“An automatic transmissionis a fine accessory to have -- if you consider the application of concealer to be a vital part of your daily routine. “

-JUSTIN KAEHLER

askmen.com   Contributor

It’s one of the first debates to rise whenever a new car comes out. Should you get the automatic transmission or the manual? Effortless commute or driver decision making? Expert left pedal control or power-braking[1] your way to some sweet burnouts? In the case of the 2010-2012 Camaro the debate is still raging. Today we’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages of both on Chevrolet’s 2010-2012 Camaro SS. 

Pickup any auto magazine like Motor Trend, Muscle Mustangs, Chevy High Performance, Hot Rod etc., and note the performance figures in acceleration and fuel economy and you’ll find that vehicles equipped with manually shifted transmissions almost always outperform their automatic equipped counterparts. If one went off the magazine figures alone you would think that every vehicle with a destiny for performance had better come with three pedals but that implies that every driver can get the most out their vehicle. Stop by any dragstrip, or even a loosely organized street race, and see which configuration is more consistent. The manual transmission cars will tend to have a higher speed at the finish line, but the automatics will get there quicker.

Why the discrepancy? Manual transmissions transmit force (measured as torque) from the engine directly to the gearbox input shaft via a flywheel/clutch assembly at a 1:1 ratio, input shaft rpm vs engine rpm. This means there is very little loss mechanically transmitting the engine power to the gearbox. You can read more about mechanical clutch assemblies here. Automatic transmissions have a fluid coupling in the form of a torque converter that dynamically applies torque to the gearbox based on rpm and load at a ratio .9:1 (like slipping a clutch when leaving a stoplight).    

6L80E “A6” Transmission	TR-6060“M6” Transmission

6L80E “A6” Transmission      

In 2000, Chevrolet rated the 0-60 elapsed time of the Camaro SS manual and automatic models at 5.2 and 5.5 respectively. The difference between the transmissions available in 2000 was a 6 speed for the manual and a 4-speed in the automatic. In 2010 the six-speed manual (M6)  and brand new six-speed automatic (A6) were rated at 4.7 and 4.6 respectively. That’s not a typo, the automatic really is quicker to 60 mph! The manual 6-speed transmission model will get you to the end of the quarter-mile slightly quicker (13.3sec vs. 13.4sec in the auto) and moving a little faster (111mph vs. 109mph). This almost negligible difference comes as even more of a surprise when you consider that  2010+ Camaros equipped with automatic transmissions pay a 22 horsepower penalty vs. manual transmission models.

The 2010 Camaro has a different engine in the v8 models with the LS3 out of the Corvette installed in the manual version while the auto gets Chevrolet’s first 8 cylinder, high-performance, Variable Valve Timing engine the L99. The LS3 has a horsepower rating of 422 horsepower while the L99 out of the A6 models is rated at 400 (remember manufacturer’s rate their engines at the flywheel as opposed to rear-wheel horsepower). The reason for this penalty is a lower redline (6200 in the A6 vs. 6600 in the M6), and a milder camshaft for the sake of the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system, a cylinder deactivating feature that is intended to increase fuel mileage.

Fuel economy is always one consideration when selecting a transmission. The same parasitic losses that affect horsepower also dictate efficiency and therefore fuel economy. If not for the AFM system the A6 Camaros would likely fail their mpg requirements. The system itself is quite complicated and limits performance options in camshaft choice and valvetrain management, but has held up reasonably well in 700+ horsepower applications. In my experience the AFM system is typically worth an additional .8-1.4 mpg in fuel savings, but even with the system deactivated 28 mpg is possible on the highway! The M6 LS3, without the AFM system, has no problem keeping pace due to the .57:1 6th gear that allows the rpms to remain below 2000 at highway speeds.

So where does that leave us? Has the day already come that the real performance choice is to check the automatic box? Should we all be seeking to replace our dated Manual transmission equipped performance vehicles for more expensive and complex automatic counterparts? That will depend on what you intend to do with the vehicle. Remember the disparity in power production between that M6’s LS3 engine and the A6’s L99? When the hardcore modifications begin, this 22 horsepower difference becomes much more than a 5% penalty and the decision will come down to more than just if man or machine selects the gears.

Let’s look at the characteristics of manual and automatic transmissions for a moment.

Manual Transmissions have the following positive attributes when compared to Automatics:

• -Comparatively simple design and operation
• -Little heat production
• -Gear selection is driver decided
• -If you want to see the clutch diagram insert, click here.

The positive attributes of the Automatic Tranmission are the following:

• -Gear shift points are accurate and consistent
• -Continuous Loading: The drivetrain remains loaded with no physical separation like when a clutch is enaged and separates from the flywheel)
• -Suspension remains “Loaded”: the consistent application of power keeps the suspension more evenly compressed making the handling of the vehicle more predictable under acceleration

Planning on some serious extra horsepower? Perhaps the most important question when choosing between the A6 and M6 2010+ Camaro versions is “What will the vehicle mostly be used for?” The fluid coupling of the A6 produces a fair amount of heat in performance driving situations. Fluid coupled transmissions by nature generate a significant amount of heat.  The A6 features a  TUTD “paddle shift” option that is cool to show your friends and some of them will even be impressed by this “Ferrari Style” shifting but the fact is the A6 in this mode responds far too slowly to be ideal in a drag racing scenario and is useful mainly to keep the transmission in the intended gear when going through corners or braking zones. The computer can process more information and initiate an upshift more consistently than any human, and with custom tuning these shift points can be optimized (I like to set the “S” mode to peak performance setting and leave regular “D” mode with softer, factory style shifts).

In the end the debate legitimately continues, but for how long? The M6 transmission is a strong and capable unit. We have taken the manual transmission over 1000 horsepower and it has outlasted the driveshaft, rear-end and half-shafts. The 6l60e provided in the A6 is a fantastic unit that is head shoulders above the technology available in the previous generation Camaro, but is still not a complete replacement for a traditional manual transmission. The ease of commuting and consistency at the drag strip comes with a 22 horsepower penalty along with a complex valvetrain that limits camshaft options. On the other hand, the manual transmission buyers may be left wishing they had considered the auto just a little more when they line em’ up the first time and the 22 hp advantage melts away as the A6 leaves the stoplight without smoking the tires on its way to 60 mph. If dyno numbers, road racing, or an absolute refusal to let machines think for you, then you haven’t joined the technology band wagon yet and you should stick with three pedals. If you’re a stoplight warrior, have a daily commute or just not interested in having to think about it, technology is here and ready to make you a better (at least more consistent) driver. I’m going to declare my neutrality and say that the pros and cons of each configuration cancel each other out and the final decision should be made based on application and driver preference. If I had to choose only one, my vote goes to the 6l80e automatic transmission and it’s versatile, sophisticated computer control.

Pass the makeup and the concealer.

-Dave Rochau

Glossary:

Power Braking: (Automatic Transmission Vehicles) Hold brakes with left foot while applying accelerator with right foot. Can be used to help torque converter reach its stall point from a dead stop or to initiate a burnout.