F4 Phantom

JimNeedsC7

Me too. Drive what you like - no one is questioning that.

But keep the manual in the mix for those of us who really, really prefer rowing our own. It isn't about the fastest times or shortest duration shifts it is about enjoying the fine control of a superb automobile. Viewed as just a machine to change gears, today's automatics will win every time, I don't dispute that.

Live and let live I say - it is best when we can all have exactly what we want in our fantasy cars.

ShahulX

Auto slushboxs are becoming better and better to the point they will retake performance over dcts.. the dct can only handle so much torque. I read an article about BMW talking about going away from the dct again in the future for performance and reliability.

The market is saturated with high performance automatics.. again I bought my c7 Grand sport 3 months ago because there were no other real high performance manual transmission cars I could get .. came to this.. a mustang gt350r (crazy markups) and a lotus Evora 400 or a Cayman gt4/911s .. the last 3 were a bit more and the Vette is faster with a targa..which I love..

How many hi-po (not Civic si manual or fiesta st) sports cars are left? ( I honestly can't name more than Corvette/camaro, Evora, mustang,porsche,m2/3/4) f type ..viper is dead now..) ??

I get that 70+% of you bought automatic c7s.. but losing 25% of your market isn't good.

JoesC5

Tremec's DCT can handle 664 lb-ft of engine torque. the LT4 has 650 lb-ft of torque. Tremec currenty supplies GM with it's manual transmissions for the Corvette and Camaro.

GM's TR6070 MEK manual that is used in the Corvette can only handle 635 lt-ft of engine torque. The 8L90 auto transmission used in the Corvette can only handle 635 lb-ft of engine torque. That's less than Tremec's DCT with it's 664 lb-ft.

Michael A

I have a friend who bought a 911 GTS with a DCT. He sold it, and bought a 911 with a manual. He said the DCT was a great transmission, but it couldn't make up for the driver involvement and just plain fun of a manual. He's very happy with his 911 with a manual.

Michael

ShahulX

understood, but I think the DCT will die off... i had 3 in 2 audis and my gtr... only one was a track car... fast but not fun

http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2017/4/2...-Them-7738857/

http://www.autonews.com/article/2015...e-favor-in-u.s.

ShahulX

autos are faster, but most of us dont make our livings or race in competitive venues... have fun... you can't win a track day.. and winning a drag race in a auto means zero

golden2husky

Would the Corvette still make sense for GM to produce if 30% of the sales disappeared? I'm all for choice, but no manual is a deal-killer for me in a sports car. The question is will that 30% still opt for the new car with an automatic? If the market continues the way it is, if you want a sports car of this caliber, it is going to be automatic only no matter the brand. Sad, but true. Some say this is what the market wants, but I often wonder if that is really is the case. I believe dealers who order cars for inventory choose automatics only because they are a quicker sell. Many folks don't want to wait to special order (not necessarily true for the Vette customer) and lack of available manual inventory does not help. Or worse, manufacturers will saddle the manual cars with the smaller engine or lower trim lines. The dealer will say they can't move the manual models. Yet cars like BMWs with sticks go for more on the used car market than the same models with automatics.

jimmyb

The ratio of Autos to Manuals in the C7 is more like 80/20, not 70/30.

ShahulX

80% automatic corvettes??

NoOne

No its not.

People need to stop saying that because they are not as fast, not as smart, and offering no where near the same driving experience.

I own both and not even a contest. If you don't see the difference between a DCT and a TC trans then your not driving it right.

NoOne

335 never came with a DCT, only the M car.

JoesC5

Really??????

2017 production numbers not included as GM has not released them, but there were a total of 112,217 2014's, 2015's and 2016's produced and 78,760 were automatics.

When I do the math, that's 70% automatics and 30% manuals for the C7.

Judgment Day

This is very true. I wonder what the ratio is for dealer ordered C7 manuals compared to actual customer ordered manuals. Conversely, customer ordered C7 automatic to manual ratio that make it into production. It would shed some more light if manuals are more in demand if people are actually asking for them (resulting in practically a guaranteed sale) and willing to wait.

ShahulX

sad

"The manual transmission is on the endangered species list. Every year fewer and fewer cars are offered with a clutch and a shifter. Why?"

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...-transmission/

Dutch08

This is very very well said.

jimmyb

Sorry, I was looking at Bash info on 2017 production through April 3, 2017.

The numbers are as follows, again for 2017 model year through 4/3/17:

Stingray: Total cars produced 12,121. Automatics were 81% of total
GS: Total cars produced 11,215. Automatics were 79% of total
Z06: Total cars produced 6,413. Automatics were 71% of total

Total ratio is 78% automatic, 22% manual

PS. I find the number remarkable, based on all the problems that folks had with the A8 in 2015/16.

jimmyb

I've always felt that the automatic to manual ratio changes (in favor of the automatic) as we move into the 2nd/3rd/4th year of production. My theory is the "early adopters" are the old line Corvette guys who seem to gravitate to the manual. As we move into years 2/3/4, I assume more new customers come in. That said, in the 7 speed manual's BEST showing (2014), it was still ONLY 35.4% of the total. And please, my point of this is not to turn this into a Auto/Manual debate...everyone should buy what THEY want. But the numbers don't lie.

2014: 37,288 cars produced
24,088 were 6 speed autos
Ratio is 64.6% auto, 35.4% manual

2015 (includes Z06): 34,240 cars produced
23,232 were 8 speed automatics
Ratio is 67.8% auto, 32.2% manuals

2016 (includes Z06): 40,689 cars produced
31,440 were 8 speed automatics
Ratio is 77.2% automatics, 22.8% manuals

2017 (includes Z06 & GS): 29,749 cars produced
Through 4/3/17 23,231 were 8 speed autos
Ratio is 78% automatics, 22% manuals

So, my best guess is that we WON'T have a manual in the mid engine car, based on what all the other mid engine supercar producers make and the low ratio of manuals to automatics in the C7. I do think the C8 will have a manual,

ShahulX

true, again I bought the vette (my 1st) since its one of the few new cars that still come in manual... or else Id buy an AMG

JGarland

The manual is old tech, guys.

Learn to paddle-shift.