Why does it seem all these young Z drivers all drive automatics???? I'm 18 years old and I would never get a 350Z( or any sprots car) in auto. It just seems stupid. You are not really driving the car unless its a manual!!! I was hoping this trend of young automatic drivers was just my imagination because I would hate to see the youth of America abandoning Manual cars(especially sports car). My first car was a 5-speed BMW 325 and I learned how to drive on it. It helped me b/c I learned to drive stick when I learned to drive a car!!!! If you don't learn to drive stick at a young age, then you will never want to learn. Its seems people who drive auto are just lazy and don't have any skills driving a car. Please tell me some young people still love their 6 speeds.

 

you answered your own question... they might not know how to drive stick...

 

the answer to that is simple...

#1) Most teenagers want a sports car
#2) Most teenagers dont get that car
#3) The ones who are fortunate enough to pursuade their parents into buying them one might not be lucky enough to recieve it in manual. Im 19 and i know 3 of my friends with sports cars...wrx, rx8, g35c all were denied a manual transmission b/c parents realize its more dangerous. Because of teenage accidents, car insurance, especially for males, will continue rising...
#4) Many mothers dont know how to drive manual and wouldnt trust their teenage kid in a 300hp manual beast

 

I would have to agree, my parent denied me manual tranny as well.. but they don't tell me what to do anymore!! ;D

 

I found this in Consumer reports somewhere, but in 2002, only 7% of all cars sold in the US had a manual tranny, and the trend towards autos is continuing. In decades past, automatic transmissions were very expensive and troublesome, but manufacturers slowly improved them, made more and the cost came down.

Now it's at the point where you actually have to go looking for a manual transmission, and many people don't see the point of learning how to use it. Try finding a manual Camry; a few years ago it was possible only with the base models, and now I don't think you can. I've tried explaining how much more control you have over your car with a manual, but lots of people don't want to hear it.

 

IMHO any sports car should be manual. I test drove a Z in auto because they had no manuals on the lot, and driving that Z was less than rewarding. Got my 6-spd and now . The trend toward younger drivers in autos is largely due to manufacturers seeing no $$ in manual cars, regardless of make or model.

 

well my dad told me i should get an auto, but i got the manual like i wanted. it helps that him and my mom both grew up driving manual cars (though they never do anymore).

 

well, because it's not necessary. Most cars come with automatic now and it gives decent performance. And for that extra bit of performance that manual transmission gives, it's more prudent that it's not in the hands of a new driver, who are more reckless and still learning. And those who want to buy a sports car (a small market) later in life and drive a manual, it's not too late, most people drive their 2nd car during their 20s.

Also with technologies like SMG and automatic clutches, which can perform better than a manual, becoming more popular you can extract 100% out of the engine without a clutch. Eventually clutch will be extinct, it's inevitable, almost all car companies have some kind of automatic clutch system installed.

 

NEVER~~~!!! they wont be extinct because ill always have my z...when i hit 200 thou miles, engine swap....when i die...ill pas it down...it just keeepssss goiiingggggggg.....................

 

well, I'm sure there will be manuals around(after all, a copy of the Mayflower and Enterprise (ships)is still in the water), just the car makers will stop producing them

 

I ended up buying a used 350z (with about 8K miles on it, still mint condition), because I couldn't find a dealer with a manual in stock at the time. They had plenty of new automatics though.

 

Well, I chose the auto because I thought Id take a break from a manual. I learned Stick on an 86 300zx TT, and my last 3 cars were manual. I drove the 6-spd Z, and auto. The difference was negligable, IMO. My next car (hopefully there will be a 350Z TT by then) will be a manual.

 

the Z is my 3rd manual. Growing up, my folks never liked the fact i favored stickshift. My rational is that stickshift keeps you awake when you drive at night(going local).

 

If I had gotten any other car besides the Z it probably would have been auto.

^ That sounds incredibly ignorant. Please let's not start anymore "Look at me, I'm a kid" threads.

 

all the young guys I know who drive Z's have the 6MT's
Majority of Z owners I know drive 6MT's and I know alot of Z owners.

what makes you think young people are choosing the AT over the MT ?

 

some people buy a z just for the looks and not for the joy of driving it.

 

I bought it for BOTH reasons. the Auto Z, believe it or not, is Still very fun to drive. Even OUT of manuMatic mode!

 

Im 18, and when I went with my mom to get my car:

1st. My mom knows NOTHING about cars... she doesnt know how much power it has or anything
2nd. When we got out of the car at the dealer and we walked into the showroom... all my mom said was "oh! thats a beautiful car! lets get that!"

LOL, I love my mom.....

 

agree

and many(or most) young drivers can't drive stick

 

Word! In my case I tried learning stick, I just did not have the patience to get it down. even if I had, I would rather not deal with a clutch; Therefore I bought the auto with absolutely no regrets. If someone ask "why did you get an auto Z" I respond with "why didn't you get a better car than x (fill in whatever car) they're driving". A lot of young people get stick just for the cool factor. It's like a right of passage of something. A HUGE majority of those have no idea how to drive a manual to it's fullest however. To each his own.