[Thor142]

Anyone have any legitimate feedback on the A8 on a track yet? Like how it's holding up over a 20 min session. Heat issues? Performance?

[HumanWiki]

Also would like to know given I'll be tracking my A8 EOM April.

[Thor142]

A guy on Camaro 5 did a few laps in one. He said after 3 laps he could smell the tranny. I'm paraphrasing here can't find the thread and I forget who it was. I'm really curious to see someone put a hard 20min session on one.

[HumanWiki]

Thanks.. I'll look for that thread... My sessions at RA will be 20m and that's a hard track, but thankfully there's 3 very long straight between the technical parts to help with air flow.

[jaymsu]

I was also worried about heat issue on track so I went with M6.
Had a chance to run CTS-V wagon auto (gen 2) on a track couple of years ago - First 2 sessions were fine, then from 3rd session of the day, right around 7th lap every session, it went into limp mode.
I know it's different car (and definitely not as heavy as V wagon), but I was concerned auto may get overheated. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind computer shifting for me, especially during day to day commute. (and it will shift faster than I can on track)

[Thor142]

Just bumping this up to see if anyone has a good session of hot laps on an A8 yet.

[HumanWiki]

Next weekend I will. Can post after that.

[SS 1LE]

My gut tells me there is a reason the SS 1LE will only come with a manual...

[mbar]

Originally Posted by SS 1LE

My gut tells me there is a reason the SS 1LE will only come with a manual...

Probably the same reason the previous 1LE, GT350 , GT350R , Focust ST/RS , Subaru STI come with manual only - It's a marketing tool + most track rats prefer manual. Now....clearly Ferrari and Lamborghini will disagree.

PS- I would have preferred a manual as well....but there's some compromises / sacrifices in marriage.

[SS 1LE]

Originally Posted by mbar

Probably the same reason the previous 1LE, GT350 , GT350R , Focust ST/RS , Subaru STI come with manual only - It's a marketing tool + most track rats prefer manual. Now....clearly Ferrari and Lamborghini will disagree.

PS- I would have preferred a manual as well....but there's some compromises / sacrifices in marriage.

Well, pre gen 5 1LE's were available with an automatic. And lets not confuse the transmissions Ferrari uses, with what GM uses. The Ferrari set up is a dual clutch semi automatic that in race mode needs to be manually shifted. GM uses a torque converter based unit that needs to be kept in "D" for best performance...apples to oranges.

But, I hear ya on the marriage "compromises/sacrifices".

[Thor142]

Originally Posted by SS 1LE

Well, pre gen 5 1LE's were available with an automatic. And lets not confuse the transmissions Ferrari uses, with what GM uses. The Ferrari set up is a dual clutch semi automatic that in race mode needs to be manually shifted. GM uses a torque converter based unit that needs to be kept in "D" for best performance...apples to oranges.

But, I hear ya on the marriage "compromises/sacrifices".

How do you know? GretchenGotGrowl tracks his A8 Z06 in manual mode. Says it was faster in his group than the manuals and performed better that way. If you have a different experience please share. I think there is a lot of misinformation being passed around based on what we've heard rather than what has been directly experienced. So if you have direct experience with the A8 on a track a short review would be great.

[SS 1LE]

Originally Posted by Thor142

How do you know? GretchenGotGrowl tracks his A8 Z06 in manual mode. Says it was faster in his group than the manuals and performed better that way. If you have a different experience please share. I think there is a lot of misinformation being passed around based on what we've heard rather than what has been directly experienced. So if you have direct experience with the A8 on a track a short review would be great.

My brother has an A8 CTS-V, I've driven it multiple times, as well as a few Z06's. Manual mode is slow to react, Gretchen can say whatever they want, if you are tracking for time, not leasure, you want to leave it in drive. Drive will do a better job, and react quicker, but that generates more heat. Manually shifting the A8 is easier on the tranny, but slower. I have been running autocross and the Runoffs for years, I spend lots of time at the track and the better drivers all have had issues with temperatures in their A8's, and manual mode will 100% slow a good driver down...GM tells you to use manual mode, not to engine brake, etc, etc, to keep tranny temps in check. GM also recommends a manual for track use, I was told that from multiple C7 engineers at Sebring. Go check out the SCCA boards, all the hardcore guys tracking Z06's are running manuals, some traded in their A8's to get one. The A8 is a great tranny for daily driving, and even drag racing. But it simply is not suited for hard track running...

[Thor142]

Originally Posted by SS 1LE

My brother has an A8 CTS-V, I've driven it multiple times, as well as a few Z06's. Manual mode is slow to react, Gretchen can say whatever they want, if you are tracking for time, not leasure, you want to leave it in drive. Drive will do a better job, and react quicker, but that generates more heat. Manually shifting the A8 is easier on the tranny, but slower. I have been running autocross and the Runoffs for years, I spend lots of time at the track and the better drivers all have had issues with temperatures in their A8's, and manual mode will 100% slow a good driver down...GM tells you to use manual mode, not to engine brake, etc, etc, to keep tranny temps in check. GM also recommends a manual for track use, I was told that from multiple C7 engineers at Sebring. Go check out the SCCA boards, all the hardcore guys tracking Z06's are running manuals, some traded in their A8's to get one. The A8 is a great tranny for daily driving, and even drag racing. But it simply is not suited for hard track running...

OK so you did get the Z06 into limp mode with an overheated tranny while using auto mode and auto mode in your experience was better that manual mode for track times. Got it. Just compiling information for my next purchase.

[mbar]

Did some reading in the Corvette C7 forum (ignored Z06): many sad storied about overheating A8 transmission on the track
I hope this issue did not carry over to the Camaro.