Will the A6 start off in 2nd gear like the vette???

[TomServo]

I'm sure you folks know this, but the A6 in the vette "defaults" to a 2nd gear start. To engage 1st gear you have to select Sport Mode and then manually shift into 1st.

This isn't very intuitive and many old timers have been surprised by some punk in a Mustang blowing there doors off from a stop light.

Do we know if the Camaro's A6 will be so designed??

[radz28]

That's a good question. I could see that the short gearing in that tranny in such a relatively light car could make for some pretty accidently spirited starts but in a car not far from 4000 lbs., I'm not sure it would be as big a problem.

I'm interested in this too. Maybe a G8 person could enlighten us

[Supermans]

hmmm, interesting question.. I would assume it is the same as the vette though :(

[rayainsw]

I had a 2007 Corvette – and now drive a 2009 G8 GT.
I am not certain that the Camaro implementation will be identical, but:

In the Corvette & in the G8 GT w/6L80 trans, in D it will downshift all the way to first at a full stop – and always start in first, under those conditions.

In “S” Sport mode WITHOUT touching the paddles in the Corvette ( or nudging the shift lever, in the G8 GT ) it will also downshift [ edit: automatically ] as one slows – all the way to first.

Once you touch either paddle – or command a manual up- or downshift with the shift lever, the trans. will only [ edit: automatically ] downshift as far as second gear at a full stop.

At that point, while contemplating acceleration, you may choose to:
1 - command a further downshift – to first gear – and start in first,
2 – leave the trans in second – and start in second,
or
3 – command an upshift [ while still stopped ] to third gear – and start in third.

Upshifts to fourth or fifth or sixth require a specific combination of speed and load. 1 – 2 upshifts and 2 –3 upshifts will be executed on command, regardless of road speed or load.

- Ray
Happy G8 GT driver – who looked long & hard at the Camaro . . .

[69 rs/ss]

Originally Posted by rayainsw

I had a 2007 Corvette – and now drive a 2009 G8 GT.
I am not certain that the Camaro implementation will be identical, but:

In the Corvette & in the G8 GT w/6L80 trans, in D it will downshift all the way to first at a full stop – and always start in first, under those conditions.

In “S” Sport mode WITHOUT touching the paddles in the Corvette ( or nudging the shift lever, in the G8 GT ) it will also downshift [ edit: automatically ] as one slows – all the way to first.

Once you touch either paddle – or command a manual up- or downshift with the shift lever, the trans. will only [ edit: automatically ] downshift as far as second gear at a full stop.

At that point, while contemplating acceleration, you may choose to:
1 - command a further downshift – to first gear – and start in first,
2 – leave the trans in second – and start in second,
or
3 – command an upshift [ while still stopped ] to third gear – and start in third.

Upshifts to fourth or fifth or sixth require a specific combination of speed and load. 1 – 2 upshifts and 2 –3 upshifts will be executed on command, regardless of road speed or load.

- Ray
Happy G8 GT driver – who looked long & hard at the Camaro . . .

Thanks Ray
Hope I am not to old to learn to drive my new camaro. Sounds like the hot set up. I know the wife will never understand it. I'm in trouble....

[Rodrunner]

Thanks, Ray. Very informative and well written.

[eggydoo]

I am confused. So if I use the paddle shift, it goes to 2nd gear when I stop.
So to reiniatiate 1st gear, I will have to put it back from 'D' to sport?

[rayainsw]

Originally Posted by eggydoo

I am confused. So if I use the paddle shift, it goes to 2nd gear when I stop.
So to reiniatiate 1st gear, I will have to put it back from 'D' to sport?

Caveat – I am again not certain exactly how the Camaro’s 6L80 will be programmed, but here is how the Corvette & G8 GT implementations behaves:

First – again, in “D” \ regular Drive mode, you will ALWAYS downshift automatically all the way to first, on a complete ( not a rolling ) stop. And from a full stop, your will ALWAYS start in first gear.

If you have chosen \ initiated Sport Mode ** AND ** initiated Manual Mode, the trans will never downshift automatically all the way to first gear.

To choose Sport NON-manual Mode again, allowing automatic downshifting to first gear as one slows, you do indeed need to move back to D and then re-select S – and NOT touch the paddles.

Clear?

This is a bit hard to explain, without a car to demonstrate, but I found that it does actually become second nature quickly.

Related: The 2009 Sport Mode \ NON-manual Mode programming
[ with significantly improved programming and some internal upgrades, though still keeping the 6L80 designation ]
in my G8 GT is soooooo much better than my 2007 Corvette’s ‘Sport Mode’ that I now use that mode perhaps 75% of the time – where in 32,000+ miles with the Corvette, I spent 99%+ of my driving time in Sport MANUAL Mode. I found Sport Automatic to be very, very frustrating. The improvement is really quite dramatic.

Cheers,
- Ray
Old Dog – and sometimes not so great with the New Tricks . . .

[rayainsw]

I see no conflict.
What do you see there
[ edit: and \ or your experience ]
that is in conflict with what I wrote?
Many folks who have read the manual still seem confused. . .
- Ray
Just trying to help . . .

[Camarino]

maybe this helps clear up, 55 secs to the end explains it

i assume if it starts in first in TAPSHIFT mode then the regular Auto mode would do the same