When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I drive in manual mode 100% of the since since new I now have 7450 miles on the car. I think it’s only been in auto once for about 10 miles then went to manual because it kept going in/out of V8.
I first experienced a paddle-shift auto on a roughly 1993 Eagle Vision. Thought it was pretty cool and used it weekly for the first few months.
Every car I've had since has had better and better paddle-shift autos. I'd usually use them the first day or two of ownership.
Haven't touched the paddles on the C8. I do believe there are five to ten F1 drivers in the world who can outperform the C8's auto shifting, but I'm sure I'm not one of them!!!
I've been playing with the paddle shifters in sport mode just to get the feel of it and I enjoy dropping a couple gears to get the revs up and hear the tone (Z-51 coupe).
When you hit the gas in the higher rpms the torque and power is quite impressive and the car has instantaneous acceleration. .
I cannot imagine what a Z-06 must be like.
Setup Z mode as I did with Engine/Shifts all the way to the right. I also put the exhaust to the loudest. Most fun I've had in some time:-)
I first experienced a paddle-shift auto on a roughly 1993 Eagle Vision. Thought it was pretty cool and used it weekly for the first few months.
Every car I've had since has had better and better paddle-shift autos. I'd usually use them the first day or two of ownership.
Haven't touched the paddles on the C8. I do believe there are five to ten F1 drivers in the world who can outperform the C8's auto shifting, but I'm sure I'm not one of them!!!
It's not about outperforming the auto shifts, it's about fun!
I put an MBRP Track exhaust on my car about 2 weeks ago. Up until then, and about the first 1,600 miles I had intentionally never used the paddle shifters. I wanted to first experience them along with my new rowdy exhaust note together. I can say, paddle shifting, combined with the control of the exhaust tones makes for a much more enjoyable experience! In manual mode, I can make the exhaust produce all kinds of glorious sounds! Having just learned from the forum tonight that Zmode configured to Sport engine/shift will limit the AFM to 5-8th gears will be a BIG help when driving low speeds in Auto. I had typically not wanted to paddle shift when leaving my neighborhood, but would always get that awful V4 sound in "4th" gear (Embarrassing!!!) when I didn't drive in manual. Going to Z mode (Sport engine/shift) while in AUTO should get me out of my neighborhood in V8 and help me save face! I don't mind it going into V4 at higher revs and speeds, but that crappy V4 sounds like a cheap fart can, and is quite embarrassing coming from a Vette at 20mph passing the neighbors.
I drove my 2020 C8 Z51 in Manual Mode for the 1st month getting over >60 years of EVERY DD having a standard shift. That included my:
My 1st Corvette a 1988, that only 15% of us bought because GM stopped making standard shifts for high performance cars and it came with a Doug Nash build 4 speed with electric OD in the tailshaft. It was the exact same price as the automatic.
A 1993 40th Anniversary Vette with a ZF 6 speed.
A C6 Z51 with a Tremec built 6 speed.
Two C7s, a Z51 and Grand Sport with Tremec 7 speeds.
So C8 was my first ever DD without a standard shift. All was OK pulling paddles except every time I leave my home, at the end or our rural road have to merge into often heavy traffic going ~70 mph on a 4 lane divided highway. Accelerate to merge when a gap in traffic packs using WOT. 1st gear reaches Rev Limiter at 34 mph in the blink of an eye with upshift paddle out of position to pull! No fun with traffic coming up fast behind hitting a brick wall with all fuel shut off and you're fumbling for the upshift paddle.
Found Z-Mode with Power set to Track (in my case Ride set to Sport.) No need to pull a paddle, it's smart enough to shift just before the rev limiter. Also I always downshifted for all turns. Can, BUT NO NEED as in Z-Mode I just apply the brakes aggressively and it will down shift several gears and Rev Match each in the blink of an eye. Occasionally will use a paddle if cruising and want to be in a higher gear than 5th. But usually just leave in Z-Mode.
Also use MY Mode set to Sport and it does use all 8 gears and V4 but just cruising and all is fine, including V4. Don't know it's V4 unless I look at the dash.
Actually, I do not like the shift points in any of the automatic shift modes (Tour, Sport, or Track). I find that the car wants to downshift quickly. I prefer to feel torque in the higher gear and there is plenty of it. That's probably not optimal for gas mileage or tracking. And, I am not talking about lugging - you really cant intentionally lug the engine - it will downshift to prevent that. But I don't operate anywhere near that point. I would say between 2000-3000 rpm or so.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by robob
It's not about outperforming the auto shifts, it's about fun!
Of course for track let it shift itself:-)
Yes, definitely more fun in manual, I could care less about trying to outperform the auto shifts.
If by track, you mean drag strip, then yes, auto would be better. For road course, you're better off driving in manual.
I put an MBRP Track exhaust on my car about 2 weeks ago. Up until then, and about the first 1,600 miles I had intentionally never used the paddle shifters. I wanted to first experience them along with my new rowdy exhaust note together. I can say, paddle shifting, combined with the control of the exhaust tones makes for a much more enjoyable experience! In manual mode, I can make the exhaust produce all kinds of glorious sounds! Having just learned from the forum tonight that Zmode configured to Sport engine/shift will limit the AFM to 5-8th gears will be a BIG help when driving low speeds in Auto. I had typically not wanted to paddle shift when leaving my neighborhood, but would always get that awful V4 sound in "4th" gear (Embarrassing!!!) when I didn't drive in manual. Going to Z mode (Sport engine/shift) while in AUTO should get me out of my neighborhood in V8 and help me save face! I don't mind it going into V4 at higher revs and speeds, but that crappy V4 sounds like a cheap fart can, and is quite embarrassing coming from a Vette at 20mph passing the neighbors.
completely get it, I had MRT's street/race catback installed and now using M mode is makes driving even better !!!
Well, I was celebrating the fact that I've now seen that same notated image with explantation in 70 threads, and my C8 was built in the 70th year so....
Are there any non-Corvettes in the area? How do they merge?
For example, do the UPS and Amazon trucks just sit there until nightfall?
Many make right hand turns and use I95, 5 miles up the road.
We have lots of accidents! When we built out home in the CC complex, 28 years ago, a young man was turning in from I95 and did not judge the speed of a Tropper coming up very fast, no flashing lights or siren. Tropper T-Bone his car and he died. Tropper lost his job!
We have a number of BAD accidents every year. Mainly from folks coming from I95 going ~70 mph and turning into the CC. They are looking at the gap in packs of traffic in the two lanes they must cross. They maintain a high speed as the turn in. Folks stopped at the Stop Sign look right and left BUT usually "Left Last." They are looking at the same gap in traffic coming up the two near lanes. They leave not seeing the car turning in. It's a high-speed crash! Many turning in don't have their turn signal on!
Especially an issue when the "old slow driving folks" who make a left at the Stop Sign when Beach Traffic is heavy. Have to wait a long time if making a left. Option, make a right and then a 'U-Turn" up the road where divider is wide!
Here's the dumb question of the day. I LOVE to use M mode and I have 2 other cars that are manual transmissions and love every minute. The ONLY issue I have it taking off from a dead stop and turning 90 degrees out of my main street or in town. First gear is so low that by the time I am half way across the intersection its time to shift BUT the wheel is almost upside down and my arms are crossed over. I may not be able to hold the wheel and end up doing the hand over hand dance and can't access the paddle. How do you handle that? Practice?
In D mode the car is in 3rd gear before 20 mph many times.
Here's the dumb question of the day. I LOVE to use M mode and I have 2 other cars that are manual transmissions and love every minute. The ONLY issue I have it taking off from a dead stop and turning 90 degrees out of my main street or in town. First gear is so low that by the time I am half way across the intersection its time to shift BUT the wheel is almost upside down and my arms are crossed over. I may not be able to hold the wheel and end up doing the hand over hand dance and can't access the paddle. How do you handle that? Practice?
In D mode the car is in 3rd gear before 20 mph many times.
yes practice. I anticipate where the paddle will be and use the appropriate hand.
