What’s better, manual of auto?
Discussion
Just a quick question to gauge people’s views and opinions in relation to vxr8 ‘s and which is the preferred gearbox and why?
My only vxr8 experience was manual, but I’ve have lots of 70’s yanks with auto boxes, TH 350 and TH400.
Obviously there are old by modern standards.
Keep looking at R8’s again and a lot are auto hence my question
Thanks
My only vxr8 experience was manual, but I’ve have lots of 70’s yanks with auto boxes, TH 350 and TH400.
Obviously there are old by modern standards.
Keep looking at R8’s again and a lot are auto hence my question
Thanks
It is indeed a much more modern box than the older TH350 slushers, it's much better than the 4L60 in the VY Ute I have as well which I'd still say is very 'automatic'.
The 6L80 (from the VE era, so VXR8 etc.) is much nicer, it's far more like a manual in terms of gear ratios and responsiveness. With a remap my most accounts they are excellent. They will also hold the gear you tell them to if it's in manual mode (other than when you come to a stop it'll shift down to 1st). They can take decent power but as I understand it aren't keen on revving over 6,500rpm.
For me it's still nowhere near as good as a manual but then that's my preference.
The 6L80 (from the VE era, so VXR8 etc.) is much nicer, it's far more like a manual in terms of gear ratios and responsiveness. With a remap my most accounts they are excellent. They will also hold the gear you tell them to if it's in manual mode (other than when you come to a stop it'll shift down to 1st). They can take decent power but as I understand it aren't keen on revving over 6,500rpm.
For me it's still nowhere near as good as a manual but then that's my preference.
As above really - I came from a Monaro and decided that an auto R8 would better suit 90% of the driving I do.... even when out on a run with friends, I've never felt unhappy about having an auto.
In standard form, they're a little slushy.... Mine was first remapped by Wortec (made it faster but wasn't very smooth) and more recently by Luis - budget for a map from Luis and it'll make the gearbox feel at least a generation more modern!
Some have fitted paddles, but the shifter works just fine for me.
In standard form, they're a little slushy.... Mine was first remapped by Wortec (made it faster but wasn't very smooth) and more recently by Luis - budget for a map from Luis and it'll make the gearbox feel at least a generation more modern!
Some have fitted paddles, but the shifter works just fine for me.
SeanR8Davis said:
I’m
Keen to hear more from sturdy HSV, re them keeping in the gear you want them??
Is that in standard form or after some mods/ gearbox tuning??
The manual mode on the standard 6L80 will hold the gear you select (with a nudge forward / backwards on the stick)Keen to hear more from sturdy HSV, re them keeping in the gear you want them??
Is that in standard form or after some mods/ gearbox tuning??
It also does a (slightly poor) attempt at rev-matching when you down shift, it's hardly slick, but again, better than the older box and probably improved with a remap of the box.
You naturally can't ask it to shift down to a lower gear if that would over rev it, but you can hit the limiter or modulate the throttle input without it changing up / down which is much nicer when the wheels are spinning.
I'm a die hard manual fan, but for a daily the 6L80 in the VE is tolerable for me, it's decent enough that I don't resent it and obviously in traffic it's nice to slush around. The 4L60 in the Ute is just hateful and I'll replace it with a manual at some point.
Ah, ok, last time I had an auto yank, I think it was about 16 yrs ago in a 92 RS Camaro. 700r box or something similar. I was used to just popping it into drive and that was it.
I take it then with the r8 auto whilst in drive a nudge forward or back without actually taking it out of drive will allow it to hold in a particular gear, then once it’s changed up, to 3rd for example nudge it again to keep it in 3rd
I had the box rebuilt in my Camaro, but it wasn’t until I got the car back that I realised the gearbox chap had rebuilt it back to standard . It was crap, up and down the box like a modern VAG or Merc
I take it then with the r8 auto whilst in drive a nudge forward or back without actually taking it out of drive will allow it to hold in a particular gear, then once it’s changed up, to 3rd for example nudge it again to keep it in 3rd
I had the box rebuilt in my Camaro, but it wasn’t until I got the car back that I realised the gearbox chap had rebuilt it back to standard . It was crap, up and down the box like a modern VAG or Merc
So you have P, R, N and D as normal.
When in D you can push the stick over to the left and that puts it in to 'Sport'. This is still fully auto, it just holds lower gears a bit longer etc.
Whilst it's over in sport, if you nudge the stick forward it will shift down, pull back to shift up. The stick physically returns to centre, it's like a very slow sequential. Once you've shifted it (either way), it changes to 'Manual' mode, at which point it's then your responsibility to change the gears, as I say other than when slowing right down if you go too low in the rpm it'll shift down for you to prevent it stalling.
Pull the stick back to the right and it's back fully auto.
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