No No to ST in C8

JCWP said:
www.motorauthority.com

Corvette chief engineer: No manual for C8, it's a dying business

The Corvette lead engineer says the manual won't return and manuals are a dying business.
www.motorauthority.com www.motorauthority.com
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Our number one priority in buying a Corvette was that it had to be stick shift. In 1969 I bought a new COPO 427 Chevelle with an M20 Muncie 4 speed. I had a 1966 SD396 4 speed Beaumont in 1967. In later years I had a 1972 Chevelle with 1968 L78 engine backed up by 4 speed. In 1997 we bought a 1969 300 Deluxe SS396 Chevelle, L78 backed up with a Muncie M21 4 speed and 4.10 gears. A lot of people simply can't drive a stick shift car. When you have put as many miles on as stick shift car as my wife and I have, it becomes second nature and is half the fun of having a performance car for us.
 
Keith Tedford said:
Our number one priority in buying a Corvette was that it had to be stick shift. In 1969 I bought a new COPO 427 Chevelle with an M20 Muncie 4 speed. I had a 1966 SD396 4 speed Beaumont in 1967. In later years I had a 1972 Chevelle with 1968 L78 engine backed up by 4 speed. In 1997 we bought a 1969 300 Deluxe SS396 Chevelle, L78 backed up with a Muncie M21 4 speed and 4.10 gears. A lot of people simply can't drive a stick shift car. When you have put as many miles on as stick shift car as my wife and I have, it becomes second nature and is half the fun of having a performance car for us.
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Yeah, well some people still like a stick to be sure. I have had many high performance cars with a stick - but, I love my C8 with paddle shifters - put it in M mode and shift away and the DCT will be even better, I believe? My first corvette was a stick - 1979 targa!
 
GM does away with the stick shift, eventually we may be driving our vettes from the comfort of our home, with an ipad. Self driving vettes for the C10. In all seriousness, technology in the C8 is amazing and contributes to the performance. The more performance we demand the more the car companies need to be at the forefront, advancing what they can. Let's face it, people are never going to be as quick shifting gears as an automatic gear box.
 
It seems like it would be extremely complex to get the linkage from the shifter to the transmission...however, because electronic steering exists(and in some cases there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and rack), as well as throttle by wire, etc, and the DCT is basically a manual transmission, I don't understand why they don't just put in a clutch pedal that signals an electric throw out bearing, and add a stick shifter that's connected to a sensor that tells the transmission what gear the driver wants. So, even if it's not an actual manual transmission in the traditional sense, you can at least still feel and operate the car as if it was a manual. Plus manuals have been manipulated by computers for years now anyway (rev match downshifts, 1-4 skip shift, etc) so this seems like it wouldn't be too much of a jump to complete and as for cost, no matter if the customer selected a manual or auto, it would use the same transmission. Hell, hit a button on the dash and the manual could go in full auto mode for when you're sitting in stop and go traffic.
 
Riley P said:
It seems like it would be extremely complex to get the linkage from the shifter to the transmission...however, because electronic steering exists(and in some cases there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and rack), as well as throttle by wire, etc, and the DCT is basically a manual transmission, I don't understand why they don't just put in a clutch pedal that signals an electric throw out bearing, and add a stick shifter that's connected to a sensor that tells the transmission what gear the driver wants. So, even if it's not an actual manual transmission in the traditional sense, you can at least still feel and operate the car as if it was a manual. Plus manuals have been manipulated by computers for years now anyway (rev match downshifts, 1-4 skip shift, etc) so this seems like it wouldn't be too much of a jump to complete and as for cost, no matter if the customer selected a manual or auto, it would use the same transmission. Hell, hit a button on the dash and the manual could go in full auto mode for when you're sitting in stop and go traffic.
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I'm going to wait for the C9. Heard the tranny will have a dedicated computer bluetooth link to a neuroconnectivity protein in the drivers brain. Then we can just think of the shift. :rolleyes:
 
Rruuff Day said:
I'm going to wait for the C9. Heard the tranny will have a dedicated computer bluetooth link to a neuroconnectivity protein in the drivers brain. Then we can just think of the shift. :rolleyes:
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I am not sure I have any spare neuroconnectivity proteins in my brain....mine are all busy with the tv remote and the flashing lights on my vcr.
 
Cariboocreek said:
And that’s why you are the engineer.....😀
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Hey, you guys are having too much fun - luv it!! My neurons are a little stale - retired 10 years now - the most exercise they get are doing crossword puzzles and sudoku . Thats why I need my AT and or DCT - minimize toll on my neuronal pathways.
 
Rruuff Day said:
I'm going to wait for the C9. Heard the tranny will have a dedicated computer bluetooth link to a neuroconnectivity protein in the drivers brain. Then we can just think of the shift. :rolleyes:
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@XFIRE82 Will have a hay day with that comment. He has a good point about the cars he loves being repairable pretty much anywhere by anybody who is skilled or motivated. The C8 is a level above the C7 and we are pretty much out of the loop for diagnosing and repairs on anything other than a flat tire.. and I’m not sure about that now. 😂
 
Here’s a somewhat shaky vid from this kid who just dropped a $2000.00 deposit on a C8. He’s got some sit down footage but you’ll have to pause it here and there as he’s moving too quick. Maybe because he’s $2K lighter in the wallet.

Looks like the passenger can open the rear hatch/hood/trunk with a lever on the floor. Similar to the emergency exit on the previous gens. Not sure about those flimsy looking vent toggles though. The row of buttons down that centre pillar is different. I’m kinda liking this shade of blue. It looks pretty nice in the sun and the car looks good with the top off.

 
Keith Tedford said:
Our number one priority in buying a Corvette was that it had to be stick shift. In 1969 I bought a new COPO 427 Chevelle with an M20 Muncie 4 speed. I had a 1966 SD396 4 speed Beaumont in 1967. In later years I had a 1972 Chevelle with 1968 L78 engine backed up by 4 speed. In 1997 we bought a 1969 300 Deluxe SS396 Chevelle, L78 backed up with a Muncie M21 4 speed and 4.10 gears. A lot of people simply can't drive a stick shift car. When you have put as many miles on as stick shift car as my wife and I have, it becomes second nature and is half the fun of having a performance car for us.
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But the Dual-Clutch transmission is the best of both worlds.
It is really a dual standard transmission, with electronic assistance.
So it is an easy driving standard, that can be operated like automatic.
I've liked the standard transmission since '62 but often wished for an automatic when in traffic.
 
I guess the newer generation which is making decisions now has grown up with Automatics or Dual Clutch Transmissions and is setting the new standard. Most of the younger folks these days (and I say 'most' loosely ) wouldn't even know how to drive a manual anymore let alone seen one.
My first ride was a 1980 Ford F150 with a 3 speed in the tree and the high beam switch on the floor next to your left foot; hell I miss that truck :) and even though todays trucks have all the bells and whistles somewhere along the lines that technology went away and they moved to floor shifting and the three in the tree disappeared.
I've owned several sports cars over the years some with a dual clutch tranny but I've always had one manual transmission car around to drive. Yes the DCT shifts faster and smoother and the cars 0-60 times are better and its more efficient at everything - BUT in my opinion nothing connects you to your ride like shifting yourself... I guess I'm old school and sure, I admit it proudly :) eventually guys and gals in my generation will no longer be buying manual transmissions and the number of people seeking that option will be less and less until the manual will be no more (and we're seeing that now).
Eventually a car with a manual transmission will be considered as having a perfect theft control device as nobody will want or know how to steal it LOL
I guess for me at least, I will need to add on to the garage and just keep that C7 around for a while :)
Cheers
 
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