No, you have to try the trans in manual mode before you can tell a difference between this AT and all the Triptonic, Steptronic, etc. There are 2 modes, full auto, and manual. In full auto, yes, you sit and it shifts.

In manual, you HAVE to shift it, it will NOT shift for you, unless you are sitting still, then it defaults to first gear. Bury the throttle in first and it will bang into the rev limiter all day, at full OR part throttle. You have to learn how to shift it optimally in manual mode or you will not be driving it properly. BTW, never take your foot off the gas to shift in manual mode.

Try it, you may be surprised, I was, and I've been driving MTs for 38 YEARS. This is NOT your father's AT. And no, it is NOT faster than full auto, its just more fun.

Boomer

 

YEAH! What Boomer said!

 

I have no doubt that it's fast. It just isn't 80 milliseconds fast. If I'm not driving a standard I like to keep my hands on the wheel. That's where F1 paddleshifting comes in. (BMW SMG). It shifts faster than most humans can throw a stick. That is the only way I personally would buy an auto.

 

Then you wouldn't mind paying $23K more for your SMG. Hey, thats all right, but I'm not, so our choices are different. Until I feel like digging out $23,000 more for an M3, BTW, I rejected one before I bought my Z.

I'll stick w/my 5AT w/o paddles which I like. Paddles on the steering wheel don't appeal to me at all, so I can still shift with my right hand with the 5AT and you do need to learn how to shift it properly in manual mode or you will be very slow.

 

Sorry. I guess we're in a different price range. How about the toyota MR2 tranny? Same thing as the SMG (roughly) but quite a bit less. I'm just saying that I wish Nissan had adopted some new technology in the Z tranny.

 

very good point.

Also, I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion on a SMG. The only way i would give up having a manual is by getting a SMG.