C8 Stingray Shifting Paddles

[John]

“Solid aluminum and “perfect feel” are two ways I describe the C8 Stingray’s DCT paddle shifters. First, a couple of months ago, we saw them in the camo’d car. What I found interesting then was their “L” shape.



I had the fortune to sit in a C8, and I truly could go on and on about how perfect they fell to put your hands on. First, the have a back side curved, large indentation. Your fingers fit within that area perfectly. One will not have any chance of putting their hands on them and their sliding off. The feel is best described as extremely comfortable and yet at the time, very secure. They are beautifully polished (quite different than on the test mule).

Here is a wonderful picture taken by jagamajajaran that shows a side view of them, Thanks Jag.

[jagamajajaran]

I agree 100%

[Supa_Fly_Z51]

I do wished they were column mounted though. It's hard to turn and shift at the same time otherwise

[ZORA 69]

I do wished they were column mounted though. It's hard to turn and shift at the same time otherwise

I hope and feel with the new wheel it will be easier to shift with the paddles on the wheel in turns

[Supa_Fly_Z51]

I hope and feel with the new wheel it will be easier to shift with the paddles on the wheel in turns

We'll see, we'll see

[68roadster]

I think it likely depends on the speed you are going and the severity of the turn, driving conditions, etc. In city driving the C7, I sometimes think column mount would be better. Looks like on a fast track with fast driving it might be the opposite is better?

[JB]

Im not sure a driver should ever be shifting gears while turning the steering wheel as it could imbalance the chassis with a gearshift during a turning maneuver...

at least thats how it has been with a manual transmission ..

all shifting should be done with the steering wheel is pointing the vehicle relatively straight

maybe its different with a dct?

[Milliwatt Rob]

When I went to SCCA Competition driving school eons ago, shifting while in turns was not encouraged.

[Maxster]

Im not sure a driver should ever be shifting gears while turning the steering wheel as it could imbalance the chassis with a gearshift during a turning maneuver...

at least thats how it has been with a manual transmission ..

all shifting should be done with the steering wheel is pointing the vehicle relatively straight

maybe its different with a dct?

There is this triple apex turn in my home track, you must shift in the middle of a long sweeper which gave great satisfaction when done right in a "manual" gearbox, now it is where the DCT shines

[meyerweb]

“Solid aluminum and “perfect feel” are two ways I describe the C8 Stingray’s DCT paddle

Magnesium, apparently.

Tadge: Well we had a flat bottom wheel for a while and the curved top did not do anything to improve visibility. You really drive the car from both sides of the steering wheel and this design feels very natural whether you are on the track or the street. We talked about squaring off the top so we could improve the view of our 12” display. To prove the concept, we built early prototypes and drove them around on a daily basis to prove that it would work and it did. The steering wheel paddles on the side are magnesium and they are wired directly to the transmission. When a driver commands a shift and instantly gets it.

https://www.midenginecorvetteforum.c...iew-with-tadge

[John]

i just learned that today. The magnesium paddles are drop dead gorgeous.

[Supa_Fly_Z51]

Im not sure a driver should ever be shifting gears while turning the steering wheel as it could imbalance the chassis with a gearshift during a turning maneuver...

at least thats how it has been with a manual transmission ..

all shifting should be done with the steering wheel is pointing the vehicle relatively straight

Lets say that you're standing still at a red light looking to make a right or left turn and as soon as the light changes you wanna step on it. You take off on 1st gear and revs quickly jump off while you're in the turn needing to go into 2nd gear.........accomplishing such a feat its almost impossible to say the least.

[meyerweb]

Why is it impossible?

As far as shifting with the wheel pointed straight, sure, on a race track or when really pushing it through a corner on a street. In normal driving, at normal street speeds, shift whenever you want. You're not going to unbalance the chassis making a left turn at 15 mph.

[Milliwatt Rob]

I think those mourning the loss of the manual gearbox would have felt a little better if, instead of the new transmission controls, there were a dual gate stick controller that could be pushed forward for downshifts an pulled back for upshifts.

[Shrike6]

Guys, the DCT has the advantage of an uninterrupted flow of power during shifts, allowing shifts in corners.