Did the Manual have to die?

[stinger430]

Yes, it does seem the manual is on the way out. And the general public (enthusiasts included) is the axe-wielding culprit. It's a shame as I think manuals are SO much damned fun!

I'm just of the mind that a car designed for fun should automatically offer a manual as well. Pun intended

And I can't fault Corvette for not only keeping up with, but bloodying the competition. The C8 really is a spectacular accomplishment. Especially at $60,000 !!!

The last car to ditch the manual might be the Miata.

[KennyGS]

Yeah, there’s no doubt the auto trans is faster, but I don’t want to give up the manual. If being the fastest is all the matters, then buy a f’ing Tesla. Just don’t fall asleep at the wheel.

[gdh]

Looking fwd to driving the C8. I don’t mind the idea of using paddle shifters as Longtimer stated about Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche as well as the GT40 its not harming their sales at all. My concern is whether or not GM builds and programs the transmission to be fun and trouble free.

[prateekgupta]

when they put the rest of the parts out for bid, they found out that the costs of the economic order quantities for all of the unique, non power parts added MORE to the price of the C5 than just keeping all of the power stuff. By that time they were already committed to using those shelf-sitting tops

[The Torch]

Originally Posted by prateekgupta

when they put the rest of the parts out for bid, they found out that the costs of the economic order quantities for all of the unique, non power parts added MORE to the price of the C5 than just keeping all of the power stuff. By that time they were already committed to using those shelf-sitting tops

That's word for word what Longtimer posted back in July Nice try though

Originally Posted by Longtimer

when they put the rest of the parts out for bid, they found out that the costs of the economic order quantities for all of the unique, non power parts added MORE to the price of the C5 than just keeping all of the power stuff. By that time they were already committed to using those shelf-sitting tops

[Longtimer]

Originally Posted by gdh

Looking fwd to driving the C8. I don’t mind the idea of using paddle shifters as Longtimer stated about Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche as well as the GT40 its not harming their sales at all. My concern is whether or not GM builds and programs the transmission to be fun and trouble free.

Regarding "Trouble Free": Tremic has worked closely with GM Engineers and to build this DCT for the C8. Tremic has been making transmissions for decades and has an excellent reputation for quality.

Regarding "Fun": It is VERY clear the engineers had a LOT of fun with this Tranny. IF you pull and hold both paddles back at the same time its like pushing on the clutch. You can rev the engine all you want without moving the car. The different performance choices/modes Tour through Track use different trans control algorithms, but if you select "M" to manually shift, it instantaneously shifts regardless which mode you are in. So IMO, the C8, like all of the Vettes before it, leaves the fun level completely up to the drivers abilities and desires.

[rhandle]

from having the chance to sit in the new C8,I already stated that the cockpit is the SMALLEST ever in a corvette. I think this alone would prevent at least 70% of c8 owners from not being able to operate the clutch pedal without banging their knee against the underside of the left dash every time a shift is performed. I tested a C7 and this was the case. I couldn't comfortably drive a c7 with a stick. The C8 feels significantly smaller than the c7.So sad

[The Torch]

Originally Posted by rhandle

e would prevent ..... owners from not being able to operate the clutch pedal without banging their knee against the underside of the left dash every time a shift is performed.

That is the same problem I had with a Viper many years ago

[Longtimer]

I forgot to mention two more fun features that involve the transmission:
1) Launch Control of course, but that's not new.
2) Burnout mode. has been mentioned twice so I think it's real, but unless you own a tire store or are running for HS Senior President, I suspect this feature won't be used much unless the rear tires are already down to near replacement anyway.

[TommyFox]

Originally Posted by HN376RAR

As the owner of 3 Corvettes, all with manual transmissions, I understand the displeasure of many. However, I feel I have to chime in here:

Development of a second type of transmission would have only increased costs. From what I read, no supplier was interested in developing such a low volume one either.

I don’t know the numbers, but aren’t most Corvette purchases today with the automatic?

Keep in mind, this transmission will be unique to this car. There will be zero opportunity to share it with any another platform in an effort to recoup, and spread out development costs.

Yes, I wish they would offer a manual. I am completely satisfied that what they are offering is a DCT.

Right it's a economic decision. They also claim due to limited space a manual would not work. I just find automatics boring...

[KennyGS]

Originally Posted by TommyFox

I just find automatics boring...

[TommyFox]

I don't have my corvettes at the moment was waiting on the c8 reveal.


I think I'm going to get another cheap C4 probably a 1990 6 speed manual to beat the hell out of...

[Longtimer]

Originally Posted by HN376RAR

As the owner of 3 Corvettes, all with manual transmissions, I understand the displeasure of many. However, I feel I have to chime in here:

Development of a second type of transmission would have only increased costs. From what I read, no supplier was interested in developing such a low volume one either.

I don’t know the numbers, but aren’t most Corvette purchases today with the automatic?

Keep in mind, this transmission will be unique to this car. There will be zero opportunity to share it with any another platform in an effort to recoup, and spread out development costs.

Yes, I wish they would offer a manual. I am completely satisfied that what they are offering is a DCT.

I think a LOT of people will be surprised when they flip that "M" button on the console and start flipping paddles.

With the orders for the final C7s included, it will end with just under 15% !!! Manual transmissions. Many of us here are old school die hard manual lovers and that's be cause the old slush boxes were slow to respond and more work to try to time than fun to drive. The DCT shifts instantly - it IS a manual box with a servo that your hand on the paddle activates 1000+ times faster than you or I could move a shifter.

I'm anxious to find out if the default mode the owner sets up to implement upon start, can make it start with the manual mode in place rather than have a need to flip the console button every time. The only time I would change from the manual mode would be in our So Cal freeway traffic when it is stop and go. The rest of the time I would be in direct control of what gear the car is in and my left leg would finally get some rest. Who knows, it might eventually save a knee or hip joint.

[stu]

Since the decision to drop the standard seems to come down to the the money GM would have had to spend to design the thing and then make it work in a C8, I would have to ask, how much extra would you be willing to pay for a standard?

I'm sure the decision to not have a standard was not a trivial one, and there is a magic number the number cruncher's came up with to make the option viable given projected sales, but, GM is in the business to make money and I would assume the risk is too high or return just isn't there.

(And re-reading this before I hit post, am I the only one who still says standard instead of manual ?)

[Longtimer]

Another important set of stats;

Total C6 Manual transmission production percentage = 45.6%

Total C7 Manual transmission production percentage = 15.0%

I had to run the C6 numbers myself. By year other than to years of anomalies (could have been impacted by new Manual only models) the Manual %s started slow in the first year, peaked in 09 & 10 and then dropped considerably until the final year. Remember that the, Z06, ZR1 and the 427 vert (2013) were Manual only cars and that changed with the C7.

Bottom line: When give a choice of a 'good' Auto or a manual on every model of Corvette, 85% C7 owners wanted automatic. Telling that even some ZR1 owners chose the Auto.

The DCT is pretty much idiot proof guaranteeing no missed or slow shifts not only for owners, but for car rag testers too. Add this to the order stats and I can easily understand why they decided to drop the manual. Oh, I've only spent about 5-7 minutes in a C8 with the next guy in line glaring at me, so I cannot recall the amount of driver foot room, but remember that the front wheelwells should be fighting with the cockpit for available space. No clutch peddle probably enables space for the placement of a comfortable dead peddle for the left foot. I have seen midengined layouts where the driver has to sit angled towards the center of the car to get 4 peddles in the space (acel, brake, clutch, and dead). No idea if there is a sitting angle needed for the 3 C8 peddles.