So some times the car shifts firm, normally 1-2 shift is always firm and hard. Love it. does not matter if 1500 RPMS / 3K/ 6500. firm

Sometimes 2-3. 3-4, 5-6 is firm sometime little softer. I know drive modes can affect this. but me noticing it in the same drive mode. So much even questioning if I click the paddles harder if it makes a difference. I am sure it does not but I have noticed variance in the firm ness driving around in manual mode, anyone else?

 

I gave up using paddles, which I did exclusively for the 1st month with my 2020 C8 Z51. Did that to get over EVERY DD I had since my 1st in 1959 was a standard shift. But I have to leave a stop sign at the end of our rural road. I then have to merge into often heavy traffic on a 4 lane divided highway going to or coming back from Myrtle Beach.

When I make that 90 degree turn merging, the upshift paddle is out of position. It reaches Red Limiter in 1st at ~35 mph in the blink of an eye. Fumbling for the upshift paddle is no fun with traffic coming up at ~70 mph.

So I now use Z-Mode Power set to Max (Track.) It shifts very firm although varies with how much throttle is used. The other Mode I use is MY Mode set mostly to Sport. It goes into V4 and uses all 8 gears (where in Z-Mode it seldom shifts past 5th, never past 6th.) Again shift speed is dependent on your right foot BUT all shifts are "softer."

 

Can't say for sure, but there is a feature called Driver Influenced Gear Selection. It detects spirited driving, and alters shift points. It does not say it affects the snappiness of the shifts, but it might. Look up Driver Influenced Gear Selection, Performance Transmission, and Performance Shift in your manual and see if you think that might explain your experience. It will affect shift points in all Driver Mode (including Tour) but will be more aggressive in the more aggressive modes. Depending on the display theme you are using, there may be light showing the feature is active.
Many say that the Drive Mode selected will affect the snappiness of the shifts even in Manual Shift Mode. That is, they say the in Sport or Track mode, but in Manual shift mode, the manual shifts are snappier than in Tour mode. But that is why I suggest that maybe the Driver Influenced Gear Selection might (emphasis on might) affect the snappiness even of a manual paddle shift.

 

I don't think how hard to hit the paddles is going to affect anything. They simply activate a switch, and the switch is either on or off. But as Andy points out, how you drive in other ways can affect things.

 

Try driving in Auto mode and see if you still notice it, but the greatest influence in the way the car shifts in any given drive mode is the foot on the pedal.

 

It's a performance car with a dual clutch transmission so I just feel you're going to feel the shifts more so and even more in the more extreme drive mode settings, whether you shift with the paddles or not. I don't think pressure from the fingertips to the paddles should make any difference on how assertively the car shifts.

I could be wrong, but maybe you're just still getting used to the car and the nature of it is a little different from what you're normally accustomed to. So my guess is that you're overthinking it but it doesn't hurt to get additional feedback and second opinions like you are doing already.

 

Yep, it's not a slushbox as some who are used to "normal automatics" expect.

The DCT is much more like a standard transmission. It has shift forks, and Synchro's in all 8 gears. Like my 2 C7s Tremec Standard Transmissions it has triple cones in most gears. It's essentially two 4 speed standard transmissions with the next gear already engaged just needing one of the two clutches to disengage while the other is activated. Takes milliseconds. Now they can slip the engaging clutch a bit to make the shift smoother. That is controlled by the Drive Mode AND your right foot signaling how the computer things you want to drive. More right foot, quicker shift.



Unlike a slushbox where the torque converter is always attached to the engine (can even lock at higher speeds) the DCT is NOT. The torque converter in a slushbox is only connected by fluid. So at idle at a red light it can turn and the car does not move with foot on brake although the fluid is providing torque on the gear train. Also why in bumper to bumper traffic you can just crawl with the car in front as it moves. The DCT must slip the 1st gear clutch. Best to drive it like I did all my standard transmission cars. Let the car in front move and when about to stop, then release your foot from the brake and stop behind the car in front after it stops. Don't have to but best IMO. With the DCT, unlike a slushbox you can pull both the upshift and downshift paddles that disconnects BOTH clutches. Then you can rev the engine and just let them go at any rpm.

 

That's true. According to manual, criteria which influence activation of the "Driver Influenced Gear Selection" are: driving mode (it works in all modes but is more aggressive in Sport and Track), accelerator, brakes, lateral, and longitudinal loading. So aggressive braking and taking fast turns will also activate it, but a good push on the gas pedal seems to be the primary activator. While it clearly affects automatic selection of the gears, it is speculation on my part that it might also affect the snappiness of the shift event in Manual Shift Mode.

 

All,

I am aware of all the settings and throttle and drive modes can change it.

I am talking. in any mode with manual shifting...

For example. red light one, light cruising throttle, 1-2 firm, 2-3 firm, 3-4 soft, 4-5 soft..... Next red light., same cruise throttle, 1-2 firm, 2-3 soft..., 3.-4 firm. 4-5 soft.

IF I am on it, its firm like it supposed to be. BUT if I am just driving around normal, manually shifting. There is some variance I have not figured out yet. Sometimes firm some times not on certain gears. 1-2 seems to always hit hard.


Just was curious if they all did it or not.

 

Reread posts 3 and 8. Those aren't about changing the driving mode, but about things that affect shifting in any mode.

 

My seat of the pants detects no difference in shift firmness at any given RPM/load. Change either of those parameters, though, and the firmness does change.

I do find that the Driver Influenced Gear Selection is very good at changing the shift points based on my driving. I almost never use the paddles because the transmission is so good at altering the shift points to match how I'm driving.

 

This part i agree with as well!. If you are old man driving it its calm, even on tour mode if you start playing or braking hard or even pull some G in a turn it stats being way more reactive and fun... even more so in other driving modes.


My reason for this thread was basically lame driving manual shifting and sometimes firm 2-3, or 3-4 sometimes not hard to predict ha. works fine just seemed like I can't always predict its firmness.

 

Totally normal, and you're not alone — a lot of C8 Corvette owners notice the same thing with transmission firmness varying even when in the same drive mode, especially in manual mode.

Here’s what’s likely going on:

1. Adaptive Transmission Behavior (Tuning Itself)

The C8’s dual-clutch transmission (DCT) is super smart. It adapts based on:

• Throttle input
  
• Brake pressure
  
• G-forces
  
• Gear learning behavior
  
• And even temperature
  

So even if you're in Track or Sport mode, it can vary the shift firmness depending on:

• Whether you're aggressively accelerating vs cruising
  
• How recently you last pushed it
  
• How much load it's under (e.g., uphill vs flat)
  

2. Drive Mode ≠ Static Settings

Drive modes set a baseline, but shifts can still feel different depending on what the car “feels”:

• A 2–3 upshift at 30% throttle might feel softer than one at 50%+ throttle, even in the same mode.
  
• Even paddle shifting in manual mode, the firmness might vary depending on RPMs and engine load.
  

3. No, Paddle Pressure Doesn’t Change Anything

You're totally right to question it — but clicking the paddles harder doesn’t actually affect shift behavior. It might just feel that way because:

• You’re more mentally tuned in when you intentionally click harder.
  
• The shift firmness changes slightly based on timing of your paddle input (e.g., closer to redline, it shifts faster/firmer).
  

4. Fluid Temp Affects Feel Too

Cold fluid = slightly slower/smoother shifts until it warms up. Once fully warm, you’ll notice more consistency — but there’s still adaptive variation.

TL;DR:

• Totally normal behavior.
  
• Variations in 2–3, 3–4, and 5–6 firmness even in the same mode = just the DCT doing its thing.
  
• Paddle pressure doesn’t matter — just throttle, load, RPM, and adaptive behavior.
  
• You’re not imagining it — others notice it too.
  

If you want max firm shifts, keep it in Track mode, manual, and push it harder. That’s when it really wakes up and gives you consistent snappy shifts.

There’s a GM tech doc that explains some of this logic, and a few owners have logged shift patterns with HP Tuners too.

 

all that above I understand haha.

I am talking SAME CONDITIONS. one red light shifting is firm 3-4 and next not ha.. same mode, same rpm, same everything. if it was i was driving it harder I know its supposed to.

none of this was complaining just curious if I am noticing crap, car is about have a issue, dirty fluid, or something.

 

Wouldn't hurt to change the filter especially if it's a non z51 as they build up debris quicker

 

Its a Z51, and i recently leaked 3.5 quarts of fluid out so its 1/2 new fluid hahaha (fun/ messy story there but not relavent)

 

After the 1st month with my 2020 C8 Z51 w/MRC only using paddles in manual mode and hitting the Rev Limiter several times when accelerating after a 90 degree turn from a stop, I found Z-Mode Power set to Track, in my E-Ray it's Max Power (same thing.)

In my rural area it shifts and uses the same gears I did in my two C7s. With my two C7's all local driing, ~30 miles of back roads to town often can be aggressive as little traffic. i would row thru the 1st 5 gears, and never found 6th useful. As seldom used an Interstate hardly every used 7th. The C8 in Z-Mode is does the same, shifts at the higher rpms I used in my two 7 speed standard transmissions and seldom goes past 5th gear. Occasionally will shift to 6th BUT never 7th or 8th. (BTW, have ride set to Sport as no frost casued potholes so ne need for Touring ride.) If stuck behind a slow car or truck I might use the upshift paddle to go to 6th or 7th. But I also will use MY Mode set to Sport mostly when in town where it uses all gears and V4.

What I find fun is downshifting, which I always did for every turn regardless of low speed. With the C8 and E-Ray I have fun leaving the ~70 mph traffic on the 4 lane highway in front or our rural road. Don't want cars, particularly RVs coming back from Myrtle Beach to have to slow for me as I make the turn to our 25 mph limit in our complex. I just apply the brakes very aggressively so they don't have to slow. Z-Mode downshifts 2 gears in the blink of and eye, rev matching each. Love the sound!

I call it Rev Match Music!

 

litterally your copping and pasting older posts into new threads. Please stop.

 

Not what I am doing!
For your information I have ~60 Docs as PDFs I often post links where appropriate. I provide How To and tech info. Many have significant number of Pics. For example my How To install brake pads on a C8 with lots of pages re brake pads technology as well as my experiences. Have been used my many members. Some provided Pics of how they removed front calipers I add and give credit. Just checked. it is 47 pages long with most pages 3 or 4 Pics with long captions. Folks can quickly scan the Pics and read only what is necessary, How To jack to remove front calipers etc. So that is over 100 Pics. Each subject is in individual files. I know where each is and takes only seconds to find and post! Get many thanks. So it may look like I copy info but it's mostly pics. I like to write so text is usually all new, as the above. It often says the same because I am consistent!

If you don't like just skip!

BTW, I responded to another poster @Duck916 on the thread. Was supporting his comment that he sees no difference in shifting. My experience is the same. Frankly have no idea what you think you feel relative to different shift firmness/softness. I drive mostly in Z-Mode Power set to max (or Track) and all shifts are firm as they were on my two C7s as that is now I drive. Especially after adding a MGW, quick, short, well built shifter. Just checked and that How To Doc PDF is 44 pages with many pics and tricks of my install!

 

i had the same symptoms as you describe and this fixed my issues, there is also a bulletin about it ....