JerriVette

17 percentage of c7 buyers pay for a convertible and GM continues to offer a convertible.

GM charges five grand for a convertible option and it requires quite a lot of different parts, possibly government testing etc and yet with 17 percent of all corvette buyers want a convertible GM continues to offer a $5000 convertible option...

Without 23 percent of all corvettes buyers ordering manuals I don’t suggest manual transmission is a safe bet for the 2020 c8..

Where did this rumor start ? The rumor That GM Is not going to offer a manual transmission in the c8?

Was this a GM official announcement ?

I have been driving manual transmission vehicles for the past 40 years... my present corvette is a manual...but that’s said I would like to buy a dct 500 hp rear mid engine targa topped c8..

Still GM is to going to give up 23 percent of it’s customer base....just as GM wouldnt give up 17 percent of it’s convertible buyer customer base...

Even Ferrari the last few years it offered both manual transmission and a dct.....Ferrari sold less than ten manuals in the last year of offering both


23 percentage of production is over 7000 units...

That’s a lot of cabbage to expect any corporation to walk away from...

Dct for many...a manual transmission for sure...

Can’t say which is be a charge item..but I’d say GM will offer both...

Who would disappoint 7000 potientially buyers by not offering an easily purchased manual transmission....which I’m sure suppliers are willing to offer GM such an item at attractive pricing...

The law of supply and demand with regards to GM and it’s suppliers would be foolish to price the 7 speed manual so it didn’t make economic sense for GM to offer it up...

Like I mentioned I a, getting the dct...but I really enjoy sharing logic on variations possible it’s the upcoming c8

NY09C6

Audi was every 35-40k.

NY09C6

Agree that do because they can. However the fluid filter and calibration/relearn for a dct makes it a far more expensive maintenance task.

JerriVette

GM traditionally is more robust and durable than German brands which in many ways are nightmares after the warranty expires.

I would not suggest assuming GM durability requirements would be lessened because of a dct being on the list of options..

Of course this statement is not fool proof but overall....GM s 300k mile durability testing makes GM vehicles quite nicer to own longer term than the german brands...

Suppliers have to meet GM durability testing requirements as well.

I will mention the four grand dct option in the Porsche is known to be bullet proof even after thousands of burnouts to 60 mph runs...by the media...

I fully expect GM s dct offered to be bulletproof..

If not...we have warranties...and even extended warranties from GMEPP that are dirt cheap to cover us longer term.

I’m in for the dct...

Try something new for the experience..

NY09C6

I tried it and almost died of boredom. Never again.

JerriVette

You might be right ...

That said 23 percent of corvette buyers opt for manuals.
17 percent buyers opt for convertibles.

Don’t worry I really believe with that many corvette buyers opting for manuals...

GM will continue to utilize its supplier base to continue to offer you the choice of a manual...in the c8.

After 40 years of driving manual transmission cars...after buying three new corvettes including manual transmissions..

I’m interested in experiencing a rear mid engine corvettes with a dct.

If I get bored I can always sell car so it’s not a big deal for me...

Thanks for your insight

AORoads

Manual trans or no manual trans, I'll tell ya one thing: if the ME doesn't have a mid-engine I'm not buying it. Nothing like a boring drive in a FE/ME Corvette; that's why I'm keeping my '66 Beetle.

Good grief, Dale---this is still 'Murica. You get to vote. You even get to vote with your dollars. You don't want a car with a DCT---here's a hint. Don't buy it. No one's gonna be knockin' at your door to haul you away. Serious. You can take my word on that one. So far....

mschuyler

That's funny. One of the first things I noticed about the M7 was how easy the clutch was. I'd rate it the BEST manual/clutch I have ever owned. The DCT means nothing to me. If it works like an auto, it's an auto. The internals are irrelevant to me. But I fear OP will be disappointed. I believe it is quite likely there will be no manual C8. But your precious DCT will be needing a lot more maintenance than a manual. I'm American, a veteran, and I do want a manual. In terms of NEED I do not need a Corvette and neither do you.

GundamX7X

this is getting good!

ByByBMW

Considering the problems I had with my 05 base C6 and 08 Z06, I disagree with the highlighted section. And trust me, GM can be just as much a PITA as the german brands after warranty expires. Spend some time on the C6 Z06 boards and you will see for yourself. But like your post, this is pretty much just humble opinions and personal experience.

mschuyler

I think the rumor started with Tadge. He has stated, "Enjoy the manuals while you can" while discussing the decreasing demand for manuals. I believe in the US it's down to 3-4% overall with many models not offering a manual at all. Most all trucks are autos now. I believe you can get a manual "work truck" with some brands, but no one carries them in stock. The idea is that as demand decreases there will come a time when it is not cost-effective for the few manufacturers left to continue producing them. Clearly the younger generation does not have the opportunity to even learn a manual because they are rare in the household. It's not difficult, but there is a learning curve. You must be taught. They never have the chance, therefore the downward spiral continues.

JerriVette

THEre is always a few cars that are duds and of course a few owners that get two losers like you...

But for the most part GM s durability seriously out performs the German products especially out of warranty...

We can agree to disagree....your choice. I respect what you are saying happened to you.

I have great experience ..not perfect but dam good with GM products over the past 40 years of many brands of cars....I’m willing to throw down the gamble for a dct.

For those who prefer a manual I have confidence a manual will be offered in the c8 as well...

Could I be wrong?

Of course none of us know for sure...

Just remember 23 percent of a customer base is a large number for any business to ignore...

We will find out soon enough

Racer X

Can someone with one of the various VW DCTs(Audi, Porsche, Lambo) tell me what happens when you go from a 5th gear straight to a 1st or second gear turn. Does it shift from 5th to first? or sequentially down from 5th making 4 shifts? I see all of the talk about the speed of downshifts. Is that normally a problem on a track? Or just in unexpected street racing? Aren't usually braking with plenty of time to down shift? I thought that was what heal and toe was for? On a manual you can shift from 5th to 1st in one shift. Same on upshift, but there is less call for that to happen quickly. I don't ever recall doing that on a track.

Speed on upshift, I get.

ByByBMW

JD Power tends to disagree with you about GM durability, http://www.jdpower.com/ratings/study...y-Make/1881ENG This is for the 2017 cars.
Out of warranty could be a completely separate discussion which neither one of us would come out as being more or less correct.

One other thing about DCT's, and this isn't directed at you sir. There are many and mostly they operate similarly, the difference between them is the programming the OEM puts in. Porsche's DCT usually comes out as the best of the best. When I first drove my Boxster with a DCT, I had a epiphany. It is possible to have an "automatic" that is as enjoyable to drive as a manual. At least it can be if you are willing to accept your left leg isn't going to do anything,

zr_kaizen

Michael A

This is coming from a Chief Engineer who is putting a 720p data recorder camera in the Corvette, while the world has moved on to 4K.

Grabbing a big steering wheel to steer is becoming a "mundane process", too. There really isn't any place for a Corvette in the world of autonomous cars. They drive themselves. Tadge and team should think hard about the fact that it is the driving experience that will make the Corvette relevant in the future, not just having the latest tech. The latest tech can put the Corvette right out of business.

KnightDriveTV

^That was my thought precisely when I saw the interview when he stated that. Isn't "using a little ring to steer the car" also a mundane process when you define it like that? I guess the ultimate is to buy a Corvette that just hustles you around a road course like an amusement park ride?

Kingtal0n

I think part of the problem is that engines have gotten so powerful they are outpacing the availability of high quality clutch material/setups that will meet the demands of OEM reliability for a wide... spectrum of users. Who will each use a "clutch" differently.

They need a solution that "anybody" can drive "poorly" that won't cost $1000 in parts to change each time.

sunsalem

It's obvious from his rant he doesn't want to hear FACTS.

And you know this HOW?

JerriVette

JD Powers is worthless...sorry if we disagree...

I place JD Powers very close in worthlessness as consumer reports ..

We can agree to disagree....

Just like I feel GM is not going to walk away from 23percent of its customer base that buys manual transmissions.