[Glow01]

Hello all.

I currently have an M6 1SS and I love it. It was extremely difficult to find a 6th generation Camaro in manual transmission (or any car these days), so I'm so glad to have a modern performance vehicle with a real clutch and shifter. I love rev matching, I love shifting, I love heel/toe. Doesn't matter if it's a 4-cylinder economy car or a V10 super car, I love my manuals.

I've been thinking about upgrading to a ZL1 at some point, and I've thought about getting an automatic. Fewer people these days seem to know how to drive manual, so if I'm out and about with somebody and there's an emergency where I can't drive... that's a problem because nobody else will be able to get us to safety. It's also really hard to find manual transmission versions of this car, like previously stated.

I know nobody can realistically tell me my preference, but has anybody bought an automatic 1SS/2SS or ZL1 and regretted it because of the transmission? I know the semi-automatic sequential paddles are exponentially faster for gear shifts than a clutch/6-speed pattern, but is it enough, fun wise? lol I'd hate to take out a $70,000+ car loan and then hate the transmission a few payments in.

[Bosse'sBoss]

Yes I can assure you that you will have buyers remorse and regret it if you switch from a 6MT to an AT, doesn't matter how fast the AT car is, it doesn't have the same driver's involvement feeling. After driving several sport cars in MT as DD and at the track: Infiniti G35 sport coupe, Porsche 911 Carrera and a '11 Mustang GT 5.0 with a fully modified track suspension which I enjoyed very much, I gave attention to my wife's complains that she want me to switch to an AT sport car for her to also enjoy, so I thought that if I got a 5th gen Camaro ZL1 AT that because of the power I was going to forget about the shifting my own experience but it didn't happen, then I traded it for my dream car a C7 Corvette Z51 AT, the car was a beauty and it was also very fast, but still missed the shifting, I went and test drove the best AT a DCT PDK Cayman S, that transmission was very fast and very accurate but it felt like I was playing with a computer game the paddle shifting wasn't my thing it doesn't replace the driving with a stick and a clutch, feeling the car under your full control, mastering the revs. I went and replaced my Stingray for a 6th gen Camaro SS2, I became a happy driver again. Don't do that mistake that you would regret it, there is nothing like driving a V8 with a 6MT.
Recently I drove a C8 Corvette and had the same lifeless feeling that I had with the PDK Porsche.

[ZED SLED]

This make me nostalgic for the good ole heyday of this forum when there were knock down drag out dustups over V8 vs. V6 and auto vs. manual. Those were some great threads. The battles between Rontammy0 and Gringo come to mind, at least until they were banned

[Curr]

Sure did. It's 100% real if you're a person who loves just being involved in driving the car all the time.

I bought a $142k MSRP used 991.2S (used, for $100k). The car was amazing, and every glowing review about 911's written was true. The PDK is by far the best automatic transmission I'd ever driven, I swear it was telepathic in knowing what I wanted to do, in the end it was just too uninvolving to drive after I got over the "I have a new car / it's a 911S!! / this thing is stupid fast". Not to mention having all the weight over the rear tires just made the cars grip way higher than my skill to oversteer through corners, even with Softronic tune to ~520HP.

EDIT: The 911 was also my dream car. I had a poster on my wall when I was a kid of the Yellowbird, and used to dream about owning all the time for the last 35+ years, had subscriptions to R&T, C&D, MT etc and devoured every article about 911s with gusto, but in the end, I think they are pretty much still perfects cars, just wasn't perfect for me. I'm still glad I owned one and fulfilled that dream. Turns out a V8 with a manual is just a better fit for me.

It actually become a bit boring to drive. Which I know sounds crazy... but I sold it after a year for my ZL1, and God willing, I'll never sell this car. It's perfect.

[DamonZ28]

Originally Posted by Glow01

Fewer people these days seem to know how to drive manual, so if I'm out and about with somebody and there's an emergency where I can't drive... that's a problem because nobody else will be able to get us to safety.

I'm an automatic guy, I'm terrible at driving a stick car. Having said that, I don't like your reasoning for buying an automatic. How often have you heard of anyone being in that situation? I've never heard of it. Buy the manual!! Search far & wide to get what you want. When I was looking for a very specific set of features for a new Camaro, I was prepared to fly anywhere in the country to get it (was actually kind of looking forward to buying a car and having to take a road trip to drive it home!), but ended up finding the perfect car just 2 hours away.

[SamSmoothCastel]

I've had manuals for years.

Bought an A10 and will never go back with my style of driving. The shifts are butter and done electronically - 2 hands on the wheel at 600HP-800HP just makes sense....

Everyone should drive a manual though at some point. Personally all new drivers should be required to drive manuals for 5 years. Why? So they quit using their phones on the road.

[clg82]

I have an M6 Mustang GT Roush Stage 2 (i know i know) to scratch that itch if I want to bang through the gears....and my A10 ZL1 as well, the A10 transmission is tuned and is light years better than when I bought it stock, and when racing on the highway, or at the track doesn't miss a beat, especially on a road course.

[Bad Anvil Garage]

I'll start by saying that every real man should know how to drive a manual car. Ok, that said, my 2020 is a DD so I chose to get the A10. I have a modified 2000 with an M6 for when I get the itch. I agree with others who've said there's nothing like the connection between you and your car with a MT. That's something I miss when I'm tooling around in my DD but the A10 is so good, I get over it pretty quickly. Admittedly, I've driven manual so long that I find it weird to have my right hand free for steering. I'm so used to steering with one hand... even sideways.

[Booher]

I went through the same dilemma when I switched to a zl1 as well. I still regret not getting the auto, but... I feel there is regret either way that I would've gone. The auto In the zl1 is amazing, and really helps squeeze the peformance out of the car. The manual is more punishing as its up to you to peform and not the car. I feel eventually, that I'd get bored with the auto, I guess I'll never know. It's kind of like doing something that's easy, and something that's harder. Doing something harder always feels like more of an accomplishment. So my 2 cents, auto for max performance, and manual for max fun/involvement. I've been manual most of my life, so I could be a bit biased. I do wish I had 2 zl1's tho, 1 auto and 1 manual.

[arpad_m]

I learned to drive on a stick instructor vehicle (a small Ford, heh) and had manual cars for years before even trying an automatic. It took me days of hesitation to pick a transmission when it came to buying my Camaro, but in the end the automatic won out for various reasons.

My personal view is that the Tremec M6 in the Camaro is an excellent transmission, and, after proper tuning, so are these modern Hydra-Matics, but no matter which one you choose, you'll make sacrifices. Nothing like a proper 3-2 downshift before a turn with the manual, the Tremec even rev matches for you if you want it to, but the WOT bang (fuel cut) shifts or performance shift mode on my A8 are pure joy as well, and I could go on about both transmissions.

So, I don't regret choosing the automatic, but I did have to acknowledge the loss and move on. The same will apply no matter which one you choose.


(PS I love the phone angle SamSmoothCastel brought up, it would be much more relevant than even a few years ago. The number of distracted drivers is astounding.)

[NYTMARE23]

Absolutely NO buyers remorse here. LOVE the A10!.. I honestly wish I could have one of each, but unfortunately I'm not THAT rich.. When I first started looking into getting a ZL1(Around 2018), I was 100% set on getting a Z with the M6. Once I finally had the means to afford the Z the A10 had come out. If that didn't happen and the A8 was still in there I absolutely 100% would have went the M6 route. The A10 was the game changer for me, so that's what I went with. No doubt the M6 is more driver engaged, but in the end the quick, smooth shifts of the A10 sold me on it. BOTH are fun in their own ways! Good luck on your decision!

[Ryanbabz71]

I recently went from a 2018 SS1LE M6 to a 2021 ZL1 1LE with the A10. The M6 was fun to drive. The ZL1 though is alot more fun . No regrets as I have the A10 in my Silverado. Back in 2018 if thenA10 was available with the SS 1LE I probably would have went that route.


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[Curr]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Nothing like a proper 3-2 downshift before a turn with the manual, the Tremec even rev matches for you if you want it to, but the WOT bang (fuel cut) shifts or performance shift mode on my A8 are pure joy as well, and I could go on about both transmissions.

I will admit to being lazy and most of the time using rev match around town as being older my dexterity has started to slip on the old heel to toe rev match, it is just easier to let the car do it, but even that takes decent timing.

The manual also comes with 'no lift shift' and man, when you nail a perfect launch, and crush that perfect 1-2, then into the 2-3 shift... it's bliss.

I loved listening to the PDK rip shifts off at WOT, doing it yourself, just adds the cherry on top.

That said, for this car, for me, a manual was a must. But I love cars, and all their configs, so get what suits you best. If you think you'll miss a manual, yeah you probably will, but if you've lived happily without it, you probably won't.

[speedyink1]

I'm glad I got the manual, knowing full well the Auto will technically be a faster car.

I just like shifting way too damn much, I always feel like something is missing when i drive auto..

I think either transmission is a good choice!