2015 Corvette Stingray Z51 - Convertible 8AT Worth It?
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2015
- The 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 features a 6.2L LT1 V8 engine with VVT, direct injection, and cylinder deactivation, producing 460 HP and 465 lb-ft of torque. The question is, is the convertible automatic an acceptable trim configuration?
Convertibles tend to add weight to increase the rigidity of the chassis lost by removing the roof. Automatics can dampen the experience and also add weight. How does the Corvette tackle these issues, and does it maintain the Corvette's appeal while doing so?
'15 Corvette Full Review - • 2015 Corvette Stingray...
MSRP as tested: $75,560
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NEW VIDEO EVERY WEDNESDAY! - Auta a dopravní prostředky
That transmission is a beast, most people don't know how to properly shift a manual trans to even match the auto.
the most annoying thing about the C7 corvette is that its not dropping in price on the used markets fast enough : (
Great video! I love convertibles and still really want one someday. The cool thing is with the C7 Hardtop's targa roof you can almost have the best of both worlds, but I still think the full on convertible is the best experience. The auto is fine for those that like it but I'll always choose a manual I think if I have the option.
subaruwrxfan hiiiiiiiii
I would choose manual to but for people that really like paddle shifting or is afraid of blowing the clutch then auto is 4 u!!!! Which is equally impressive either way!
Engineering Explained and Subaruwrxfan, my two favourite CZcamsrs together! :)
I don't usually comment but you have literally become NY favorite CZcams automotive channel. Concise, entertaining, honest, and it's easy to tell you just love doing what you're doing.
Been a long time supporter, back when your hair had full color. Will continue to support even when they turn all white.
I suppose I'm a bit old school in this regard, but frankly I couldn't care less if the automatic or dual-clutch version of a particular car is slightly faster from 0-60, gets better fuel economy or whatever. There's no substitute for the feeling you get when you perfectly time an upshift during an aggressive launch or you perfectly execute a heel-toe downshift going into a corner and that's what driving is all about. It doesn't have to be boring. Manual transmissions just provide that level of involvement-- even during everyday driving-- that any manual mode or set of flappy paddles simply can't match, and that's why I'll always drive a standard.
peculiarmadman I agree, from an involvement standpoint a traditional manual is unbeatable. And there are certainly cases where the manual gets better fuel economy and is quicker (due to less weight/gearing/torque converter losses).
+peculiarmadman Totally agree with you. As I learned to drive and pass my test on a manual there has always been a certain connection between a manual and myself. Especially low horsepower cars profit from manual gearboxes.
Totally agree. Would only consider the auto if I lost my left leg in a horrific speed walking accident. Even then I'd go bionic and still get a manual. Both transmissions will get you there but the experiences are completely different.
+peculiarmadman what a load of crap.
+HeavyMetalEvilien Expound.
You videos have more and more production value as time goes on!! Good work
loving the out throws of the videos
Dude! Your videos are great but maybe a few Q&A's may boost your popularity. Learnt so much and thanks for all the knowledge! :)
Love your short outro videos
perfect timing with the top going down and your intro
Timotheedle I was pleased haha.
I don't care if you are in traffic or not, automatic for life! I have no use or desire for a manual any more than I have a use for a starting handle sticking out of the front of the car.
Convertible Corvettes have ALWAYS been made, from the first generation onward. I see no reason why anybody would think convertibility ruins a Corvette considering it's always been an option.
Automatic transmission has also been an option for a long, long time. While it is a sports car, there's really no reason to have a manual transmission over an automatic if you aren't doing serious sport driving (other than fun). It's preference: some people don't want to bother with manual transmission.
Thanks a bunch for the heated/cooled seat tip, for allowing reasonable driving comfort in a much wider range of outside temperatures...THAT may make the difference in choosing a convertible over the hardtop, since I've always wanted one, but held off for just that reason! I wonder if other car makes have seats that work as well for this problem???
By the way, your acceleration-giggle is getting out of hand! haha
Best sports car out there....
Hey, engineering explained, can you make a video of how to drive a stick shift?
I promise that the CVT WRX is worth driving! It is better than the Corvette gearbox IMHO (I have driven both the Corvette and the CVT). I would love to see a review comparing the two WRX models
STI update! Taking it off-road? Accessport yet? My buddy and I are really having fun with ours on the roads of NW Oregon. Would love to share routes some time.
I drive a 1997 miata so obviously it's a convertible. Honestly I like the convertible when its like 72 outside or at night in the 80s but that only happens for maybe a month where I live (louisiana). I wish it had cooling seats :).
SantaOMG Bruh, keep the roof down unless the storm has a name. Freezing cold, light rain, icicles forming at both nostrils, roof down, big grin :D
Drive it in the winter. Toss the heat on and a hat. More fun than you'd think ;-)
A lot easier to drive in traffic (great for daily'ing), still shifts as quickly if not quicker than most people can when gettin' on it? Remaining cool in 90 degree heat with the top down? No, no it doesn't ruin the Corvette. It makes it practical as an every day car, while still retaining the POWEERRRRR, and fun.
Also independent rear suspension, finally, in an American sports car.
Violetta Great car! Just so it's known, the Corvette had an independent rear suspension back in 1963. www.caranddriver.com/reviews/1963-chevrolet-corvette-sting-ray-first-drive-review-car-reviews
+Violetta nice post, fool.
IRS has been a Corvette feature at least going back to the C4.
No additional bracing or chassis reinforcement was added or needed. C7 is 60% stiffer than C6. In fact C7 was built from the ground up as a convertible, the coupe design was added after the fact. The additional 65 lbs is purely the top motor and assembly. And it just so happens to be where you would want more weight, over the rear wheels.
Is that wind screen frame strong enough to save your life when you roll over? That's my concern. I see most convertibles have little roll bars behind the head rests. This hasn't.
+Sebastian Rosenberg I did wonder the same.
yes, yes it does
Capricorn1998 I find it best to justify one's opinions with reasons (as I did in the video). Why do you say yes?
+Engineering Explained Because 'murica
Engineering Explained I think you have made a good point. But do you agree that the convertible Z06 is ridiculous?
Benedocta Haha the Z06 is ridiculous. So much car!!
Engineering Explained The convertible aspect is wonderful, there is nothing greater than backroading on a nice day with the top down. My problem is with the automatic trans. Having a proper clutch and gearbox ads so much personality to any car, and I don't think the Corvette is at its best with an auto. Yes I know the dual clutch in most performance cars can shift WAY faster than I can, but I think you lose a lot of the feeling/feedback of the revs when you drive an auto. Plus, if you ask a manual driver about his/her power band they will definitely give a more in-depth analysis than an auto driver will. There is just so much you learn about your car when you drive a manual. Where the power is, how much gas it takes to perfectly rev match, where the clutch grabs, ect. (personality) We make cars in our own image believe it or not.
ugh, MY DREAM CAR. One day ill get my lil red 7MT vette coupe.
@Engineering Explained has your STI been feeling slow lately with all these sport cars you've been riding around in?
Nerdygamer000 Haha, nope, still feels quick!
From what you have displayed it doesn't ruin the Corvette however in my opinion the fun factor is taken away with an automatic transmission.
i´m 6"6´ and right knee bump on middle console as well as the headrests are to low.
In the vid these are also to low for you. Why Chevy pay so less attention to this safety and comfy feature ?
Is the conv. deck lower than the targa deck ?
It's okay, I think the grey hair looks cool. I'm even slightly envious.
They say the auto is faster for the zo6, they use the same transmissions in the stingray, auto does 0-60 in 2.95 and manual in 3.2.
I've heard that when you use the paddles it's a bit laggy.. So to get the best time in the A8 just put it in drive
+jacob devrives autos are becoming faster. paddle shifters or dual clutch
8AT is a dealbreaker
The C7 was designed by GM as a convertible first. Therefore there is no difference in the frame rigidity of the coupe
How was the wind buffeting and noise on the targa w/ the top off vs the convertible w/ the top down?
+HJS NA Haven't driven the targa with top off. Wind definitely scraped my head in the convertible, I'm about 6'1".
Could you make a video explaining torque steer? I've allways wandered what causes it, thanks
***** I would if I understood it haha. There are many factors that cause it, ultimately it's an imbalance in the torque at each wheel, which can result from varying grip, but also many other things. When I find the right engineer who can explain it, I'll post. I had a great discussion with one of Nissan's LMP1 engineers about it, but it was a bit over my head.
Engineering Explained i heard like you said that the wheels spin at different rates so that imbalance causes the rear end to wiggle. Thats why they have locking diffs so the wheels spin at the same speed. Idk if its 100% right but thats how a friend explained it to me.
+CJSchecter96 I think you're talking about rear wheel drive and what they are talking about is front wheel drive torque steer.
Engineering Explained Thanks!! I love your videos, they've helped me A LOT! Congratulations! I'be waiting for that video hahah
Jgoncalodm Muito obrigado, consegui perceber!
I've had the unfortunate experience of driving the 2015 Chevy ss automatic and found that even though the shifts are fast, that has a very noticeable delay between checking the pattle and when it actually shifts. Does the corvette have the same problem?
+richard barnes At partial throttle, yes, it seems to do well if you're going all out. Full review here: czcams.com/video/MNM31Li5um8/video.html
Depends. If you're someone who really wants to have fun then yeah, the auto will ruin it. If you're someone who really just wants to be fast then you'll probably like it.
If I have to buy one of these, I'd buy two. One hard top and one soft.
I suppose the roll over protection is nil. An A pillar can only do so much. Several cars have integrated roll bars that look very stylish and fit nicely behind the occupants. Honda S2000 and the Porsche Boxster come to mind. I'm sure GM could come up with something that has function and style.
0-60 mph measures launch speed and acceleration with low air drag. i would be happy to see 0-20 20-60 60-160 times to really see if the car really is fast or just the transmission is set to make low 0-60 times only
+Gotin Fuklio If you hook me up with an airstrip I'll hook you up with 60-160 times.
im bad with imperial units so i randomly wrote 160 lol
Wait a minute, do you live in Portland?
I'll take the 2018 sti !!!!!
+shawn bryson (WRX508) pity it's only 2015...
l am student. l and my friend making project on racing car. we want weight to decrease, so we are using brake liner of car and caliper & brake disc of bike. but we are not able to connect brake liner and bike caliper hose. so give us some solution
I'm somewhat shocked by all the auto rage, I have two cars 5MT+6AT and really it's not that big of a deal. Sure the auto is a bit slushy every now and then but I don't slam the manual through gears all that often anyway, and when I do the auto can do it much quicker than me and rev match perfectly every single time. Sure if you're on a track or off road it's a different story but for the 99% of driving sedately around town it's fine.
Hahahah that ending
+Juan Pablo Saenz Agreed!
Are you sure the convertible ADDS 64 pounds (in the context of how you said it). Tadge has been on film saying the car was designed from the jump to be a convertible, as such I don't think it ADDS structure to make up for the missing roof. That being said, there is the net weight gain from losing the roof, glass, pillars, etc and picking up the fabric, arms, top motor, water fall, tonneau etc. THAT difference may be 64 pounds. Also I think Tadge said the convertible is stiffer than the last coupe and you did not mention that. Finally, I am pretty sure the AT 0-60 is actually faster than the manual according to Corvette. They also claim they designed the transmission to comparable to Porsche's PDK and the double clutch became unnecessary. I am not a race driver and have not driven either car, so I can't say. I'd like someone to do a REAL review of Corvette 8sp vs. PDK. The slow shifting sounds like a pain as most of most folks driving will be puttering around town, or steady speed driving on the freeway.
I want ludecrouse mode
too bad it doesn't have a roll bar. I flipped my car once and it was a lesson of my 22 years of life. The 99 Camry le sedan saved my life. If i was in a convertible w/o a roll bar I should have been dead.
I heard the front window is practically a roll bar that won’t give if you flip over
@@xerxes1245 wrong. A window is no roll bar.
GrandpaMobile!!!
Wait the car doesn't have a rollcage, it's not even allowed on most racetracks! This version is a rich man's cruiser.
frankth3frizz neither does basically every other production car...
If you are talking about roll hoops, then yes this car doesn't have roll hoops.
T.K.B Google convertible track car. You need some sort of roof/roll cage to be able to even drive on the track, unless this car has one of those things that pop out in case of an accident. But the c6 convertible didn't and people had to put roll bars/cages on it to be able to track it.
+frankth3frizz I suppose that's true, but not everyone tracks their car. Most do not. And I would bet those that do wouldn't be buying a convertible.
+Engineering Explained Just like the old C6's, this was the same scenario. Chevy still sold plenty of convertibles that were cruisers, but they were all manuals even the convertibles.
I just don't understand why you would spend the extra money on the convertible when you can take the top off the normal.
Thank you! Finally a voice of reason!
The manual they say is .2 seconds faster.
Just get the 7 speed Z51 coupe and you can take the roof off.
Well I can technically say my Scion tC auto downshifts faster than a corvette lol, barely
I see more gray haired people own these (50s-80s) than younger people!
Sorry if this offended you!😀😀😀😀😀
+Pretzil295 Some younger people gray a lot quicker than others... :/
My dad's C6 is a convertible with the 4 speed auto gearbox.
The gearbox is horrible, the worst I've ever driven, also it's too bad it's not a coupe.
But the worst thing about is still the steering, far too light and no feel whatsoever.
The Corvette could be such a great car but all of the controls are horrible.
grey hairs bcosu prefer manual lol
For me it is a look killer! I don't like any convertible cars ! They don't look right
***** And what I think is that if you have 400+ HP automatic is i think the better option just for the reason that I think it can handle the power more easily
what if it gets real hot in the car & you pop the roof to vent it out?
AC or if there is no AC then just windows open and activate dog mode
No, no it doesn't
In before the automatic gearbox fanboys start crying.
no
lol
Soft tops look sooooooooooooo bad
convertible is cool but automatic kills it
It doesn't kill it but is a decent option for the disabled or uneducated drivers unfamiliar with manual cars.
xenfreder manuel kills every sport and super car in my opinion :D
It sounds like you're sponsored by GM...
They loan you vehicles, so in a way you are.
Lots of companies loan me vehicles, there's no exchange of money. And even in my sponsored videos I say what I believe. I imagine GM probably won't like the title of this video, and that I didn't rave about the new 8AT (as many have done). I think it could use some work at partial throttle, but it's a brilliant car. Connect why you think I'm biased with the things I say in the video and I'll hear you out. I try to keep my reviews as objective as possible and very rarely inject subjective thoughts. I back up my thoughts with reasons. You won't find that in every review.
TheJustin574 That's not sponsorship at all. That's advertisement.
thinkpol Google dictionary: sponsor, "an individual or organization that pays some or all of the costs involved in staging a sporting or artistic event in return for advertising."
"A business or organization that pays for or contributes to the costs of a radio or television program in return for advertising."
TheJustin574 There's nothing wrong with sponsorship (and this isn't sponsored). You still didn't address my comment. I take feedback seriously and listen to my audience, but you didn't provide any specifics.
Engineering Explained Just ignore him. There will always be some unreasonable people out there--especially on the internet. Anyone with a glimmer of common sense can tell you are not being coerced by the manufacturer in this review and others. Love the videos dude, keep 'em coming!
P.S. -- I'm BonzaiTree on instagram/other social media if you remember seeing some comments lol
your hair is as grey as that vette (;
honestly don't see a reason to have a convertable
***** I honestly thought the same, especially because it's a price hike for worse performance, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the fact that it was a convertible. Had it been winter, I probably wouldn't have had many nice things to say, as the visibility with the top up is pretty restricted.
+Engineering Explained does a sunroof hurt performance I passed on it when I bought my wrx
shawn bryson Less headroom, might add a little weight. Nothing too significant.
+Engineering Explained Agreed. The backup camera helps a lot in that regard. You'd be surprised how well this car runs in the winter. Weather mode actually works and the heat keeps you toasty warm. Plus that exhaust note with the top down never gets old. Great review man! Now grab a Z06 ;-)
I don't usually comment but you have literally become NY favorite CZcams automotive channel. Concise, entertaining, honest, and it's easy to tell you just love doing what you're doing.
Been a long time supporter, back when your hair had full color. Will continue to support even when they turn all white.