RapidC84B

What year is your C7? Any cooling mods? The later ones have the larger trans cooler with fan and the aux cooler up front right? I've been curious if those actually stay cool on track or not.

Warp Factor

Hah, the tired old argument that driving a stick-shift implies masculinity. Sheesh, gals were driving stick-shifts a century ago, back when downshifting required double-clutching.

Now, the C7 manual transmission has not only synchros, which don't require double-clutching or rev-matching on downshifts, but also automatic rev-matching on downshifts as well.

Setting the self-deception side of the manual preference argument aside for a moment, choosing a manual even makes sense from a highly analytical standpoint, since it is probably less expensive and less risky than surgical pennis enlrgememt.

Foosh

This just goes round and round, but it's really very simple. Some people think manuals are more "fun," and some don't. Those who think they are more "fun" don't care if autos are better performers. It never ceases to me amaze me how many people want to tell others that they shouldn't prefer what they do prefer. That's just absurd.

RapidC84B

And we call those people "Politicians".

PurpleLion

A textbook definition of the word "automatic" does not really have any relevance to this discussion. While the definition may be correct, it is not really specific enough in the areas that a performance driver is interested in!

This is because there is a huge difference in the downshift performance between a slush-box and a DCT. With a slush-box you will not get an immediate response from the paddle downshift action; whereas, with a DCT you will get an immediate response. This is a big, significant difference when the driver is using the paddles to shift manually!


Also, as a side note, the best drivers in the world (F1) have been using paddle shifting transmissions for many years.

Foosh

That's simply not true. The ZF8 ("slushbox") when tuned for max performance produces numbers every bit as good as the DCT generally regarded as the gold standard, the Porsche PDK.

RapidC84B

The only thing it doesn't do quite as quickly is commanded downshifts. It's fast, but not PDK-fast on the downshifts. Upshifts are instant.

Foosh

I have a lot of time in both, and the difference is close to round-off error.

RapidC84B

When you're bench racing every 0.01 second counts.

Foosh

True that.

Warp Factor

That's mostly a programming choice, and has almost nothing to do with the architecture of either transmission style.

ssidekickbp

We're never gonna win this one. The fun factor is all personal opinion. I get told almost anytime I'm somewhere with enthusiasts that " autos are faster". I basically just ignore it now.

Not that it matters, but I'd still say majority of the time I get comments on my M7 like " that's the way to go".....

ROUTE 66

I get similar comments on this truck. Some wanting to buy it when they hear it's has a manual transmission. In nov 2001 I drove from Tishomingo Oklahoma to Farmville Virginia to buy this truck . The Chevy dealer in Tishomingo said it was the only one with a 4.8L V8 / 5 speed Manual transmission / limited slip differential / step side bed within a thousand miles of his location. He told me where it was so I took my F150 Pu my car hauler an drove to Virginia. when I got back I sold the 97 F150 and never regretted it. This is the best truck I have ever owned. Prior to 2001 I had been driving ford Pu for 20 years....Gm on this truck you got it right!!

Foosh

That reminds me of one bright spot. Once manuals totally disappear, the demand for them will more than likely go up on used cars. At the big auctions like B-J and others, manuals always bring a premium price, and while it will be a long while before C7s become collectible, I'd bet manuals are going to be easier to sell and bring better prices on the used-car market in a world with no manuals. Since they represent only 23% of production, they'll be harder to find and more desirable.

jefnvk

It is already that way with C4s. When I was looking, the M6 was seemingly a good $1500-2000 premium over a similar condition A4. Even the 4+3s commanded a premium over their counterparts, albeit not as much.

Rapid Fred

I think we're already seeing that in a world where there ARE C7 manuals.

While new Vette buyers have for decades shown a very strong preference for automatics, and with the C7 are paying an additional $2K for the privilege, the used Vette market seems vastly different. At least that's what I saw during my recent and fairly exhaustive C7 search. M7's were rarer (obviously given that almost 80% sold new were A8's), and I felt as though I would be paying more to get one. I just checked on KBB and my suspicions were confirmed! An A8 C7, otherwise identical to my M7, would have been (on average) $1300 cheaper! Now, that may be in part related to the A8's problems, but I suspect most buyers are not as well informed about that issue as Forum denizens are.

Now what all this means to the OP's original question (which we should accept has VERY little to do with our teeny sample size of preferences) I haven't a clue. But, it does mean that folks buying new C7's are suffering nearly $4K more depreciation if they order the A8!

Rapid Fred

Beat me to it with less verbiage!

Atari_Prime

How much you want for that ZR-1?

ROUTE 66

Thanks but I do not want to sell. It isn't as fast as the others but whats under the hood looks more like a motor than the plastic they are cluttered with today.

JerryU

Had a similar issue when I bought my S10. Found a new one a state away in the Chevy system with every option I wanted including a standard shift. Don't sell many around here. It was a step-side, with HD sustention, larger sway bars front and back, an extra "hop shock" to help with spring wrap -up, posi, aluminum wheels with wider tires with the Chevy V6 essentially a small block with two cylinders cut-off.

Dealer in the area said he could get it as it had been sitting at that dealer for a while, he stated probably has the issues as around hear, no way could I sell it with a standard shift! He was upset that to cut the deal he had to swap an automatic S-10 he had on his lot. He paid a retired guy to drive his truck a few hundred miles and drive mine back!

Had the similar issue with my first Vette, a 1988. After I agreed on a deal with the sales manager for a car he would order for me, he said, "I'll have to ask for a none refundable $2000 as if you decide not to take it I'll need that to sell a standard shift around here! No problem for me!