Downshifting.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 26
Likes: 18
Downshifting.
I'll preface this with, please forgive my ignorance because this is most likely a silly question. I have had my C8 for a little over a month now and I've driven it enough to get fairly comfortable with it. With that being said, this is the first true sport car I've ever owned or driven. So I'm still learning about it obviously. One of the things I've noticed is that at very low speeds the downshifts sometimes feel very abrupt and can, at times feel somewhat jerky. I'm assuming it is normal but wanted to make sure by asking people on here that know more about these cars than I do. My C8 is a Z51 and when it is shifting from 3rd to 2nd and especially 2nd to 1st at speeds anywhere from 20 to 0 mph the rpm's will increase around 50-100 upon downshift. I've never really paid much attention to it until I started watching my truck when downshifting at low speeds. While there's an rpm increase it seems much more, "smooth." Again, is this normal is should my low-speed downshifts be more smooth?
Last edited by GSquared39; Dec 20, 2023 at 05:52 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,376
Likes: 8,533
I'll preface this with, please forgive my ignorance because this is most likely a silly question. I have had my C8 for a little over a month now and I've driven it enough to get fairly comfortable with it. With that being said, this is the first true sport car I've ever owned or driven. So I'm still learning about it obviously. One of the things I've noticed is that at very low speeds the downshifts sometimes feel very abrupt and can, at times feel somewhat jerky. I'm assuming it is normal but wanted to make sure by asking people on here that know more about these cars than I do. My C8 is a Z51 and when it is shifting from 3rd to 2nd and especially 2nd to 1st at speeds anywhere from 20 to 0 mph the rpm's will increase around 50-100 upon downshift. I've never really paid much attention to it until I started watching my truck when downshifting at low speeds. While there's an rpm increase it seems much more, "smooth." Again, is this normal is should my low-speed downshifts be more smooth?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 2,613
From: Covington LA
You didn't say whether you were driving in automatic or paddle shifting. The transmission will smooth out over time but if you are manually downshifting, you will feel a slight rev match to make the shifts a little smoother and to some extent you will feel that in automatic mode as well. If the downshift occurs towards the top of the rev range, the shift will be more abrupt. The slower the car the more abrupt feeling it will be. Frankly, I just leave it in auto and let it do the work for me. It's a very intelligent system and can react appropriately much faster than I can. Even Randy Pobst said that when he first drove the car on a race track at VIR.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 1,860
From: Oregon
One thing to remember, this is a manual transmission, not an automatic. There is no torque convertor to smooth out the shifts.
If this was a stick shift car, would you be any smoother when downshifting every gear. Probably not.
I do notice some downshifts not being perfectly smooth, but I am always amazed that it is downshifting without any input from me.
With all of the electronics in the transmission, they probably could make the downshifts smoother, but then it would not feel like a real sports car.
It would feel like a slush box luxury car.
I do notice it downshifts harder in Track mode or Sports.
If this was a stick shift car, would you be any smoother when downshifting every gear. Probably not.
I do notice some downshifts not being perfectly smooth, but I am always amazed that it is downshifting without any input from me.
With all of the electronics in the transmission, they probably could make the downshifts smoother, but then it would not feel like a real sports car.
It would feel like a slush box luxury car.
I do notice it downshifts harder in Track mode or Sports.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 934
Likes: 243
From: Deshler Nebraska
Just turned over 18,000 miles on a 2023 and it is much smoother than when it was new. Just leave it in auto, learn to drive, see out of the car and enjoy it as is. Do your manual shifting later. My 2 cents.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 778
You will definitely hear the downshift as the engine rev matches the gear. Possibly that is what is making it seem jerky. If you are actually having your head nod forward, in Tour mode with standard settings, you have an issue.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
It could be the transmission fluid temperature. When cold the shifts aren’t as smooth as when the fluid is at operating temp.
That is why I have never done spirited driving till all temps have reached normal operating temp in any of my Corvettes. More wear n tear is done at cold temperatures than at normal temperatures.
That is why I have never done spirited driving till all temps have reached normal operating temp in any of my Corvettes. More wear n tear is done at cold temperatures than at normal temperatures.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 160
Likes: 161
My 24 HTC feels the exact same way. 3rd to 2nd is most pronounced for me. 2nd to 1st is fine. This normally happens in D. When in manual, the low speed 3rd to 2nd shift is much smoother. Wondering if it has to do with the way the DCT has learned my driving habits. Absolutely babied her the first 500 miles, driving in Tour 90 percent of the time. After break in, I've regularly been in Track mode, driving in a spirited manner.
In any case, going to monitor and have a tech check it out when I go in for regular maintenance.
In any case, going to monitor and have a tech check it out when I go in for regular maintenance.
Last edited by 1stc8; Dec 21, 2023 at 10:16 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 182
Likes: 91
From: Denver
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I don't think you need to manually do 2nd to 1st...the car knows when to go to first...which is very close to dead stopped. I'd hate to hit 1st at 25mph.