A Few questions>>>

[MichaelTT]

Good Morning all...
I just joined your merry band and have a few questions maybe you experienced vette drivers could help me with... First I have never owned a Corvette and have had only European sport cars thus my technical familiarity with the vette is somewhat limited. I have raced in the Formula series, autoX, teach performance driving for several car clubs etc so I am an enthusiast from way back...
1. I noticed that the C6 (like the C5) has this 'shift lock out' feature that many bemoan... why is it there, when does it activate, what does it specifically do? Can this feature be overridden or deleted?
2. The Z51 suspension sounds interesting...any comments in comparing to stock?

I find this C6 to be most appealing and find myself for the first time considering a purchase of a Corvette.

Thanks for any feedback
Michael

 

[Rob]

Good morning Michael,

I also live in Reston.

The skip shift you refer to is or has been known as CAGS (Computer Aided Gear Selection). On the 1984-1996 and I believe the 1997 to 2004 Corvettes, there is a pig-tail wiring harness on the side of the transmission that can be unplugged and will eliminate the CAGS. I don't know if it exists on the C6 in the same way.

The purpose of the system was to increase fuel economy in order to meet government fuel economy standards. I don't remember the exact parameters needed, but if the engine RPM is under a certain threshold when accelerating from a standing stop, when you go to shift out of first gear, the computer will lock out second and third gear and force you to shift into fourth gear. If you're above that RPM threshold, second and third gear remain open.

Whether or not the system on the C6 works the same way, or can be deactived in the same way, is not known to me at this time.

Hope this helps.

 

[Gorgon]

Welcome Michael. Rob has covered most of the skip-shift feature in his response and I'll just add a couple things. The computer looks at three items when determining if to skip gears, throttle input, speed and coolant temp. On my 95 the manual states the coolant must be greater than 120F, between 15-19mph and less than 13% throttle. On the 99 C5, the criteria is greater than 169F coolant, 15-19mph and less than 21% throttle.

On the 6-speed transmissions up to 1995, you could just unplug the connector going to the transmission. The C5's require a bypass cable that maintains communication between the computer and the tranny, but blocks the 1-4 signal. These also prevent corrossion of the connectors if they are just left unplugged. The kits are cheap, $10-$20, and take about 2 minutes to install. Give the similarities of the C5 and C6 I would think that it could be bypassed just as easily. We'll have to wait and see.

As to the Z51, in the past the car just got a suspension upgrade. For the C6 we'll see bigger rotors and pads and the current Z06 tranny gear ratios. I would think that anyone ordering a 6-speed car would opt for Z51. I know I would. We'll have to wait and see when people get to drive the car.

Leon

 

[SteveJ]

Welcome

Hi Michael,

The coupe with the Z51 should be a great track car with little modification. The OEM brake fluid needs to be replaced with racing fluid such as Motul. The transmission cooler that comes with the Z51 package will correct one of the C5's known defects. Delco batteries are known to develop leaks, so I would waste no time in replacing the stock battery with an Optima. The way I drive the car, the transmission skip shift never activates, so I haven't bothered to bypass it. There are a lot of C5's that get used as daily drivers and provide lots of fun on the track.

Steve

 

[MichaelTT]

Thanks all for the replies>>>

as a neebie always makes one feel welcome!
Rob...small world living in Reston..I live on Lake Newport in north Reston so we might have seen each other car wise... I have a silver AMG SLK and a pretty modded out Audi TT (red with license plate AMULETT which is Audi speak for red).

If I could ask another question...on the SLK the traction control when shut off really only is killed by 85%... is this the same set up on the vette?

Also do you have a C6 on order and if yes best dealer in the DC metro area?
Pretty excited about the vette but also have a Lotus Elise on order and soon need to decide about which to go with...C6 or Elise...understand totally different cars but still a hard decision.
Micheal

 

[evariste]

...
Pretty excited about the vette but also have a Lotus Elise on order and soon need to decide about which to go with...C6 or Elise...understand totally different cars but still a hard decision.
Micheal

I suggest you buy both...

I have a first gen Elise and a 1981 Vette. I couldn't get rid of any of them...
These are totally different cars. The Elise gives you the impression that you "feel" the road just as if you were riding a bicycle. And it has a tremendous handling. After driving an Elise, your TT will be like a truck. :L

And for the Vette, there is nothing like driving a Vette. :cool I'll let other guys answer this part...

And... I Apologize for my poor English

 

[Paul T]

No need to aplogize for your "poor English". Just read some of the other posts by so called English speaking Americans. Their English is atrocious and makes one wonder if they ever attended an English class in school. You are doing just fine.
Regards, Paul

 

[MichaelTT]

Ditto what Paul said>>

I am looking forward to finally driving the Federalize Elise (aka 'US' version with the 190 hp engine)...have had car on order for close to two years and not even actually touched one...fortunately order is fully refundable if I decline car so my looking at the C6 is a real option. Like the Elise, I have not actually seen a C6 and there are a few perceptions I woulld like to satisfy first...mainly my concern over the interior quality/fit & finish.
Agree about the TT vs the Elise...I have spent few $ upgrading entire suspension, engine mods (now dyno at 275 hp & 295 lbs torque vs stock 225 hp and 207 lbs), brakes (StopTech), alloys/tires etc. I have the TT to the point where it is fun to track and far outperforms the stock versions and absolutely love the quattro set up!
Michael

 

[LongTimer]

I am looking forward to finally driving the Federalize Elise (aka 'US' version with the 190 hp engine)...have had car on order for close to two years and not even actually touched one...fortunately order is fully refundable if I decline car so my looking at the C6 is a real option.

Welcome Michael! We had a particilpant here a while back who lives in Germany - drives a C5. He had driven the Euro spec Elise and said (my memory here, not a perfect quote), "It is a fun little go cart to toss around in the mountains, but no competion for a vette." He used the term "Go cart."

The Elise is a fun looking little car that should be a heck of a performer, IMO. However, once you've had torque, you never go back. I suggest that if you reeeeaaallly like the look and package of the Elise, don't drive a C5 or a C6. Unless you limit your driving to tight back roads and short slaloms, you won't be happy without the omnipresent torque provided by the LS1,2,6,7.

 

[Hib Halverson]

1. I noticed that the C6 (like the C5) has this 'shift lock out' feature that many bemoan... why is it there, when does it activate, what does it specifically do? Can this feature be overridden or deleted?

CAGS or "skip shift" debuted in 1989 on the first six-speed cars. Its purpose was two fold: 1) improve fuel economy during the Federal EPA Test procedure and 2) decrease powertrain noise during the Fedral pass-by noise test. On 89-95, CAGS can be defeated simply by pulling the skip shift plug out of the solenoid on the trans. 96-05 requires pulling the wire and fooling the ECM into thinking its still connected by wiring a resistor across the ends of the plug.

2. The Z51 suspension sounds interesting...any comments in comparing to stock?

A Z51 will both handle and accelerate better than a base C6. If you can be more specific in your question maybe I can offer more information.