i have both in the garage right now, sitting for the winter... guess which one is comming out first thing there is nice weather....

let me give u a hint, not the automatic

 

[disclaimer: I'm a chick so I'm lacking some of the machismo about sports cars others may have] I bought my ZR about 6 weeks ago. I test drove an auto and manual, but the manual is just more fun to drive. It's my first manual car and the dealer had to teach me the basics so I could even drive it off the lot. I don't track; I don't drive particularly fast; I'm sure a Prius would be off the line at a light b/c my shifts are still pretty slow, but the manual is still so much fun.

I commute in the DC metro area, and our traffic is ridiculous. There are some days when I'm stopped in bumper-to-bumper traffic on an incline on the beltway and the jerk behind me starts creeping up and I panic a little. Those times I really wish I had an auto... but most of the time I'm content to just drive around with the radio off and listen to my shifting.

 

Well there you have it folks. Mt's are more fun to drive because the driver is engaged in the process and for that will ALWAYS be the tranny of choice among sports car enthusiasts, even if the auto is faster, which for our cars is not the case.

But for the purposes of my particular Z, I heart my auto

 

haha, have you ever been to seattle? (im sure san fran is even worse). Seattle was built on a major incline of some sort. Half of their downtown streets are on a 45 degree+ gradient. Its insane! I took my firebird down there a while back (never again). And it rolled back what felt like 5 feet (an eternity in my shoes). Thank god there was no one behind me at the time.

 

Hey Jdubbya, regarding your trepidation with working the clutch on steep hills, here’s a little trick my dad taught me. If you’re stopped on a steep hill with a car right on your rear bumper, make use of the hand brake. Pull the hand brake on enough to hold the car, but keep your thumb on the release button. This now frees your left foot from doing double clutch/brake pedal duty.

Freed from all worry of rollback, I slowly release the hand brake as the clutch engages. I live across the harbor from Vancouver on the side of a mountain and the hills are hellacious here, but the Z has a great handbrake so I have no troubles. Takes a little practice, but once you have it down you’ll never stall or rollback again. Also works well when starting on a hill if the road is icy.

 

Ok seriously, more auto bashing?
My Z has both (roadster+auto).
No the auto in this car is not the same as the manual (the manual transmission in the Z's are pretty much bullet proof only exception being the lemons early on) but it is definitely one of the best actual autos i've been in.
The engine and tranny are very well matched, aside from a few miss shifts (have to click the tiptronic twice) and a slight delay from when you tell the car to shift to when it shifts the auto is brilliant. I've had owners of other cars (who have believed all automatics should be burnt to a crisp) tell me that the auto is more than good, and actually feels right. A few that own manual cars far faster than most of these people who are talking **** about auto's even said they like it.
This transmission (the RE5R05A) is rumored to be designed after the vg30 auto which is known to hold a lot of power esp when modified (cue the AMS drag 240sx owned by Ivan) and resembles the Porsche Tiptronic transmission greatly. This is a jatco transmission and is used in the murano, the fx45 as well as the nissan titan. More than a few titan guys have plenty of power and push it through a lightly (edit*)Modified* RE5R05A without problems. My car sometimes miss shifts only on the tiptronic mode, but many people attribute this to poor grounding in the earlier z's (i have an 04). Poor grounding can be easily fixed with a grounding kit which is really simple to install and doesn't cost too much. People claim this fixes their missed shifts.
Next automatics (in general) are quicker, at least for drag racing. Although this is more because consistency is greatly increased, it is also true do to the possibility of putting the engine under load at a standstill (to create boost while the car is at the line). Most people will be quicker and faster in an auto, not because autos are better, but because most people will never learn to truly shift their manual transmission.
Yes, manuals hold records for nearly all things 350z, but on a stock for stock daily basis an auto will be just as quick/fast, sometimes quicker/faster.
Honestly, this auto bashing **** needs to stop. Especially when a good percentage of the people talking **** about auto Z's haven't even driven one, let alone LIVED with an Auto Z for YEARS.
Final verdict: if you are a die hard manual person, that's fine, just get an auto. The automatic is still very sporty and is very very easy to use/drive on a daily basis. If you are debating, I'd say go for the automatic.
END RANT

 

It is a matter of individual preference. I have a roadster with an a/t. When I boosted the Z I was sorry it wasn't manual. I upgraded the a/t and many other items on the Z due to the added boost. It is very quick and fun to drive in spite of being an a/t.

 

Everyone i know that made the Barbie choice now want to 6MT, so if your in the debate go 6MT.

I do agree with some of the stuff you mentioned, well built drag cars, yes AT is better. The rest with daily drivers, AT is still for trophy wifes.

 

I just wanted to make it very clear that auto's are just as fast in a straight line which is a very common misconception.
But in road racing, im sure the at could keep up (stock for stock at least). The engine and gearset are very well matched.
Tit for tat; MT is a thing of the past. More and more technology is out there that makes true mt's benefits minute. Besides, living in a hilly *** city with an automatic is sooo much nicer than a manual. No, its not very difficult to get up hills from a stop, but early morning commutes become a lot less painful.

 

I had just wanted to make sure the two transmission options were both of good, equality with regards to the car. That question has been answered. I appreciate the responses.

The result of all this is that I ultimately decided on the manual transmission (although driving the AT was wonderful - the car handled beautifully). So I bought my second 350z roadster, a 2008.

 

I have tried this once out of sheer desperation to get out of a sloped parking spot and not roll into the concrete wall. I didn't think to use it in traffic. Thanks for the tip!

lol. so, no road trips to seattle for me! I recently went to San Francisco and I have no idea how people w/ manuals can drive or parallel park on those streets!

 

So far in the thread

calling GTR an automatic = fail.
it's manual transmission that shifts itself. completly different from Automatic.

stating that automatic is equal in straight line = fail.
Most automatics, including 350z, comes out with slower 0 to 60 time. do your research and you'll see. it's mostly from lack of controlled launch (can't be pushed to the limit) but its still not FASTER. (in term of stock vs stock like you stated)

However!! i do agree that not every 350z was obligated to be bought in MT. if it was, why would nissan even bother making them in AT? hard core cars HAS to be bought in MT because AT cannot do what MT can do. enable complete control of the shifting action. that's why most delicate and hardcore cars are made only in MT (such as S2000) however, 350z is very far from being anything hardcore. (in stock form at least) and since it is a roadster, it is very understandable to be automatic. (it's basically gunna be a cruser.) however, don't be surprised when people call you a girl, *****, etc for driving an automatic 350Z.

btw. i own manual 350ZR.

 

Welll, I didnt listen to people back in 1998 when i bought my 92 civic hatch (In 1994). You cant make that fast its a HONDA. 3 motors later and 11 second time slips in 2000.

I wanted an auto cause I thought I would be happy with it and with time they would come up with a tranny that could hold up. So im hopeful, I just want a SOLID 450hp maybe 550hp Z.

DO they swap auto's into manuals? I know they have done it to hondas, swap the computer and pedals. I mean if all else fails....it could be an option?

As for now, im happy with my Z and looking to get my TE37 wheels soon....At least I will look good being auto! lol

 

Big difference between the DSG style transmissions and the slushbox the Z comes with. EVO 10MR for example, DSG, set the trans to race mode and it can shift a hell of a lot better than most to include myself can. You don't even have to touch the paddles.




I always figured it would be more painfull knowing my ***** were removed.

Just not that easy with these cars. Wiring nightmare with the computer. Pretty much a full harness swap is needed.

 

If you get an auto you will always regret not having a 6spd.

 

here it goes, gimme the mike! god didn't make just one kind of car and one kind of transmission! so if you like manual don't bash on the automatic fans. i drive an auto and i don't race my car often but i tell ya this, it feels so good to see a manual behind me cause he missed a gear or just can't keep it up!! all the auto haters go get some viagra so you can keep up!! and this is what i don't like about this site!! keep hating and you won't have anything in life!! mic drops and i leave!

 

and i drive an modded auto (but i don't hate on manuals, i love em too!!)

 

Very well stated!
I drive a 350Z 5AT as my daily driver (why do I need a 6MT for that?) and a 350Z 6MT on the track. Both suit these purposes very well.
What I can't understand is people who somehow relate their transmission to their virility!!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about having issues!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Maybe personal preference.. I had both. Coupe 6pd and I wanted a ZR so bad I didnt wait and I jumped on the first good deal I could find.. Wich was a Auto ZR.. Like I said maybe personal preference.. But got boring reaaaall quick.. only kept for about 6 months. But if you have your mind set on it.. Check out the Works Bell Colunm shifters.. These are pretty sweet

http://intensepower.com/wobecopashni.html

 

I wanted a Roadster since the first time I saw one. I even got the auto...I love it. I drive in traffic every day and I love it more. I'll deal with the 1/2 of a second slower 0-60 time for ease of drive. Top down, radio up drive fast and it makes the daily communte tolerable...if that's being girly..oh well..call it what you want.

I agree with the no bashing...a manual trans does not make you a man...