ok gang, help me decide
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From: daytona beach
ok gang, help me decide
as you may have read, i pre ordered 2 crome silvers at different dealerships with all the options except navi. got the touring package................one is automatic, the other 6spd. thought i would take the auto but am now having second thought. i had a manual 12 second mustang gt and thought i was over the shifting. is the extra $$ worth what you get and what are the difference in wheels, tires, ect. in a drag race, would the 6spd beat the automatic by much???? any input that would help me decide is greatly appreciated. also, i may have the extra one to give to someone who forgot to preorder............aka...sell my 1k deposit at cost.
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Close w/ autostick
As an Audi driver that has owned two identical A4 2.8s (one w/ m5 speed, one w/ tipronic auto) and lives in a low population density neighborhodd w/ twisty roads; I can tell you that their version of tipronic transmition (automatic w/ manual mode), is just a tiny bit slower than the true manual in both a drag situation and heavy cornering (when used properly). With audi, the tiptronic upshifts feel fairly direct, but the downshifts are a bit doggy (at least IMO).
I have driven the Mitsu Eclipse GT, which also also has an automatic w/ manual mode. This felt cheap, with lots of lag going up or down.
Unfortunately, I have no idea what the manual mode on the automatic 350Z will be like. I can hope with all the other refinements that seem to have gone into it, they put some effort into getting the most out of the manual mode on the automatic transmissions.
If the 350z did not offer the manual mode, I would not even have considered the AT. My experiences with experiences w/ Audi tought me to respect what can be done with manual modes. The man. mode lets me drive to my mood, making the car perform at times, or sitting back, relaxing, and watching the world go by at others. In many ways the best of both worlds.
With regard to the options, I believe that you can get any wheel size, aero package, mats, kick plate, mudflap option package you want. I believe the tourning w/ the AT does not have VDC only traction control.
I think you will be more than happy with with either AT or MT after all they are both Zs.
Touring 5AT, Super Black, Orange Leather, Aero pkg, kplates, flaps, mats
I have driven the Mitsu Eclipse GT, which also also has an automatic w/ manual mode. This felt cheap, with lots of lag going up or down.
Unfortunately, I have no idea what the manual mode on the automatic 350Z will be like. I can hope with all the other refinements that seem to have gone into it, they put some effort into getting the most out of the manual mode on the automatic transmissions.
If the 350z did not offer the manual mode, I would not even have considered the AT. My experiences with experiences w/ Audi tought me to respect what can be done with manual modes. The man. mode lets me drive to my mood, making the car perform at times, or sitting back, relaxing, and watching the world go by at others. In many ways the best of both worlds.
With regard to the options, I believe that you can get any wheel size, aero package, mats, kick plate, mudflap option package you want. I believe the tourning w/ the AT does not have VDC only traction control.
I think you will be more than happy with with either AT or MT after all they are both Zs.
Touring 5AT, Super Black, Orange Leather, Aero pkg, kplates, flaps, mats
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From: Farmington Hills, Michigan
My advice to you is to go out and test drive a G35 Sedan w/ the manumatic.
I think you'll opt for the 6 speed. It shifts too slowly to hold it to redline with certainty that when you bump the stick, it will shift. You'll be behind by atleast a couple hundred RPM if you tell it to upshift at full throttle. In my opinion, it is simply not fast shifting enough for enthusiast driving. It does blip the throttle for you on downshift though in a cool, F1 racecar sort of way. Maybe the auto tranny will be tuned for quicker, more direct shifts in the Z but I wouldn't bank on it.
Autos are better in bracket drag racing because they are more repeatable. They are, however, a bit slower just because of the torque convertor so, you might lose the race but you'll be more likely to get the same time each and every round which is what you must do to advance. Really though, who is planning to drag race this car. Look at the last picture in C&D's review. Launching the 350 Z on a drag strip causes the rear end to squat and the negative camber at launch is very obvious. The rear suspension is designed for the twisties, not for the strip. Putting full throttle down from a standstill in this baby is going to be a science.
I think you'll opt for the 6 speed. It shifts too slowly to hold it to redline with certainty that when you bump the stick, it will shift. You'll be behind by atleast a couple hundred RPM if you tell it to upshift at full throttle. In my opinion, it is simply not fast shifting enough for enthusiast driving. It does blip the throttle for you on downshift though in a cool, F1 racecar sort of way. Maybe the auto tranny will be tuned for quicker, more direct shifts in the Z but I wouldn't bank on it.
Autos are better in bracket drag racing because they are more repeatable. They are, however, a bit slower just because of the torque convertor so, you might lose the race but you'll be more likely to get the same time each and every round which is what you must do to advance. Really though, who is planning to drag race this car. Look at the last picture in C&D's review. Launching the 350 Z on a drag strip causes the rear end to squat and the negative camber at launch is very obvious. The rear suspension is designed for the twisties, not for the strip. Putting full throttle down from a standstill in this baby is going to be a science.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Boston (Northeastern Univ)
Get the 6speed!
Besides Corvettes and SL500's most manual cars are faster then there automatic sisters. Audi Tiptronic is decent, Acura Sportshift sux big time, and AMG well thats god. heres an example for you...
RSX 5spd-M 0-60mph = 7.2sec
RSX 5spd-A 0-60mph = 7.8sec
and to make me feel slow...
RSX Type S 6spd-M 0-60mph = 6.7sec
Besides Corvettes and SL500's most manual cars are faster then there automatic sisters. Audi Tiptronic is decent, Acura Sportshift sux big time, and AMG well thats god. heres an example for you...
RSX 5spd-M 0-60mph = 7.2sec
RSX 5spd-A 0-60mph = 7.8sec
and to make me feel slow...
RSX Type S 6spd-M 0-60mph = 6.7sec
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