I just got my Z less than three weeks ago, and I've been having plenty of fun so far, but I just can't help but have second thoughts about getting an AT. I've never driven stick before, so obviously I have to learn how before I make this decision. But nonetheless, it just doesn't seem to feel right. Although people will say "go with what you like and don't listen to other people," the fact is that I was already kind of in between about the AT and MT. Every time someone says, "Oh, its an AT?" just kinda makes me want MT that much more. Luckily, this isn't a new car, so I won't come out of a trade, should it happen, with a bleeding *******. That, and the guy I got the car from is actually a buddy of mine, and, being a used car salesman, could easily get me another one from the auction and go easy on me with the trade. I'd be willing to take the hit for the extra enjoyment of the MT, which is strange for me, in that I usually put a lot of thought into these kinds of things. I know I've seen several people on this site in the exact same quandary as I'm in right now, and I just want to get some feedback on this. No big rush here, because I'm just not one to act on too much impulse. Its just that no matter how good the AT is and how much fun I can still have in it, the feeling just isn't genuine.

 

In my opinion... all sports cars should be MT.

 

Uh oh... I guess I did ask for opinions.

 

Well hey, if you already feel buyers remorse for not holding out for a MT because you just wanted a black Z and snatched up the first one you found... then by all means... TRADE IT. I don't think anybody here would oppose the move, it makes sense to me. In time all you will do is kick yourself up the a$$ and wonder what life would have been like with a MT.

 

Take no offense.. but I have no clue why anyone would want to modify there AT vehicle. How fun can a car be when you just step on the gas and wait for a reaction ?? Just dosent seem like a drivers car .. AT should only be concidered when buying a vehicle that is soley for economical and practicality reasons .. getting you from point A to point B. In other words I support your desire to purchase an MT .. i dont believe youll be truley happy with your car until you do so.

 

If I decide to go through with this, now I'll have to deal with letting go of my first true love so soon, and always wonder what happened to her.

 

You'll forget all about her once you're up in a new one.

 

I guess I'll sleep on it. In the meantime, I'll have to find a buddy willing to teach me stick.

 

I felt the same way when I got rid of my last car!

 

Getting something new always makes me feel like a pimp. Then a month later I'll need something new again.

 

Hahahah... cars aside.
Isn't that always the case?

 

Deftones is right. Just do it or you will be asking yourelf this same question over and over.

I originally wanted to buy a roadster but ended buying a coupe. I asks myself this questions over and over the last 3 years. Anyways, I am at a point where I am just going to trade her in for a roadster.

Chinq- I work at claremont colleges.

Tony

 

Sadly I did the same thing, I jumped into the first good deal that I saw. I got my 05 Touring in March for 25,000 with only 8k miles...so it was to good of a deal to pass up. Now I regret it, and wish I waited a little longer and got a MT. Now my car is worth like 25,000 but I owe 28 because I got the extended warranty and taxes and all that fun stuff, so I would lose almost 4k if I trade it in for a lower model while losing some amenities. But at the same time when I’m stuck in bumper to bumper traffic in down-town Boston, I love the AT.

 

I was undecided about mt/at when buying my z as well. For the lst 3 years and most of my life I've had mt cars. The deciding factors were
-wife never drove a stick and when teaching her she really sucked at shifting!
-most of my driving is short distances, in traffic, all of which makes shift a chore rather then fun
-I figured I could use the at manual mode when the mood hits, it isn't all that bad.

If the dealership will let you swap with a little to no penalty then it wouldn't be too bad of a idea. But if you loose thousands then I'd say don't do it.

 

I wonder if the OP even knows you can switch to manual . . . and I wonder if he has even used it. I also wonder if OP knows the maintenance issues associated with an M/T Z. I owned an M/T 280Z and it was a fun car but preferred an A/T 350Z since I can still have the best of both worlds without the maintenance issues associated with an M/T 350Z.

 

manual all the way my freind bought a 06 auto and it feels real slow i mean beileve it or not i take him by almost 3 car lenths easy one race i just put it in first and floored it no launch and i still blew by him he even lost to our freinds wrx which i beat badley a Z is a sad thing in automatic do it as soon as possible and let the real power unleash

 

You are correct

 

The older I get the more my view changes on the subject....

If my Z was the only car I had I would probably stick with the AT.... Being I have a daily driver thats an AT and only use the Z on the weekends, I'm glad I have the MT in it, but driving a MT everyday (especially in traffic) gets old quick....

You might want to try and rent a MT car for a few days to see if it suits you before trading in your AT

 

That statement is a slight exaggeration... The AT is only at most 0.1-0.2 seconds slower then a manual (and that's only if the MT driver knows what he/she is doing)... And that's only because of the lag you get when shifting in manual mode.. If you put on the Stillen modified throttle body I bet the AT would be just as fast if not maybe a tick faster...

 

The 350Z manual shifter and transmission is very forgiving of mistakes. In a week you will be shifting like a pro.

Poop or get off the pot.