I apologize for adding one more to this tread, but. This question has been answered by Ferrari. The F1 transmission is the best production automatic transmission on the planet. This can be set for auto mode or manual mode and use the paddle shifters. On their racetrack they have compared auto mode times with manual mode times. Same car, same day, same driver, as best as a controlled comparo as you can get. The lap times for the cars where lower in the manual mode. I have not seen any posted ¼ mile times from Ferrari. So I can’t speak about drag racing Ferraris. Porsche has compared their cars with the manual transmission vs. their tiptronic transmission and post faster 0-60 times with the manual transmission.
This is data that I know about posted by manufactures. Real numbers not back street racing. I don’t know about other cars and companies, but the above two companies spend lots of money on R&D and on racecars.
If you want to drag race, and this is my opinion, than I think the SVT cobra mustang is a better choice, yes I know flame me. If you want a better all around sports car for the money than get the Z. As I have. Flame away.

 

David

I am not trying to flame you, say you are wrong, or be condescending. I already shot myself in the foot once in this thread, I don’t plan to do it again. You are not getting this whole argument – AT versus MT. I will quote my previous post.


The argument is about an automatic that uses a torque converter versus a manual with a clutch. Period. Anything else, such as F1 or SMG, is a whole new ball game – it does not have a torque converted and hence is irrelevant to this whole argument. If you want to start a thread titled F1 versus MT, I will be the first one to vote for F1.

I think we are in agreement that each person has his or her own preferences whether to go with a torque converter or the clutch tranny. What you are doing is arguing that the TC is just as good as a manual but as your example using a car that has a CLUTCH.


Ares,

Please do not bring racing into this argument. Every form or racing is so closely controlled - the designers have to check the rulebooks every time they feel like taking a crap.

Formula 1 cars have a tranny setup like nothing you have ever seen on any production car you can buy (I happen to work for a company that makes parts for F1 cars) including the F1 shifter on the modena, 355, and enzo.

An example, F1 rulebook says: a transmission must shift in less that 170 milliseconds.
It is rumored (wink wink) that the Ferraris could do it in 30 milliseconds. What do they do with the rest of their time? They manipulate the tranny to work as a traction control!

Nascar cars use a regular clutch, clutch pedal setup (as far as i know)




Can’t we all just get along?

Dmitry

 

I found the article on the Muranoabout the CVT and we are both right, sorta. The belt is heavily re-inforced w/metal through out its length, so its kind of half and half, a hybrid of sorts, but I would bet it will be all metal in the near future.

 

Don't know about the Murano, but the first modern CVT used what was called a link belt. It was by the Dutch firm Van Dorne (sp?) and the belt was all metal. They had developement problems and were limited to low torque engines. Also, they wanted patent royalty payments on every car with a CVT so most automakers stayed away. Their patents ran out a year or so ago, expect to see lots of CVT's in the near future. I wouldn't touch one for several years. They do offer good fuel economy and some interesting options such as programable "shift points".

 

yeah they are neat, but also gaurenteed to screw with your mind, I tried out the murano, just kept waiting for the gear change... it makes it very hard to gauge your speed without listening to RPMs.

 

so the SMG has the clutch huh? damn, SMG is a God send.. too bad other companies don't make their Autos like that. I hate the lag of the auto shifter. thanks for the info

john

 

Holy crap, are you serious! Definitely the manual!
Didn't mean to sound like an a**. Just wanted to get the point across. The manual is such a better interactive experience. Let's you be One with the Z, auhmmmmm. Seriously though, continue learning the stick, you'll be so happy for it, and so will your left foot!

 

Unless this is your commuter car and it's all stop and go, definitely the manual!
I've driven a BMW M3 automatic with a manual shift mode (hey, I bought it used and couldn't resist the deal they gave me) for two years now. Tried the manual mode a couple of times, didn't feel any faster and "shifting" wasn't fun as you just go straight forward or back a notch. Speed wise, even though the M3 with a real manual can be .3 to .4 seconds faster, 9 out of 10 times my auto will be as fast or faster from a standing start. But that's not really what the driving experience of such a car is all about anyway (I agree with one of the other posters, buy yourself a used Vette or some Cobra if you want fast launches).
I get a kick out of taking curves in my M3 at 110 where I'd start getting butterflies around 95 when taking that same curve in our Maxima. But as great as the M3 auto handles, it's still not as much fun to drive as it would be as a true manual, and that's why both my wife and I agreed to buy "her" new Z with the manual (can't wait to get past the break-in period to test that same curve .
BTW, we just got the Z this past weekend and have only driven it a couple of times (bad weather), but the exhaust note/engine sound isn't quite as sweet as in my M3 (love that growl). Hope that gets better with more miles!?

Frank

 

waste of an option if u really want to DRIVE a car its stick all the way, automatic is for SUV 's and minivans not sports cars. I could care less if auto was faster I would still buy manual more fun and way more controll. BMW has that new auto M3 that shifts faster than humanly possiable but I don't care I would still take stick over it any day

 

As many have said prior. Fast shifting may win in a drag race but on a racetrack the driver's mind and car must be in the same gear. That is only possible with a MT or a F1 type trans. Either way the driver selects the gear. A driver may want to power shift, slide, spin, etc. An AT can not do this. And, for the ultimate example. The motorcycle racers hanging off the side of the bike in the twisties, would crash with an AT. They need too have gear/driver symbiosis.

 

Absolutly right!

A 350Z with AT is like sex with a condom.
It's good, but it's so much better without!

The added bonus is that you get more HP out of a stick.

 

Puleeze, guys! The next thing I'm going to hear is, "to be Zen, you must become one with the arrow".

I already told the guy to buy the manual, if you don't stop soon, you'll all go blind

 

Yawn

Meet me at the track after I stall my High Stall TC and we will settle this debate once and for all.

You can give me a .2 head start since your car has "more horsepower"

Don't flame me for being the 1/3 majority either I am sticking up for my baby and calling BS when I see it!

 

At first I concidered an auto, don't get me wrong, we have big traffic jams all day every day here in Mexico, so its very confortable to drive an auto. But after driving my manual 350Z there is no way in hell i would concider an auto .

 

automatic......specially if you drive it everyday

if u get bored u always have the tiptronic shifting which is better then most manual trans cars out there.
oh and it has all the fun of manual shifting without the hassel of that 3rd pedal. im lazy i know.


most manual cars have 4gears auto and 5gears manual ne way right?
the auto Z have 5 to begin with. very juicy

automatic
peace

 

First off, I'll just go ahead and say that I'm a fan of manuals. i learned to drive in my mom's auto, but since then all my cars have been standards. aside from being able to row the gears yourself, have you ever tried to push start an auto after you killed the battery accidentally, or your starter is going out? BUT this whole topic comes down to PERSONAL PREFERENCE. The 6mt proponents are NEVER going to change the minds of the 5at fans. And vice versa.
Now to the point of why i quoted this post. If you had a horriffic noise after you had a lightweight flywheel installed, someone either did it wrong or you were using an alluminum with a changeable contact plate on it and the contact plate was coming off. I've never known ANYONE who had a horriffic noise after installing a flywheel properly.

 

I just received my Auto with manual mode. I've always driven sticks in a 300zx and 99 maxima SE. I love the auto in this car. The manual mode is just fine, you can still have fun with the manual mode. This car has plenty of power for an auto. You don't need a manual to have fun with this car. The difference in speed is not even noticable. I'm 27 by the way, not old yet.

 

What is an automatic ?

 

It's that Daytona Blue thing 4 car lenghts ahead of you with one hand on the wheel and one foot out the window!

 

wow, lots of imput. Anyway i just got my Z 6 days ago in MT, its my first MT ever after having an AT Bimmer, and i will never go back to auto. Its so much more fun with an MT, you have so much more control over your car. Plus, its a sports car! I got ridiculed so much for having an Auto Bimmer, and Im sure getting an AT Z would have the same efffect. So go for the MT