Hey, didn't mean to inflame or diss on the automatic drivers or transmissions. Like a previous poster said, whatever you like, it's all good. A Z is a Z is a Z, in the end of it all.

It was just my personal point of view.

I concede that with the improved sequential manual boxes out there, some SMGs are even faster than MT's (as stated by BMW). That's why the M5 and M6's come only in SMG.

But even BMW had create M5/M6's with manual sticks primarily for the U.S. market because of too many complaints from the driving enthusiast community. Sure, their engineers might be rolling their eyes at our reluctance to let go of the manual transmission, but...

...there are just some things you can do with a clutch that you simply cannot do with even the best manumatic.

But if you like AT's, that's cool. One's not better than the other, just different. I'm sure there are as many poor MT drivers as there are AT drivers.

 

+1

 

i wanted the 6speed but since the wife wont drive a manual and it is basically her car we got an at. when i bought my mustang i wanted a manual once again she didnt want a manual and we went with an auto, but after a neil chance stall converter and some other mods which equaled about 20000. that auto will rape guys with manuals. i wonder why the drag cars used autos with manual vavle bodies? now i see why

 

seems pointless when these type of posts pop up and they always seem to
like clockwork. the bottom line is each person appreciates different things in
a car period. to say one is "more fun" than the other is like saying pancakes
taste better than waffles. depends on your definition of the word fun or what
you feel like eating.

i also laugh when everyone talks about how much better a MT is when most
don't even know how to truly drive an MT the way it was meant to be driven.
A monkey can shift gears, so just b/c you know how to shift the gears doesn't
mean you know how to truly "drive" the car.

I'll best most of the people on this forum would get spanked in their MT when
going against an AT of the same car. MT has a lot of potential... if you have
the skill. But let's face it... most people don't.

 

Let me guess...you have an AT?

 

Haha! Actually I used to have a 6spd Boxster S a few years back and couldn't
deal with it in the grid like D.C. area traffic. I thought it was something I would
be able to deal with, but caved in after a while. Had some pretty good times on
the country roads out in south eastern VA.

but yeah, every since then I always go A/T with manual mode. Had a 330 with
steptronic and now the Z with A/T and manual mode. Would I like to have the
6spd? Hell yeah! But makes no sense out here when I do most of my travel and
work commute through D.C. The traffic is so bad it sometimes takes 2 hours to
get to work. Not trying to work a clutch in those conditions.

But one thing I do know is driving a M/T on a Porsche is a humbling experience.
Takes much practice and skill to do right and do the car justice. I would expect
the same with the Z.

 

Hate to go too far off topic but...

How many S2000's do you guys think we'd see everyday if they were made with an Auto transmission?

Evo's? STi's?

 

Good point...I don't even like driving an auto in Northern VA!!

 

according to nissan only 9% of 350z's were made auto. Seems like theres alotta autos out there tho. some sports cars only come in stick like the s2k but i guess they offer an auto to appeal to a wider consumer crowd

 

If Honda puts anything like they did in the Prelude it will hurt the sales of the S2K. That transmission sucked. I would have to drive an Evo or STI with an AT before I decide on that. Being that those cars AWD rally cars it might not be all that bad.

 

9% ? Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting you read this somewhere. But I'm with you, this can't be correct. 6 or 7 of all the Z's I see are autos. Maybe because I live in Megalopolis ? (NJ between Philly & NYC) Where did you read/hear this Nissan statistic ? I'd like to check it out.

 

i feel the same way... a Z is a Z... and its a sexy car

 

I laugh when I see definitions of "A true sports car" requiring MT. somehow these cars tend
to have air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, cruise control, automatic windows, trip computers, super special radio/CD players (maybe even 500 lbs of speakers), heated seats, high performance decals .......

Anyone remember Jim Hall's Chaperals (SP?)

 

I sometimes wish I had an automatic =*(. Sitting in those morning traffic while I'm my way to EMT is a freakin' pain in the ***. But it's just so fun shifting gears.....but with my boots on it's a whole different world. Stupid uniform requiring 20 lbs boots >:O! *note exaggeration* I don't regret buying my Z in 6 speed though, it's definately fun as hell to drive 'n I have the reaaurance for myself that nobody in my family can steal my keys at night 'n take my car for a joyride.

 

I get challenges all the time from ricers on the street and I enjoy smokin 'em with my 3500lb automatic ZR with TCS ON! Afterwards I just wish them best of luck picking on the manual equipped Zs'. Lolz

 

People always complain about traffic. If you are going to get a sports car, you better get a manual. It is an unwritten rule. Otherwise, I'm not going to take you seriously. When I pull up another A/T Z, they always say, "I almost got a manual". *****

 

+1

 

haha, *****!

 

I guess there ARE advantages to having an AT....like having a free hand to play with your GF's ******* or chompin' on dat Big Mac....LOL.

 

Ah, xirtam, I love it; you're up to nine posts already, and of course, the "P" word comes out right away. This debate has only come out about 200 times before, and for some reason a few (certainly not all) MT'ers w/an insecurity about their own masculinity think driving a manual transmission car makes them a man.

The first asinine assumption, of course, is that people who don't currently drive a MT Z must not be any good at it. I have previously owned more MTs than ATs; my MTs have included a Civic Si, S2000 and G35 coupe.

IMO, most people who have them don't know how to drive them to get the maximum out of the car. This, of course, does NOT make them p*****s, but I do enjoy blasting by a panicky-faced kid every now and then in my heavily-modded AT, often hearing the grinding of gears or a rev limiter kick in as junior misses a shift.

Truth is, if someone asked me which I wanted, a "true manual" in every sense of the word, or an auto, I'd like to have the OPTION of both, which just ain't possible. In fact, I'd like to be able to push a button whenever I wanted, depending upon driving conditions, time of year, length of drive, type of roads, etc., and change my daily driver back and forth from a Lotus Elise to a Benz S series. Those of us who aren't filthy rich, however, can't afford to buy both cars. IMO, manual=more fun on the open road, esp. in the twisties; auto=less of a PITA on a long and/or congested commute.

And I'll just bet that many people who say they don't mind a manual even in the city don't drive a lot in urban traffic AND have a long commute, too. My wife's commute is 140 miles round trip every day; mine varies, but I usually have to drive at least 100 miles/day. She puts about 40k on her car every year; I put about 26k on mine. We both used to have manuals and now each have a Z roadster 5AT. Sure, I often wish I had a true manual, and I also am often thankful I have an auto.

xirtam, I really wish you lived close enough to us for you to race my wife. She has great hand/eye coordination; is the best female I've ever seen racing a manual; is 38 years old; and with a sedentary job, has some middle-aged spread. I would love to see her hop in a 6MT Z and smoke your butt. How would it make you feel to be "road killed" by a middle-aged pudgy chick? Like a p***y, maybe?
Not that you necessarily SHOULD, mind you, but you probably WOULD.

As an aside, I can't help but think of a friend who was quite the ladies' man and had a black belt in karate, but for some reason loved to dress in pastel blues, yellows and pinks. One time we were at a restaurant and the typical macho dude called the friend, Greg, a fa**ot. Greg proceeded to make some smart-aleck remark, the guy threw a punch, and Greg proceeded to beat the ever-loving crap out of the guy. Then, with the guy lying on his back and bleeding, Greg straddled the guy's chest, gave him a big, sloppy kiss right on the lips and said, "So how does it feel to get your a$$ kicked by a fa**ot?"