I love a good manual versus automatic shootout story. Sadly, though, the manual is pretty much always going to lose against the modern dual-clutch and super fast torque-converter autos.
Cue the all-new 2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1. The last generation ZL1 was cool and quick. Obviously the new one is cooler and quicker.
So Motor Trend brought out a new 10-speed automatic Camaro ZL1 to prove how fun and fast it really is. Jonny Lieberman rides with Randy Pobst around Willow Springs, where they discuss that this car is superior to the Z06 with the same motor. Why? Better supercharger cooling (Lieberman actually discusses this point before he gets to the track), easier to drive at the limit, and more controllable in general.
Then things get very interesting… because Motor Trend decided to throw the ZL1 10-speed automatic against the 6-speed manual on a head-to-head.
SPOILER ALERT ————— Leave now if you don’t like spoilers.
So the manual shifting ZL1 actually wins. I can’t believe it myself, but it’s not bullshit, I assure you.
With that being said, I’m pointing to all of you manual haters. You know who you are. You’re the wannabes who say, “Do you know how good the new automatics are, bro? Like, they’re so sick and fast, dude.” To that person, I have three words for you: Go fuck yaself. Oh, and the ATS-V manual and automatic are damn near identical around the track, too.
My hat’s off to GM for making sure the manual still matters. And not just matters, but is genuinely good and fast. Thanks, General. A bleeding heart manual lover thanks you.
Here’s the video for proof.
