I'll start off by saying that I have
always had a manual transmission vehicle and agree that the connection that a driver feels with a manual car is one of the most rewarding aspects of driving a high performance vehicle.
I had the privilege last weekend of driving both manual ZL1s and automatic ZL1s back-to-back (and the ZR1 'Vet) on the track at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada with the rest of the Disciples. I must be honest and admit that I was very skeptical about the level of performance and amount of enjoyment/satisfaction the auto would provide, given that I have always been a 100% devout fan of manual transmissions in a car like this. The manual performed pretty much as I expected, given it's the same setup as the manual in my CTS-V. The ZL1's shifter had a little shorter throw than what I'm used to and seemed to have a slightly more positive shift action than the V.
But the automatic was a real eye-opener for me. Driving around the track in manual mode, my skepticism began to disappear after the 1st upshift, which was instantaneous and strong. This automatic transmission differs from the V's slushbox in that there is a "preloading" feature in the ZL1's unit that maintains a higher pressure in the lines which translates into noticeably quicker upshifts. It's as if the transmission is anticipating the upshift. A lot of the guys with automatic Vs are tuning their trannies (bye-bye warranty) to provide quicker upshifts/downshifts. I can't see that being necessary at all on this car... and of course the downshifts done with the paddle are rev-matched perfectly, every time. There's not much that's better in terms of satisfaction, than downshifting manually and blipping the throttle just right and coordinating the clutch to achieve that seamless transition into the lower gear, but none of us are perfect and sometimes it just ain't so smooth with the manual. The auto is foolproof in this regard. If only there was a way to heel-and-toe with the auto!
Would I buy the auto? Probably not, given my background and experience with a manual, but after tracking a ZL1 with the auto, at least I'd have to give it some consideration simply because of just how good it is and how consistent it is. The bottom line is that I would gladly take an automatic ZL1 out on a lapping day and not expect to have much, if any tradeoff in my enjoyment of the car.
For those who have good reasons to consider the automatic and are struggling with the choice, don't think for a second that you will be making a compromise by choosing the automatic.
Best regards,
Elie