Now don't laugh. I'm just curious for obvious reasons. Is anybody road racing or autoXing a 350Z with a 5AT? If so, how well (or bad ;0) are they doing? Please don't turn this thread into a 6MT vs. 5AT bashing war. That subject has been well wore out on this site and many others. Please just answer the question if you, or you know someone that races the 5AT. I appreciate any help.

 

I was at an autocross a couple of months ago and a guy was driving an auto (not a Z). He wasn't doing great but that had alot to do with the car he was driving.

I've also seen mention of it on Christoc's AutoX website: http://Solo2.org

You might want to look around there and you'll probably get some non-biased advise.

 

Thanks DavesZ#3. What was he driving if you don't mind me asking?

 

A Dodge Stratus of all things.

 

It's duable, and not a big problem for autox.

There already was a thread here about that. Do a search.

 

I love doing track days in my Z with the 5AT. I'll grant the 6MT drivers that there are a few advantages that they have over me:

- they are putting a little bit more power to the ground

- the direct connection through the clutch gives the driver more input about what's going on at the rear wheels.

- the gear ratios are closer, so a good driver can stay closer to the optimum part of the power band for the whole lap. (my one complaint with the 5AT is that in some curves I have to dip a little lower than I'd like in the RPMs in 3rd gear because 2nd isn't tall enough to be worth downshifting).


But there are some other things that both the 5AT and 6MT can do:

- we can both hold a gear at redline for as long as we want, or bounce off the rev limiter if we're really pushing it

- we can gradually add throttle in a corner without worrying about the car suddenly deciding it's time to shift into the next gear


And there are even some advantages to the 5AT over the 6MT:

- I can shift with a simple slap of the stick, so without worrying about heel toe or missing a shift, I can concentrate more on my line

- the gear ratios aren't as close, so I don't have to shift as much on some tracks (example: I can stay in 3rd gear for the majority of a lap at most tracks, while the 6MT guys have to swap between 3rd and 4th multiple times per lap)

- on the drive home from the track, you can put the car in automatic mode until you get used to NOT keeping the revs above 5000 all the time again.

 

Thank you Redline350Z ! Great input, thanks for the reply. BTW, I like the color of your Z. I think Redline is the best. Hmmm, I wonder why........

 

This is my 1st year doing AutoX. I have a 5AT and I think it is great. I have had a lot of people ride with me and give it praise for it being an auto. It does understeer a good bit. I am having sways installed this weekend and will run it next weekend in ATL. I ran 2 weeks ago and placed 38 out of 80 cars. The week b4 that, I placed roughly 40 out of about 105 cars. Hopefully this will help with your "?"

 

I've done both in my 4-door auto and done quite well I might add. No problem or disadvantage in autocross since (at least in my region) you shift once to second, then run the rest of the way without ever having to shift again. Best thing is if you spin (which I never have) no stalling!

The only problem I had at the track was that after the tranny got real hot, it didn't want to (manually) shift below 4th. I'll be adding a tranny cooler before my next outing to counter that little problem.

 

where at in Houston are you Auto-Xing? I've always wanted to get into it, but around here (El Campo) the only Auto-X course is the one I made in the old Wal-Mart parking lot...

 

The SCCA Events are held at Gulf Greyhound Park which is on 45 south towards Galveston. You can get all the info you need here:

http://www.houscca.com