Autostream, I think you still don't get it. You haven't driven a C6, so you're basing your opinion on one program's difficulty with the C6's controls. Well, what makes TopGear any better than the dozens/hundreds of other publications or shows out there? What makes their point of view more legitimate? If anything, that "dragrace" between cars driven by different drivers should tell you something's seriously misguided about their "testing" procedures; did you know that several years ago, they had a similar test with a Viper, Caterham, Lotus, Porsche, and TVR Cerbera 4.2? Yeah, no kidding. They again had different drivers in all cars, and who was in the Cerbera? None other than TVR's own John Ravenscroft, the man behind their engine design and development, and who happens to race TVR's; turns out, that Cerbera 4.2 wasn't even standard anyway, but they never mentioned it...
Why are you so willing to be spoonfed their opinions when their compatriots, the Daily Telegraph, described the Corvette's shifter action as "fingertip light"? Not once did the Telegraph mention any difficulty with operating the clutch.
Some more comments about the C6 to consider:
"Once off the line, the bored out V8 delivers gobs of torque all across the rev band. The tranny's ratios are also perfectly matched to engine output with shorter, easier throws than before."
---Motorweek
"The shorter-throw shifter is a welcome improvement and works much better than the C5’s. The shifts come easier and more quickly compared to the more bulky feel of the C5, which sometimes could remind you of a ’67 Chevelle bracket racer. Clutch takeup in the C6 is also quite a bit smoother, and with a lot less pedal effort."
---AutoWeek, 8/9/04
"Where the old car felt like an ill-fitting superhero costume, the new car feels tailored, taut, and less ridiculous. A shorter shifter and lighter clutch-pedal effort make gearchanges a pleasure."
---C&D, 9/04
"The optional automatic transmission is a willing player, and well programmed to provide firm and timely shifts. The standard six-speed manual, however, is the big shocker here. The clutch is smoother and lighter, and the shift feel is — dare we say — 'Miata-like' in its snick-snick shift quality. Even the shift knob is perfectly shaped."
---edmunds.com, 9/14/04
"Clutch take-up is considerably lighter than on the C5 Corvette and the 400 bhp at 6000 rpm and 400 lb.-ft. of torque peaking at 4400 rpm can be easily modulated through the drive-by-wire throttle. The C6 is quite docile at low speeds thanks to this smooth delivery of engine output. Only two aspects of the Tremec T56 6-speed manual gearbox rate criticism: The shifter's precise action doesn't like to be hurried and the 1st-to-4th skip-shift seems to be most active when you're on your best behavior, i.e., short-shifting under moderate acceleration. Drivers with a heavy foot or those with the patience to wait out the skip-shift's window of operation are rewarded with unimpeded upshifts."
---R&T, 9/04
But Road & Track took it a step further:
"Perhaps a touch heavier clutch and a bit more bark in the exhaust would raise the excitement quotient in everyday driving."
They're complaining that the C6's clutch is too light.
Now, after reading all this, what makes you think GM hasn't substantially improved both the clutch and shifter of the C6 compared to the C5? Quite obviously they have. But you go ahead believe whatever Hamsterboy Hammond tells you. Personally, I find it hard to believe that R&T's test editors have superhuman strength. Of all the journalists, they (and edmunds.com) are generally the easiest on test cars. Yet look at how quickly the C6 shifted through the gears under full acceleration, compared with some other cars with very slick transmissions, in that graph I posted. You still haven't explained that.
Why are you so willing to be spoonfed their opinions when their compatriots, the Daily Telegraph, described the Corvette's shifter action as "fingertip light"? Not once did the Telegraph mention any difficulty with operating the clutch.
Some more comments about the C6 to consider:
"Once off the line, the bored out V8 delivers gobs of torque all across the rev band. The tranny's ratios are also perfectly matched to engine output with shorter, easier throws than before."
---Motorweek
"The shorter-throw shifter is a welcome improvement and works much better than the C5’s. The shifts come easier and more quickly compared to the more bulky feel of the C5, which sometimes could remind you of a ’67 Chevelle bracket racer. Clutch takeup in the C6 is also quite a bit smoother, and with a lot less pedal effort."
---AutoWeek, 8/9/04
"Where the old car felt like an ill-fitting superhero costume, the new car feels tailored, taut, and less ridiculous. A shorter shifter and lighter clutch-pedal effort make gearchanges a pleasure."
---C&D, 9/04
"The optional automatic transmission is a willing player, and well programmed to provide firm and timely shifts. The standard six-speed manual, however, is the big shocker here. The clutch is smoother and lighter, and the shift feel is — dare we say — 'Miata-like' in its snick-snick shift quality. Even the shift knob is perfectly shaped."
---edmunds.com, 9/14/04
"Clutch take-up is considerably lighter than on the C5 Corvette and the 400 bhp at 6000 rpm and 400 lb.-ft. of torque peaking at 4400 rpm can be easily modulated through the drive-by-wire throttle. The C6 is quite docile at low speeds thanks to this smooth delivery of engine output. Only two aspects of the Tremec T56 6-speed manual gearbox rate criticism: The shifter's precise action doesn't like to be hurried and the 1st-to-4th skip-shift seems to be most active when you're on your best behavior, i.e., short-shifting under moderate acceleration. Drivers with a heavy foot or those with the patience to wait out the skip-shift's window of operation are rewarded with unimpeded upshifts."
---R&T, 9/04
But Road & Track took it a step further:
"Perhaps a touch heavier clutch and a bit more bark in the exhaust would raise the excitement quotient in everyday driving."
They're complaining that the C6's clutch is too light.
Now, after reading all this, what makes you think GM hasn't substantially improved both the clutch and shifter of the C6 compared to the C5? Quite obviously they have. But you go ahead believe whatever Hamsterboy Hammond tells you. Personally, I find it hard to believe that R&T's test editors have superhuman strength. Of all the journalists, they (and edmunds.com) are generally the easiest on test cars. Yet look at how quickly the C6 shifted through the gears under full acceleration, compared with some other cars with very slick transmissions, in that graph I posted. You still haven't explained that.
