Looking at a Z06 - auto or stick

[Nik]

So I'm actually looking at eventually ordering up a C7 Z06, likely in the fall/winter or early 16. Having a large self inflicted debate with myself whether to finally succumb to the auto or not.

I came from Europe and ALL my cars have been stick shift in all shapes and sizes. My only auto is the grocery getter. In a previous life I found autos frustrating in general inc. the silly SMG concoctions that was in one of the M5s I drove around for a little while.

But I do and have always used my fast cars as dailies and intend to use the Z as a daily driver for as long as the weather permits. With that in mind auto is a lovely feature to have on the dvp every morning. The future Mrs Z will also see some mild but regular track duty.

After all that rambling, anyone here regret getting an auto Z or vice versa? I realize most are partial to their pricey purchases but here's hoping for some impartial guidance.

Any frustrations with the Z slushbox? How is it on the twisties/track?

 

[tyho]

I don't have a Z, a Z51 M7. I love the shifter, replaced stock with MGW shifter, but I use mostly highway. I wouldn't like it in city driving.

 

[AllFlash]

My personal opinion is obvious....auto. As coincidence as it may be, however, another with a Z06 at the Welland Show and Shine yesterday had something very interesting to say. He started by stating he is a stick guy and has been his entire life. He never thought twice about ordering his Z06 (from Cullens) in a manual. He then said, " But you know what? This car is just too busy. There is too much going on." I didn't quite understand until he explained that he wished he had ordered an auto simply because of the fact of all there is to do in the car on a simple acceleration. That actually made a great deal of sense to me.

Having said that, I gotta tell you that there is something really special with this auto and I experienced it several times today with a group of 30 or so Vettes touring the falls. When you accelerate and it steps up a gear, it will hold that gear 4-5 seconds longer than a normal tranny will. It is almost like it knows that you will be there again accelerating soon enough. Believe it or not, it is a very natural feeling once you get used to it. Opposite to that, when you accelerate ...say to pass someone for example, and then you slow after the pass, it feels unnatural to still be up in that gear and, in fact, some have questioned this feeling. personally, i see where they are going with this new movement and I love the feeling on the A8.

 

[Matt]

Sounds like the Auto is a great option, it probably comes down to 2 things: how much stop and go driving will you do; and do you enjoy the feeling of a manual shift car. I ordered a manual just because when you are in the zone there is nothing like nailing the shift just right while you juggle 10 other parameters, gives you a feeling that you are truly connected with the car and YOU decide when the gear changes happen, not some algorithm selecting the gear for you cause it thinks it knows better than you. YOU know better how you want to drive.

My 2 cents.

Matt

 

[Riley P]

I'm a manual guy....I wouldn't have been happy if I bought an auto....but I don't have really busy commuter traffic to deal with. Plus the 8 speed auto sounds pretty awesome. That is a tough question you ask Nik. The boy in me says get a manual! But for a daily and busy traffic and the insane speed of the C7Z, this might be the car to get an auto with...... but I still have this issue with wanting to row the gears myself.... Positives and negatives to both choices.

 

[Black 03 Z06]

I don't think I would be happy with an automatic. I know the logic behind the A8 but to me a sports car has to have a manual. Just my opinion. After having followed All Flash today for many miles there is nothing wrong with the automatic, Les's Z06 runs like a rabbit about to go on a spit, it is quick.

 

[wilyvet]

So I'm actually looking at eventually ordering up a C7 Z06, likely in the fall/winter or early 16. Having a large self inflicted debate with myself whether to finally succumb to the auto or not.

I came from Europe and ALL my cars have been stick shift in all shapes and sizes. My only auto is the grocery getter. In a previous life I found autos frustrating in general inc. the silly SMG concoctions that was in one of the M5s I drove around for a little while.

But I do and have always used my fast cars as dailies and intend to use the Z as a daily driver for as long as the weather permits. With that in mind auto is a lovely feature to have on the dvp every morning. The future Mrs Z will also see some mild but regular track duty.

After all that rambling, anyone here regret getting an auto Z or vice versa? I realize most are partial to their pricey purchases but here's hoping for some impartial guidance.

Any frustrations with the Z slushbox? How is it on the twisties/track?

I changed my 2015 Z06/Z07 order from an A8 to an M7 when I read Tadge Juechter's response to Z06s overheating in track use: that is, GM engineers cars for track use only with manual transmissions ... at the Milford Proving Grounds track, driven hard by a pro driver for a full tank of gas, max ambient temp 30 deg C . Juechter said that the A8 used maximum rpm shift points, which would create considerable heat. He recommended the manual for track use and/ or paddle shifting the A8 at sub-max rpm.
In testing an M7 Z06 at Willow Springs for Motor Trend, Randy Pobst found that the 4-5 shift was difficult to judge. He caught 3rd gear instead of 5th. I have found the same phenomenon with my Z06: concentration is required to make sure you are going up from 4th to 5th, and not to 3rd or 7th. Another contributor to this forum mentioned that they are happy with an aftermarket shifter.

 

[Bones]

I've read with interest the posts above, I selected the manual for a couple of reasons on the highway it's an auto with a 7th gear that's fantastic for cruising and for spirited driving with the manual your the boss it makes you think therefore keeps you involved, for me it's keeps me motivated for the next bend before we treat ourselves with a double maple walnut at our favorite parlour.
As for fifth gear I missed a few times as well so now I have to tell myself to notch to the right when coming out of fourth still don't have it down pat but practice makes perfect

 

[Black 03 Z06]

I would really like to drive a manual with one of the optional shift mechanisms to see what it is like with a really good upgrade. I still miss shifts and sometimes a bit concerned about what gear the car is actually in. Like Bones maybe I need to pay more attention to the shift pattern.

 

[BYBY4RE]

I have the manual. I love the manual. The only problem in the quick shifts is the 2-3 shift. The proper solution for this is to open palm the shift forward as shown to me by a C6 Zo6 driver. The shift to 5th is in the 230km/hr range so it is not a big deal for the number of times you get to that speed. 5th is easy to hit once you get used to it. Daily driving is no problem since I only use 1st and shift to 4th next. There is enough torque to drive around town in 4th all day. Stop and go is no worse than any other manual, so that choice is up to you. I have not driven the auto to compare but would say that the new auto sounds good enough that there is not any trade off anymore.

 

[Nik]

Appreciate the feedback from everyone. I'm assuming the stock clutch is typical light as a feather affair (ls7 feel?). Not in the least concerned about the extra gear, I've done my fair share of daily and competitive driving in all manner of oddly geared cars, I'm ok with the learning curve. Guess next step is to see if I can take a test drive in an A8, going by the availability that will likely involve having its owner screaming in pursuit from the dealership

 

[smackYYZ]

Appreciate the feedback from everyone. I'm assuming the stock clutch is typical light as a feather affair (ls7 feel?). Not in the least concerned about the extra gear, I've done my fair share of daily and competitive driving in all manner of oddly geared cars, I'm ok with the learning curve. Guess next step is to see if I can take a test drive in an A8, going by the availability that will likely involve having its owner screaming in pursuit from the dealership

Only way to get a test drive will most likely be with someone from here on the forum. I've let two people drive my '14 Z51 M7 that I didn't know but I knew were serious corvette people. Each time I offered they couldn't believe I was going to let them actually drive it after letting them take a ride in the passenger seat.

Only problem I have with it now, is the last guy who lives around the corner went and bought a new '15 A8 same damn colour! Only two C7's in the neighbourhood and both are Night Race Blue, go figure.

 

[Black 03 Z06]

Mike, it just means that two people in the neighbourhood have incredible taste.:Thumbsup:

 

[tyho]

I changed my 2015 Z06/Z07 order from an A8 to an M7 when I read Tadge Juechter's response to Z06s overheating in track use: that is, GM engineers cars for track use only with manual transmissions ... at the Milford Proving Grounds track, driven hard by a pro driver for a full tank of gas, max ambient temp 30 deg C . Juechter said that the A8 used maximum rpm shift points, which would create considerable heat. He recommended the manual for track use and/ or paddle shifting the A8 at sub-max rpm.
In testing an M7 Z06 at Willow Springs for Motor Trend, Randy Pobst found that the 4-5 shift was difficult to judge. He caught 3rd gear instead of 5th. I have found the same phenomenon with my Z06: concentration is required to make sure you are going up from 4th to 5th, and not to 3rd or 7th. Another contributor to this forum mentioned that they are happy with an aftermarket shifter.

I'm not trying to talk you into going to the MGW shifter, but from my experience and many others on other forums, there is a day and night difference between the stock shifter and the MGW. Not only is the build quality much better on the MGW but I found that my stock shifter would skip from 3 to 5 or 2 to 4. Maybe I just don't know how to shift correctly, but once I changed over, that hasn't happened. Also the action is smoother and the shifter feels like it falls into the gear as opposed to the clunckiness (if there is such a word) from the stock. I don't have a Z06, a Z51 but I believe the stock shifter is the same. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[smackYYZ]

I'm not trying to talk you into going to the MGW shifter, but from my experience and many others on other forums, there is a day and night difference between the stock shifter and the MGW. Not only is the build quality much better on the MGW but I found that my stock shifter would skip from 3 to 5 or 2 to 4. Maybe I just don't know how to shift correctly, but once I changed over, that hasn't happened. Also the action is smoother and the shifter feels like it falls into the gear as opposed to the clunckiness (if there is such a word) from the stock. I don't have a Z06, a Z51 but I believe the stock shifter is the same. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

After learning the tranny I've not had any shifting issues. Also while at Spring Mountain they had me change my shifting technique, from pistol grip ( hand to side thumb on top ) to instead palming( hand over the top ) the shifter. They said you get a better feel for the natural centering of the shifter ( between 3-4 ). They were right, since then I've stuck to palming and not missed a shift since.

I've thought about installing the MGW, maybe will do it this winter season.

 

[81Wayne]

I drove an A8 - Z07 at Spring Mountain (last week) in 100 degree temps with windows up and air conditions on full blast. They recommend (demand) you drive it on the track in manual mode and use the paddle shifters. Shifts were lightning fast, up or down. Driving in regular mode on the track they say will build more heat.

 

[Nik]

Thanks gents. I hear @Nasty98 is giving out free test drives to everyone in a 30 mile radius in August so will go make unreasonable demands and maybe get to stand within 5 feet of it whilst looking away....

 

[Keith Tedford]

Having driven stick shift vehicles since my days as a kid on the farm, shifting sort of comes as second nature. Do I make a perfect shift every time? Of course not, but the challenge is always there that YOU are doing it. Our '05 has close to 45K miles on it now and the stock shifter is at least as tight as the Hurst Competition Plus shifters that I used in our old Chevelles. It still works well on a hard shift. If the shifter does get bad, it isn't much of a job to switch out to one of the aftermarket units that everyone raves about. To my wife and I, the stick shift is what it is all about in cars like these. If I were doing serious racing, it would definitely be an automatic, just for the reliability. Then again, if you are doing any kind of serious racing, you want the whole drivetrain beefed up no matter the transmission.

 

[tinman3]

Mike, it just means that two people in the neighbourhood have incredible taste.:Thumbsup:

smackyyz has all the taste, his neighbour doesn't have any! As much as he loved the colour, did he not feel at all like a dick to buy the same and take away from smackYYZ pride?

 

[smackYYZ]

smackyyz has all the taste, his neighbour doesn't have any! As much as he loved the colour, did he not feel at all like a dick to buy the same and take away from smackYYZ pride?

Nah, doesn't bother me now. It's a great colour and if someone has a complaint, I'll just say are you sure it wasn't the other one down the street!