This is about the most civil, logical and helpful discussion on this topic I have seen. What is going on?

Maybe someone should close the thread before it deteriorates.

 

Fact 1: Zed MTs have had issues since the onset ('03s).
Fact 2: Zed ATs are flawless--NO issues with them, since the '03 model was
reintroduced. In city driving/traffic jams, well, you know the difference! Final-
ly, the MPG difference is only 1 (20MPG, average, on the MT; 19MPG, avera-
ge, on the AT). Added bonus! AT:274ft/lbs of torque; MT:260ft/lbs.!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wise old-timer from the AST zone (Puerto Rico).

 

Well the answer to this repost question depends on the type of attitude you have... if you're a cruiser, by all means go AT BUT, don't ever try to pan yourself off as performance minded driver; don't talk about (torque, hp, psi etc) that's driver talk... as far as sports cars go, IMPO, stick is the only way to go... Its your duty as a red blooded American man to learn...

lol... get what ya want, you're driving it

 

+1 always good to know how to drive a manual. But the Auto Z's are just fine.

 

its all about what you like... i was going to get a manual but i got a good *** deal on an automatic. well i raced my friends 07 off the hole and i won by 1 car and hes manual. if your good with throttle response and know how to drive it it shouldnt matter. get what you want andd dont let people tell you anything else. with todays technology manual vs. auto its just by a fraction of a second even at that.

 

That IS, chinny!!!

 

I think you should first learn to drive stick and then drive them both. If you go to a casino do you like to play slots or table games. They say the person that likes the machine to do the work is the auto driver.

Its all about if you want the car to do the work or you? I have a manual and won't go back to an auto, at least not in a sports car. My wife has an 07 dodge nitro. If I feel lazy I can just drive that.

 

Wow, I was expecting a huge flamewar but it's very civil and everyone has good points!

I'm looking for a 350Z as well--I barely know how to drive manual because I suck at it but I live in Fairfax, VA and this place is becoming crowded and turning into a city QUICK.

Right now I have an automatic Lexus IS300 and sometimes the automatic is a blessing when stuck in horrific traffic.

What I want to do is learn how to drive manual to the point of being really good at it and then I'd buy an automatic Z. If I feel that there's no use for an auto then I'd switch to a manual

Auto or Manual--you're still going to end up with a 350Z

btw, the exhaust sound stays the same with an automatic Z correct? It's one of the reasons why I'm drawn to the car

 

IBTL

 

+1 6mt or 5at still 350z sexy.

 

If you have any interest in driving a manual, do it... It's loads of fun and after of awhile you can get quite good at it. Having that extra bit of control makes things much more relaxing I think. Being able to properly launch, chirp the wheels going into 2nd and 3rd, and being able to skip gears and downshift into whatever gear you want with rev matching is so enjoyable.

But if you will be using your car as a daily driver and drive through loads of traffic every day you definately should consider the auto. There isn't really a difference in forward acceleration between a manual and auto Z, its just up to what works better for you in the long run.

Some people will laugh and make fun of you, but these cowards probably never did proper racing or know anything about the Z and the fact is the auto is a very good trans. It's not your typical crap auto you get in most econo boxes.

I have a 5AT myself and it works fine and I like it, but if I could of found a manual (I looked for nearly a year) I would of got a manual just becaus I enjoy driving it more and I don't drive through heavy traffic often.

 

[IMG]<a href="http://www.coolmyspacecomments.com/animations.html" title="Animations - Animated Graphics for Myspace, Hi5, Orkut"><img src="http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee11/cy7xa/anim/09.gif" border="0" alt="Animated, Animations" /></a><br><a href="http://www.coolmyspacecomments.com/animations.html" title="Animations - Animated Graphics for Myspace, Hi5, Orkut" target="_blank"><h2>Stickshift. You'll never feel the power of the car with an automatic. EVER! The whole idea of "Z" is sports car. No sports car should ever shift for you.


However.......in risk of getting flammed...

Wrong x 3
Many supercars come with autos....
All Z - AT owners "feel the power"

 

Your jackassedness aside, I agree you don't get to feel the power in the auto as you do in a manual. It's fun to feel the shifts and the changes in forward acceleration with a manual, whereas in a auto its just seamless, constant acceleration which to some is kind of dull.

It's all about what you really want, if you want a manual, even a little, I say get it and learn to drive. Personally i'd say learn to drive manual in a beater so you don't eat up the clutch on the Z.

Personally I dont think they should even make sports cars with auto transmissions, but... whatever, this way all the idiots can drive it and any random girl or just wants to 'look cool' but doesn't actually care about the whole idea of a sports car.

 

if you sit in traffic for about two hours every day, you should get an AT. The car is fun to drive and those midnights on the highway where you get to punch it might not be as thrilling as a MT, but its still exciting!

 

This thread, much like its eight sister threads this week, was condemned to the deepest pits of hell before it was even conceived. None of these threads, no matter how many of them are created, will ever give us any solid answers. Why? Quite simply, there is no solid answer to give.

Fact: The 5AT and 6MT 350Zs are equally matched on the drag strip.
Fact: People own 6MT 350Zs.
Fact: People own 5AT 350Zs.
Fact: Nobody likes to be a loser.
Fact: Automatic guys will always tell you to get an automatic.
Fact: Manual guys will always tell you to get a manual.
Fact: The manual Z is fun to drive.
Fact: The automatic Z is also fun to drive, because it's tiptronic.
Fact: You will be happy with a manual Z.
Fact: You will be happy with an automatic Z.

Flip a coin if you feel it best.

 

Very true comment above. I have an Automatic and I love it. Although, you will come to find the majority of Z owners (especially on this forum) will always say manual. Sports cars + Manuals go hand in hand.

I drive with through a lot of traffic to get to work and my car is my daily driver. I am happy I have the automatic in this situation.

Go with what your lifestyle / drivestyle is and you'll be happy in the end, DESPITE what other ppl say or think!

 

wonder if this will turn into a AT vs MT thread again??????

 

I have a auto and I love it, BUT I wish I had learned how to drive a stick shift.

 

seems like it already is....

 

+1 on wanting to learn how to drive a stick (Everyone should know how to)!

I learned on my 1968 mustang gt, 4spd Hurst Shifter ftw (old school clutch = hernia), but when I got the Z I was living in LA and I hate traffic (I also despise LA, that's another story), so I opted for the 5AT.

It's up to you, but not knowing how to drive stick is just sad, everyone should know how to (It's a blast).