Drove a new C6 with 6 speed automatic

[skips1]

I really didn't plan to purchase a 'Vette until this winter. I also did not plan to purchase it with anything but a manual 6 speed. However, this past weekend my sister-in-law's husband let me drive his new Monterey Red Metallic C6 coupe and I must say, it was quite impressive! Smooth and nearly instantaneous shifting throughout all the gears at city and highway speeds.

 

[Greenie]

I really didn't plan to purchase a 'Vette until this winter. I also did not plan to purchase it with anything but a manual 6 speed. However, this past weekend my sister-in-law's husband let me drive his new Monterey Red Metallic C6 coupe and I must say, it was quite impressive! Smooth and nearly instantaneous shifting throughout all the gears at city and highway speeds.

Skip, how does the Monterrey Red look?

 

[bossvette]

If you don't want to buy one just now you have made a big mistake by driving one I have heard about the new 6 speed auto and my old knees are begging for one but I know better then to get behind the wheel

what color are you going to get?

 

[JBsC5]

I haven't gotten behind the wheel myself but I was shooting the breeze with c4c5 specialist who had one up on the lift at his dealership.

He wanted to take a test drive of one of these.

He was impressed too..

JB

 

[skips1]

Monterey Red Metallic

Skip, how does the Monterrey Red look?

I thought it was terrific! I believe that I would buy one with the new Atomic Orange Tintcoat Metallic with the Cashmere Nuance Leather interior. However, I will wait to see the new Orange color before I decide. The Monterey Red Metallic would definitely be the second choice. It brings back memories of the old metalflake colors of the sixty's like "candy apple red".

 

[skips1]

Monterey Red Metallic

If you don't want to buy one just now you have made a big mistake by driving one I have heard about the new 6 speed auto and my old knees are begging for one but I know better then to get behind the wheel

what color are you going to get?

I'd probably get the Atomic Orange Tintcoat Metallic. But As I was telling Greenie, I'd take the Monterey Red Metallic as a close second

 

[Greenie]

I'd probably get the Atomic Orange Tintcoat Metallic. But As I was telling Greenie, I'd take the Monterey Red Metallic as a close second

Oh well. I thought that I could break my history of buying black. Skip, I blew it and ordered a black coupe!

 

[skips1]

Oh well. I thought that I could break my history of buying black. Skip, I blew it and ordered a black coupe!

Dude: Any way you order it, so long as it's a 'Vette, it can't be blowing it!

I've had 2 black vehicles ( A Buick Regal GS, and now a Volvo V70 T5 sport wagon). I love both vehicles! But hard to keep them looking clean.

What type of interior color did you order? What other options did you order?( Z51 or "mag" ride suspensions?) The 3LT option? Did you get the chrome wheels? I presume it's gonna be a 2007. What ever it turns out to be, best of luck and safe driving to yah!

 

[Greenie]

Dude: Any way you order it, so long as it's a 'Vette, it can't be blowing it!

I've had 2 black vehicles ( A Buick Regal GS, and now a Volvo V70 T5 sport wagon). I love both vehicles! But hard to keep them looking clean.

What type of interior color did you order? What other options did you order?( Z51 or "mag" ride suspensions?) The 3LT option? Did you get the chrome wheels? I presume it's gonna be a 2007. What ever it turns out to be, best of luck and safe driving to yah!

Thanks Skip! It has 3LT, Navi, Chrome wheels and the transparent top. I stopped by the dealer AGAIN tonight to look at the triple black roadster but, to me, it doesnt look as aggressive as the coupe. besides, the stereo sounds better in the coupe! Yes, it will be an 07.

 

[skips1]

Thanks Skip! It has 3LT, Navi, Chrome wheels and the transparent top. I stopped by the dealer AGAIN tonight to look at the triple black roadster but, to me, it doesnt look as aggressive as the coupe. besides, the stereo sounds better in the coupe! Yes, it will be an 07.

Greenie:
I see you're from the PA area. Great sports car country! I make it through there at least 2 x yearly on my way to Virginia. I'm fortunate in that my brother lives out there and he treats me to some roads that are like riding the back of a snake!
He just bought a new 911 S and it's a pure treat to ride it on the "twisties" out there. His is Black on Black as well with a 6 spd manual. Just not a 'Vette though!
The real downside to this is I received a citation for 23MPH over the limit this past June. Deemed reckless driving in Virginia! I'll have that on my record for the next 11 years!

 

[Greenie]

Greenie: I see you're from the PA area. Great sports car country! I make it through there at least 2 x yearly on my way to Virginia. I'm fortunate in that my brother lives out there and he treats me to some roads that are like riding the back of a snake!
He just bought a new 911 S and it's a pure treat to ride it on the "twisties" out there.

skip, I was back and forth between a new Carrera S and the Corvette! Lost plenty of sleep trying to decide between the two. the Porsche dealer keeps calling and sweetening the deal but at the end of the day, a black V8 coupe with aftermarket exhaist will win out! BTW, my brother is in Madison!!!

 

[skips1]

skip, I was back and forth between a new Carrera S and the Corvette! Lost plenty of sleep trying to decide between the two. the Porsche dealer keeps calling and sweetening the deal but at the end of the day, a black V8 coupe with aftermarket exhaist will win out! BTW, my brother is in Madison!!!

Greenie: Small world indeed! I Graduated from UW - Madison '74. My brother's 911S is indeed a sweet ride but not as roomy as the 'Vette nor as powerful. I do not think that the 911 S even gets as good gas mileage as the 'vette. Did you get anything off list for your new fide? Skip

 

[Greenie]

Greenie: Small world indeed! I Graduated from UW - Madison '74. My brother's 911S is indeed a sweet ride but not as roomy as the 'Vette nor as powerful. I do not think that the 911 S even gets as good gas mileage as the 'vette. Did you get anything off list for your new fide? Skip

Skip, MSRP is 55,540 and the dealer wants 51,990. He said that he wants 2000 over invoice. I cant tell if thats good or bad so Im getting a few other quotes. Yes, the Vette gets better mileage. Anyway, I wasnt sure if I could live without the V8!!!!!!

 

[skips1]

Skip, MSRP is 55,540 and the dealer wants 51,990. He said that he wants 2000 over invoice. I cant tell if thats good or bad so Im getting a few other quotes. Yes, the Vette gets better mileage. Anyway, I wasnt sure if I could live without the V8!!!!!!

Greenie: My relative got about $4000 (+) off his list which was around $49,000 (+) after discount ( $53,000 without it) . EVS Chevy Random Lake ,Wis. is the real dealer where as of 10-12 days ago, he had an add placed in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal for $7,000 off list for any 'Vette in stock!! ( They had a lot of 'Verts in stock with various options and base prices in the high 50's - low 60's) He will deal on any vehicle that he has on his list of incoming cars and will modify them if he can to suit your needs. Probably where I will ultimately go to negotiate a purchase. That is where my sister-in-law's husband purchased his. I was told by the regional parts manager for Chevrolet that EVS Chevy wants to bcome the region's highest volume corvette dealership. I think he'll become that at this rate.
skip

 

[Greenie]

Greenie: My relative got about $4000 (+) off his list which was around $49,000 (+) after discount ( $53,000 without it) . EVS Chevy Random Lake ,Wis. is the real dealer where as of 10-12 days ago, he had an add placed in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal for $7,000 off list for any 'Vette in stock!! ( They had a lot of 'Verts in stock with various options and base prices in the high 50's - low 60's) He will deal on any vehicle that he has on his list of incoming cars and will modify them if he can to suit your needs. Probably where I will ultimately go to negotiate a purchase. That is where my sister-in-law's husband purchased his. I was told by the regional parts manager for Chevrolet that EVS Chevy wants to bcome the region's highest volume corvette dealership. I think he'll become that at this rate.
skip

Thanks Skip. Ill post figures from the other dealers that I approach.

 

[VAROOOM]

I have an 06 Montery Red paddle shift auto. I am 59 yrs old and have been driving stick shifts all my life. So I got the Corvette with the paddle shift to try something new and here's my take:
1st, the color is super, I love it, but to each his own.
2nd, the paddle shift is nothing like a stick. It is hard to use as you go around turns as the paddle is moving around with the steering wheel. Try imagining driving in a city for 10 minutes and never moving your hands from their beginning position. If you move your hands you loose track of where the paddles are (as the steering wheel is turning). Also it is VERY hard to downshift when you are turning because you have to reach around behind the steering wheel to grope for the paddle and all the while you have a moving target. When you are at a traffic light and you are going to turn left when the light turns green, do not even consider using the paddle shift because you will loose track of where the paddle is and make a fool of yourself while you try to find the paddle and the engine whines at whatever RPM.
Lastly is the speed of the shift. There is no speed - it is dog slow. It is difficult to gage at what RPM the shift will occur when you press the paddle at XXX RPM. I'm talking a lag that seems to make a difference of 300 - 500 RPM. With a stick shift you know exactly what RPM the transmission is going to disengage but not with the paddle shift. There is also quite a time lag moving from one gear to the next. Perhaps these things can be adjusted by the dealer - I'm really not happy with it.

 

[JBsC5]

Thanks for the insight on the 6 speed automatic..I have to get around and test drive one.....

FWIW...I have heard that your really not supposed to be shifting gears unless the steering wheel was pretty much straight, meaning not shifting in the middle of a turn...

thats what I was told....shift before entering the turn or after. Maybe thats why the paddles move with the wheel? at least for performance driving? Something about how the shifts themselves can unbalance the car in the middle of a turn?

Sad to hear the shifts are slow though....I can't imagine why the tuner market has been unable to crack the bcm/pcm that controls the transmission? Is the computer in the tranny or is it a seperate computer as the A4?

The c5's computer controlled the engine and transmission and when the c6 was released I believe they have a seperate computer for the tranny..

Maybe thats why the tuners are slow to crack the transmissions computer!

I know once they do they can do wonders as I remember years back I had a tuner do his magic on my A4 C5 and the tranny shifts were sharp and fast. It was a huge improvement that really made owning the automatic enjoyable. (if it would have had the ability to shift it without possibly blowing the tranny up it would have been even better! LOL)

Like I said I have to try one. The manual 6 speed is far from perfect once you've experience the sticking clutch pedal that can occur...

Sure wish GM would put in DSG computer controlled clutch manual/automatic and get the directness of a manual with the benefit of an automatic when you want it.

Porsche has it coming out next year as a 7 speed DSG/PDK next year ...

GM should eventually follow suit if history has taught us anything.

Benefits include: Peformance/economy/emissions so it should be a no brainer.

 

[fyrfly]

I started looking here at CAC to find out as much as I could about the 03 04 z06 and was very impressed. We drove a C6 automatic and now my wife thinks.. Well you know...

 

[mylotcat]

I agree!

I have an 06 Montery Red paddle shift auto. I am 59 yrs old and have been driving stick shifts all my life. So I got the Corvette with the paddle shift to try something new and here's my take:
1st, the color is super, I love it, but to each his own.
2nd, the paddle shift is nothing like a stick. It is hard to use as you go around turns as the paddle is moving around with the steering wheel. Try imagining driving in a city for 10 minutes and never moving your hands from their beginning position. If you move your hands you loose track of where the paddles are (as the steering wheel is turning). Also it is VERY hard to downshift when you are turning because you have to reach around behind the steering wheel to grope for the paddle and all the while you have a moving target. When you are at a traffic light and you are going to turn left when the light turns green, do not even consider using the paddle shift because you will loose track of where the paddle is and make a fool of yourself while you try to find the paddle and the engine whines at whatever RPM.
Lastly is the speed of the shift. There is no speed - it is dog slow. It is difficult to gage at what RPM the shift will occur when you press the paddle at XXX RPM. I'm talking a lag that seems to make a difference of 300 - 500 RPM. With a stick shift you know exactly what RPM the transmission is going to disengage but not with the paddle shift. There is also quite a time lag moving from one gear to the next. Perhaps these things can be adjusted by the dealer - I'm really not happy with it.

I've always had manuals, but thought I'd try the automatic w/paddles cuz of my bad knee; the bad knee is on the right leg and it's hard to adjust the seat to accomodate both the clutch and the gas pedal. The test drive went OK, but after living with it for a few months I'm trading the auto 06 off for an 07 with a manual.

Screw the knee .

I agree about the awkwardness of trying to paddle shift when the steering wheel is turned, and even if that wasn't a problem, the performance of the car is totally different than with the manual. Just doesn't seem as aggressive/responsive as with the manual. Maybe with gearing and a final drive ratio similar to the manual, a manu-matic on the console might be OK, but the paddle shift on the steering wheel isn't for me.

Dave

 

[NORTY]

Dang,dang,dang,dang,dang,dang!