Photo: Chevrolet
Recently surfaced inside info from General Motors hints that a staggering 40 percent of U.S. buyers choose their 2014MY Chevrolet Corvettes with the standard seven-speed manual gearbox.
In the United States, the choice between a manual or an automatic transmission really boils down to the driver's preference. According to nationwide survey undertaken in 2013, a scant 6.5 percent of new vehicles sold in North America featured a clutch pedal.
Modern stick shifts and automatics have become quite similar in terms of performance, fuel economy and ownership costs. Nevertheless, manual boxes are coming back thanks to owners that seek a more organic driving experience. As opposed to an automatic, the manual gives you more control over your driving style especially when going fast in and out of corners, enhancing the relation and feedback between driver and automobile. The best practical example of what a three-pedal layout can do in the hands of an experienced driver is, of course, Ayrton Senna's iconic NSX test drive at the Suzuka circuit in Japan in 1992.
But a stick shift is a real pain in the you-know-what when it comes to everyday traffic situations. Pressing and releasing the clutch repeatedly in a traffic jam will make your left foot go numb. Therefore, automatic is the way to go if you spend most of your driving time cruising in the city.
Even though the latest generation of performance cars are mostly equipped with an automatic or double-clutch box only (the Ferrari 458 Speciale comes to mind), there are a few sports car makers that still offer a manual option with their models. Chevrolet is one them.
Like we've told you a few paragraphs back, it boggles the mind how 40 percent of new C7 Corvette customers opted to fit their cars with the seven-speed manual gearbox. More surprisingly, Chevrolet spokesman Monte Doran told Edmunds that circa 55 percent of Corvette buyers kitted their car with the $2,800 Z51 Performance pack.
Including a set of go-faster components such as an electronic limited-slip diff, a dry-sump lubrication system, special cooling for the transmission and differential, as well as improved aerodynamics, Z51-equipped Vettes tick all the right boxes for the more spirited drivers among us.
In total, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette has been sold in 19,915 units since its introduction in the fall of 2013. If you're curious about what we think of the new Vette, check our review of the American sports car by following this link.
Modern stick shifts and automatics have become quite similar in terms of performance, fuel economy and ownership costs. Nevertheless, manual boxes are coming back thanks to owners that seek a more organic driving experience. As opposed to an automatic, the manual gives you more control over your driving style especially when going fast in and out of corners, enhancing the relation and feedback between driver and automobile. The best practical example of what a three-pedal layout can do in the hands of an experienced driver is, of course, Ayrton Senna's iconic NSX test drive at the Suzuka circuit in Japan in 1992.
But a stick shift is a real pain in the you-know-what when it comes to everyday traffic situations. Pressing and releasing the clutch repeatedly in a traffic jam will make your left foot go numb. Therefore, automatic is the way to go if you spend most of your driving time cruising in the city.
Even though the latest generation of performance cars are mostly equipped with an automatic or double-clutch box only (the Ferrari 458 Speciale comes to mind), there are a few sports car makers that still offer a manual option with their models. Chevrolet is one them.
Like we've told you a few paragraphs back, it boggles the mind how 40 percent of new C7 Corvette customers opted to fit their cars with the seven-speed manual gearbox. More surprisingly, Chevrolet spokesman Monte Doran told Edmunds that circa 55 percent of Corvette buyers kitted their car with the $2,800 Z51 Performance pack.
Including a set of go-faster components such as an electronic limited-slip diff, a dry-sump lubrication system, special cooling for the transmission and differential, as well as improved aerodynamics, Z51-equipped Vettes tick all the right boxes for the more spirited drivers among us.
In total, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette has been sold in 19,915 units since its introduction in the fall of 2013. If you're curious about what we think of the new Vette, check our review of the American sports car by following this link.
Google News