Manual transmission take rate

[hawk02]

While there's always a chance for the 9th gen car, the engineering for the 8th gen car is done. There won't be any "surprise" manual transmissions in the C8. It's "stuck" with the current Tremec DCT box.

“Stuck with” is a good choice of words to describe the Tremec DCT in the C8.

 

[blkout]

I own a 2024 CT5-V Blackwing A10 and a 2024 CT4-V Blackwing M6 and I wouldn't have it any other way. I just don't feel like the CT4 Blackwing would be as much fun to drive without a manual and I don't think the CT5 Blackwing would be able to get the power to the ground with a manual as well as an auto. Now that my CT5 Blackwing makes over 800hp, it would be silly to have a manual trans. Other might disagree but that's my opinion. I think its great to have options though.

 

[1Evil55]

I own a 2024 CT5-V Blackwing A10 and a 2024 CT4-V Blackwing M6 and I wouldn't have it any other way. I just don't feel like the CT4 Blackwing would be as much fun to drive without a manual and I don't think the CT5 Blackwing would be able to get the power to the ground with a manual as well as an auto. Now that my CT5 Blackwing makes over 800hp, it would be silly to have a manual trans. Other might disagree but that's my opinion. I think its great to have options though.

I was in the same boat minus having 800hp in my 5. The a10 in it is great especially for straight line racing. Now that I have a manual bw5 I’d never go back. It is too much fun on the street with the extra pedal.

 

[Champale]

I have a 5BW and now also a 4BW, both with manuals. I can 100% say the Tremec was a YUGE factor in me buying both and its unlikely i would have bought either with an automatic, no matter how great the A10 is. The TR6060 is such a excellent feeling gearbox and it really helps the BWs distinguish themselves from competitors.

 

[jbawden]

In the age of AWD (and EV's) there will always be faster than the 5BW, but not many that are more engaging than a manual BW.

@flipray It would be foolish to make a direct comparison between a 6M Vagon and the 5BW, which is why I didn't. It was simply a general opinion on the 6M BW seeing a bump. I love the Vagon, but to be honest, I wouldn't trade my 5 for one.

 

[668LT4]

I was in the same boat minus having 800hp in my 5. The a10 in it is great especially for straight line racing. Now that I have a manual bw5 I’d never go back. It is too much fun on the street with the extra pedal.

2 Blackwing models, 4 total variants to choose from. All great, choose what best fits your needs and wants. But the 5 manual will always be the most engaging and unique version of the Blackwing lineup.

 

[RobC7]

And that was Tadge's justification on why GM didnt even consider making manual C8s. The take rate for the C7s all together was less than 15%. They didnt see the worth in spending millions on R&D and finding a new manual trans for the rear mounted LTs when they're not gonna be ordered.

It was more of an excuse than a justification. The manual take rate took on the traditional curve, in 2014 it was about 40% of the cars, 25% in 2015 (over 50% z06 with a manual), and continued to drop off each year. As the demand for the Corvette drops over it's lifecycle, dealers take the safe bet and order automatics for stock. This is no different than any other generation.

It sounds like a manual is on the way for the vette though. TREMEC Just Released a Manual 6-Speed Transmission with the Same Mounting Points of the C8's DCT - Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle

It's going to happen but not for the C8 model year. The transmission became available too late in the lifecycle for GM to retrofit into the C8 with a ROI. Now that Tremec has an offering I can't see it not being considered for the next generation.

 

[Melon]

In the age of AWD (and EV's) there will always be faster than the 5BW, but not many that are more engaging than a manual BW.

V8 go brub

S/C go wheeeeeee

 

[+ManifoldPSI]

Also, the CT5 has elevated itself to the culture of a halo car, which attracts non car buyers in. People want to be seen in the CT5 V, which is the best compliment Cadillac has received outside of the allure of the Escalade.

[Subjective observation here] Of all the cars I have owned, the 5VBW seems to illicit the most "You got a (insert car model name here)??? No shit! Those are sick/awesome/crazy/etc!" among people who I know are car people, people with whom I chat here and there about cars and know more than the average person but are not necessarily "Car people," and random strangers at gas stations/mall parking lots, etc.

Of course, this anecdotal "evidence" means precisely squat, but I can see manual Blackwings, esp the 5, gaining or even strengthening their "halo car" status in coming years. I'll certainly do my part to champion that

 

[Hi Ho Silver]

I get more compliments from old ladies liking the color

 

[Melon]

[Subjective observation here] Of all the cars I have owned, the 5VBW seems to illicit the most "You got a (insert car model name here)??? No shit! Those are sick/awesome/crazy/etc!" among people who I know are car people, people with whom I chat here and there about cars and know more than the average person but are not necessarily "Car people," and random strangers at gas stations/mall parking lots, etc.

Of course, this anecdotal "evidence" means precisely squat, but I can see manual Blackwings, esp the 5, gaining or even strengthening their "halo car" status in coming years. I'll certainly do my part to champion that

The unsaid part of owning a CT4 V BW is explaining to people "No, it's not the supercharged V8 one, it's the twin turbo V6."

You can see their eyes gloss over when you says "V6."

 

[white98ls]

[Subjective observation here] Of all the cars I have owned, the 5VBW seems to illicit the most "You got a (insert car model name here)??? No shit! Those are sick/awesome/crazy/etc!" among people who I know are car people, people with whom I chat here and there about cars and know more than the average person but are not necessarily "Car people," and random strangers at gas stations/mall parking lots, etc.

Of course, this anecdotal "evidence" means precisely squat, but I can see manual Blackwings, esp the 5, gaining or even strengthening their "halo car" status in coming years. I'll certainly do my part to champion that

I've been pleasantly surprised by how many people are positively geeked out by seeing one here in Silicon Valley (I've only seen like 6 others ever so they're quite rare here). My other car is a red Lotus Elise, which gets a ton of attention (all positive) but simply because it's a microscopic, exotic looking sports car. I'm sure 90% of people don't even notice the BW, but those who do obviously know cars and are absolutely STOKED.

It's actually restored my faith in car enthusiasm amongst the younger generation. Probably half of the people who notice it are teenagers.

 

[CBH]

It's actually restored my faith in car enthusiasm amongst the younger generation. Probably half of the people who notice it are teenagers.

I've been surprised MANY times by younger people who recognized the car for what it is. It never occurred to me that would be possible, but it very satisfying and might mean we're not the very last generation who "gets it".

Hopefully means we'll have ubiquitous gasoline a little longer too

 

[RDATLTE]

The unsaid part of owning a CT4 V BW is explaining to people "No, it's not the supercharged V8 one, it's the twin turbo V6."

You can see their eyes gloss over when you says "V6."

Baby BW.

 

[Dirkbg]

Very early on, I did look at some sales data and you are correct, dealers ordered A10 and customers ordered 6M. I didn't look at colors but I have to agree and that covers all stock! Dealers seem afraid to order anything other than black, white and some grey.

My car is an exception to that rule, although it is Shadow Metallic (gray). I had an order waiting for months that wasn't going to get filled in 2022, so I was looking at 2023 at the earliest. I had checked around at dealer inventory in Ohio and surrounding states and in September I got a message from a dealer near Cincinnati the Shadow Metallic with 6sp just arrived. So I drove down and bought it immediately. They were asking $1500 adjustment but I got it at $500. I thought that was reasonable considering the 2023 I was waiting for was I think about the same increase from 2022. So there were some, but yeah most of the inventory I was seeing were raven black, summit white, and mostly auto. I did see some manuals though at Cincinnati and also a manual Rift at Camargo Cadillac, and manual electric blue in Columbus that I passed on because blue just wasn't my color. That Electric Blue was the color of the car I drove at Spring Mountain oddly enough, with the same Sky Cool Gray interior (same as my car). These were all 4 BW by the way.

 

[brewski]

Baby BW.

Thats what I call it.

 

[1Evil55]

Thats what I call it.

+1