point of an automatic zl1?

[2012ZL1]

Manual is the only way to go in a sports car. Real sports cars are sticks end of story.
A ZL1 is a sports car. I don't understand the desire for an auto either, but some like the ease of operation, and all drivers can drive an auto.

Auto's are for convenience, and leisure. ZL1 auto is a performance designed auto that is faster only because it takes the skill out of shifting and makes it a program like a computer. Shift points are optimized for the driver in a clock like precision manner. To me, that takes half the fun out of the experience.

A driver skilled in manual transmission will be equivelent to the auto with an unskilled driver.
Also manual cars are lighter, so tend to be a little easier to handle.
Auto's have more torque multiplication, but that is usually offset by less gear ratio in a manual.
IMHO a manual car set up for the strip would have 4.10's not 3.73's anyway, so the manuals give up a bit of torque mult. set up from factory.

[stymie]

There's a cadre of purists who believe the ONLY way to keep the "manual" transmission with foot operated clutch pedal ALIVE is to refuse automatics... w/o truly researching & driving the latest technologies. I've been driving a little bit of everything in these last 63 orbits around the sun. MOST of these cars were performance oriented vehicles with manual transmissions.

Of course, most of us don't have the option to compare a ZL1's Hydra-Matic to a Tremec prior to purchase. My TapShift is virtually instantaneous & UBERsmooth. The ONLY thing "lacking" is that often times pesky foot operated clutch pedal & frankly, I LOVE the ability to go either way depending on my mood or traffic conditions. Higher top ends & quicker times are a bonus. I'd swear my ZL1 is learning my habits & anticipating my next input. It's like some sort of A.I. at work. I can't wait until I hit 1.5K on the odometer. I'm giving it a rather thorough break-in... keeping it smooth & working my way up the various modes as the car learns my habits. The car was delivered perfect & each time I drive it, it just keeps getting better. The manual clutch experience is merely a fond memory, but times have changed & IMHO, the ZL1's automatic is a delight even on the twisties.

[Pappa Joe]

Originally Posted by whitecamaro2011

Why would you want to have a sports car automatic?

Auto, cause im lazy and hate shifting in traffic ,,,,,,,I do enough shifting on my bike lolz!
Not to mention no gas guzzler in Canada !

[SlingShot]

I just finished a spirited 45 minute drive in my SS, and my right shoulder is in pain from arthritis. That's why I ordered the ZL1 in an auto ... I'm still keeping my SS for those times I just need to row a few gears though.

[sasquash1984]

Originally Posted by Darth_Emma

There isn't one right answer here. It's personal preference. Get what YOU like. Please don't put the other person down for their choice.

This ftw

[hognutz]

buy what you like but Comparing the GM A6 to an F1 gearbox is almost comedy to me. IT tells me too things.

1. GM marketed this great
2. people have no clue how the two transmisisons really work.

F1 cars are not automatics there is no torque converter.

So saying you bought an automaic to be more like an F1 car doesn't really hold water.

[htron50]

Originally Posted by whitecamaro2011

Why would you want to have a sports car automatic?

[mikeyroche]

Only reason I could see getting an Automatic is if you don't know how to drive stick.

[BiggFoot]

Originally Posted by whitecamaro2011

Why would you want to have a sports car automatic?

Nothing like downshifting to second at 40 mph and pinning the passengers to the seats. Set a $100 bill on the dash and see if they can get it, LOL. Oh yeah, the standard will do that for you bro . . .

[cbass]

It's very hard to get road head with a manual :/. Though is managable.

Son of a...... You make a valid point and I may now have to rethink my choice.

[cbass]

Winning races.
The auto has been beating the manual down the strip in most cases.

I heard this before, but look at the SS stock fast list:

NoMemberEngine1/4 ET @ MPHDensity AltitudeDetails
1
nhra stocker
LS3
12.43 @ 112. 02 MPH
corrected 1395 ft.
9
2
2quick
LS3
12.61 @ 111.60 MPH

188
3
blufin
LS3
12.618 @ 110.75 MPH

780
4
8secpumpgasdad
L99
12.67 @ 110.36 MPH
corrected 1371 ft.
270
5
02pewtersix
LS3
12.71 @ 111.80 MPH

672
6
Bowtie Guy Z28
LS3
12.73 @ 113.0 MPH
corrected 9085 ft.

7
sschevybear11
LS3
12.758 @ 110.91 MPH

1169
8
Vincewalters
LS3
12.77 @ 113.05 MPH
corrected 6794 ft.
615
9
Monte
LS3
12.77 @ 110.98 MPH

410
10
mr anderson
LS3
12.81 @ 112.16 MPH
Corrected 2396 ft.
582
11
b20
LS3
12.81 @ 108.73 MPH

172
12
376Camaro
LS3
12.83 @ 113.27 MPH

502
13
DarricSS
LS3
12.84 @ 110.41 MPH
corrected 3331 ft.
89
14
Toyaholic
LS3
12.864 @ 110.91 MPH

821
15
Pave1
L99
12.86 @ 107.70 MPH

32
16
speedy6963
LS3
12.87 @ 109.08 MPH

10
17
jrrod6410
LS3
12.903 @ 109.85 MPH

790
18
8ty8 ls1
L99
12.90 @ 107.90 MPH

99
19
Blue70SS
LS3
12.92 @ 111.70 MPH
corrected 7200 ft.
74
20
Wycamaro
LS3
12.92 @ 111.54 MPH
corrected 7694 ft.
69
21
redirish
LS3
12.942 @ 107.61 MPH

1256
22
Malice
LS3
12.96 @ 108.84 MPH
corrected 1078 ft.
145
23
hysonmb
LS3
12.970 @ 109.51 MPH

892
24
lazerlemonta
LS3
12.985 @ 110.48 MPH

1262
25
1stGM
L99
12.98 @ 107.34 MPH

159
26
JUISSD
LS3
13.00 @ 109.70 MPH
corrected 2000 ft.
618
27
mandra
LS3
13.004 @ 110.76 MPH

1411
28
Motion427
L99
13.009 @ 109.05 MPH

1029
29
Shadow09
LS3
13.010 @ 110.73 MPH

671
30
Evowake
LS3
13.013 @ 110.84 MPH

543
31
wbdinger
LS3
13.03 @ 114.11 MPH
Corrected DA +
100
32
Rapide Duarda
LS3
13.037 @ 109.21 MPH

1204

The top 3 spots are held by a stick. Out of 32 only 5 are an automatic. So only 15% of the fast list is an auto. 85% is a stick.

Will this be different for a ZL1? Time will tell.

[Sterling]

The ZL1 is available in an automatic because we asked for it to be and GM listened.
If you don't like automatics, don't buy one... but they were obviously wanted and people voiced their opinion. Personally, I'd rather have a stick, but if people want an auto I see no reason not to give it to them.

[Wondering]

Originally Posted by 2ndCamaro79

F1 cars use paddle shifters like the auto ZL1, and you could say they race on tracks Besides the fact most high end sports cars (GT-R, 911 Turbo, Lambo Aventador, Ferrari 458 Italia) come with or only as autos, its all about options. Chevy gives you the option to choose unlike Ford

Any addition to everything above some people are not comfortable with stick shifts or will be using the ZL1 as a daily driver in a city sitting.

Other than paddle placement,an F1 tranny has zero in common with the ZL1's automatic. For that matter,neither do the ones in a Lambo,Ferrari,or Porsche.

[djsnoflake]

The SS fast list has nothing to do with ZL-1's. Apples to oranges. 2 different transmissions with completely different software.

Also as a history lesson, over half of the original ZL-1's were slushboxes, so this debate probably happened back then as well!

[Chaotic73]

My question is why spend nearly $60,000 on a car and not get every option available?

[Tally Ho]

Originally Posted by mikeyroche

Only reason I could see getting an Automatic is if you don't know how to drive stick.

Your reasoning doesn't hold water. I learned to drive sticks and can still get in and drive one. As I stated in my earlier post for what the car will be used for a stick is not feasible nor would it be any fun to drive.

As for comparing the ZL1's auto to an F1 they are definitely not the same. I have driven an F430 with the F1. The other major difference is the ZL1 auto won't need a $6-8K clutch replacement at 15K miles.

[Bob Cosby]

Why someone might want an auto over a manual is personal preference. In most cases, I absolutely prefer the manual - to each their own.

But Chevy is quite smart to give potential buyers the option. Why? They will sell more of them, which is what they are in the business of doing. Ford would probably sell more GT500s if they offered an automatic too (especially to drag racers).

[davidcroft]

^^ what bob said. The point of Automatic and convertible ZL1s is market share!!! Chevy is brilliant. I stole a customer from Ford and she bought an automatic ZL1 from me. Her current car was a Roush 427 Mustang custom ordered in automatic.

[2ndCamaro79]

Originally Posted by Wondering

Other than paddle placement,an F1 tranny has zero in common with the ZL1's automatic. For that matter,neither do the ones in a Lambo,Ferrari,or Porsche.

Most people consider the act of rowing the gears (manly) and a traditional stick shift. In a F1 car you do not row the gears. You shift the gears on the steering wheel like in todays auto cars. This is the only comparison I was intending to make.

But if we want to get techie about it.

However, in 1997, the Berlinetta (a Ferrari) was the first ever road car to be equipped with the innovative F1-style gearbox management system. Derived directly from Formula 1, where it made its debut in 1989 winning the Brazilian Grand Prix, the electro-hydraulic system was operated by paddles behind the steering wheel.


Seems like the F1 tech is in production cars

[SS ORANGE CRUSH SS]

Automatically speaking STICK to what YOU want. You are not going to CLUTCH or TAPSHIFT someone , it is personal CHOICE!!!

Tired of auto and stick REPLIES!!!

[SS ORANGE CRUSH SS]

How do you classify a CAMARO ???


*
ANSWER with drum roll



Muscle car !!!!!

[HDRDTD]

It all depends, and there is no clear answer.

In the old days of muscle cars, the general concensus was a muscle car was meant to be a stick.

These days I still love to row th eboat, and that's why I have a stick.

However, automatics have come a looong way especially the auto in the ZL1. They shift better, quicker, and more consistantly.

Are you going to drive the car as a daily driver or more for just pleasure. If it'll be your daily driver, then shifting through the gears in everyday stop and go traffic might get to be a bit tedious from time to time.

Which will be faster? either one. The automatic however will be the most consistant.

Also, note that typically, an automatic will have more drivetrain loss than a manual.

[Devilfish]

Originally Posted by cbass

I heard this before, but look at the SS stock fast list:

The top 3 spots are held by a stick. Out of 32 only 5 are an automatic. So only 15% of the fast list is an auto. 85% is a stick.

Will this be different for a ZL1? Time will tell.

But, now take a look at every non-stock fast list. Mostly autos. It's because they are faster more consistantly on the strip. Same reason my brother in law runs auto in his pro-street mustang.

[SC2150]

Some are going to buy the ZL1 to drag race as it meets spec for several classes in both NHRA & IHRA. And an auto is about the only way to run consistant and not many can launch and shift a manual to run quicker in the quarter mile than an auto. Now if you just want the fun of shifting on the street or are going to autocross or road race the manual would make the most sense.

[sasquash1984]

Originally Posted by SC2150

Some are going to buy the ZL1 to drag race as it meets spec for several classes in both NHRA & IHRA. And an auto is about the only way to run consistant and not many can launch and shift a manual to run quicker in the quarter mile than an auto. Now if you just want the fun of shifting on the street or are going to autocross or road race the manual would make the most sense.