C6 Interior Features and Amenities

[Dad]

OK, and?

Drive what fits your needs, but GM says you don't need an automatic in a Z06

In 1982 they said you don't need a manual transmission in any Corvette, so what does that prove?

 

[Trance_LT4]

My point of view is there is a crowd that accepts everything as cool, and greets all with open arms........ and then there is a crowd that has the opinion there are certain "rules" to follow with our hobby. Rules against such things as pink corvettes, automatic trannies in a car most at home on the curves of such tracks such as Leguna Seca and VIR, chevy engines in ford roadsters (yuck), and provocative personalized licenese plates (such as viprklr, 8urstang, ect, ect.) on factory stock cars that can't back it up when push comes to shove.

Different strokes for different folks. GM does what they think will make em the most money, sometimes with regard to what kinda respect they will get from performance centered customers. (Grand Sport, Z06, ZR1.....ALL MANUAL TRANNIES) , sometimes without regard (discontinuing the Buick GN).

We can only hope they will have SOMETHING out there for everyone. Automatic convertibles for some people, and stick shift hardtops for the other crowd.

 

[Rob]

I think everyone has made some good points. When it comes to sports cars, I tend to lean towards the conservative side: make them basic, lightweight with a manual transmission and enough performance to excite the living hell out of me.

However, with that said, I spent 5 years commuting back and forth to work from New Hampshire to Boston, MA. What normally took 40 minutes to accomplish, took up to 1 1/2 hours one way during rush hour traffic. I spent a good number of those years driving a GMC Jimmy with a 4 speed manual. That was a ROYAL pain in the butt. When I was getting ready to buy my next car, my primary "want" was that whatever I ended up with, it would have to have an automatic transmission. When I bought my Ford F150, I can't tell you how ecstatic I was to finally drive something with an automatic in rush hour traffic.

I strongly believe that a Corvette should be ordered with a manual, however, I can completely understand why someone would want an automatic equipped Corvette if they are using it to commute back and forth to work with.

If I used my current Vette to get me back and forth to work, my left leg would be killing me by the time I got into work. If I was going to buy another Corvette and use it as my daily transportation for work, I hate to admit it, but chances are, it would be equipped with an automatic.

For all other purposes, give me the manual, give me that feeling of running through the gears and working those pedals.

It really boils down to what your intended use will be.

 

[JBsC5]

Rob..what you described..is exactly why this new technology..with dual Clutches on a stick shift car..operated by computers to engage and disengage the clutch..can be....

The best of both worlds..

The fact that it offers the driver the responsiblity to choose the gears and when ...to choose them.. along with the efficiciency of a standard transmission..makes it all the better during 50 Millisecond upshifts..

or in commutes..the total automatic mod..

We'll see Audi, Porsche, BMW M machines here in the states with this new Standard shift (computer) transmission..We'll hear the reports back in the press for at least 2 years..

Then we can each decide..oh..and I am sure Standard Stick shifts without computer control will still be available for at least the first few years of each models production..

so everyone can buy what they want..

 

[Colorado]

Maybe it's just me (or maybe because of my generation), but when I think of "sport cars" , I think of MGs and Triumphs, and to a lesser extent, Fiat 850s and 124s and the Datsun Fairlady 1600. There are others, of course.

When I think of "muscle cars", I see a Mustang Boss 429, Chevelle SS454, Dodge Superbee, The Judge, and their cousins. Ground pounding, straight line numbers off the showroom floor.

When I think of "performance cars" I think Corvette, and to a lesser extent some "muscle cars" with verve (e.g., the Mustang Boss 302, one nice road car for its time).

Performance cars, IMHO, balance straight line power, controllability in the twisties, fantastic braking, outstanding creature comforts, and "to die for" looks.I think that performance cars should reflect the utmost capabilities of the marque, balanced with affordability.

Corvette is king when balancing priorities and providing an affordable performance car. Sure, I'd like some refinements here and there.

Automatic vs Stick vs Paddle. I like them all. If I could, I would have one of each. I have experience with the first two, of course, and have seen the latter only on Speed Channel. I would really like the opportunity to try one of those paddle shifters. I think that the "brain" behind the shifting would be smart enough to stop me from down shifting to an inappropriate gear should I hit the left paddle one too many times. Lots of us drive in congested areas, and to me (and the better half) Automatic is the choice if there is a choice of "only" one Corvette. We can still stick her in second gear, and up/down shift, while carving Deer Creek Canyon, Turkey Creek Canyon, Lookout Mountain heading from I-70 into Golden, if we like. But the stoplight-to-stoplight, stop sign-to-stop sign environment in which we drive really does call out the choice for automatic.

And still, the bottom line for me is all-around performance. Performance off the line, 0-100-0, in the turns, on the binders, and to do all of that comfortably (with Performance) regardless of whether we are looking at a 200 mile local jaunt, or a 6,000 mile USA tour. With that in mind, I would really like to see the option of a Corvette (C6) GT.

Thank you, Rob, for providing the forum in which we may express our ideas.

- Gene

 

[LT1Vettepilot]

Re: PERFORMANCE W/ 50 MILLESECOND SHIFTS

Audi claims it
gives enormous agility, driving enjoyment and economy as well as convenient
operation and smooth acceleration with uninterrupted traction.

Sounds like a very interesting system...however their idea of driving enjoyment is begging for argument? Which driver? I do like the idea that they keep an option for a manual gear shift lever or the paddle shifter. Obviously if Corvette was to acquire this over priced and over engineer slush box replacement, I would choose the stick. However with electronically controlled clutches, hmmm that means no clutch...which still take much of the skill and enjoyment out of driving. I'll pass

 

[JBsC5]

There will always be standard shifts available offered as a choice with this new sequential shift technology..for as long as there is a demand and the car manufacturers can still meet government standards..

The two technologies of standard shift and sequential shifts are really in many ways a piggy backing of one idea on the traditional stick shift..

This new twin clutch maybe different..that I'm not sure yet if the standard transmission will offered by audi/porsche etc.. will be identical other than the meathod of activating the clutch..(foot pedal vs. computer activation)

So the clutch pedal purist have nothing to be concerned about..

Guys, don't get me wrong..I dig driving this Z06 six speed..yet if the car would be faster, and quicker and more consistant..what the hell..

I would embrace (sp) the new technology..but thats just me.

Porsche, Ferrari, Bugatti, Maserati, BMW, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Aston Martin. The list is too long and too impressive for me to ignore the possiblities that could exist as this technology is about to reach the cutting edge..

Formula one drivers..rally drivers..this isn't smoke and mirrors..

I believe this to be enough creditials to warrant a good hard look by Corvette engineers and enthusiasts to maintain Corvette Performance supremacy..

And buyers most probably for many years will have options of what they prefer..

Have a good one

 

[LT1Vettepilot]

The idea of a clutchless manual is not exactly a new idea. Shortly after the paddle shifter made it into F1 cars, Ferrari was tinkering with a hyraulic clutch working off of servos. There were pressure sensors mounted in the shift lever, gas peddle, and brake pedal. Along with computer monitoring these sensors, it also monitored engine RPM. I forget exactly how the system works now, but it was something along the lines of this: Computer would monitor how fast RPM was rising and predict when the driver would shift, then backed that prediction up with throttle lift and pressure on the shift lever. When pressure was applied, the servo actuated hydraulic clutch would disengage allowing the driver to up shift. After shifting the clutch would engage again as RPM and transmission speed matched. Down shifting was similiar, only the computer would pick up pressure on the brake the monitor engine RPM. If RPM dropped to low, the clutch would disengage without pressure from the gear shift.
I don't recall which car they were using as a test bed, I believe a later iteration of the 308, or possibly the early 355. At the time, they were considering the paddle shifter instead, because the technology was already available in their F1 cars. Obviously they went with the paddle shifter in the 355 when they believed it was time to lose manual gear shifter.
There is just no telling where technology will take us. I would say, some of us are leading the pack, and then there are those of us who will always drag our feet...at least in some areas anyways.

 

[JBsC5]

Ferrari's unit with capability to shift in 150 milliseconds was just a few years ago..the best..now its outclassed by BMW's SMG II capability to shift at 80 milliseconds..which will soon most probably outclassed by Porsche and Audi's new dual clutch unit that can shift in 50 milliseconds..

I would think that 50 milliseconds will be the best this technology will offer..

Its capable of instananous full power shifts..and perfect downshifts..

I look foward to the press reports on the new Audi as I believe it will be the first out sometime in the next few months..

Should be fun to hear what the magazines have to say .....

I'm sure there will be both those that love it..and those that will lament the passing of traditional technology..


Hopefully there will be track tests of both the standard transmission and the standard transmission with computer controlled clutches..

 

[doylede]

Re: Back to the original question

Extremely well said DAD!

I have 3 standard shift and 2 with automatics each has a different job to do. That was when they were built that is, now the 3 standard shifts are for show only.

If I were given the chance to build the Corvette the way I wanted it I wonder how many people would buy it. That is the problem with GM; those darn buggers want a car that will sell enough to make a profit.

Mine would have an engine that would twist today’s hydro formed frames, smoke the 12 inch wide tires on the back and lift the 10 inch tires on the front, clear the 1/4 mile in 6 to 8 seconds. No radio, no heater, no active anything, no ABS, just a fuel injected, (computer controlled of course), honker that makes you wear ear plugs and change your pants. A rock crusher 4 speed and clutch setup that will take a 10 grand launch. That is its job, on a sanctioned track, on the weekend.

But wait, I want to run the road course, so I need to make the tires fit that job and setup the frame and suspension a little different. Would need to be a little lighter and more agile. May have to go to a 6 speed to get a better gear selection in the turns. Throw out the radio and the extra seat, no spare or luggage space required, now I got the perfect car.

What? I need to go to the folks this weekend, what will I drive with the wife, (don't have one of those), along. She wants what, heat, air, music, and dry during the rain. OK, this is getting serious now, lets build something that I can use and enjoy, how about a C5 automatic? The others will have to sit in the garage until the weekend that we can go back to racing. I guess if you can't afford the car that is built to do the job at hand you can compromise and get something that halfway does the job, and race it on the streets. Then there are those that race on sanctioned tracks and don't need the stick shift to show anybody anything while they are on the street.

In other words, we all have our likes and dislikes but that’s no reason to knock someone’s choice to drive an automatic, or anything else for that matter. Most of us are here because of our love for the Corvette, after having owned at least one of every generation, first 8 were sticks, and driving about 2 million miles in 45 years, I will say that the C5 is without question the finest machine I've ever driven. I feel cheated by GM on the 50th but it's done and over with, so lets look ahead and enjoy what they did give us. Will we get what we would like in the C6? Yes, and no, some will, some won't, will we be happy, again, yes and no. Will we buy them? You bet, and then we'll start adding on the after market dodads to make them run like we think we want them to.

Ain't life grand??

 

[Dragonslayer]

Better Seats.....Made with a higher grade leather and more body contour to really hold you in during autocrossing. The use of brushed aluminum and higher grade plastics to give the interior a more upscale look for the 21st century. Other than that..don't mess with perfection.



:Twist

 

[LT1Vettepilot]

I agree with Dragonslayer on the seats. The earlier C4 seats seemed to have much better latteral support. Well the '93 did for me anyways. That is about the only earlier C4 I've riden in extensively. My '96 seats are comfortable, but they don't have near the latteral support of the seats of pre-'94 cars. The C5 standard seats are very comfortable, much more so than my '96. However, they are still lacking latteral support.
Brushed aluminum would look nice...if tastefully done. I wouldn't want to see like the entire dash done in aluminum.

 

[JRMaroon]

Base Vette

I remember hearing about this when the Hardtop was in development. Because of the success of the C5 this car never had a chance of being produced. The Bowling Green factory is running at capacity building $45K+ cars. Sales are too good to limit revenue with the "Base" car we are talking about. I believe the XLR is also being manufactured in Bowling Green. Unless this Bear Market continues for an extended time Vette production will struggle to keep up with demand. I like the exclusivity of my Vette and I'm glad there wasn't a bargain car from the same year that looks just like it.

In '94 I ordered a new Firebird Formula because it was the closest thing to a Vette that I could afford at the time. Although this option is no longer available for the GM faithful I'm afraid we will not see the Bargain Vette.

 

[Trance_LT4]

Does your 96 have standard seats? or sport seats? I love the lateral support on my sport seats. I get into my buddies Cobra, drive it around, and I feel like I'm gonna slide off the seat in a turn.

 

[LT1Vettepilot]

I have the sport seats...my problem being...small stature. Plus the side bolster air bags don't stay inflated. I haven't figured out what is wrong with them yet. The '93 had great support...even for a skinny guy like me. The redesign in '94 widened the seats significantly.