I have always driven an automatic and I really want to start driving a manual. I've been practicing and it's not that hard.
I can't decide which one I should get.
I'm getting the 350z in a few weeks, and I'll be getting the Silverstone Touring model with all options including navigation.
I'm so stoked to get it... this will be my first Z and hopefully it will be a great experience.
I'm currently selling my Ford F-150, crazy transition from a truck to a sports car! I'm excited!
I'm selling the truck for like 14500 if anyone here is interested! 7148784112, I'm located in So. Cali. Orange County region.
See pictures of my truck if you are interested in buying at:
1999 Silver Ford F-150 with Upgrades
So hit the polls and tell me which one I should get?!

 

Manual all the way, anything less would be a crime. Congrat's you'll love the Z. You won't ever go back to another car! Congrats and good luck. Be sure to take some pics!

 

the Z auto isnt like most autos. its been proven on this forum to be just as fast as the manual, and factor in your average drivers rate of error, and it might be faster (on average). of course the belief is that a manual is the only way to go, but in e-shift mode it performs almost exactly like a manual but without the wheel hop (and need for a clutch). drive both (if you can) before buying. however, if you drive the auto in standard mode it is really boring. but try out the manual mode its in my opinion more fun to drive than a stick, and i think youll be pleasantly suprised.
-->stick<--auto

 

Buy the manual. Everyone should drive at least one sports car with a manual. I drove MTs since 1965 and I've really liked them all. I bought a 5AT Touring for myself this time because I was bored w/manuals. I love my 5AT and I'll bet you will love your 6MT. The nice thing about the Z is you have a choice, both equally outstanding in their own way.

 

Manual all the way... I've only ever driven an automatic in the US, and to be honest, I didn't enjoy it... it took away to much of the driving experience. At least with manual, even if you do crunch the gears, you're involved in the selections and the drive good or bad is all down to how you handle the clutch and gear stick selections.

Over here, the default is pretty much manual, although we are seeing more automatic cars coming in... especially for those people who drive on the M25 motorway and keep getting stuck in traffic... an automatic there would definitely stop your left leg from aching.

 

Get a manual. You'll thank me later. Trust me.

I did the same thing that you are thinking about doing except with a different car. I bought a used 1989 240sx with a manual. Had a friend drive it home for me and teach me how to shift. I have never regretted that decision. My Z is also daily driver. I get stuck in a lot of traffic - my record is 3 hours to cover 30 miles (this was in my 240sx not a Z)! Honestly, it does not bother me. Unlike contrary belief, when I get stuck in traffic my legs do not hurt and my arms are not ready to fall off. I am so used to it that I don't even notice it.

ajk4 - a Z auto IS like most autos. It might have a lot of fancy controllers and electronics but at heart it is still a slush box i.e. power is still transferred through the fluid. In the hands of any capable driver an automatic (I am not talking about the Ferrari F1, SMG or any other like systems that does not have a torque converter) will never be as fast or perform as well as a manual. (I am putting my flame suit on)

I have a very strong opinion on this (like I said-my flame suit is on) but why the hell would anyone want to buy a Z with an automatic is beyond me. If you want an auto go with the Infiniti. I will only trade in my manual for an auto with a hydraulically actuated clutch aka Ferrari F1 or equivalent.

Just my .02


Dmitry

 

if you sit in traffic ALOT, commute to work all the time, then you might have a case for an automatic, but if you get to zip around town, not too much traffic, and you plan to track the car at all. manual is for you.

I did the same as you, had a dodge ram, I grabbed a 318ci for 2 months to beat up while i learned manual, now I have the Z,and couldnt be happier.

the automatic will always have a handicap, by its nature it saps hp. one person got 14.1, his post is still around here somewhere. not bad, faster than I got with my manual, but as I said, Ive driven manual for all of maybe 5 or 6 months. and conditions were not real good for racing. manual will always put more power to the ground, and feathering the clutch for a launch isnt nearly as bad as a brake stand in an auto.

 

No, the 350Z is not like other ATs. It can be shifted like a manual and you have to learn how to shift it well in the manual mode. BTW, have you evr driven a Z automatic? It has been my experience, the manual owners who diss the AT have never driven one or driven it right.

 

I've never heard anyone wanting to turn their manual in for an auto....

Btw, how do you drive an AT "right"?

 

m....in my openion, i think the sports shift(auto on Z) is basically same as usual auto. It's just like a auto that can downshift and upshift by urself!!.
i have drove my brother's Acura 3.2TL
and it is sportshift, nothing really new for an auto!!

 

Then you haven't driven a Z's Automanual, have you? Basically, your information is irrelevant unless you drive a 350Z 5AT. No hard feelings, but they are different cars, aren't they?

 

perhaps you could enlighten us how the 350Z automatic somehow is better than all others? does it not use a power robbing torque converter? does it not use mutliple clutches? I believe it IS the same as any other QUALITY manual transmission, there is nothing new in the design.

but hey, as you said, I have not driven one, so perhaps you could explain in what way the Z transmission is better/different.

 

MANUAL MAN..... The only way to drive.

 

do you know of the Z's auto is just like the BMW smg tranny? because that ****er shifts right when you tap it. so you can basically power shift the whole time.

 

I am sorry to break it to you Boomer but the Z auto IS like any other automatic. The generic name for this setup is a semiautomatic transmission although every car company comes up with their own name. It will allow you to change gears "manually" but it still has the same torque converter and the same basic principles as any other automatic. It has been around for a while (at least since the late eighties with the Porshe 911 Triptonic). If you do a little bit of research you will see that this type of transmission is found on many cars today. In fact, I would not be surprised if the same gearbox is used or will be used in all other nissan products. As I said before, if you take away the electronics that allow you to do the manual stuff, you will be left with a generic automatic tranny. What that means (Ares beat me to the punch here) is that you still loose power to the torque converter and get a limited number of gears=less performance.

I won’t lie, I have not driven the Z with an automatic. What I have done is driven other cars with the same setup. They are not all the same cars but the tranny setup is very similar. Have you driven other cars with the same setup? Better yet-do you know how to drive a manual? I am not trying to offend anyone but the people that point out all the merits of an automatic tranny are usually the ones that have never driven with a manual transmission.

BTW there is no correct way to shift an auto. You press a button - it shifts. You don’t do any actual shifting. Hence you can’t “learn how to shift it well in the manual mode”. There might be better shift points but that is about all. Any person who driven a manual has an instant feel for those. I have certainly been wrong before so your comments are welcome.


Dmitry

A small side note to anyone who cares:
1. A manual transmission is generally (not always) more efficient (better gas mileage) because is does not loose power to the torque converter (direct mechanical linkage to the rear wheels via the clutch).
2. It is helluva easier to service a manual than an auto (good luck sorting through all the electronics if something brakes on that). Trust me. I worked in the shop so I know a little bit about these things.
3. For all you performance nuts: Manual trannys are usually (I stress the word usually) lighter than their automatic counterparts.

 

BMW smg tranny is very different than the Z slush box.

SMG has a CLUTCH. That's right-it is a manual transmission controlled electronically (no torque converter). It is the same as Ferrari F1 shifter (actually Ferrari was the first production car with such a setup with their F355). It does not powershift. It will do all the double clutching/blipping the throttle for you automatically via hydraulics at a lightning speed - faster than is humanly possible. In my opinion it is the ultimate setup. You don’t have to heel/toe, the wear on the clutch is minimal because you get a perfect shift every time (minimal slippage), very convenient if you are stuck in traffic, and allows you to use both feet (like a go cart) when you are on the track. Very cool stuff. As much as I like my Z- if I could afford and SMG that’s what I would get.

Dmitry

 

When I ordered mine I was not sure what I wanted either.

I had a 300Z in auto because I hated the stick in the 300. Too heavy and not fun.

So I decided to order both, 2 fully loaded ss touring models with everything the same but one in auto and the other in manual.

When they came in I took the auto out first.
I REALLY like it was my initial thought.
Drives great, love the shifter in the auto. Car handles great. Man, I'd be happy driving this car.

Then I moved over to the 6 speed.

OH MY GOD! The shift is like butter. Easy on the leg, smooth, effortless and one more thing.....

WAY MORE POWER THAN THE AUTO.

I was sold instantly. 6 speed all the way!

 

This automobile should not even be available in Automatic. How's that for an answer?

 

I AGREE 110%

 

His name is JimH.