Those of you with the automatic... - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Gizmo · 05-17-2012, 09:29 AM

What are your impressions? It doesn't seem like the autos get much press outside of a couple of tuners who are using their car to drag race. I am interested to hear what you all think about yours. Do the different modes noticeably change how the transmission shifts and feels? Do the paddles keep you happy when you want more control?

Also, please post any pics or vids you have of the car going through the gears! I'm trying to decide between auto and manual. The manual gets the launch control and no lift shifts, which I guess the auto kind of has both built in anyways

SlingShot · 05-17-2012, 09:56 AM

I don't think many have enough miles or seat time to give a good solid answer yet. That being said the little I've driven mine it has been very enjoyable. I normally just leave it in sport mode for daily driving. The sport mode has firmer shifts than drive. Also in sport mode, when you stage the gas it will downshift and hold the gear until you make your next move. We are getting into our rain season, so I have been using the PTM 1 mode for wet driving. Mode 1 works great, it seems to pull power and start you off in a higher gear to keep the tires from spinning. So far I'm more than happy with the auto ...

htron50 · 05-17-2012, 09:59 AM

All I can tell you so far is that I have not taken it above 4,000 so it is premature (for me) to be discussing "shift points" that are programmed in. Once we hit the breakin and are able to take the gears to the programmed shift points, and "feel" the INTUITIVE downshifts, it will be a better time to give you an opinion!

As of now, I've only been able to use the paddles on a limited basis for normal driving. Yes, the tranny is very responsive. It does downshift according to expectations. I have tried to "test" it below 4000 rpms and ONE TIME felt it "holding" the needed gear instead of upshifting -- which let me KNOW and FEEL it was "LIKE MINDED" to keep the car in an aggressive mode.

So.... sorry for such a lame response, but truly, until I can take it to 6000 rpms to see shifts, and to get it in "race" mode to intuitively downshift at about 3800 rpms to a lower gear "on its own", I have to reserve a more informative response.

I have simply spun the tires with NO EFFORT! It tells me it has gobs of power and knows how to get it to the wheels!

Z4me · 05-17-2012, 10:32 AM

Interesting thread

Gizmo · 05-17-2012, 11:31 AM

It seems like every time I buy a car, I go for the manual. A few months of ownership and I'm saying to myself, "I wish I woulda gone with the auto..." The last automatic car I owned was a G8 GT and after a tune, it was really fun to drive, but that was also my daily driver, where the ZL1 will be a weekend toy. Tough decision, but what a nice decision to have to make

Max536 · 05-17-2012, 11:33 AM

Awesome.....

Gizmo · 05-17-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max536

Awesome.....

AZ-ZL1 · 05-17-2012, 12:00 PM

I really went back and forth on the tranny option, actually revised my order for the auto....sounds like I won't regret it

*mlee* · 05-17-2012, 12:23 PM

Ha Ha... with the ZL1 I'm not going to be any help for you... I litterally flipped a coin on this one... I ordered an Auto and bought a Manual. Both are awesome transmissions.

Drew P · 05-17-2012, 02:42 PM

By far the most responsive auto I have ever driven. Even without any PTM mode turned on, if you stand on the gas the downshift is virtually immediate and lightning fast. If you daily drive the ZL1 in traffic like me, its a no brainer.

Z4me · 05-17-2012, 02:44 PM

I have gone back and forth like a crazy ping pong match on the transmissions and the color.

tpower · 05-17-2012, 02:49 PM

IOM & AUTO I totally happy

stymie · 05-18-2012, 09:46 PM

When you have to climb a CG-2 "lazy back" curb/gutter portion of a driveway under 1 mph @ a 45° angle to avoid abrasions on your splitter, you'll appreciate the Hydra-Matic. If you use the ZL1 as a DD in rush hour traffic, feathering a manual clutch to inch your way ahead is a real PITA. Going downhill toward a proverbial "speed trap" in a 25mph "school zone" isn't an issue with the Tap Shift feature for holding a gear instead of riding your brakes. I don't like to take one hand off the steering wheel to down shift & the auto is uberFAST for gear changes. Most of my performance oriented vehicles over the last 4 decades have been manuals & Tap Shift is virtually instantaneous. The computer "learns" your driving habits as you break the ZL1 in, anticipating your next input. It's like A.I. & smooth. No disappointments here at all with the auto; I LOVE it! I can't hardly wait to hit 1.5K to see what she's fully capable of.

Not all trannies are created equal & Chevy hit a home run with this baby.

htron50 · 05-18-2012, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stymie

When you have to climb a CG-2 "lazy back" curb/gutter portion of a driveway under 1 mph @ a 45° angle to avoid abrasions on your splitter, you'll appreciate the Hydra-Matic. If you use the ZL1 as a DD in rush hour traffic, feathering a manual clutch to inch your way ahead is a real PITA. Going downhill toward a proverbial "speed trap" in a 25mph "school zone" isn't an issue with the Tap Shift feature for holding a gear instead of riding your brakes. I don't like to take one hand off the steering wheel to down shift & the auto is uberFAST for gear changes. Most of my performance oriented vehicles over the last 4 decades have been manuals & Tap Shift is virtually instantaneous. The computer "learns" your driving habits as you break the ZL1 in, anticipating your next input. It's like A.I. & smooth. No disappointments here at all with the auto; I LOVE it! I can't hardly wait to hit 1.5K to see what she's fully capable of.

Not all trannies are created equal & Chevy hit a home run with this baby.

on the Artificial Intelligence!

05-17-2012, 09:29 AM	#1
Gizmo Drives: ZL1 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Kansas Posts: 109	Those of you with the automatic... What are your impressions? It doesn't seem like the autos get much press outside of a couple of tuners who are using their car to drag race. I am interested to hear what you all think about yours. Do the different modes noticeably change how the transmission shifts and feels? Do the paddles keep you happy when you want more control? Also, please post any pics or vids you have of the car going through the gears! I'm trying to decide between auto and manual. The manual gets the launch control and no lift shifts, which I guess the auto kind of has both built in anyways __________________ 2014 BRM ZL1 #229 Rotofab, VMax, Moroso, MGW I used to be schizophrenic, but we're okay now.

05-17-2012, 09:56 AM	#2
SlingShot Drives: 2012 ZL1 - #670 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Seminole, Fl. Posts: 8,009	I don't think many have enough miles or seat time to give a good solid answer yet. That being said the little I've driven mine it has been very enjoyable. I normally just leave it in sport mode for daily driving. The sport mode has firmer shifts than drive. Also in sport mode, when you stage the gas it will downshift and hold the gear until you make your next move. We are getting into our rain season, so I have been using the PTM 1 mode for wet driving. Mode 1 works great, it seems to pull power and start you off in a higher gear to keep the tires from spinning. So far I'm more than happy with the auto ... __________________

05-17-2012, 10:32 AM	#4
Z4me Drives: 2013 ZL1 IOM Vin #169 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,953	Interesting thread __________________

05-17-2012, 11:31 AM	#5
Gizmo Drives: ZL1 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Kansas Posts: 109	It seems like every time I buy a car, I go for the manual. A few months of ownership and I'm saying to myself, "I wish I woulda gone with the auto..." The last automatic car I owned was a G8 GT and after a tune, it was really fun to drive, but that was also my daily driver, where the ZL1 will be a weekend toy. Tough decision, but what a nice decision to have to make __________________ 2014 BRM ZL1 #229 Rotofab, VMax, Moroso, MGW I used to be schizophrenic, but we're okay now.

05-17-2012, 12:23 PM	#9
mlee CamaroFans.com Drives: ZLE & ZR2 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 37,973 View My Garage	Ha Ha... with the ZL1 I'm not going to be any help for you... I litterally flipped a coin on this one... I ordered an Auto and bought a Manual. Both are awesome transmissions. __________________

05-17-2012, 09:59 AM	#3
htron50 Drives: 2017 ZL1 Status "Thank You!" Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,498	All I can tell you so far is that I have not taken it above 4,000 so it is premature (for me) to be discussing "shift points" that are programmed in. Once we hit the breakin and are able to take the gears to the programmed shift points, and "feel" the INTUITIVE downshifts, it will be a better time to give you an opinion! As of now, I've only been able to use the paddles on a limited basis for normal driving. Yes, the tranny is very responsive. It does downshift according to expectations. I have tried to "test" it below 4000 rpms and ONE TIME felt it "holding" the needed gear instead of upshifting -- which let me KNOW and FEEL it was "LIKE MINDED" to keep the car in an aggressive mode. So.... sorry for such a lame response, but truly, until I can take it to 6000 rpms to see shifts, and to get it in "race" mode to intuitively downshift at about 3800 rpms to a lower gear "on its own", I have to reserve a more informative response. I have simply spun the tires with NO EFFORT! It tells me it has gobs of power and knows how to get it to the wheels!

05-17-2012, 11:33 AM	#6
Max536 Drives: ‘12 ZL1 - ‘20 G63 AMG - ‘12 LP550-2 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ottawa,Ontario,Canada. "EH" Posts: 296 View My Garage	Awesome.....

05-17-2012, 12:00 PM	#8
AZ-ZL1 Dry Heat My @ss Drives: 2012 ZL1 SUMMIT WHITE Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Chandler, Arizona Posts: 758	I really went back and forth on the tranny option, actually revised my order for the auto....sounds like I won't regret it

05-17-2012, 02:42 PM	#10
Drew P Drives: Camaro ZL1 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Houston Posts: 233	By far the most responsive auto I have ever driven. Even without any PTM mode turned on, if you stand on the gas the downshift is virtually immediate and lightning fast. If you daily drive the ZL1 in traffic like me, its a no brainer.

05-17-2012, 02:44 PM	#11
Z4me Drives: 2013 ZL1 IOM Vin #169 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,953	I have gone back and forth like a crazy ping pong match on the transmissions and the color. __________________

05-17-2012, 02:49 PM	#12
tpower DBLCHBY III Drives: 15 1LE Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Team Canada Posts: 2,789	IOM & AUTO I totally happy __________________

05-18-2012, 09:46 PM	#13
stymie Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: KC, MO Posts: 438	When you have to climb a CG-2 "lazy back" curb/gutter portion of a driveway under 1 mph @ a 45° angle to avoid abrasions on your splitter, you'll appreciate the Hydra-Matic. If you use the ZL1 as a DD in rush hour traffic, feathering a manual clutch to inch your way ahead is a real PITA. Going downhill toward a proverbial "speed trap" in a 25mph "school zone" isn't an issue with the Tap Shift feature for holding a gear instead of riding your brakes. I don't like to take one hand off the steering wheel to down shift & the auto is uberFAST for gear changes. Most of my performance oriented vehicles over the last 4 decades have been manuals & Tap Shift is virtually instantaneous. The computer "learns" your driving habits as you break the ZL1 in, anticipating your next input. It's like A.I. & smooth. No disappointments here at all with the auto; I LOVE it! I can't hardly wait to hit 1.5K to see what she's fully capable of. Not all trannies are created equal & Chevy hit a home run with this baby.