Fellow Vette lovers,

As I am still shopping around for mid-life-magic-machine and while being a die-hard manual shifter (my current ride is an 04 9-5 Saab Aero), I am truly drawn to the new paddle shifting. I have driven "manu-matic" type vehicle but not of the high performance variety and was not impressed. Has anyone on this board driven or even own one? I like the idea of paddle shifiting but I know that even for a 50+ geezer that I am, my reaction time in shifting rivals that of most of these shifters and even some of the younger guns in some cases.

I would welcome as always your comments and advice. Thank you.

Pierre

 

I have not driven the 'vette, but I have the Tiptronic in my Porsche, with paddle shifters, and I would not trade if for anything, just really good. For pure sporty fun, a manual is still probably better, but this type of transmission is better for a daily driver.

 

I have been told that by many Porsche owners and even BMW. I live in Toronto Canada and traffic can be a pain sometimes but I still drive stick. I can see many benefits on the paddle shifting and actually sat in a new C6 equipped with that yesterday. It sure is tempting though.

 

I would strongly recommend against it personally. You're talking paddles on an auto which makes it even worse. I just sold my 06 M5 which had a sequential manual box but was an utter removal from the enjoyment of driving in my opinion. I can only assume the Vette is even more pointless without a 6-speed (for my taste).

Good luck.

 

My 06 has paddle shifting & it's perfect for us...the automatic is great for me (don't use paddle) & paddle shifting allows my husband a lil but of fun.

 

The BMW had an actual sequential shift "automatic/manual" box which has been widely criticized as "the worst of both worlds. The vette A6 was designed from scratch to be a paddle shift automatic, and widely rummored to be a "let's go them one gear better" knock off of Porsche's version of the Tiptronic, which I believe is the best automatic/sportshift in the world. I'd try it in a test drive before buying, but I'd expect to like it.

 

Hi Lee:

Regardless of SMG, Tip or paddle shift auto, it's the static left foot that kills it for me. I had the same feeling when I drove a tippy 996 once. It's purely a personal preference, but for me, full manual is where the fun is!

 

I've never driven a sports car with sequential shift, but I work for Toyota and the one thing I never liked about the sequential shift is the reaction time for the trans to actually shift after I've shifted. So is it more responsive in the Vettes and Porsches?

 

In S5 or S6, the SMG in the M5 enabled gear changes at high revs that were much faster than you could achieve with a pedal clutch. Engineering-wise, it's marvelous, but somewhat removes you from the process - especially given that your interface with the transmisson becomes totally electronic. I understand that BMW are working on a further advancement of this to make it even faster/smoother. I just don't get why die-hard drivers would want to become buttom pushers. Hence why I sold mine after 4 months and 5K miles.

 

I bought my Iptronic largely because I wanted a less "involving" car asa daily driver.

The bottom line onf the sequential shift transmissions, though, is that in a few years, when the bugs are worked out, a car will be faster with them than with any other transmission. So there is one (or more) in my future.