Driving an automatic is like masturbating. It's quick and efficient. But you know what? It can't beat old fashioned sex.

Saw this on Facebook and thought it was funny :D

I got the 7at because I'm on the middle of rehabbing my knee....I like the auto it a nice version of it.

We are with you there but you need to pot shot the M/T guys. Keeps this thread worthwhile

Masturbating is an art that the M/T have mastered playing with two sticks. You will look like fiddler crabs in a few years of driving them.

Weak. Try again.

I just noticed this thread was first started on 2/17/09. Man we're old :icon17:

Why has this not been made a poll yet?

Actually there used to be several of these threads, and then one of the mods cleaned them up and merged them. I wonder if that's really the start date of the oldest one or not.

drove the 6mt and it wasn't that great. 1st to 2nd was especially rough.

RJM Pedal :)

i have a 7at so no problems here :p

just to note, the z i drove didn't have a clutch helper spring. i think less resistance would feel awkward.

This thread is just to poke a little fun at each other. It is interesting on what everyone's thoughts are on preference and saying.

To each his own! Personal preference! No need for ignorant comments!

Yes .....an AT is great for them till they learn how to drive a sports car !

I find it funny when 7AT guys always bring up the fact the auto Z is faster than the 6mt. Lol, 2-3 tenths of a second faster to 60 or in the 1/4 is not going to make me jump ship to a slush box, nor do I think it will to other manual drivers. I won't disrespect somebody for buying an auto Z..... however, I can't stand people that have no idea how to drive stick, yet they claim how much better the 7AT is, and how all super cars have autos, and manuals are dated, blah blah blah. And believe it, there are tons of dudes in here that only bought an auto because they don't know how operate a manual gearbox... Of course they won't ever admit to it. People you would least expect. And you'll hear the 3 main excuses over and over. "I have a bad knee, my gf/wife needs to be able to drive it, I live in an area with bumper to bumper traffic."

Well one thing is for sure, I can drive the hell out of any manual transmission. My first experience in driving one is when I was 10 years old. My dad had a 67 Chevelle S'S with a three speed on a tree. Until you learn how to drive an old school manual without the hydraulic assistance you should understand why I prefer an auto. Oh yea and my wife will absolutely not drive a manual either. My preference is auto for several reasons I stated in earlier posts and in my opinion the Z is set up very well in either configuration.

or until you want to turbo then it is all manual, all day.

Edit: also I drove an automatic z and it was bad, Also rode in a q50 and wanted to kill myself. the q50 is a good car with terrible controls.

:iagree:Fixed it for ya!:tup:

Haha keep telling urself that bro, only way you could get me into an automatic is if you cut off my left foot.

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Somebody should just let this poor thread die already..

Oh and AT<DCT<MT

Now that is an ironic comment from anyone bearing that moniker :icon17:

2015 Ferrari California T: First drive | Autoweek

That can be arranged.

I don't know how many folks with the 7AT fall into that particular category, but I can tell you what's behind anyone defending the merits of the AT to someone with a MT:

Hardcore MT only enthusiasts openly (and repeatedly) mock the owners of AT's, deride anyone for even contemplating buying an AT, and bash the living hell out of the very concept of an AT sports car.

That understandably puts some people on the defensive...

You can't argue personal preferences or subjective qualia (see further, fans of the FR-S), but you can certainly point to measurable performance metrics or technical improvements as objective facts to be considered in evaluating something (see further, not-fans of the FR-S).

I kind of thought folks were a little more easy going on here about the AT vs MT thing, but maybe not...?

AT vs. MT (at least for the Z) is not like choosing illiteracy over literacy; it's more like taking digital over analog.

I'm guessing everyone will chill out on this issue by and by... Ferrari certainly did (the company, if not the member).

You don't have to explain it to me bro, I've seen that in every car forum I've been on for as long as I can remember. Actually, the auto bashing on this forum is a lot more tame compared to others. Spend some time on My350z, or better yet read the Youtube comments whenever a video of an auto sports car is posted. Its rough.

Yes we auto boys get bashed pretty hard on YouTube. I always get that question as to why I drive and auto in a sports car but my answer never sinks in right. It seems the natural thing to have is a manual with them. I just pipe off to stir the pot is all on this thread.

Well, as I've said before: If the Top Gear guys have come to accept and even embrace "flappy paddle gearboxes"* (they don't seem to complain anymore), it seems that other car enthusiasts might consider following suit.

Anyway, nobody will feel the need to make excuses or provide detailed explanations for their car if they're not attacked, directly or indirectly, for it... just sayin'.**

EDIT:
*By which I really mean: "automatic transmissions, regardless of mechanical design, developed for high performance applications".

The latest iteration of the 7AT doesn't even have paddles in base form, and many cars with paddle shifters have poorly designed transmissions. I hang my head in shame for failing to spell this all out more precisely in my original post.

Sheesh.

**This comment was the more critical point to reflect on...

The flappy paddle gearboxes as referred to on Top Gear arent torque converter automatics. Not downing the 7at, but let's not be real here. Flappy paddle gearboxes, as coined by Top Gear = dct. The 7at, is not.

Groan. :icon14:

Why exactly does that matter? Performance? Concept? Imagined stigma?

The DCT on the Veloster sucks syphilitic monkey balls and the "slushbox" on the Jaguar F-type coupe is generally regarded as sublime.

No one at Top Gear is going to crap all over the new Jag because somewhere, low in it's underbelly, lurks a very embarrassingly un-sporty torque converter. I think they'll endure the shame for the good of the Empire.

The flappy paddles refer to, well, the flappy paddles, not to the presence or absence of a torque converter...

When Top Gear coined that phrase they were reviewing automated manuals and dcts in very high end sports/super cars, not conventional ATs with paddles.

Then manufacturers got in the band wagon and threw paddles onto their slushboxes as a 'sporty option'. The 7at comparisons, referencing Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, etc. are comical. Yes these high end sports cars are shifting away from manuals but they certainly aren't shifting towards a torque converter. My Maxima rental this week has paddles, by literal interpretation of the phrase, that makes this CVT a flappy paddle gearbox, correct? Even though it has no gears? Or how about the 7at in the g37x I had. Essentially the same transmission without paddles but does the exact same thing via the shifter as the Z with paddles? Is that just an automatic?

Again, I think the 7at is a good trans, I've driven it in Z, G, and FX applications, but it's not 'flappy paddle gearbox', at least by my definition and what Top Gear was testing when they coined the phrase.

But then again arguing semantics is pointless. Everyone has their own viewpoints/opinions. Make all the comparisons/claims you want. If you enjoy it, who cares! At least our cars looks damn good! :tup:

I'll never understand why a DCT is so important especially since they aren't known for there long term reliability. Our old school auto shifts almost as fast as a DCT and its a more reliable and proven design. Don't get me wrong I love DCT transmissions but what would we gain over the current design? Most likely we would get a slightly quicker shift and I mean slightly with a bunch of new maintenance costs and most likely more serious reliability issues. Now more importantly lets get back to arguing over the term "flappy paddles".


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The flappy paddle gearbox in my Maxima is great! Shifts so fast and smooth, just like the Z

I'm not looking to argue semantics or taxonomy. This is a matter of the role of logic, reason, and personal bias in making sense of things. Why dismiss it? It's not as if there isn't a lot of emotion, time, and energy invested in the subject of defining a "proper sports car." Accordingly, tarring and feathering usually follows a difference of opinion... sounds like its worth thinking about to me. Isn't that what the thread is about?

The Top Gear guys probably have no idea how either a torque converter or a DCT work -- those guys are notoriously ignorant (and happy to remain so) on the inner workings of cars. That name was inspired by having paddles to flap. It's irrelevant to the point -- change what I said to "higher performance AT's" instead.

Anyway, my point is: If an automated trans works well, it should be better liked, and if it works poorly, then irrespective of how it works, it should be less liked.

In other words, if a driver's controlled inputs for shifts result in fast, precise gear changes, why does it matter how they're mechanically actuated?

This fine shade of gray regarding general approval or disapproval of AT's seems to be all based on a general distaste for anything involving a torque converter, regardless of how well it works. That doesn't make any sense to me.

On that note, I doubt the AT on the Maxima shifts as well as the Z as they are probably different units, with different gearing, and different tunes. On the other hand, the Maxima, the Z, the IS-F and the Jaguar F-type all have a "slushbox". Therefore the AT on all of these cars are equivalent and terrible? :confused:

you do realize not every car on top gear that they say "flappy paddle gearbox" is a DCT right?

aventador - single clutch
pagani huayara - single clutch
etc...

again another incorrect piece of info by B15 trying to down on the 7AT.

:gtfo2:

FPenvy and his failure to read, at it again! Allow me to quote from my previous posts for our #1 7AT fanboy.

Here I was referring to a single clutch system. Notice how I also referenced the DCT? But yes, let's argue some more over semantics.

Here, I said I think it's a good trans.

You guys comparing the Zs AT to the Aventador and other single clutch transmissions crack me up. Also, I am willing to bet that anyone saying that the 7AT shifts almost as fast as a GTR or 458 has never driven a real DTC.

why do you gotta go and ruin my trolls lol

:bowrofl: :stirthepot:

Every single 7AT vs manual references this. #2 argument is that manuals are archaic. Last I checked, so are TC automatics. In the old days, making a slushbox shift fast required aftermarket mods, so it is good to see manufacturers finally doing this from the factory. It's still not a direct connection like a manual or semi-automatic. Yes I know the TC locks up...

And for FPenvy....I still think the 7AT is a good trans :ugh2:

oh no i dont fail to read. i fail to care about anything you say. i honestly just like fuckin with everyone in here and you are a easy target to troll :bowrofl:

isn't this what the internet is for?

it's mutual :tup: