Manual vs. Automatic Tranny?
 

Hi,

I am looking to buy a 370 in a month or two; I’m checking the market place forum and also auto trader. I want something with under 20K miles in maybe a sport package.

My question is: how does the automatic transmission perform vs. the manual?

I grew up driving a manual transmission and was planning on buying this 370 with a manual but I see allot of automatics for sale on autotrader that look really nice for pretty good prices.

I am going to use the car as a daily driver to and from work on mostly open highways and some winding highway. I will be the only one driving it, the wifey has her suv.

Can the automatic be used similar to a manual if you wanted? How is the reliability of the automatic if a person shifted it manually allot? If I bought an automatic and wanted to do some serious canyon carving would I be disappointed with the automatic?

I am looking for feedback on your experiences and thoughts with a manual vs. automatic trannys.

Thanks,

John - Montana

No, get the manual.

Ibtl

:icon18:
For the AVERAGE driver, the automatic tends to be just a smidge faster.

The automatic can be used sort of like a manual. You can choose the gear you are in, and you choose when you shift.

I have the automatic, and I have loved it the whole time I have had it. I haven't been disappointed with it at all.

However, I agree with Kenchan on this. I love the automatic don't get me wrong, but if I could go back, I would have gotten the manual. After college, I plan to go FI, but I have to watch how high my torque gets because the auto can't handle as much as the manual. Plus, you just don't get the same feel with an auto. Go manual. IMO.

It's a RWD car... get a manual lol

From what I hear the automatic is good for some fun. I don't think it would disappoint.

:tiphat:

I was in the market for a manual before I bought my Z. I've always been of the mindset that a sports car should have a manual. You should drive it, not just aim it where you want to go. That being said, I ended up in a 7AT. The car I ended up with had everything else that I wanted (color, options, etc) except the trans.

Driving the auto is obviously different, and even now, a month and a half after I bought it I still ponder whether I made the right decision. I've been using the paddle shifters as opposed to the console shifter. I find you have good control over upshifting; you shift when you are ready, and the car responds immediately. Downshifting is another story. In a manual you downshift and use engine braking a lot. Not with this car. She will downshift on her own, when she deems necessary, and I don't believe there is anyway to bypass this. Downshifting yourself sometimes leads to downshifting 2 gears at a time, and thrashing the car a bit. Downshifting should only be used when you need to hit the power band for acceleration.

In my opinion, if you want to drive it like a sports car, get the manual. If you drive in traffic a lot and are okay with point and drive most of the time, go with the auto.

Both are reliable, the auto is faster by far for a novice drag racer, and a tiny tiny bit for a skilled drag racer. The manual is a lot more fun.since you will be on the freeway, that meaner just stick it in sixth and kick back. On those windy roads, tons more fun. So unless this car is meant for drag or bracket racing for money--go manual.

Autos are for girls and family wagons

Ibtl

Yeah, threads about trannys usually get locked.

There are a many threads that are auto vs manual debates. From my limited time here, they don't end well. :ugh2:

IMHO, based on limited experience with Z's but lots of reading here, neither is really better than the other in the Z, they're just different. Performance is basically a wash, with a nod to the AT in terms of easy-to-launch consistency. Fuel economy is the same. Reliability is also probably a wash. Though with any manual, one can break stuff more easily due to human error (clutches burnt, forcing it into 1st at 80mph, etc).

If you don't want to be bothered to be required to shift, then get an automatic. Set it and forget it. When you need a specific gear, it has paddles. If you commute in the Z through daily heavy stop-and-go traffic, an automatic is probably the smart choice.

If you want a more "dynamic" relationship with your car, both pleasure (absolute control, perfect heel-toe downshifts, the 'coolness' of being in the minority of Americans who know how to drive a manual) and pain (how-do-I-launch-this-thing? stalling. why is the transmission so clunky? clutch-burnout-worry), then buy the manual.

One important note... If you buy a manual, the Sport package adds Synchro-Rev matching. When it's activated, the Z's throttle will automatically match the engine RPM to the correct transmission speed while you're shifting. Basically, it heel-toe's for you. It's a very cool feature, and it's the first (and currently only) car in the world that has this feature.

Good luck!

When given the option, always go for the manual gearbox.

MT

Manual!



IBTL

If you had the Manual in mind before looking at 370z's for sale, the manual is the one you want. Also, you said you grew up driving manual transmissions.
I think it fits the car well. More of a direct, mechanical connection to the power.

Besides the auto is a $1000 option

also oil questions. :icon17:

Trannies and lube....they should be locked.

Go google that and see what pops up.

http://images.icanhascheezburger.com...3150741689.jpg

If you plan on keeping the car and modifying down the line, the auto transmission will eventually be a limiting factor. I don't know about you, but I like to downshift and get into the powerband whenever I want. If you like MT transmissions, the Z with the sports pack and synchro rev is a lot of fun.

Well your buying a sports car... Manual transmission is a must!!! And looks lot cooler imo=) mt ftw!!!!!!!

mt or at... Its a win win situation=)

I wanted an Auto because it was going to be my daily driver but ended up with a 40th Ann. which comes with a manual.

I love this thing. It's no problem in traffic at all and it's way more fun to get it through the gears. Downshifting to bring the engine to a high rev to leave that corner at like Mach 9 is way too much fun...

lp

If you're comfortable looking down in shame every time someone approaches you (and your car) with vivid excitement and asks if it's a "5-speed or a 6-speed?"; if you're comfortable not making direct eye contact (like a man), but instead inspecting the gravel beneath your small, tiny feet as you whimper the sad reply, "7-speed... automatic", then sure, go for the auto by all means.

7AT is fun and practical. The downshifts are epic.

do you have self-esteem problems? yes you do.

I was never hugged as a kid.

Or an adult.

:( Forever arone.

and yet you Drives: '10 Civic (FG1) 5AT ? come on now, do something good for yourself and get out of this uncontrolled spin! :tup:

There are more threads on this than you can shake a stick at, such as:

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...ck-manual.html

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...vs-manual.html

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...tomatic-z.html

http://www.the370z.com/australia-new...nual-auto.html

I would encourage you to read through them. Good luck with your purchase.

auto or stick?
 

hi i am in the market for a new 370z. i don't know witch transmission i should get. i always wanted a stick shift, but here in California their are some pretty bad traffic. i talked to some people that have a stick shift and they always tell me they regret having one because it gets tiring after awhile. i liked cars since i was 8 so what would you get if you were me? i don't know how to drive stick but i know people who can teach me. how hard can it be?

I say get stick for your sports car - someday when you settle down and have a 4 door you can have your automatic! You are talking a flashy sports car here, so in my opinion it *HAS* to be stick!

I have a 6MT and wouldn't have it any other way. I live in southern california and commute to Los Angeles but I don't really deal with much traffic (as shown by my average speed on my GPS):

http://box.houkouonchi.jp//gps_avg_speed-small.jpg

That being said I do sometimes drive in traffic and thats about the only time I use the synchro rev-match and and honestly having a manual transmission doesn't bug me THAT much in traffic. I wouldn't do it any other way.

Uh oh...page and paragraph long responses. You know this thread is intense. :tup:

a sports car is a sports car regardless....... there are quite a few high performance cars that carry the paddle shifters ( GTR, Lambo's exc) and i do believe the GTR did set the Track record in Germany and beat Porche and their Manuel.

if i really want a stick shift that bad, i call my girl up, let her grind the gears.

Manuel Owners Love Manuels, Auto Owners like Auto's

personal preference is personal preference

i had the same convo with a guy at the local gas station

" oh come on! you cant disrespect a sports car like that with an auto!"

" there's no disrespect here, lets see... 7 speed Transmission, with option of using the paddles or the Shift knob if you choose, top speed is the exact same, Accerlerates the same maybe a second faster/slower give or take. Umm you mod it like you would a Manuel minus a few nit picks here and there, the Auto has a Shift time thats faster than the manuel.... oh did i say it has the exact same top speed? just because its a automatic WITH paddle shifters , doesnt mean it cant put you in your seat and make you feel like your floating, ive had quite a few ppl get in my car, get thrown in the back of their seats because they thought the same thing "its a auto, not that fast".... then afterwards? " holy F*ck! i had no idea!"

the guy just stood there like "Uh uh... well Manuel........................"

People have their favorites. enjoy the car numb nuts, not the transmission

You dont admire a car for the Transmission. .... when your a Z meet or whatever, you dont "Search " every cars transmissions for manuel vs auto. no . your there to do one thing. Love the Z as a Car. and like i said before... not the transmission.

Knowing that I end up in stop-go traffic every time I commute, I decided to get a 7AT. Also, my old man drives my car every now and then so I have to account for him as well.

I've let my friends drive my 7AT and they enjoyed the hell out of the paddle-shifters, let alone the car itself. The paddle-shifters do get googly eyes from people who've never seen such things before.

Honestly, just like how nismo89 said it,
.
It really isn't a matter of "manliness" whether you drive an automatic or a manual.

I got a MT 370z and love it! I know that the auto is slightly faster but to me it just can't replicate the driving experience. The pleasure I get from doing a perfect pull through the firs 4 gears merging on the the highway can't be described. As you know it takes time to really master an individual car on manual transmission. Every car behaves a little bit differently. Or maybe thats just my shitty manual abilities. Traffic or hills are not an issue for me, I don't even notice the clutch and stick work I am doing while in bumper to bumper traffic.

Personally I think the skill and attention required for manual driving is a bit higher then automatic hence my choice for manual transmission. With that said to each his own.

I went with the manual, because I enjoy driving with a manual and better car control.
Also it will probably be my last manual (59 now).

I do a lot of long distance driving, and very rarely am in stop and go (rush hour) traffic.

Decided to DELETE MU ENTRY CUZ OF A FEW MAJOR REASONS.

http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...l+transmission

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...l+transmission

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...l+transmission

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...l+transmission

http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...l+transmission

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...l+transmission

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...l+transmission

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...l+transmission

http://www.the370z.com/australia-new...l+transmission

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...l+transmission

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...l+transmission

There's a lot more but got tired of linking.... CHANGE THE FKIN SUBJECT ALREADY!!!!! I don't even know why I posted up my original post so I deleted it.

I only like manual because it makes you feel more tied up with the car. You feel like you are one

I use my Z as a DD and often, I like to be able to "set it and forget it". Sometimes I just want to get from point A to point B..and not have to be concerned about shifting every minute.

When I do want to shift myself, the paddles are a good compromise.

For me, the AT gives me the best of both worlds..