I will be receiving my C8 in about a month. I’m having second thoughts about the automatic transmission. I’ve had 4 Vettes and always had a manual. I don’t know if the automatic will be fun and I feel like I will lose a driving feel. Am I crazy?

 

It does have a manual mode, use that. We had a 2003 M3 and did the paddle shifting over 95% of the time.

 

Possibly. But do not overthink this. It is NOT a typical automatic transmission.

Sure hope you understand.

Cheers!

 

So many manual offerings are complete junk, manuals for the sake of manuals. I offer 2, the new Emira and son2s GTI. And honestly my Miata wasn’t a dream either. Guessing your vette manuals fall into this category but never drove one. Watch the ring video on here and argue that’d be more fun in a manual

 

No my Vette 6 and 7 speeds were awesome!

 

The DCT shifts faster than you can even think about shifting.

 

what was awesome about them. Light clutch? Ok in traffic? Gearing not stupid long like a 911? Easy heal toe? Not super slow v auto?

 

Heel toe was important yes. And you have a feel for the car when downshifting and up shifting through curves. I’m just not sure I want a computer deciding for me. So I’ll try the paddle shifting. I drive a Ferrari with paddle shifters and it was ok

 

MT digs it:
https://www.motortrend.com/news/1601...nsmission/amp/

 

I think you will find the DCT in the C8 very boring and a let down. Yes it shifts fast big deal play with the paddle blah blah.Not many owners if any will admit the dct is lacking in the experience and excitement of driving a manual. Not saying the C8 is not a great sportscar but the dct for me is a bit of a disappointment,

 

You will miss it. Just traded my 7 speed c7 in on a 2022 convertible. I am sure I will get used to the automatic, and as automatics go, it is fantastic, but I do wish this car was offered in a manual

 

That's unfortunate. Sorry to hear that.

For me, the DCT is awesome. Like having a manual without the bother of a clutch pedal.

It's the perfect transmission for me. Love the downshift blips/growls from the NPP.

 

My C8 is the first automatic sports car I've owned in the last 22 years. I've had it 1.5 years, driving only in manual since I left the dealer. It's just not engaging. It drives really nice, the traction is vastly superior to my prior c7 Z06, plenty of power, but it's just not engaging. I thought having my 280z and 280zx manual cars to drive on thr weekend would give me my fix but it doesn't. My vette is my daily so I like to enjoy that engagement daily. So I just put an order in for a Camaro 1LE. My vette will be traded when this order is built. I hate downgrading from the vette but there are so few manual transmission options out there now and felt the camaro was the best option for me. Not a fan German or Euro spec cars for several reasons. Japan doesn't have anything better than thr 1LE and the mustang is a no go. Honestly I wish I had just kept my C7 Z06 despite its short comings

 

I have always loved manual transmissions. I have a c2 with a tremac 5 spd and a Honda S2000. When I got to the c8 it seemed a bit mundane so I started thinking about a used manual 911. Test drove a 2019 911s manual. The 7 spd was no fun at all. I am sure because of gas savings the gear spacing is way too high- not no road racer ratios and little burnouts shifting gears. C8 is more fun all around than a base 911…

 

FWIW, I was concerned as I ONLY had standard shifts in EVERY DD for 62 years prior to the C8. Yep 6 Vettes with standard shifts, in fact my 1st a 1988 had 7 speeds! Doug Nash supplied an old GM 4 speed (they were no longer making) that he had built with a 2 speed electrically operated OD in the tailshaft. OD could be engaged in 2nd, 3rd and 4 with a button on the shifter. Could get 7 pretty well spaced gears if you shifted like a two-lever truck, or my Dodge Colt Turbo, twin stick! BTW only 15% of use got a standard that year as it was exactly the same price as the automatic (Corvette Black Book statistics.)

Had the C8 been a "slushbox" torque converter "automatic" would have bought something else! BUT it's not. As some have said (and I used exclusively for the first month, getting over 62 years) you can drive in Manual Mode and pull levers. MUCH different than the wife's Porsche Cayenne or her current BMW autos pulling paddles, it's instant! THEN a poster showed how he always drove in Z Mode and why.

By then when leaving the street I live on to merge into often heavy traffic going ~70 mph on a 4-lane divided highway, I hit the rev limiter a few times. No fun with traffic coming up fast behind! Unlike my prior 2017 Grand Sport that shifted out of 1st at about 50 mph near red line, with the C8s dif ratio of 5.17:1 in 1st gear you're at Red Line at 34 mph in the blink of an eye. When the wheel is turned 90 degrees and you're accelerating to merge before the next pack of traffic the Upshift paddle is out of position. NO fun having all fuel shut off!

In fact, Z-Mode (Power set to Track) shifts about the way I did my C7 Grand Sport. In my rural area no use for 7th and frankly 6 was seldom useful. So I was typically in 5th. Now for every car (and my S-10 5 speed truck with not well-located pedals) I always downshifted for even slow corners. Very good at heel-toe. But with the Grand Sport used automatic rev match. In fact, one concern I had is could not do my usual 5th straight to 3rd downshift for a turn. In manual mode pulled the downshift paddle twice or 3 times if in 6th.

BUT in Z-Mode I have even more fun. It goes into 6th at 72 mph on the 4-lane highway turning into our 25 mph limit street I apply the brakes very aggressively so folks behind don't have to slow for me (especially those RV's coming from Myrtle Beach.) It's an unbelievable sound as it shifts from 6th to 5h, to 4th to 3rd in the blink of an eye rev matching each.

Also no way my M7, C7 GS could come close to the acceleration! Try it. Now if you want a totally different car use MY Mode. Have mine set to Track and steering, eBoost, NPP set the same as Z Mode (where I have ride set to Track as well.) Then it uses all 8 gears and V4. Braking hard still get fast down shifts.

Others don't like seeing this pic I often post BUT as a Newbie you'll understand why I say I don't miss "stirring a stick" and it's been 2 years! Get bored, just press the Loud Pedal or apply the brakes aggressively for a turn.

 

I race in a manual. I've never felt paddles were less "engaging." That's me. Technology moves forward, and there's absolutely no performance advantage to a manual.

If anything, you would think I would miss things like heel toe and double clutch that I have to do in my 30+ year old race car. Honestly, I don't. When you're fighting for every tenth of a second, you realize those old techniques were compensating for the poor technology of the time (aka manual).

I can, however, understand a little. I don't find electric cars engaging. I'm sure some day that will be seen as a fossilized idea.

 

The C8 DCT is not the same as a manual. It’s a different animal…however, it IS very satisfying.

I’ve been a year one Corvette adopter for the C6 & C7 but due to the lack of a manual transmission I held off getting a C8 until 2022 (I think 8 out of 10 of my toys were manuals). I’m not going to suggest the DCT is the same as a manual or better. It’s different. It will not replace the same clutch, shift, driver engagement of a manual but the manual shifting IS satisfying AND the programmable Z mode shift point setting creates a very intuitive shifting experience.

I probably shift manually 50% of the time. Sometimes I just want to drive and cruise and let it shift. Sometimes, I want a more spirited engagement with the paddles. Either way, the transmission is only one part of the equation that goes into how much fun this car is to drive.

It is not a manual but in totality I do love the car. It’s incredible.

 

I’ve had 9 previous Corvettes, all high performance versions, all manuals. The DCT is not a manual but the way it bangs shifts, barks out the exhaust and rev matches on downshifts is a blast. I seek out places to exercise these qualities at every opportunity. The last three generations of manual shift Corvettes had MPG gearing and not all that fun for me.

 

I'd say it's a lot of good and honest opinions that are on this thread. I'd also say to the OP, the only way you'll know if you like the DCT is to try one for an extended period of time, maybe a week, maybe a month. And "program" the way some have done like "Jerry U" and others so that it's for your usage. Maybe it's not worth the dollars and effort to do so, but this is the most honest thread of pros and cons about the trans that I've seen on this forum! Good luck whatever your choice!

 

I think you are worried about something that may not be an issue. Why not give the car a chance - drive it for a period of time and if you really do not like the DCT, you can sell the car at better than sticker price and then look for something else that you may like.