Friday 4th October 2013

Corvette Stingray customers shun manual

Nearly two-thirds of C7 Stingray buyers are going auto; why?

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Lovely thing though it is, it seems unlikely that hoards of Corvette customers will be after a Callaway AeroWagon conversion. A bit too niche and a bit too daring, you suspect. But the seven-speed manual, with rev-match tech? Surely buyers of the Corvette Stingray would be clamouring for it?

Surely you'd want this package with a manual?

Not really. Despite all the efforts to make the C7 the best handling, most driver-focused Corvette ever, just 38 per cent of the new cars purchased so far have three pedals. What make this figure more surprising is the auto option is just a conventional six-speed torque converter; there are no dual-clutch or eight-speed delights on offer. This video from Hennessey would suggest the shifts are quick enough, even if the ratios are very, very long.

Moreover, you would imagine the early takers of the Stingray are the real enthusiasts, keen to get their hands on it ASAP. We had this type of customer down as those who drive 'stick', but evidently not.

Probably the desired spec Stateside

Rather less surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of C7 customers are previous 'Vette owners, despite Chevrolet aiming to attract more first-timers. Around 75 per cent of buyers have opted for the Z51 performance pack too, bringing additional niceties such as an electronic LSD, larger brakes and new dampers.

Chevrolet predicts these figures, including those choosing a manual, will drop as the super keen early punters get their cars. Auto cabrios for the win then.. Chevrolet should be praised for offering buyers the choice of 'boxes, but will it continue if there's such a low take-up?

[Source: GTSpirit]

 

[E38Ross]

those gear ratios are very tall for a sports car!! it'd be even quicker with shorter ratios, but it's hardly a slouch.

[pycraft]

Long rations? No-one's going hungry then?

[Matt Bird]

pycraft said:

Long rations? No-one's going hungry then?

That wouldn't be the American way, would it? Thanks for that, mistake amended now!

[VladD]

The auto box is an American tradition. Their roads are a lot longer and straighter, so there's less need for a manual and less roads to make use of one. Also, just because someone owns a Corvette and has owned previous ones, doesn't make them a fast and good driver, it just means that their a fan of the car. I'd imagine that the majority of 911 owners in this country buy it for the badge and the history and not many ever get close to the limits of the car. How many 4X4s go off road?

[PascalBuyens]

Not suprising to me... It's been announced from the start this is the "base" model, so there'll be always a lot of automatic boxes there.

If they'll start releasing the Z06/ZR1 versions, it might change the percentages quite a lot...

[V8 FOU]

I guess these customers don't read PH, so they can buy an auto and hold their head up high.....









I'd go for auto every time.

[anonymous-user]

Slush box on a V8 sports car...no thanks.

[Crusoe]

Hardly shun, over a third of corvette drivers buy a manual would be the correct spin.

[binnerboy]

38% percent a low take up ?

But from the rest of the article number of manuals will remain the same but quantity sold will increase reducing the percentage of manuals sold.

be interested in what the percentage figure is in a year

[pagani1]

Such a shame we are yet again being screwed in the UK over the price here.

[Oddball RS]

Is 38% really a Shun? Ere ere get your Mail on Sunday...........

[ArtVandelay]

I'd have one, I think it's the best looking new car for a while.

[Devil2575]

Moreover, you would imagine the early takers of the Stingray are the real enthusiasts, keen to get their hands on it ASAP.

I suspect that early takers are the image consious hoping to be seen driving it ASAP.

[ewenm]

Article is meaningless without some indication for the actual number sold. If it's only a handful (unlikely I know) then 38% vs 50% could be just a few individuals. We need to know 38% of what? to make any analysis really.

[hugepiece]

i'm not that surprised, after spending 3 years in the US (Dallas, Texas) with an auto C6 I actually agree with them. I went for the auto and didnt regret it one bit, believe me when the roads are that straight, with so many lanes and THAT much traffic a manual would be no fun at all. If I was to ever go back to the states i'd get another auto vette in a heart-beat.

[mwstewart]

The Corvette doesn't exactly attract a progressive customer base. This car has a traditional muscle background.

What are the figures for the new M3 and M5? They will mean something.

[Lowtimer]

Oddball RS said:

Is 38% really a Shun? Ere ere get your Mail on Sunday...........

This. Much as with the Mail's Milliband misadventure, the headline is in no way borne out by the facts in the report.

And the question "Chevrolet should be praised for offering buyers the choice of 'boxes, but will it continue if there's such a low take-up?" is just ridiculous. Come back and ask again when it's 3.8%, not getting on for half the cars being sold.

Edited by Lowtimer on Friday 4th October 13:37

[WingNut]

I wonder what the percentage take up of manual is for the 991?

[anonymous-user]

yonex said:

Slush box on a V8 sports car...no thanks.

Well, you're missing out big time. It's a real pity so many people crave a proper V8 sportscar and then rule out the world's most successful based on ignorance.

For starters, have you tried buying a manual Ferrari 458 recently? Or an AMG Merc?

The vast majority of sportscars sold today do NOT have a manual box. Porsche PDK cars vastly outsell the manual versions.

A modern torque-converter auto with paddle-shift can be a very fine thing indeed. Plenty of ratios, rapid shifts etc etc. None of the stumbling and jerking in traffic which has plagued Lambo and others.

[anonymous-user]

ewenm said:

Article is meaningless without some indication for the actual number sold. If it's only a handful (unlikely I know) then 38% vs 50% could be just a few individuals. We need to know 38% of what? to make any analysis really.

In very round numbers Corvette sell about 30,000 cars a year.

So in very round numbers that's 10,000 manual cars a year. By way of comparison it took Lotus 30 years to build 10,000 Esprits!