How is the Tapshift Auto?

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by Super Sport

I think the whole purpose of an automated manual, manumatic, whatchawannacallit-atic, is that you CAN benefit from all of the features of a true manual transmission without having to worry about a clutch, gas management, and rowing endlessly through the gears.

Right, but the Camaro doesn't have an automated manual, manumatic, whatchawannacallit-atic, etc. The Camaro has a traditional automatic, with added paddle shifter controls. That doesn't mean it sucks though; modern traditional automatics are well engineered, well built, and all around very good. They produce results.

Delay in response to paddle operation is, I'm guessing, entirely a matter of programming. They would program in some delay so that you get to choose your gear before it engages. If there was no delay and you wanted to downshift from 6 down to 3, it would have to shift through 3 gears...

[Super Sport]

Originally Posted by LosXC451

Of your not that good at it get automatic. You should only get stick if you know what your doing

Dude my father learned how to drive stick on a Trans Am... we all start somewhere. :P

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by LosXC451

Of your not that good at it get automatic. You should only get stick if you know what your doing

That attitude is a surefire way to make manuals disappear. If everybody thought like that then nobody would ever get good at it.

If you get a manual, you will become good at it. It's fun.

[CamaroDan]

Get the auto trow a 410 gear in it and a supercharger you will have alot of fun smokin yur tires

[CamaroDan]

I drove a v6 auto and it has no delay when shifting and it chirpped the tires a little in 2nd. it was fun

[Super Sport]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Right, but the Camaro doesn't have an automated manual, manumatic, whatchawannacallit-atic, etc. The Camaro has a traditional automatic, with added paddle shifter controls. That doesn't mean it sucks though; modern traditional automatics are well engineered, well built, and all around very good. They produce results.

Delay in response to paddle operation is, I'm guessing, entirely a matter of programming. They would program in some delay so that you get to choose your gear before it engages. If there was no delay and you wanted to downshift from 6 down to 3, it would have to shift through 3 gears...

I'm still thinking that even with a minor delay, it would take no more time to press the paddle thrice than it would to slap the stick from sixth to third.

Not only that but several sources are stating that the auto SS, even with less hp, is faster than the manual one.

[levi1922]

Originally Posted by theholycow

Right, but the Camaro doesn't have an automated manual, manumatic, whatchawannacallit-atic, etc. The Camaro has a traditional automatic, with added paddle shifter controls. That doesn't mean it sucks though; modern traditional automatics are well engineered, well built, and all around very good. They produce results.

Delay in response to paddle operation is, I'm guessing, entirely a matter of programming. They would program in some delay so that you get to choose your gear before it engages. If there was no delay and you wanted to downshift from 6 down to 3, it would have to shift through 3 gears...

so, that makes sense. thank you! you are the frist person to actually say why there is a programed in delay. i found out that there are chips that can reduce the delay, but i did not know why there was a delay.
if you do get a chip to reduce the delay, and the tranny did have to sift down through three gears, would it be bad for it?

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by Super Sport

I'm still thinking that even with a minor delay, it would take no more time to press the paddle thrice than it would to slap the stick from sixth to third.

Agreed. That's one of the advantages of even a traditional automatic...faster shifts. Old ones executed shifts very quickly. New ones, even more so. The delay is annoying while driving, though. With a stick, you're involved, and you're doing stuff, and you can expect that once you're done doing stuff you'll be in gear and going...with an automatic or an automated manual, you get done with your input but you still have to wait.

Not only that but several sources are stating that the auto SS, even with less hp, is faster than the manual one.

You can't argue with numbers. Manual transmissions on modern cars are no longer the most effective choice for racing. They're cheaper to buy, can be driven more efficiently (if you're willing to change your habits) (but they're not more efficient with normal driving in many cars anymore), and cheaper to maintain/repair (unless you eat clutches), and they're more fun. I prefer them for the fun and the cost but automatics really deliver results.

Originally Posted by levi1922

so, that makes sense. thank you! you are the frist person to actually say why there is a programed in delay. i found out that there are chips that can reduce the delay, but i did not know why there was a delay.
if you do get a chip to reduce the delay, and the tranny did have to sift down through three gears, would it be bad for it?

I imagine there would still be a delay, just less of one. The transmission's job is to shift and if you get a couple extra shifts here or there I doubt it will suffer, but it would have to be annoying when you're driving. If you're in 6th and want 2nd, you're not going to enjoy waiting while it hunts through 3rd like an old vacuum-operated transmission would.

Of course, there's something to be said for leaving it in sport mode and not operating it manually at all...when you drop that hammer, it will jump to whatever gear you need.

[linkwpc]

Originally Posted by MaroSS

L.A. has the worst traffic EVER!!!!!! the main freeways into and past downtown (10 East and west and the 110 North and South) Are always PACKED!!!! Sure its good to have a stick on the weekends for pleasure ... but that clutch will be a killer with heavy traffic like in L.A. My dad never drives his C6 Corvette due to the Traffic conditions lol but at the same time the streets are great kinda ... Just don't go anywhere near Beverly Hills lmao

I live in LA, and I'm going to get a manual. I have own an auto for a long time and I learn that getting a auto is just another way of saying you are lazy.

[John Farnen]

I drove the tap shift across the new Ohio river bridge, it worked flawlessley, very easy. It was the 2nd time I drove one. Although I'm getting a stick, I liked it.

[DGthe3]

Bumping this thread so that some owners of the Auto can say what its like, such as the response time of the shifts and whatnot.

[Fogey]

As i said earlier, I have a V6 Passat with Tiptronic. I was unhappy with the delay and had an aftermarket chip installed and learned to love the auto. However, it did potentially invalidate the warranty, though I never had problems and am now out of warranty so mox nix.
I've always assumed that the delay was to limit the stress to the tranny though I don't know that for a fact. Or it may have something to do fuel effciency. Don't know? From what I have read, the delay in the Camaro seems to be minimal. I do know that if I were to buy (win the lottery) a Ferrari or some other exotic I would get an auto. I wish the Camaro had a "launch" mode.

[Scott Jones]

Speaking as someone who has never driven a manual in my life, I'm having a blast with the paddle shifters. The shifting is fast and easy.

[GoldBowtie]

I only have 300 miles on my new SS with tap-shift. Apparently the ONLY way to engage first gear is with the tap-shift (M mode on the selector) and by TAPPING into first each time you launch --- trans will downshift as far as second by itself, then you must tap down to first. In DRIVE, trans ALWAYS starts in second -- cannot engage first gear.

I havn't been on roads (traffic) where I can try various launch methods -- yet. So I would like to hear from other L99 owners on best method for fastest launches. It would seem like the tap-shift first gear start is the best (and only) way to go --- but the gearing makes for a VERY quick shift to second and introduces the same kind of timing issues as driving a manual 6-speed.