C8 vs C8Z
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 135
Likes: 111
From: MI
C8 vs C8Z
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?
Popular Reply
Apr 12, 2022, 05:30 PM
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...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,041
Likes: 566
From: Bolingbrook IL
Nope, I love it. This is my 5th Corvette, first automatic, and it's easily the best.
I don't miss the annoyance of the manual in traffic, and no one on earth can shift as well and as fast as the 8 speed auto does in the C8.
Manuals in general are dead to almost all car manufacturers.
I don't miss the annoyance of the manual in traffic, and no one on earth can shift as well and as fast as the 8 speed auto does in the C8.
Manuals in general are dead to almost all car manufacturers.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 20,318
Likes: 1,905
From: Huntingdon Valley Pa/ Town of Webb NY
All 14 new Corvette's of mine have been manuals, of course that ends when my Z06's get delivered, now I get an automatic, went through this with my porsche's, my first 3 911 turbo's were manuals, then you could only get PDK, so my last 3 have been PDK transmissions, and you know what, they are not that bad, sure can't shift that fast. 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 135
Likes: 111
From: MI
All 14 new Corvette's of mine have been manuals, of course that ends when my Z06's get delivered, now I get an automatic, went through this with my porsche's, my first 3 911 turbo's were manuals, then you could only get PDK, so my last 3 have been PDK transmissions, and you know what, they are not that bad, sure can't shift that fast.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 929
Likes: 615
From: Navarre, Florida
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?
Racer
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 452
Likes: 212
From: New Jersey
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?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 20,318
Likes: 1,905
From: Huntingdon Valley Pa/ Town of Webb NY
Porsche has been my fallback if I end up not liking the Z06, but I'm afraid the wait times will be even worse than the Z06. Interesting to hear your perspective given your long history with the manuals on multiple platforms. Sounds like I'll need to give it more of chance.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
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
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,166
Likes: 3,781
You have to figure this out for yourself. For me, I bought a sports car with a DCT and sold it to get back into a manual sports car because I got bored even though the car was quite quick. Now I know I prefer to have a manual transmission sports car. So as long as one of my sports cars is a manual all is good.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15,224
Likes: 266
From: NOBROCOSOFLO
I have only owned manual transmissions, since 1986, most recent ones were V1-sold, C6-still owned, V2-still owned, C7Z07-still owned, and never pursued C8 Stingray because of no manual option.
On the list for a C8Z07 due to its greatness, got over the manual issue after I drove a GT3 RS with Xtreme Xperience at PBIR, I am assuming the C8Z transmission will be as good, if within 80% I am fine, if not I will consider aftermarket.
I realize us old school guys have to deal with the new technology, and one day I 'may' get an ev, but no time soon,,,
On the list for a C8Z07 due to its greatness, got over the manual issue after I drove a GT3 RS with Xtreme Xperience at PBIR, I am assuming the C8Z transmission will be as good, if within 80% I am fine, if not I will consider aftermarket.
I realize us old school guys have to deal with the new technology, and one day I 'may' get an ev, but no time soon,,,
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,272
Likes: 8,545
From: Rochester, NY
I kind of went through the same thing. I drove my friends C8 and although it is a nice car I just was not thrilled with the dct tranny.. Yes it shifts fast etc, but after several drives in the C8 I removed my name from the list. I am still on the list for a Z06 but will either drop off or flip it. Just tough for myself to give up my 2019 M7Z convertible.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,910
Likes: 2,694
I have only had auto trans cars in my trucks/beaters. All of my sports cars have been manuals (as they should be) and if I had my way, it would always be this way. I do have a BMW twin turbo hard top convertible currently that is paddle shift auto but I always regret that choice. It would be SO MUCH MORE FUN with a manual. My current SRT8 Challenger is a manual as well as all my previous vettes and vipers. I will try and enjoy the coming this fall, Z06 as much as I can but if I just can't get past the auto transmission then I will sell it and buy an older Ferrari/Lambo manual or C7Z. I'm also planning to build a GT40 so that may also help with any manual gearbox withdrawals with the Z06.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 135
Likes: 111
From: MI
I kind of went through the same thing. I drove my friends C8 and although it is a nice car I just was not thrilled with the dct tranny.. Yes it shifts fast etc, but after several drives in the C8 I removed my name from the list. I am still on the list for a Z06 but will either drop off or flip it. Just tough for myself to give up my 2019 M7Z convertible.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
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 first drove mine around in tour/sport and was pretty underwhelmed coming from a C7 Grand Sport Manual. Once I switched it over to track it came alive and was snappy and aggressive. I love it.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 84
Likes: 66
It does bode well that they tried to mirror the performance of the Ferrari 458. I have driven the Ferrari 458 and the shifts were amazing, but it also felt like the power was also instantaneous and incredible no matter where I was with speed/rev range. I don’t know enough about DCT or transmissions in general, but to me there’s a distinction between speed of shifts and always on tap power band access. I’m coming from a C7 manual, but if my Z06 feels like that 458, I think I’ll be very happy.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 879
Likes: 272
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have a C6ZR1 and a C8. I can't say I miss the manual but it is sure nice to still have one when I feel like shifting. Its my first automatic shifting sports car and I do like it more as I get used to the car. Shifts very quick and when in manual mode it responds well. Ill get another one for sure when the new ZR1 shows up.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 15,678
Likes: 1,097
From: birmingham Alabama
St. Jude Donor '09 and '13
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?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 217
Likes: 195
All 14 new Corvette's of mine have been manuals, of course that ends when my Z06's get delivered, now I get an automatic, went through this with my porsche's, my first 3 911 turbo's were manuals, then you could only get PDK, so my last 3 have been PDK transmissions, and you know what, they are not that bad, sure can't shift that fast.