I don't know about you but my 370z is butter smooth just like an automatic. But then again, I think that totally depends on the individual's competency to drive manual.

Oh no he didn't... :ohsnap1:

1 thought I have and I'm not bashing anyone, because I don't give a damn if you drive auto or manual. It's what ever you prefer and are use to.

Obviously it takes more skill to drive the manual, but not much more since the synchro rev matching makes it a good amount easier for people to live with as a daily. The clutch in the Z is so soft its unbelievable. Whatever.... Threads like this can go on forever. Im out...

If you get an auto tranny, how will you hold your head high at the gatherings of the true sports car fans? The manual on the 370Z, with the syncro, is the talk of the sport car world.


If you get an auto, you might as well get an infiniti G37 coupe with 4 seats! (the horror!)

just my 2 cents worth....

The Z is a "pure" sports car. Don't mess with that!


--jayhawk
Original owner, 1973 Datsun 240Z
(and second owner of a 1993 300ZX - both are in my garage right now. and both with manual transmissions.)

Well, although I'll never buy an auto, I do disagree with that statement. What is a Ferrari F430 or Lamborghini LP-670? Not a "pure" sports car? They don't have manuals, and yet they're pretty damn fast and sporty to me.

Paddle shifters are a pretty good setup (if the line pressure is raised) for track use and therefore I don't see automatics as a non-sports car.

Also, there are those that either don't like to drive manuals for one reason or another (my friend has a blown-out knee, for example) and would still like to drive a sporty car. And then of course there are those that don't know how to drive a manual. I don't see anything wrong with getting an auto and I don't look down on those that have autos. A car enthusiast is a car enthusiast.

Aman Crash... Look at the big picture people...

Grow UP. GEEZ....

LOL since when does the tranny make a car a sports car?

I'm a good manual driver, and I went with Auto on my 370Z. It's been great. I still flip back and forth all the time (my older Trans-Am is a 6 speed, and I still drive it too (mostly to pick up missing tools or parts while the Z is up on jack stands getting some work done)). Sure with the 6 speed I have more direct control, but the Z's auto is really well done. It's really nice if you're busy, on the phone, stuck in crawling traffic, etc, to just be able to put the car in D and not worry about it.

As for any real driving (high-speed cornering, etc) in the power-band of the engine, the auto is a pretty fast shifter, and makes smoother engagements than I ever could in a manual. One less thing for my brain to focus on means I can spend more time watching my speed, my line, the curb, other drivers, etc.

I'd would probably never be happy with an auto in a car like that, but have heard Nissan's new 7-speed auto is a marked improvement over the old 5AT, both in acceleration and fuel economy. I can certainly appreciate that.

I went with 7speed since it's my daily driver + I already have two manuals sitting in the garage

I've driven manual since 2003 and test drove the Z a few weeks ago, they only had a auto. Never thought i'd consider auto and especially for a sport car as i always had it in my mind mt was the only way to go. Now however im kinda leaning towards the auto, was pretty happy with it when i played around with it.

For me, it's a manual gearbox. With the performance of the 370, my liking is the manual. But, I take nothing away from anyone who prefers an automatic.

And if you buy the sport and use SRM how can you hold your head high knowing you should have learned heel-toe already? :stirthepot: :p

Why is brand recognition so important to you? Are you not comfortable in that you have bought good quality but want a "name" to go along with it?

the guy who started the thread answered his own question when he started the thread.

What I mean by that is if you have to talk yourself into an MT, you'll and up with the auto.

There are exceptions like a few posted on this thread, but if you enjoy driving stick, especially on a sports car, you'll do it in traffic, on hills, in bad weather, whatever.

I drove manual transmissions for 15 years, then got marred, turned 35 and got a Lexus Gs 300. Great car with a lot of goodies. I wanted to shoot myself.

I traded it in 1 year later for a mini cooper S.mt Didn't have half the bells and whistles of the Lexus but I couldn't wait to drive it every day.

That's when I fully realized I was a MT guy.

If you have to convince yourself, get an auto because you'll probably regret getting a manual in the long run.

To enjoy driving a manual is not just an extension of the car, it's an extension of ones personality. Like many of you, I get bored driving an automatic. It turns a drive into a chore. My 6MT Z makes going to the dry cleaners a fun driving experience.