No Shift Lever, No Outrage?

[John Parker]

This is the first Corvette ever with out a shift lever either for automatic or manual. I haven’t read any out rage about this. I am an eight speed automatic guy so I don’t care. I just read a letter to the editor in Corvette magazine that said it’s a European car. Because it’s mid engine. I know I will have a learning curve to get used to just a button or pull up to change gears. But I can do it.

[ZORA 69]

It certainly has European styling, which is a good thing for a more sophisticated look (IMO) And better yet it will not have a European temperment. The buttons are fine with me. I love slapping paddles

[Bikerjulio]

This forum doesn't do outrage. There's another one for that

[Swift93]

This forum doesn't do outrage. There's another one for that

That's one of the reasons for liking it here so much!

[V1 VR]

It certainly has European styling, which is a good thing for a more sophisticated look (IMO) And better yet it will not have a European temperment. The buttons are fine with me. I love slapping paddles

And best of all it doesn’t have a European price. $💰💰💰💰💰💰

[Fasttoys]

Progress, once you drive a proper programmed DCT you will never want to drive another automatic again.

The European super car manufacturers left the manual years ago with Porsche being one of the last standing.

[JB]

Im outraged! ( not really but just wanted to deliver the goods)

the faux shift lever for a dct is just added weight and GM pays close attention to not adding weight...

the designer / engineer that suggested leaving off the center console shift knob probably got a bonus for his idea...

change is good...its what allows progress.

keep the best leave the rest.

[Racer86]

First I learned to use a clutch petal and shift a manual Trans. Then I started racing and found out that the other guys were healing and toeing to shift. I learned how to do that. Then later still I found out about DTC . And I learned how to shift the paddles. It just the natural way of life. Progress and new things to learn. So interesting and exciting. Nothing wrong with the past, but I chose to enjoy what progress and the future hold.

[Swift93]

First I learned to use a clutch petal and shift a manual Trans. Then I started racing and found out that the other guys were healing and toeing to shift. I learned how to do that. Then later still I found out about DTC . And I learned how to shift the paddles. It just the natural way of life. Progress and new things to learn. So interesting and exciting. Nothing wrong with the past, but I chose to enjoy what progress and the future hold.

Hewland gearboxes didn't require heel and toe because you could shift smoothly without the clutch using left foot braking. YMMV. Straight cut gears make a big difference. DCT is going to be wonderful.

[Racer86]

Hewland gearboxes didn't require heel and toe because you could shift smoothly without the clutch using left foot braking. Straight cut gears make a big difference. DCT is going to be wonderful.

Absolutely correct , no lift up shifts and simple throttle blip to downshift. No clutch needed. Dog rings instead of cone and cup syncro’s. Left foot trail braking is perfect into an apex. As you know! Hewland transaxles are great for racing, but not so much for a street transmission. I have owned several Hewland Trans axles, and even had the Hewland Transmission in the Trans Am car. But DCT rule.

[meyerweb]

Lot's of outrage, just not on this forum which is populated almost exclusively by fans of the C8. On some other forums and social media sites there are threads which come close to threatening to burn GM headquarters to the ground.

I bought my first and only car with an auto last year, because you can't buy SUVs with a manual. Other than that, EVERY car I've owned has been a manual. I wish the C8 had a manual, but understand the reasons it doesn't. At least it offers impressive performance, and is a DCT, not a slushbox.

[Sparro]

It certainly has European styling, which is a good thing for a more sophisticated look (IMO) And better yet it will not have a European temperment. The buttons are fine with me. I love slapping paddles

I second that.

[gthal]

My first thought was that I will miss the shift lever even on a DCT. I seem to use it more than the paddles on my M4. However, the console looks SO MUCH BETTER without it... so I decided to only use the paddles in my current car for a while to see how it felt. Well, it turns out that after about an hour, I completely forgot about the shift lever and now only use the paddles. Who would have thought it was possible!!

Personally, I think the look is well worth the loss of a shift lever. Paddles are great when in manual mode.

[John]

Thanks gthal. I am glad to hear it only took you an hour. Happy “paddling” to you (and to us all.

[LightningBolt]

Lot's of outrage, just not on this forum which is populated almost exclusively by fans of the C8. On some other forums and social media sites there are threads which come close to threatening to burn GM headquarters to the ground.

I bought my first and only car with an auto last year, because you can't buy SUVs with a manual. Other than that, EVERY car I've owned has been a manual. I wish the C8 had a manual, but understand the reasons it doesn't. At least it offers impressive performance, and is a DCT, not a slushbox.

There was a time when I thought the lack of a manual would be a deal breaker for me. Then I drove a friends Merc with a DCT and seriously it changed my mind! It's like having your cake and eating it too - you get better performance and if I get stuck in traffic, I'm not burning out my left quad pumping the clutch.