It looks like they went all out... why cheap out on an essentially auto stick trans.

I'll be getting the six speed.

If I were getting one so would I. But I'll be keeping my current 6 speed.

Pretty Sure that it's a clutched TC, with full lock up. Don't hate till you drive it. I bet the auto is faster that the 6 speed.

Pretty Sure that it's a clutched TC, with full lock up. Don't hate till you drive it. I bet the auto is faster that the 6 speed.
But autos are no fun to drive :p

Manual weighs in at 4200 lbs.

Auto weighs in at 4300 lbs.

I don't like it :mad2:
I love (and brag about) the fact that our cars ONLY come in stick :cloud9:
To me, its very exclusive :lildevil:

I don't like it :mad2:
I love (and brag about) the fact that our cars ONLY come in stick :cloud9:
To me, its very exclusive :lildevil:
Same feeling here.

I'm gonna drive a stick until my left leg falls off. :eek:

I'm gonna drive a stick until my left leg falls off. :eek:
After that I'll use my 3rd leg.

After that I'll use my 3rd leg.
What about when it gets cold :eek:

What about when it gets cold :eek:
I'll modify the heated seats some way.

I'll modify the heated seats some way.
Heated sock??? :duck:

Heated sock??? :duck:
I like the way that sounds LOL

Warm apple pie? I guess that would be a bit messy.......

Mercedes did a good job for the masses with AMGs Speedshift with torque converter. But it is not as good as driving a manual.

Norm

While I also love my 6spd, my feelings are that GM will be pushing this second generation V further upmarket, and will produce more with auto trannies than manuals, eventually phasing out the manual.

They are going to be able to sell more Vs with an auto trans... and have fewer headaches linked to driveline problems (blown diffs, halfshafts, sticking clutch pedals, wheelhop), especially with a more advanced torque management system to control it. How many STS-Vs do you hear about with driveline problems?

And... look at the 08 CTS... or older years. The number that GM produced with the manual tranny is very small. And they still haven't done much to refine the Aisin(?) tranny either, and you practically have to special order your CTS to get one.

Just my gut feeling that, by the 2nd or 3rd year of production, the Tremec 6 spd will be history in a GenII V.

I hope I'm wrong, because it will take me that long to be in a position to buy one and I want to be able to push in a clutch pedal.

While I also love my 6spd, my feelings are that GM will be pushing this second generation V further upmarket, and will produce more with auto trannies than manuals, eventually phasing out the manual.

They are going to be able to sell more Vs with an auto trans... and have fewer headaches linked to driveline problems (blown diffs, halfshafts, sticking clutch pedals, wheelhop), especially with a more advanced torque management system to control it. How many STS-Vs do you hear about with driveline problems?

And... look at the 08 CTS... or older years. The number that GM produced with the manual tranny is very small. And they still haven't done much to refine the Aisin(?) tranny either, and you practically have to special order your CTS to get one.

Just my gut feeling that, by the 2nd or 3rd year of production, the Tremec 6 spd will be history in a GenII V.

I hope I'm wrong, because it will take me that long to be in a position to buy one and I want to be able to push in a clutch pedal.

This may be fu*%ed up, but I hate that, all the posers will be able to get a V now.
We already have guys bitchin n moaning about all the little things that make this car what it is. IMO they have no idea what a real muscle car is. Probably got it just for the statis.

Unfortunately, I do think GM is doing the right thing in the long run.
We have a nice little group here. Its a shame that it will be getting watered down (even though some guys already feel that way).

While I also love my 6spd, my feelings are that GM will be pushing this second generation V further upmarket, and will produce more with auto trannies than manuals, eventually phasing out the manual.

They are going to be able to sell more Vs with an auto trans... and have fewer headaches linked to driveline problems (blown diffs, halfshafts, sticking clutch pedals, wheelhop), especially with a more advanced torque management system to control it. How many STS-Vs do you hear about with driveline problems?

And... look at the 08 CTS... or older years. The number that GM produced with the manual tranny is very small. And they still haven't done much to refine the Aisin(?) tranny either, and you practically have to special order your CTS to get one.

Just my gut feeling that, by the 2nd or 3rd year of production, the Tremec 6 spd will be history in a GenII V.

I hope I'm wrong, because it will take me that long to be in a position to buy one and I want to be able to push in a clutch pedal.

Dave....are you moonlighting as a fortune teller at the Pa. State Fair?

I know that you hope your wrong, but I think you've made a pretty strong case that the Tremec manual has it's days numbered for all of the very logical reasons that you outlined above.

With a 5 Year 100,000 mile warranty; GM certainly does not want to repeat the mistakes of the past with replacing expensive drive train components from redline hole shots on this 4300 pound beast.

I'll take the auto.. Happy to see it's being offered. I wonder if they are going to have two seperate rear differential gear ratios, one ratio for the auto, and another ratio for the standard. :hmm:

I'll take the auto.. Happy to see it's being offered. I wonder if they are going to have two seperate rear differential gear ratios, one ratio for the auto, and another ratio for the standard. :hmm:
Based on the spec sheet, both are 3.73

>Based on the spec sheet, both are 3.73

Thanks. That is good news. :)

While I also love my 6spd, my feelings are that GM will be pushing this second generation V further upmarket, and will produce more with auto trannies than manuals, eventually phasing out the manual.

They are going to be able to sell more Vs with an auto trans... and have fewer headaches linked to driveline problems (blown diffs, halfshafts, sticking clutch pedals, wheelhop), especially with a more advanced torque management system to control it. How many STS-Vs do you hear about with driveline problems?

And... look at the 08 CTS... or older years. The number that GM produced with the manual tranny is very small. And they still haven't done much to refine the Aisin(?) tranny either, and you practically have to special order your CTS to get one.

Just my gut feeling that, by the 2nd or 3rd year of production, the Tremec 6 spd will be history in a GenII V.

I hope I'm wrong, because it will take me that long to be in a position to buy one and I want to be able to push in a clutch pedal.

This car is Caddy's racing platform. I don't see the stick going away. But I do see the auto dramatically outselling the stick. The stick will still be more exclusive though.

Had to chime in:

No Slushbox Posers :lildevil:

Glad to hear some of you are still keeping the spirit of performance driving alive.

This car is Caddy's racing platform. I don't see the stick going away. But I do see the auto dramatically outselling the stick. The stick will still be more exclusive though.
The GenI V was Caddy's racing platform. But they've dropped out of the SCCA series. Not sure what kind of a fit a S/C'd 4200lb sedan would be in that series.

Whatever happens... I'm hanging on to my '04 gear cruncher.

Unfortunately, my wife doesn't drive standard, and she has to be able to drive my car in a pinch.

I drove manual until a few years after I married.....then needed to have knee surgery. It was SO painful to have to move my manual car out of the way so the wife could get to work that first time after surgery.....

Been driving slushboxes since. :(

I will be purchasing the 6AT.

Pretty Sure that it's a clutched TC, with full lock up. Don't hate till you drive it. I bet the auto is faster that the 6 speed.

Exactly, goona be the biggest slepper since the 87 GNX/ 89 TA turbo. Automatic keeps it spooling/screwin!

Prolly an auto. Gotta drive both first, just because. Prolly an auto though.




On a different note, has anybody noticed how they don't show Stallone's face in those Rambo commercials on TV? As if we won't notice. Or as if we'll forget that he's like 75. :lol:

This car is Caddy's racing platform. I don't see the stick going away. But I do see the auto dramatically outselling the stick. The stick will still be more exclusive though.

The auto will outstell the stick 10-1. That is because at the price point only wealthy men generally up in age will buy the car, who don't ever plan on driving it over 70mph. It will be the rich mans Buick.

Out of six cars (all V8's), we have five manuals. Only my wife's '05 GP GXP is an auto. I love the comments I get from people when I tell them the V is a 6-speed: "In a Cadillac?" I hope manuals never go away but obviously we are in the minority. Most younger people can't even drive them.

Chuck

The auto will outstell the stick 10-1. That is because at the price point only wealthy men generally up in age will buy the car, who don't ever plan on driving it over 70mph. It will be the rich mans Buick.

Define "up in age". I'm 39.....and feeling it's too bad the car is planned for release three months after my 40th birthday. :) And my freeway cruising speed is 80-85 in interurban driving.

Ah yes, my midlife crisis car....at least I'll be able to put a baby seat in the back.

Yea, I have not seen the current M5 in any racing series. :)

Caddy is putting their $$$ in daytona prototype. And will probably go for a win at LeMans to get it's name out on a world wide scale.

Norm

The GenI V was Caddy's racing platform. But they've dropped out of the SCCA series. Not sure what kind of a fit a S/C'd 4200lb sedan would be in that series.

Whatever happens... I'm hanging on to my '04 gear cruncher.

Define "up in age". I'm 39.....and feeling it's too bad the car is planned for release three months after my 40th birthday. :) And my freeway cruising speed is 80-85 in interurban driving.

Ah yes, my midlife crisis car....at least I'll be able to put a baby seat in the back.

Frank, I should have qualified my statement by saying that if you love performance enough to be posting on a site like this, you obviously are an exception to your demographic. :)

Which transmission do you think will be able to handle more power mods? Cuz you all know we're going to start modding within a few months of taking ownership.

I had thought stick hands down. With some more thought, I will actually pick whichever one gets better 1/4 mile times. The launch control might actually work better with the auto than the stick because the computer has more control over instantaneous wheel torque. Quickest ET is the one I want.

I had thought stick hands down. With some more thought, I will actually pick whichever one gets better 1/4 mile times. The launch control might actually work better with the auto than the stick because the computer has more control over instantaneous wheel torque. Quickest ET is the one I want.
Sticks are for Drivers.
Autos are for Passengers. :lildevil:

Sticks are for Drivers.
Autos are for Passengers. :lildevil:

If it were a true paddle shift it would be a no brainer. Everyone would be happy, I guess it must be too expensive or they just lacked the development of one.

I will be going with the stick, but I can see how the demographic that buys this car would want the auto. After all, I was literally just out today trying to teach my wife how to drive the '06 = not very practical family car. So I see the new one being a luxary sedan first and performance car second for most people that could afford it.

Sticks are for Drivers.
Autos are for Passengers. :lildevil:
Hmmm... The V is my daily driver, and most of my driving is straight lines and gentle banked turns, typically in traffic, and non-competitive 99.99995% of the time.

If you live in a city, an automatic just makes more sense. Sorry lunarx, but manual vs. automatic snobbery is just lost on me.

Hmmm... The V is my daily driver, and most of my driving is straight lines and gentle banked turns, typically in traffic, and non-competitive 99.99995% of the time.

If you live in a city, an automatic just makes more sense. Sorry lunarx, but manual vs. automatic snobbery is just lost on me.

Perhaps a limo and chauffer is what you need. :)
A V makes lots of sense for the type of driving you just described.

Hmmm... The V is my daily driver, and most of my driving is straight lines and gentle banked turns, typically in traffic, and non-competitive 99.99995% of the time.

If you live in a city, an automatic just makes more sense. Sorry lunarx, but manual vs. automatic snobbery is just lost on me.

:word:

Perhaps a limo and chauffer is what you need. :)
A V makes lots of sense for the type of driving you just described.

It would be nice to have a limo and a chauffer to get to work and back and have the V for the weekend fun but that just isn't practical. Not everyone can afford multiple cars but need one that can fulfill all of their needs/wants.

Personally, I want a car that is easy to drive in traffic (which I spend most of my time in) but can also perform well when I want to have some fun.

Wow, I owe you guys a lot of credit for hanging with a stick all this time, when you really wanted an auto.
At least you did not jump ship for a Chrysler or Lexus.

Ok one last suggestion.
Buy the stick and carpool. :D
When it's your turn to drive, just tell your colleuges that you can't drive stick in traffic and I'm sure one of them will be glad to take your shift at the helm.

The manual will at first. The tuners will have their hands full controlling the new pcm with auto transmission full of electronics will take even longer. But eventually see the autos faster in a straight line.

Norm

Which transmission do you think will be able to handle more power mods? Cuz you all know we're going to start modding within a few months of taking ownership.

Had to chime in:

No Slushbox Posers :lildevil:

Glad to hear some of you are still keeping the spirit of performance driving alive.
:yeah::burn::burn::burn::burn::yeah:

If it were a true paddle shift it would be a no brainer. Everyone would be happy, I guess it must be too expensive or they just lacked the development of one.

I will be going with the stick, but I can see how the demographic that buys this car would want the auto. After all, I was literally just out today trying to teach my wife how to drive the '06 = not very practical family car. So I see the new one being a luxary sedan first and performance car second for most people that could afford it.

I have taught 4 teenagers how to drive sticks now - the last one on the V. My wife prefers automatics - she ran 11.0's all day long running brackets in her Chevelle SS clone and Hurst 4 speed manual (driving it to and from the track), but she's not much into shifting these days. Like I said, whatever is quicker is what I want. I'm not a manual snob - whatever a car has, I can drive it and make it hum.

I have taught 4 teenagers how to drive sticks now - the last one on the V. My wife prefers automatics - she ran 11.0's all day long running brackets in her Chevelle SS clone and Hurst 4 speed manual (driving it to and from the track), but she's not much into shifting these days. Like I said, whatever is quicker is what I want. I'm not a manual snob - whatever a car has, I can drive it and make it hum.

I don't understand the premise of your question though, because a stick will always be faster than a true auto in the hands of a good driver. It's as simple as running the car harder in lower gears than the auto will allow, plus quicker shifts if you can drive well. The only real advantage to an auto is 1) straight line performance and even that is 90% driver, and 2)the ability to hold more power than a clutch setup.

Wow, I owe you guys a lot of credit for hanging with a stick all this time, when you really wanted an auto.
At least you did not jump ship for a Chrysler or Lexus.

Ok one last suggestion.
Buy the stick and carpool. :D
When it's your turn to drive, just tell your colleuges that you can't drive stick in traffic and I'm sure one of them will be glad to take your shift at the helm.


Now, now, you never know who may be trolling.

I'll be getting the auto as well.

as an owner of the acclaimed DSG dual clutch auto trans in a gti, i'm telling you guys there no better experience then having full control of shifting. it's the one of 2 things i truly hate about my car (the other is wrong wheel drive). unless your left foot is barely functioning, get a stick. if you want a car that is comfortable and reasonably quick for daily driving, might i suggest the direct injected 2008 cts with the six speed auto? i think it's a travesty to put a true automatic in a car like the cts-v.

I don't know...the auto im my sts-v is pretty damn good. The manual mode is not bad either.

I am getting the auto..stick jsut isn't realistic in the traffic I drive in.

... i'm telling you guys there no better experience then having full control of shifting. ...

Well said FastCaddy. :thumbsup:

I'm not sure why the disagreeing slushie lovers feel compelled to post in this thread.

How suposed enthusiasts can let traffic dictate their choice in transmission is beyond me. :bigroll:

I have no issues with traffic and manual trans.
I actually prefer a manual in traffic.
As long as it's a smooth clutch and resonable effort pedal.

With so few cars left, that can be purchased with a manual, it just seems a shame people aren't taking advantage of that.
Especially in a V.

Suposedly you guys buy a V to be a cut above the norm, yet you opt for the common slushbox. :thehand:

thats it... we are splitting up the new 09 board for auto owners and manual owners.... They will not be able to view or post in each other's forums (because we all know manuals are WAY better and should not need to share anything with "posers" who drive slushboxes)

Reed
(PS. If you think this thread is serious, get a life!)

Ok, time to fess up.
I too am planning to get the Automatic V






























in 2059 when I am in my 90's. :bomb:

Oh yes, serious and posts on this forum hardly belong in the same sentance. :D

I don't understand the premise of your question though, because a stick will always be faster than a true auto in the hands of a good driver. It's as simple as running the car harder in lower gears than the auto will allow, plus quicker shifts if you can drive well. The only real advantage to an auto is 1) straight line performance and even that is 90% driver, and 2)the ability to hold more power than a clutch setup.

Hmm I have not found that to always be true as shipped from the factory (often true but not always).

-Final ratio is not always the same
-Ratio in each individual gear is not the same
-A high stall speed torque converter can use torque multiplication to put more torque to the wheels (below stall speed) even with the same final
-Launch control can sometimes work better on an auto than a manual, leading to better acceleration
-Sometimes an automatic can handle more torque than the manual, leading to detuning of the manual in 1st gear
-Sometimes the auto causes less wheen hop, leading the OEM to detune the manual in 1st gear to reduce warranty

These cases are not all that common, but I think a recent example is one of the late or current models of M5 or 5 series BMWs: the auto was a tenth or 2 quicker. You see these situations more with high power cars than run of the mill automobiles.

If/when I buy one, it will probably be the auto version if my current situation is the same it is now. That I'm single (not married) and own only one vehicle that is my daily driver. When I had the CTS-V I twisted my knee at work (left leg) going up the stairs carrying some equipment. It wasn't enough to seek medical help, just enough to be painful for a couple of weeks using it. Then I thought about what my situation would be if I had seriously hurt it. A broken arm or leg would make driving the stick basically impossible and I would have to rent an auto until I regained use of it. Yeah I could buy a 2nd beater that's an auto, but realistically it would just sit around as I would want to drive the V. So that money spent would be wasted and I'd be paying additional insurance for something never driven. Better to just save that cash for a rental if needed.

These cases are not all that common, but I think a recent example is one of the late or current models of M5 or 5 series BMWs: the auto was a tenth or 2 quicker. You see these situations more with high power cars than run of the mill automobiles.

You must keep in mind that the M5 is a SMG, not a slushbox.
I think everyone agrees that an SMG is unbeatable, as high level racing has already converted.

SMG has some rough street characteristics though.
The technology will improve though.

I never saw any performance comparisons on the 2 versions of M5 trans.
I do know that M5 customers demanded the return of a Manual and BMW made it so, just recently.
If you have an M5 SMG vs Manual comparo, that would be interesting.

I read it in Car and Driver or Motor Trend when the manual M5 was first reviewed. Seems it was somewhere around 2 tenths slower, detuned due to a wheel hop issue with the manual. I may have actually posted about it in the 2004-2007 V area as a matter of fact. I remember being happy GM did not wimp out and detune because of wheel hop.

The latest Motor Trend:

"The final-drive ratio of the automatic cars has been tweaked to ensure comparable performance to the manual versions, and the paddle-shift manual mode allows drivers to hold gears until the engine is bouncing off the rev limiter."