Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedfreak
You fail. I have in fact driven the L99 and with a proper tune its golden. That is what I plan on buying.
Your dead on accurate regarding driving a stick and I would not want to drive one daily, not now, not with 43 year old knees that bear the affect of years of sports abuse. I use mine as a weekend car and its a blast to drive but I typically avoid most traffic and hit a lot of country roads.
That said the level of control and enguagement in the Auto vs the Manual cannot be compared, not in my experience. I think if a guy is really on the fence buy the stick drive it for a month or whatever GM's return is and if it doesn't work for them pick up the Auto.
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Interesting...so you've driven the L99. I'm glad to hear that. I guess we can agree to disagree on the level of engagement involved in driving the L99. I don't know if you've spent any time with the tap shift, but it's a very different "manual" driving experience, requiring quite a bit of focus to do smoothly and well. Especially if you've been driving in "D" or "M" (sport mode with auto shifting) for awhile.
I find that I am more engaged in tap shift mode than I have been in any stick shift driving experience in over 25 years! I'm sure that, like driving a stick shift, driving the tap shift will become more automatic with time. I guess what I really like about having it is how many options it gives me to have the L99.
First, I can drive in "D." Then, I can choose "M," which raises the shift points for a more aggressive driving experience while still auto-shifting. Then I can choose "M" with tap shift and have a lot of fun that way. Finally, I can remote start. I didn't think this would be as cool a feature as I have found it to be...but it really is! I usually park a good ways away from my destination when at work. I really like that I can leave my building, start the car from nearly 200' away, and by the time I walk up to it, she's warmed up a bit and ready to go. I feel I'll be taking better care of the engine/transmission by not driving for a min or so after starting her up (especially in cold weather). Oh, and I also like that I can set the heated seats to start up with remote start if I want (haven't needed it yet, but it's another cool feature I wouldn't have otherwise).
So on balance,
for me, the L99 is simply a greater personal value and a much more engaging "driver" experience. There just isn't as much that is special about up-shifting and down-shifting with a clutch anymore (don't get me wrong--I
used to love it). But it got old fast in heavy traffic and replacing two clutches over the years was expensive. Now, twisty roads are just as much fun for me as they ever were--more, I'd say when tap-shifting. And everything else is more enjoyable.
Again, just my two cents...(oh...and let me know if I fail again -- LOL).
Enjoy those L99's ya'll. And don't hate me cuz' I can remote start
