Poll for car enthusiasts - C6 Corvette Transmission Choice:

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JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
924
126
Paddle Shifter

Get engaged, thanks to available Six?Speed Paddle Shift with Automatic Modes. Identical paddles are positioned on each side of the steering wheel. Push the ?plus? button with your thumb to upshift early, or hold out until redline for maximum performance. Downshift on command by lightly squeezing the paddle behind the wheel back toward you. You?ll accomplish fast downshifts from sixth gear all the way to first.
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Let me get this straight, you have to push in with your right thumb to shift up but pull towards you with your fingers to downshift?

No way, do it the way they do it in F1 cars. GM fvcked that up big time.

6spd manual FTW!!!
 
overst33r

overst33r

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
5,761
12
81
Top Gear said the manual tranny is way too clunky and not sensible enough for city driving...so i guess teh semiauto is the only way to go... but then again they ARE britons
 
K

kb315

Senior member
Jun 16, 2001
394
0
0
Originally posted by: mariok2006
Top Gear said the manual tranny is way too clunky and not sensible enough for city driving...so i guess teh semiauto is the only way to go... but then again they ARE britons
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Please, while top gear is a great show, its more entertainment than a informative car show.

I'm sure the manual is probably more clunky than euro supercars, but take everything they say about american cars with a grain of salt. Especially coming from Jeremy Clarkson.
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
I've read two articles; one said the shifting was smooth, precise, and crisp. It was only like 0.3 seconds slower or something too. The other review said it had to hunt for gears and you had to wait for it to drop down each gear if you were 6th though. Given the second review was from Edmund's and the first Motor Trend, I'd trust Motor Trend more.

Either way with that stupid shifter on the auto I wouldn't get it for that reason only. Get a real paddle shifter and I'll consider it.
 
C

chorb

Golden Member
Oct 7, 2005
1,272
0
0
I used to valet in Newport beach, where I got to drive alot of nice cars, including those with paddle shift (mostly M3s, some others as well); and here is why I would never buy a paddle shift car:

1) usually the shift time is slower, and noticable
2) when making a turn and you need to downshift the paddles sometimes are not immediatly accessible, as the wheel will be turned thus your hand will not be in the optimum position to shift
3) You cannot drop the clutch and lay down some rubber (you can still squeal the tires but not to the same effect)
4) when downshifting you have to go through all the gears till you hit the one you want
5) more expensive for a product that doesnt really enhance the driving experience, and is mostly a show-off to those people that havent seen paddle shifters before.

 
MasterAndCommander

MasterAndCommander

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2004
3,656
0
71
This is the review I just saw on Motorweek -

The 2006 Chevrolet C6 Corvette may no longer be the newest hot ride in town, but its latest automatic transmission option is. Why is a new slushbox important to fans of America's favorite sports car? Because the new 6-speed Paddle Shift automatic finally allows Formula-1 loving Corvette owners to shift like Schumacher or Alonso.

The new gearbox is the most sophisticated in Corvette history, its manual change and two different automatic modes being regulated by an integrated 32-bit controller. Computer control and smaller steps between gears allow for a steeper 4.02:1 first gear to boost acceleration, and a wide 6.04:1 overall ratio to reduce fuel consumption.

But it's not economy that's on a Vette fan's mind, it's performance. And the 6-speed paddle shifter allows you to make proper use of the 6.0-liter LS2 V8's 400 horses and steep torque curve. While it doesn't shorten 0-60 runs much, it makes getting there a lot more fun.

"The 6-speed paddle shifter is really slick. Upshifts are very clean, with no lag whatsoever. There's just a little stutter when you downshift at low rpm. In automatic mode, it's really smooth. This is the best high performance automatic that GM has ever built, and it would be perfect for the new Camaro or GTO." ? Dave Durso

But right now it's Corvette fans who get to enjoy the best-of-both-worlds gearbox. It's available for $1,250 in either the Corvette coupe, which runs about $46,000, or the Corvette convertible which goes for $54,000. More of the exotic car performance and sophistication at real world prices that the Corvette has always been famous for.
 
AdamK47

AdamK47

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,652
3,517
136
I'd rather have the Tremec T56 6spd in the C6. I had the T56 when I had my 99 Camaro SS and have it now in my 06 GTO. This transmission can handle huge amounts of torque. Like Top Gear mentioned in their Monaro review, the transmission feels like it came from big earth moving machinery. Not that it's hard to shift, but that it just feels strong and durable.
 
overst33r

overst33r

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
5,761
12
81
Originally posted by: AdamK47 3DS
I'd rather have the Tremec T56 6spd in the C6. I had the T56 when I had my 99 Camaro SS and have it now in my 06 GTO. This transmission can handle huge amounts of torque. Like Top Gear mentioned in their Monaro review, the transmission feels like it came from big earth moving machinery. Not that it's hard to shift, but that it just feels strong and durable.
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lol jeremy did comnent about the torque....he started the car in fifth gear and ran flat out to 160 or something without shifting...
 
S

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Given the second review was from Edmund's and the first Motor Trend, I'd trust Motor Trend more.
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you mean the same magazine that gave COTY awards such as:

2005 Chrysler 300
2004 Toyota Prius
2002 Ford Thunderbird
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
2000 Lincoln LS
1999 Chrysler 300M
1997 Chevrolet Malibu
1996 Dodge Caravan
1995 Chrysler Cirrus
1994 Ford Mustang
1993 Ford Probe GT
1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan

and last but not least (maybe it is least)

1981 Chrysler K-cars, Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant

at least edmunds praise domestics and imports equally, but MT seems to heavily favor detroit, maybe until the past 2 years or so.
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Originally posted by: sniperruff
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Given the second review was from Edmund's and the first Motor Trend, I'd trust Motor Trend more.
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you mean the same magazine that gave COTY awards such as:

2005 Chrysler 300
2004 Toyota Prius
2002 Ford Thunderbird
2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
2000 Lincoln LS
1999 Chrysler 300M
1997 Chevrolet Malibu
1996 Dodge Caravan
1995 Chrysler Cirrus
1994 Ford Mustang
1993 Ford Probe GT
1992 Cadillac Seville Touring Sedan

and last but not least (maybe it is least)

1981 Chrysler K-cars, Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant

at least edmunds praise domestics and imports equally, but MT seems to heavily favor detroit, maybe until the past 2 years or so.
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I can't speak to favoritism, but a number of those choices aren't bad. What's wrong with the 300, Prius, PT Cruiser (aside from my hatred of its styling, but that's an individual thing), LS, 300M, Caravan, or Mustang? Nothing, in their respective years.

Overall I find Edmund's reviews just of lower quality; maybe its just my bias for above high school level writing. They have good info overall, but I prefer any of the mags over them.
 
James3shin

James3shin

Diamond Member
Apr 5, 2004
4,426
0
76
top gear said this, top gear said that...man go drive a C6 with the paddles and then go drive it with the stick. The stick will feel so much nicer and give the driver a better feel then those paddles. I'm sure most enthusiast miss the H-gates and traditional sticks.
 
S

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
I can't speak to favoritism, but a number of those choices aren't bad. What's wrong with the

300- they could have picked the mazda3, or the scion tC, or the new mustang, or the C6 corvette... but no... a boat with an old E-class platform that costs $20k wins COTY

Prius- great technology, too bad it's not even a car... diesel and frugal compacts get similar milage without the cost

PT Cruiser (aside from my hatred of its styling, but that's an individual thing)- that, and it's a fad car... like the bettle... why don't they just give COTY to the VW beetle? i don't see beetle's nor PT's on the street anymore.

LS- i actually do like the LS... but there's just nothing special about it to give it COTY

300M- read lincoln LS

Caravan- Car of the year? a minivan?

Mustang- now keep in mind this is a 1994 mustang. it still had the horrid interior, it was slower than the camaro/firebird... i guess it was a slow year in 1994 so it's actually not that bad...
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but thunderbird and the malibu as COTY... that was unbelivible.

 
MasterAndCommander

MasterAndCommander

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2004
3,656
0
71
Well...if this is any indication, the Z06 is only avail as a stick. I'd like to try both and see for myself. Think the salesman would let my try if I show up in my '83 Escort?
 
D

drpootums

Golden Member
Oct 22, 2004
1,315
0
0
As a subscriber to Road & Track, Car and Driver, and Motortrend, i have only heard good things about the new 6-speed auto. As for the manual, i've heard the comment "notchy", but then again it is built to handle A LOT of power, and overall it is of very high quality (very solid!)

I think you'll be happy with either tho!

test drive them both (if you're lucky enough to be able to) and just see what you like best!
 
F

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Originally posted by: sniperruff
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
I can't speak to favoritism, but a number of those choices aren't bad. What's wrong with the

300- they could have picked the mazda3, or the scion tC, or the new mustang, or the C6 corvette... but no... a boat with an old E-class platform that costs $20k wins COTY The 300's are extremely popular, RWD, nice styling, affordable, and have good power. The Mazda3 is nice, but not COTY material; same with Scion tC. C'mon, budget cars? C6 is nice, but evolutionary, not revolutionary and not as widespread in popularity as the 300.

Prius- great technology, too bad it's not even a car... diesel and frugal compacts get similar milage without the cost Prius was a very revolutionary car when it was announced and is still a great vehicle. Diesel hasn't caught on in US and it still won't get the city mileage a hybrid will. Moving on

PT Cruiser (aside from my hatred of its styling, but that's an individual thing)- that, and it's a fad car... like the bettle... why don't they just give COTY to the VW beetle? i don't see beetle's nor PT's on the street anymore. And at the time it was the fad. Not my choice, but I see why they made it. No problem there

LS- i actually do like the LS... but there's just nothing special about it to give it COTY I don't remember what else was out when the LS was named, but its a decent car. Were there other extra special cars out at that time? Probly not

300M- read lincoln LS Same as above

Caravan- Car of the year? a minivan? Why not? The Caravan probly had a lot of new features or value that minivans haven't had in a while. I could see the T&C or Odessey winning in the future, good & innovative vehicles.

Mustang- now keep in mind this is a 1994 mustang. it still had the horrid interior, it was slower than the camaro/firebird... i guess it was a slow year in 1994 so it's actually not that bad... Was 94 the year they introduced the 4.6L's and the new body style? If so I agree, it must have been a slow year.
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but thunderbird and the malibu as COTY... that was unbelivible. Yeah no sh!t on those, WTF were they smoking.
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Now that you look at it my way, don't things make so much more sense?

:p
 
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