lol

HighBeta

Nope, nope. I feel safer chine walking a deep V with just 4 counter rotating blades and two K-planes consistently touching the water than getting on a bike. People do incredibly stupid things on the road and a helmet isn't nearly enough armor for me. Nope!

b4i4getit

The M7 is easy and cheap to fix if you have a problem. Not so with the A8. As others have said there is no right answer. I have always said that you should drive both. One of them will grab your attention and interest more than the other.

davepl

Yeah, but the A8 actually shifts faster, so if it also shifts better (smoother), what am I missing from the PDK other than lack of paddle lag?

Sounds like the PDK is immediately responsible on a paddle shift, and while that would be a bonus, it also sounds like I wouldn't trade you for an A8, because I wouldn't want to lose the smooth operation in traffic and the brutally quick upshifts.

I'm sure someone will say "GM lied, it doesn't really shift faster than the PDK even though they specifically said so", but I'll take GM's word until proven otherwise by some reputable source (or even a Porsche attorney).

Not denying the paddle lag though. It's silly this car even has paddles, the way they operate.

b4i4getit

I think the comment I remember someone saying a while ago is that "the A8 shifts faster than the PDK" once it makes up its mind what to do. That is a very important distinction.

Mlcn62

I've owned a PDK equipped 2011 Boxster(wife's) car. It's not that great. Although I will admit it's pretty good in the GT3, but it's not smooth. Most people just drink the Porsche koolaid. I don't think the regular Porsches are no better than a Audi(my daughters 2015 Audi A3) transmission is as nice as the PDK. With the exception of the GT cars. Nothing special about Porsches in my opinion. Owned 3 since 2009.

davepl

Its important and true. The good news is the A8 prepares in advance for sensible shifts (like upshifts at the top of the RPM band).

That's how it's able to rip off amazing WOT upshifts at redline. But for random shifts it can't predict... those are glacial.

Is it a box of compromises? Maybe. Probably. But it sure does work amazingly well for the real-world tasks of accelerating and going around a road course. Fortunately those are the things that matter to me.

lochnessmonster

I've got an S2000...manual....WRX STi....manual....Gen V Viper GTS.....manual. I'm a "manual guy". I just bought my first Corvette a brand new 2017 Z06 with 07 package in Torch Red....Automatic 8 speed. Um.....i never thought I'd say this.....it's brilliant. If I'm busy in the cabin and don't want to be dealing with shifting gears i leave it in auto or if I'm feeling lazy...auto.. .but if I want to start doing some "spirited driving" I switch the mode select to Tack and grab the paddles....its nice to have the options....and when you pull that paddle at redline and the exhaust let's off a massive "crack" as the car changes gears.....brilliant.

Jsilvester81

yes, asumming the A8 can stay cool for multiple laps.

davepl

Troll much?

ronsc1985

This type of thread should probably be a sticky to prevent the bi monthly or so reintroduction of the same topic with the same "mine is better" responses from the same people.

pkincy

Re: boring. I talked with a friend with a heads/cam C6Z and he had bought a C7Z after seeing my new one and liking it. He commented that he frankly was bored with the way the car drove. I asked why? And he commented on the lack of shifting and the occasional need for the A8 to need to shift down 2-3 gears to get any real performance. I asked him how he drove the A8 and of course he answered "In Drive." I suggested he put it in M and drive it that way full time. First you can keep your hands at 10 and 2 and shift with either your ring finger or your pinky on each hand. Second if you feel you need to go down a gear it is easy. He didn't know that you could go down a maximum number of gears (as far as the rpm and speed will allow) simply be a quick left pinky pull twice in rapid succession while holding the second pull towards you. He didn't know that. The A8, at least mine in D will hold the car while in Tour in the mid teens rpm wise. When I drive it in M I tend to keep a gear or 2 lower and run the car in the mid 2's or near 3k rpm. The car is much more responsive there and that is more the way I drove my C6Z06 and other M6s prior to the C6 (my C5Z and my several C4s). Haven't talked to him this week but I can't imagine that those simply changes would not have reinforced his connection to the car while driving. Frankly I can't imagine putting the A8 in D and simply driving away. This is not a daily driver that is sitting in a traffic jam all the time. Mostly a weekend car.

My daily driver is an ATS with an A8 and I even drive that in M 50+% of the time and it doesn't even have the optional paddle shifters. I simply pull the stick to the left while in D and then tap it up for an upshift and down for a downshift. Again that takes the 2.0T out of mid teens rpm and puts it more where I want it, which is mid 2s or so. Makes both cars a lot more responsive and interesting.