Automotive News Discussion

[Evan]

Are you not bothered by losing a manual?  It just isn’t the same for a weekend toy. Your only car with dct? Okay; but a fun weekend car it is kind of meh.

I would definitely prefer a manual, but I guess Ive just come to terms with it. (And if I pay $60k+ for a car, I'm driving it every day!)

I am a bit surprised that they didn't offer a manual on the base car. Sure, the future electro-hybrid awd hyper versions would need the DCT to compete, but on the base model a manual is a lot cheaper than a DCT.

I wonder if its a packaging issue? If not, we can hold out hope for a manual in future revisions. I cant imaging a DCT being smaller than a manual.

[ScottyB]

I wonder if its a packaging issue?

this was my first thought - not mechanically, but from an interior design standpoint. if they want to go full ham on the touchscreen dash cradled in that little scalloped-out center console area, its just not possible to make it functional with a gear shift in front of it while also being able to comfortably fit your average cornfed Merican fatass.

i THOUGHT a manual would be a slam dunk...i mean the vettes have been using remotely located transmissions for generations now with the torque tube and what not, so making the linkages to run rearward would be cake for the engineers. so i'm pretty convinced they just couldn't make it functional in the center console with the new tech package.

[D_Eclipse9916]

i can go to a dealer now and buy a 480hp independent suspended mustang.  a 700+hp challenger.  a trophy truck.  a camaro with 325 width tires and 6 piston brembos.  a leather lined dually with 1000 lb ft of torque.  a jeep pickup.  or now a mid engined corvette.

guys...this is a hell of a time to be alive.

Seriously; this stuff is good.

[Steve85]

I would also say it’s another cost saving tactic to not have to design and engineer another configuration.

And yeah, this thing is a daily. Save the 30-40k you would spend on something else and get yourself a resto-mod for the weekend.

[ScottyB]

I would also say it’s another cost saving tactic to not have to design and engineer another configuration.

good point.

from a CAFE standpoint they can also program the trans to bump up their fleet average with a simple computer program so it dumps itself into triple overdrive at 40mph or whatever.  with a manual you're already ceding that efficiency as a guaranteed loss.

easier to build, easier to program drive modes and stability control, easier to get those cherished magazine numbers, easier to fit in the interior.  and its become acceptable now for sports cars to only come with automatics.  the writing was on the wall i guess.

[CaptainHenreh]

I would also say it’s another cost saving tactic to not have to design and engineer another configuration.

good point.

from a CAFE standpoint they can also program the trans to bump up their fleet average with a simple computer program so it dumps itself into triple overdrive at 40mph or whatever.  with a manual you're already ceding that efficiency as a guaranteed loss.

easier to build, easier to program drive modes and stability control, easier to get those cherished magazine numbers, easier to fit in the interior.  and its become acceptable now for sports cars to only come with automatics.  the writing was on the wall i guess.

Yeah I mean...I like manuals but in this case, I think you're spot on. They put in a "good" automatic, it'll make engineering easier down the road for hybrid/awd/RHD, and I bet most of the people saying "WELL IF IT AIN'T GOT THREE PEDALS I AIN'T BUYIN' IT" weren't gonna buy it anyway so w/e.

Manuals are dying, we need to accept this and adapt.

[JPolen01]

If you don't daily this then fuck you

[RawrImAMonster]

I'll miss true manuals for sure, but honestly I really like the DCT in my GTI for a daily driver. I leave it in manual mode 99% of the time and that's enough of a manual interaction to be enjoyable.

[D_Eclipse9916]

I would also say it’s another cost saving tactic to not have to design and engineer another configuration.

good point.

from a CAFE standpoint they can also program the trans to bump up their fleet average with a simple computer program so it dumps itself into triple overdrive at 40mph or whatever.  with a manual you're already ceding that efficiency as a guaranteed loss.

easier to build, easier to program drive modes and stability control, easier to get those cherished magazine numbers, easier to fit in the interior.  and its become acceptable now for sports cars to only come with automatics.  the writing was on the wall i guess.

Yeah I mean...I like manuals but in this case, I think you're spot on. They put in a "good" automatic, it'll make engineering easier down the road for hybrid/awd/RHD, and I bet most of the people saying "WELL IF IT AIN'T GOT THREE PEDALS I AIN'T BUYIN' IT" weren't gonna buy it anyway so w/e.

Manuals are dying, we need to accept this and adapt.

I get it; but I don’t have like it. I used to love pdk Porsche’s, but quickly got over the novelty of it. No matter what it takes out the involvement.

Adapt? Or just not buy a $60k car? If you are a horse enthusiast you could keep enjoying horses despite the advent of the car. Cars won’t be too old to enjoy that are still manual before I die.

[ScottyB]

Cars won’t be too old to enjoy that are still manual before I die.

modern ones? yeah, you won't have many choices left if at all. enjoy it while you can. no, i don't like it either...i absolutely hating driving automatics. properly driving a manual is a joy to me.

fortunately, if you're rich, there's always going to be niche manufacturers or special models that command a premium. then there's an aftermarket that supports certain older cars or provides manual swaps.

people who actually pay money for new cars don't drive manuals anymore. and manufacturers probably love it, because autos are better at being efficient now. i don't know if its either because less people are driving, or "just wanna go fast", or because its viewed as too difficult while you're texting your BFF Jill, but you can't sell cars to people that aren't there.

[Ryan T]

WHY WHY WHY DOES THE INTERIOR HAVE THE IPAD AFTERTHOUGHT ABOMINATION

WHY

I am so sads.

I am too. I think it's hilarious that Chevrolet spent from the mid-80s until like 2013 getting grief for making the interiors look like Chevy Blazers, to the C7 that had a decent interior, to this new one that is right back into the shitter with the ipad screen. Funcky screen aside, the "only the driver is important and the passenger is just there" design of that center console, where everything basically angles towards the driver, reminds me a lot of the mkiv supra interior. 

The outside looks amazing though and I'd sell a testicle to own one.

[WRXtranceformed]

Mostly love it except for the rear, the million buttons in the interior and why the Acura-style button gear selectors? That thing sucks

[Beej]

Samesies on the "everything but the rear" but I can easily get past that.  I would've been disappointed at like 90-100k that it was so far out of reach - but it would've been understandable, especially with such a capable Camaro below it.  I know going from a 55k base price to something like that would've taken them far upmarket, but still at 60k, holy shit.  My interest in a c6z has gone down quite a bit the last 24 hours.

Wonder what the people who were up in arms about square taillights think, I've seen nothing but praise.

[Senor_Taylor]

I did my part and bought a 2018 model car with a manual. If people keep buying them, they might not go away as quickly.

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[Steve85]

Quick interview with a couple of the C8 engineers. It's great that they were thinking daily driver from day one. As for the manual, looks like it a combination of pedal box room, packaging at the rear, and yup, the interior team was indeed happy to see it go. 

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/fu...interview/

[.RJ]

the interior team was indeed happy to see it go. 

i demand seppaku

[G.Irish]

I'm looking at this car, and it basically destroys the value proposition of a bunch of more expensive cars. I can't really find any reason not to get one of these over something like a GT4, used 430, etc. other than GM's sometimes questionable reliability. And that I prefer high revving powerplants. But shit, for half the price of something like a 991 GT3...

With such a radical change I'd be a bit leery of getting an early car. Doubly so with the Z06.

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[Scott]

I'm looking at this car, and it basically destroys the value proposition of a bunch of more expensive cars.  I can't really find any reason not to get one of these over something like a GT4, used 430, etc. other than GM's sometimes questionable reliability.  And that I prefer high revving powerplants.  But shit, for half the price of something like a 991 GT3...

With such a radical change I'd be a bit leery of getting an early car.  Doubly so with the Z06.  

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I'm hoping it tanks the values of the GT4 or gated 360/430 as I prefer all of them to the new Corvette for what I would use it for (street/autocross/maybe some track events) and it must have a manual.

[JPolen01]

360s are getting into the affordable range but the maintenance still looks really expensive. Have you looked into what that would run?

[Scott]

360s are getting into the affordable range but the maintenance still looks really expensive. Have you looked into what that would run?

I've been watching.  It's not terrible IF you are diy, they are just cars after all.  You can also do the major services without dropping the motor