Transmissions...?

[AConn]

I think the feel of a stick is referring to the load the engine sees from the manual transmission. It feels like it has an additional drag feature when you let go of the gas. An automatic glides on ice, as I would describe it. I definitely liked the loaded feel more, but if you are manually paddle shifting the auto, it should feel the same. I haven't driven a CVT transmission yet, but I would guess that it feels loaded as well.

[Mr. Wyndham]

no, the CVT shouldn't...do you mean the DCT?

CVT - continuously variable tranny

DCT - Dual Clutch tranny

yeah, don't tell my parents(it's their car), but I've done 65-70 on the thruway, and I'll press the "overdrive-off" button. Which "maxes out" the tranny with a 1:1 internal ratio (usually). This automatically starts to slow down the car(without the brakes), just like I've heard Manuals do - "engine braking"...not healthy to do on a pure auto, but nevertheless. Besides the torque converter/clutch thing...they're really not that much different in what they do mechanically.

I'm not keen on the whole "electrically controlled" thing, either. I know everything is, but that's just one more thing to go wrong...*sigh*

[JeepinMatt]

Is the throttle on the new Camaro going to be drive by wire or cable?

[Mr. Wyndham]

probably wire...if by that, you mean electronically controlled throttle.

[SoFlaZ]

The LS2 and 3 are both Drive-by-wire so im guessing whatever the Camaro comes with will also be the same. I was going to bring this up once but after seeing some ZO6's doing some sick burnouts and stuff I realized it shouldnt be too diff from a cable throttle and allow some wheel spin (w/out traction control of course). Im just mildly worried what the response time and sensitivity will be.

As for transmissions, I am in the manual group. I just get bored driving an auto. I rarely drive in stop & go traffic so im not too worried about my left leg dying on me. And on hills, or actually parking garages, (Florida = flat) just pull up the e-brake, ease on the clutch and gas until the rear starts dipping then quickly release the brake and you are moving again. I have mastered this technique, lol.

[Mr. Wyndham]

The good thning about all this electric stuff, is that they can still tune it to be responsive. Like the throttle. It supposedly improves response on the Vettes.

[Mindz]

Originally Posted by Pencil.Fight

I'll admit, I've come across a few exceptionally steep hills in Seattle that I just couldn't get started on once I'd come to a complete stop. That can be kind of embarrassing.

Easy way to do this is to put the e-brake on until you get moving then drop the e-brake and continue. If you absolutely get stuck, that's the easiest way to get out of it. That's how I was taught when I started. I haven't owned a stick ever, but I drive plenty of my friend's sticks and I need to drive manual for the parking business.

[Pencil.Fight]

Originally Posted by SoFlaZ

And on hills, or actually parking garages, (Florida = flat) just pull up the e-brake, ease on the clutch and gas until the rear starts dipping then quickly release the brake and you are moving again. I have mastered this technique, lol.

Yeah, I've had to do that one a few times. It still always makes me nervous when someone in a $100k car is right up behind me and I have to get up over that hill without sliding back too much. Seattle has some steep hills, it's like San Francisco, except the hills aren't quite as long.

Although, unless we're talking about somebody's driveway, there's almost always a way around the hill.

[Mr. Wyndham]

And through all that...you'd rather have a stick?

[Pencil.Fight]

Most definitely!

I bought my first car a few months before I had my license. It was a manual and I had been practicing on automatics up to that point. All the while everyone kept telling me that driving a manual was just so much better than an automatic, but learning to drive it was frustrating , to say the least.

However, once I finally got it down, I realized they were right. It's not something that can be explained or that you can understand by knowing how it works. It's just like a divine, mystical connection (thank you space coyote) between you and your car. If you don't really like your car anyway, and it's just a tool to you, then you may not feel it, but in a car like the camaro, there's just no other way to do it. It's gotta be Manual all the way.

[acscamarochick06]

I will be the first to admit that driving a stick is fun as all get out... but I'm all automatic. I like to drive and eat at the same time lol. I also hate the stop and go traffic in Bowling Green, especially during the big Corvette weekends like this past weekend. It's crazy!

Automatic, FTW... for me anyway.

[Pencil.Fight]

That's exactly what I'm saying. Manual is for fun driving, and automatic is for practical driving. It's all in your motivation for getting behind that wheel.

[Mr. Wyndham]

I see. Very soon, I will be getting myself into a manual to drive and "feel" it. Then I will make my preliminary decision. After that, I have to test drive both versions of Camaro...Then I buy it!

Now to throw a wrench into the gears...GM's paddle shifted Auto.

[Pencil.Fight]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Now to throw a wrench into the gears...GM's paddle shifted Auto.

I'd love to test drive the paddle shift, just to see what it's like. But I plan to pre-order my Camaro as soon as the factory allows it. I doubt I'll be able to test drive one before that.

I'll put in an order for a manual, and then when I go to pick up, I'll test drive a paddle shifter, just for kicks. Maybe I'll go that way the next time around.