Yes, and we are NOT talking about that at all. By manual, we mean left foot engaging manually shifting gears. It is MUCH more of an engaging driving experience. And let me state of the millionth time again. I am NOT complaining about the C8 automatic. Just wish there was an option for a manual.

 

After 3.5 years with the C8 I still miss the C7 manual. Say what you will about the automatic's advantages: performance, easier city driving or smother shifts ... I miss the engagement with the car!

Competitors such as Porsche still offers their customers a manual option: the 718 Cayman and Boxster models come with a 6-speed manual, and the 911 Carrera (including S and GTS trims) offers a 7-speed manual. The 911 Carrera T is also available exclusively with a manual transmission.

After 3.5 years with the C8 I still miss the C7 manual. Say what you will about the automatic's advantages: performance, easier city driving or smother shifts ... I miss the engagement with the car!

Competitors such as Porsche still offers their customers a manual option: the 718 Cayman and Boxster models come with a 6-speed manual, and the 911 Carrera (including S and GTS trims) offers a 7-speed manual. The 911 Carrera T is also available exclusively with a manual transmission.

I believe there was a reason why GM elected not to offer manual transmission for the C8. The reason more than likely was a flawed manual transmission from Tremec which was offered on the C7. I happen to own a 2014 C7 Z51 3LT and experienced major shifting issues from 1st gear to 2nd and from 2nd to 3rd! GM never made good on that flawed transmission, however they did take back at least a dozen C7 from the Ron Fellows racetrack. This information I attained from a very reliable source at Ron Fellows! Also, a friend of mine was good friends with the Bowling Green Plant Manager. This gentleman confirmed that they were aware of this issue but neither Tremec or GM was going to resolve the situation. This passed December I finally sold my C7 and purchased a 2023 70 Year Anniversary edition C8 LT3 Z51 Convertible and love it!

 

Tremec aren't the only transmission company, so GM could always get another manufacturer. My Cy Z06 has 60k miles and zero manual transmission issues. Anyway, I heard that the chassis design of the C8 didn't allow for the fitment of a manual transmission.

 

Well, the manual transmission on my C7 was from Tremec! The auto transmission on my C8 is also from Tremec!

 

i enjoy the stick on my 14 droptop... but i don't expect it to be something it's not. is it more work to slig around town in stupid heavy traffic? of course. am i going to miss a shift occasionally from the almost goofy centering spring throwing the shifter into a sometimes murky centerfield in between the gates? yup.

but it’s a lot like hand tooling a leather saddle or even nitpicking a stack of briquettes for some bbq'ing for friends...

the experience is a big part of the charm, the journey, of life itself. not unlike getting rained on once in awhile just walking from the grocery store back to the car of getting a little sun out working in the yard.

i don't want life to be.... entirely sanitized.

do i love the c8? of course. do i understand it? hell yes. i swear, even elon has to be impressed by gm on this creature. the star trek level dedication to engineering is admirable. imagine the end result... if the constraints of being a mass production car weren't in play.... maybach who?

1250 hp... in a flipping production car? absolutely insane.

obviously there are limits to everything... there are incredible automotive achievements littering the landscape... who wouldn't want to have a leno sized collection of vantages and gt40's and hypered panteras, oh my....

there are certainly days when i groan a sigh of relief when i "have to" take the ol' silverado.... the creaky old factory issue human frame says "ahhhhhhh"... no triple flip, nine twist dismount olga korbut required to just get in and out of the damned thing...

but still...

my next toy...(and no, not giving up the c7 for it...)

is a backdraft 427... yup, with a stick.

 

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche? Just to name a few.

 

Thank you for your input! It's always good to learn .