[RUQWIKR]

Being an owner of both a manual SS 1LE and a manual ZL1 1LE, the SS is easier to smoothly get going from a stop because of the 2.66 first gear in the MM6 trans vs. the 2.29 in the MH3 (ZL1 1LE). A regular ZL1 manual is even a bit worse with a 2.26 first (MJK).

[pauly1119]

Originally Posted by RealG

This is great information for me. I’m on the fence right now between A10 and 6M. waiting to order 2023 ZL1 was pretty set on six speed manual with 1LE package. But now you have me thinking.

I can't imagine buying a car like this and not getting a 6 speed while its still available. I can see if its your every day car or your health is a factor but if its being purchased as a toy well then its just that, I want something I can enjoy and play with the most. Mowing through gears is just fun.

[CW3SF]

Originally Posted by pauly1119

I can't imagine buying a car like this and not getting a 6 speed while its still available. I can see if its your every day car or your health is a factor but if its being purchased as a toy well then its just that, I want something I can enjoy and play with the most. Mowing through gears is just fun.

This. The TR6060 is extremely smooth and consistent. Paired with the computer aided no-lift-shift it is an absolute blast to row.

[raptor5244]

Originally Posted by RUQWIKR

Being an owner of both a manual SS 1LE and a manual ZL1 1LE, the SS is easier to smoothly get going from a stop because of the 2.66 first gear in the MM6 trans vs. the 2.29 in the MH3 (ZL1 1LE). A regular ZL1 manual is even a bit worse with a 2.26 first (MJK).

That was my impression, thanks for the confirmation.

[raptor5244]

I had C7 Grand Sport M7 and Camaro SS 1LE M6 and I thought they were great. The Tremec is one of the best gearboxes and very reliable. In this case the Tremec 6060 is great but the clutch engagement specifically in a ZL1 from a stop takes a bit more focus/practice/finesse or whatever you want to call it, which may dampen the fun for some drivers.

I found the decision between M6 and A10 in the ZL1 more challenging in the ZL1 because of the taller gearing. Since I am stuck driving on the city streets with lots of traffic I can't fully enjoy winding out the gears, especially since they are so tall in the ZL1. First gear nets you 60mph, I think the top of 2nd gear is like 85mph and 3rd takes you to around 115mph, 4th gear around 149 mph. Then add in the less forgiving clutch engagement, reported bogging and over protective tuning I got cold feet and went with the A10 since everyone seems to praise it.

For comparison, the A10 gets to about 38mph in 1st, 59mph in 2nd and 83mph in 3rd, 99mph in 4th. While not as engaging as a manual it just rips through the first 4 gears incredible fast and always leaves me impressed. It also does a really good job of holding gears when it senses you want to drive in a spirited manner. It is fun to wake it up with a quick stab of the accelerator, which activates Performance Shift Mode. With the A10 you can feel you are always in the sweet spot since it shifts so darn quick. I am not a fan of using the paddles. They are there is I want to flick through the gears but it is no replacement for a clutch and gear shift. With the A10 you are better off just letting it do its thing since there are too many gears to deal with on the street.

Don't get me wrong with so much torque you are pulling hard in pretty much any gear with the M6 but if you like to wind them out it is more challenging to find the space to do so on the street with a car this powerful. If you are cool with short shifting then you may be satisfied on the street. For the record, I found the Miata to be the most fun on the street if you like ripping through the gears since the gearing is so short. I think I could hit the top of the 3rd at 7500rpm and not be looking over my shoulder.

[BlaqWhole]

Originally Posted by Newcastle

Losing faith in this group. First whining about a manual now grammar? SMDH

You know where the door is.

[mariojas]

Originally Posted by raptor5244

I am not a fan of using the paddles. They are there is I want to flick through the gears but it is no replacement for a clutch and gear shift.

Me neither - plasticky, cheap paddles, I hate touching them. Dodge might have them super small, but at least aluminum, which feels so much better. I do mostly paddles in my Charger, D only sometimes, although super fast and punchy in Track mode.

[Drnick]

To the perp that says, whining about trans”, I was
“ Whining about clutch!” , love the trans!, and
As far as my “ linguistic skills, or lack there of”
Too bad, get over it . P S. ��

[JBones81]

Damnit guys...after negotiating with local dealer for a couple weeks, I was ready to put the order in tomorrow. I went back and forth over all the options, but was stuck most on color, PDR and transmission. Decided on Satin Steel, no pdr (I won't track this) and manual. Now reading this I'm unsure again!! This car will just be a toy for around town and taking my son to car shows, but most of the roads here in the Bay Area are short, congested, and full of stop lights. I want the manual because they're getting harder and harder to find, but the autos are so good now. The transmission in the rs3 is amazing, and I never wish it was a manual. However, I had a 2019 grand sport auto and it was really boring, and the AFM was super annoying too. For me, it's easier to justify spending $70k on a ZL1 when I have the excuse of, "Well, v8s and manuals are going extinct soon..." than it is to just get it as an automatic.

Am I crazy to stick with the manual choice, or crazy to NOT get an automatic in this particular car?

[pauly1119]

Originally Posted by JBones81

Damnit guys...after negotiating with local dealer for a couple weeks, I was ready to put the order in tomorrow. I went back and forth over all the options, but was stuck most on color, PDR and transmission. Decided on Satin Steel, no pdr (I won't track this) and manual. Now reading this I'm unsure again!! This car will just be a toy for around town and taking my son to car shows, but most of the roads here in the Bay Area are short, congested, and full of stop lights. I want the manual because they're getting harder and harder to find, but the autos are so good now. The transmission in the rs3 is amazing, and I never wish it was a manual. However, I had a 2019 grand sport auto and it was really boring, and the AFM was super annoying too. For me, it's easier to justify spending $70k on a ZL1 when I have the excuse of, "Well, v8s and manuals are going extinct soon..." than it is to just get it as an automatic.

Am I crazy to stick with the manual choice, or crazy to NOT get an automatic in this particular car?

Well you answered your own question, your GS was boring. I also had a GS with a auto and thought it was boring as well. Get the 6 speed if it’s a toy. Toys are for playing with.

[JBones81]

Originally Posted by pauly1119

Well you answered your own question, your GS was boring. I also had a GS with a auto and thought it was boring as well. Get the 6 speed if it’s a toy. Toys are for playing with.

Definitely agree. But seems here that some manual guys are complaining that this particular one is difficult to live with when not actually playing around. That concerns me.

The other thing that hasn't come up too much yet is which transmission is better when modding. I would think that the Auto would be better when you get to the 750+rwhp area, no?

[HoodCheck]

Originally Posted by JBones81

Definitely agree. But seems here that some manual guys are complaining that this particular one is difficult to live with when not actually playing around. That concerns me.

The other thing that hasn't come up too much yet is which transmission is better when modding. I would think that the Auto would be better when you get to the 750+rwhp area, no?

I have a M6; its NOT difficult to live with. I've been driving manual since about '89, and I have managed to stall once in my ZLE, but I also try to take it easy on the car. I prefer the A10 though still; for me, A10 in a ZLE is ideal, but I'm not blind to the M6 going away (although the tech now exists for a clutch-less manual). No shame in getting the M6, and no shame in the A10 either, its is a BAD ASS transmission (WAY better than the A6 and A8 were; I've had all 3).

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by JBones81

Definitely agree. But seems here that some manual guys are complaining that this particular one is difficult to live with when not actually playing around. That concerns me.

The other thing that hasn't come up too much yet is which transmission is better when modding. I would think that the Auto would be better when you get to the 750+rwhp area, no?

Two completely different worlds regardless of power level. If you want to row your own gears, the auto won't cut it no matter what.

Both the 8L90 and the 10L90 (and not the weaker 8L45, 10L60 or 10L80 in lesser trims) are very stout and can hold twice the stock hp; I keep hearing the same positive feedback about the TR-6060 variants in the ZL1 and ZL1 1LE (the ones with option codes MJK and MH3, certified for 650 lb-ft of torque).

[raptor5244]

Originally Posted by JBones81

Damnit guys...after negotiating with local dealer for a couple weeks, I was ready to put the order in tomorrow. I went back and forth over all the options, but was stuck most on color, PDR and transmission. Decided on Satin Steel, no pdr (I won't track this) and manual. Now reading this I'm unsure again!! This car will just be a toy for around town and taking my son to car shows, but most of the roads here in the Bay Area are short, congested, and full of stop lights. I want the manual because they're getting harder and harder to find, but the autos are so good now. The transmission in the rs3 is amazing, and I never wish it was a manual. However, I had a 2019 grand sport auto and it was really boring, and the AFM was super annoying too. For me, it's easier to justify spending $70k on a ZL1 when I have the excuse of, "Well, v8s and manuals are going extinct soon..." than it is to just get it as an automatic.

Am I crazy to stick with the manual choice, or crazy to NOT get an automatic in this particular car?

I hear you, it is a tough choice, the issue for me with this particular car is the tall gear ratios of the M6 required to handle the power of the LT4. The feedback I got from some folks that own both is that the ZL1 M6 does not necessarily "feel" much quicker down low then an SS with an M6 due to the shorter gearing in the SS.

The good news in the ZL1 is there is no AFM with the auto like you have in the Corvettes and Camaro SS. The other thing is that the A10 is noticeably better than the A8. It shifts better and it has improved ratios over the A8. The A10 helps you to maximize the performance from the LT4 as it shifts quicker and always keeps you in the power band.

See here for the actual ratio comparisons between the A8 and A10.
https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/...0speed-gm.html

It is a tough choice with this particular car. If the A10 was a traditional slush box I would tell you to get the M6 and be done with it. However, the A10 is really, really good and makes this car a superstar. You just have to decide what you think you will enjoy more. Regardless of what you choose you will probably have days where you wished you had the other.