C8 vs C8Z
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 1,403
From: Bethesda MD
For those more familiar with the PDK transmissions, do you miss your manual? I had a chance to drive a C8 for a length of time this past weekend for the first time and I was completely underwhelmed with the PDK. My fear is the Z06 is going to feel the same, which is incredibly disappointing as everyone has told me the PDK is amazing. It didn't feel like a sports car and kind of ruined the experience. I'm super low on the Z06 list, so I'll be first or second month whenever they decide to release it. Is there any hope that the Z06 will be different?
I rarely miss having a third pedal. The DCT works well for me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,349
Likes: 2,408
The computer still has some control. One can’t drop the transmission in to second at triple digit speed and blow the motor. In a true manual car you can. From a performance aspect the DCT is fantastic. However in the end it’s still an automated manual that for some won’t replace a true stick car. That being said I’m looking forward to giving a C8 a fair shot👍🏻
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,910
Likes: 2,694
SMH.... no words... :O
YOUR automatic transmission DCT may IDENTIFY as a manual, but for the love of God, it's an AUTOMATIC. It's an automatic with a manual mode. That's it. It does NOT have a 3rd pedal. It CAN shift entirely on its own. It does not matter if it has a clutch and the clutch is .... you guessed it AUTOMATIC. This fits into the very clear category of the term automatic which has been used since the beginning of the age of automobiles until now.
A manual transmission has a 3rd pedal (clutch) and it cannot possibly shift on its own. That's up to the driver. Regardless of how it identifies...
YOUR automatic transmission DCT may IDENTIFY as a manual, but for the love of God, it's an AUTOMATIC. It's an automatic with a manual mode. That's it. It does NOT have a 3rd pedal. It CAN shift entirely on its own. It does not matter if it has a clutch and the clutch is .... you guessed it AUTOMATIC. This fits into the very clear category of the term automatic which has been used since the beginning of the age of automobiles until now.
A manual transmission has a 3rd pedal (clutch) and it cannot possibly shift on its own. That's up to the driver. Regardless of how it identifies...
Last edited by AustinVetter; Apr 12, 2022 at 01:08 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,486
Likes: 5,536
From: Western Chicago Suburbs
SMH.... no words... :O
YOUR automatic transmission DCT may IDENTIFY as a manual, but for the love of God, it's an AUTOMATIC. It's an automatic with a manual mode. That's it. It does NOT have a 3rd pedal. It CAN shift entirely on its own. It does not matter if it has a clutch and the clutch is .... you guessed it AUTOMATIC. This fits into the very clear category of the term automatic which has been used since the beginning of the age of automobiles until now.
A manual transmission has a 3rd pedal (clutch) and it cannot possibly shift on its own. That's up to the driver. Regardless of how it identifies...
YOUR automatic transmission DCT may IDENTIFY as a manual, but for the love of God, it's an AUTOMATIC. It's an automatic with a manual mode. That's it. It does NOT have a 3rd pedal. It CAN shift entirely on its own. It does not matter if it has a clutch and the clutch is .... you guessed it AUTOMATIC. This fits into the very clear category of the term automatic which has been used since the beginning of the age of automobiles until now.
A manual transmission has a 3rd pedal (clutch) and it cannot possibly shift on its own. That's up to the driver. Regardless of how it identifies...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,421
Likes: 1,130
From: Goodyear Arizona
For those more familiar with the PDK transmissions, do you miss your manual? I had a chance to drive a C8 for a length of time this past weekend for the first time and I was completely underwhelmed with the PDK. My fear is the Z06 is going to feel the same, which is incredibly disappointing as everyone has told me the PDK is amazing. It didn't feel like a sports car and kind of ruined the experience. I'm super low on the Z06 list, so I'll be first or second month whenever they decide to release it. Is there any hope that the Z06 will be different?
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 354
Likes: 383
SMH.... no words... :O
YOUR automatic transmission DCT may IDENTIFY as a manual, but for the love of God, it's an AUTOMATIC. It's an automatic with a manual mode. That's it. It does NOT have a 3rd pedal. It CAN shift entirely on its own. It does not matter if it has a clutch and the clutch is .... you guessed it AUTOMATIC. This fits into the very clear category of the term automatic which has been used since the beginning of the age of automobiles until now.
A manual transmission has a 3rd pedal (clutch) and it cannot possibly shift on its own. That's up to the driver. Regardless of how it identifies...
YOUR automatic transmission DCT may IDENTIFY as a manual, but for the love of God, it's an AUTOMATIC. It's an automatic with a manual mode. That's it. It does NOT have a 3rd pedal. It CAN shift entirely on its own. It does not matter if it has a clutch and the clutch is .... you guessed it AUTOMATIC. This fits into the very clear category of the term automatic which has been used since the beginning of the age of automobiles until now.
A manual transmission has a 3rd pedal (clutch) and it cannot possibly shift on its own. That's up to the driver. Regardless of how it identifies...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,361
Likes: 4,800
From: West Burbs of Chicago IL
I have had manual trans “toy” cars for 20 years, and I’d describe myself as a diehard. The C8 “manual” mode is fun to play with but the DCT is not a manual. I’ve been an early adopter of the last few Corvette generations, but I waited to get a C8 while I…worked through if I wanted one or not, sans manual. I had an opportunity to test drive a Z51 C8 at CarMax and that changed my mind and I took delivery of my ‘22 HTC C8 last Fall. Coming out of a Manual C7 Z06, the C8 is a vastly different experience…for one, it’s not trying to kill me anytime the roads are a little wet or if it’s below 40F, LOL (yes, I’m being dramatic, I loved my C7Z). I do not currently own a manual but I do not find myself remotely bored with the C8.
I actually thought about this thread while driving my C8 home from work today, and my 16 year old self said a resounding, “Hell No!”
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,910
Likes: 2,694
I’ll just throw this out there. “Since the beginning of the age of automobiles” automatics have had torque converters. DCTs do not. So a DCT is not a traditional automatic. Nor is it a traditional manual. It’s a hybrid. In some ways like a manual and some ways like an automatic.
Even in motorcycles that require manual shifting of gears but lose the clutch, they are still called semi-automatic transmissions. A DCT can't even be considered a semi-automatic because it IS fully automatic... with an option to paddle shift through the gears on your own, or a manual "MODE" but again, optional and SANS the clutch.
It makes no difference what you call it, it is NOT a manual transmission to the driver which is the ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. You cannot ease the clutch out, you cannot pop the clutch, you cannot heal/toe, you cannot move a gearshift through its gates to engage each gear individually without being sequential, etc... Why this is even debated is just as silly and intellectually dishonest as the "debate" about what the definition of a woman is... Good lord almighty... :O
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,910
Likes: 2,694
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,486
Likes: 5,536
From: Western Chicago Suburbs
I’ll just throw this out there. “Since the beginning of the age of automobiles” automatics have had torque converters. DCTs do not. So a DCT is not a traditional automatic. Nor is it a traditional manual. It’s a hybrid. In some ways like a manual and some ways like an automatic.
Agreed. But if I had to classify it as only one of the two, by my own personal definition, it’s an automatic. I’d never call a DCT a manual, even if it has clutches and a manual mode. But like you alluded to, it’s honestly in it’s own category.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,361
Likes: 4,800
From: West Burbs of Chicago IL
I’ll just throw this out there. “Since the beginning of the age of automobiles” automatics have had torque converters. DCTs do not. So a DCT is not a traditional automatic. Nor is it a traditional manual. It’s a hybrid. In some ways like a manual and some ways like an automatic.
It IS an automatic transmission. You can spin the GM marketing speak all you like, but it is still an automatic. Period. A fun, incredibly quick shifting automatic, but an automatic none the less. Don't take my word for it, even Webster dictionary defines it as:
"automatic transmission : a system in a vehicle that changes gears at different speeds without direct control by the driver"
I agree, it is not a "traditional" automatic but whether it has a clutch or torque converter to engage the output shaft makes little difference. It is still an automatic transmission. There is no debate between rational minds.
Even in motorcycles that require manual shifting of gears but lose the clutch, they are still called semi-automatic transmissions. A DCT can't even be considered a semi-automatic because it IS fully automatic... with an option to paddle shift through the gears on your own, or a manual "MODE" but again, optional and SANS the clutch.
It makes no difference what you call it, it is NOT a manual transmission to the driver which is the ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. You cannot ease the clutch out, you cannot pop the clutch, you cannot heal/toe, you cannot move a gearshift through its gates to engage each gear individually without being sequential, etc... Why this is even debated is just as silly and intellectually dishonest as the "debate" about what the definition of a woman is... Good lord almighty... :O
Even in motorcycles that require manual shifting of gears but lose the clutch, they are still called semi-automatic transmissions. A DCT can't even be considered a semi-automatic because it IS fully automatic... with an option to paddle shift through the gears on your own, or a manual "MODE" but again, optional and SANS the clutch.
It makes no difference what you call it, it is NOT a manual transmission to the driver which is the ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. You cannot ease the clutch out, you cannot pop the clutch, you cannot heal/toe, you cannot move a gearshift through its gates to engage each gear individually without being sequential, etc... Why this is even debated is just as silly and intellectually dishonest as the "debate" about what the definition of a woman is... Good lord almighty... :O
Well said.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 135
Likes: 111
From: MI
I appreciate everyone's replies, didn't meant to turn this into an argument on what is a "true" manual. For me personally, the DCT is NOT a manual and required very little driver input despite being in "manual mode". My wife's Regal has a "manual mode" too, but that's not exactly what I consider engaging, but my desires are different. I don't really care if someone gets a 2 second faster lap time, I'd rather enjoy the thrill. I'm hopeful he Z06 will provide that, but I'm just not confident like I was.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 381
From: SC
I’ll just throw this out there. “Since the beginning of the age of automobiles” automatics have had torque converters. DCTs do not. So a DCT is not a traditional automatic. Nor is it a traditional manual. It’s a hybrid. In some ways like a manual and some ways like an automatic.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 255
From: But it's a DRY HEAT! Tucson
i do not understand the resistance to dct trans from the die hard "manual" crowd. I am a member of that group also. in manual mode you are still shifting, only now using two hands. the shifts are lightning fast, rev match exact. personally my heel/toe sucks, i do like the rev match of my c7 but it does not compare to a dct. to keep my left foot from being bored I would left foot brake eliminating time required to move right foot from gas to brake, making me faster and more engaged.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,486
Likes: 5,536
From: Western Chicago Suburbs
I’ve never driven a DCT before (I guess I have since I’ve casually driven my buddy’s C8), but I’m assuming it’ll be engaging and fun when driving the car hard and most likely pretty boring in comparison to a manual when driving around town. Those are my expectations.
