[OFFICIAL] Manual v. Automatic Thread

[Lug]

By changing certain parts on the valve body, you can get quicker shifts and make it handle more horsepower. an example of a valve body upgrade for the 350Z:
SGP Racing Upgraded Valve Body for the Nissan 350Z / G35
I can't find any hard info on actual shifting speeds but have "heard" they are improved.

[Crash]

Yeah. I know about all that. But in the end, you're not really tuning the trans. Tuning a motor doesn't make the block handle more horsepower.

Changing the springs to stronger stiffer springs in the AT also helps it handle more power. Adding planets to the planet carrier, putting in a bigger ring gear, and putting better clutch packs in ALSO make the trans stronger. But that's not tuning. That's upgrading. Increasing line pressure to the valve body doesn't necessarily increase the transmissions strength, but it does help get quicker shifts. A shift kit will generally do this. A good shift kit will usually come with upgraded springs to handle the increased stress.

[psteng19]

Nissan put an innovative feature like synchro-rev match in the manual which has gotten nothing but excellent reviews, and people are considering the auto?

[theDreamer]

Originally Posted by psteng19

Nissan put an innovative feature like synchro-rev match in the manual which has gotten nothing but excellent reviews, and people are considering the auto?

It is a very good point, and I have yet to get to test drive the auto still as I am waiting for one to arrive.
Though talking with some co-workers, who know more about cars than I may ever learn (is fine since I do computers), but we got into talking about how "I" will be driving and when. This car will be my daily driver, through about one or more hours of traffic (living in the suburbs sucks sometimes), and the traffic is pretty horrible (I live in Houston). I have gotten many good pluses & minuses from friends who know more about this, and reading the responses here has shown me a few things, of course it all comes down to me and what I want.

[wellarmed]

Originally Posted by theDreamer

It is a very good point, and I have yet to get to test drive the auto still as I am waiting for one to arrive.
Though talking with some co-workers, who know more about cars than I may ever learn (is fine since I do computers), but we got into talking about how "I" will be driving and when. This car will be my daily driver, through about one or more hours of traffic (living in the suburbs sucks sometimes), and the traffic is pretty horrible (I live in Houston). I have gotten many good pluses & minuses from friends who know more about this, and reading the responses here has shown me a few things, of course it all comes down to me and what I want.

It's not a good point. The point he is making is that because the manual is for him, anybody who would want a auto must be stupid. "People are considering the auto??!!"

I'm sure he hasn't driven one so I'll bet he would be surprised to know that the auto also has downshift synchro-rev matching when using the paddles.

Until somebody puts the two head to head in a real world performance match, nobody here can say for sure whether that auto might just out perform the manual.

In fact in a drag race I'll put my money on the auto. Why would ANYBODY want to use a clutch?

[semtex]

Originally Posted by wellarmed

Why would ANYBODY want to use a clutch?

Because it's not all about speed. For some people, they'd gladly sacrifice a little speed for more fun, and they perceive MTs as being more fun. This whole thread is kinda silly, to give my honest opinion, because the answer to the question 'Which is better? MT or AT?' is entirely contingent on one's criteria for what makes something better, which makes it entirely subjective. If speed in a drag race is what you're after, AT may well be the way to go. If convenience is what you're after, AT is definitely the way to go. But if you enjoy doing your own shifting and enjoyment is what you're after, then MT makes more sense. Point being, the question that this thread poses has no objective answer one way or the other. Everyone should just figure out what his/her priorities are, and then get the one that best matches up with those priorities and be glad that (a) the Z is offered with both AT and MT (unlike the S2000, for ex.), and (b) both transmissions seem to be very good.

Edit: I forgot to add -- we should also be glad that (c) Nissan didn't decided to scrap both AT and MT and replace them with a CVT (like they did with the Maxima).

[psteng19]

Originally Posted by wellarmed

It's not a good point. The point he is making is that because the manual is for him, anybody who would want a auto must be stupid. "People are considering the auto??!!"

I'm sure he hasn't driven one so I'll bet he would be surprised to know that the auto also has downshift synchro-rev matching when using the paddles.

Until somebody puts the two head to head in a real world performance match, nobody here can say for sure whether that auto might just out perform the manual.

In fact in a drag race I'll put my money on the auto. Why would ANYBODY want to use a clutch?

I never cared much for auto's with paddle shifting, rev-match downshift or not.
I'll be honest, I never drove an auto 370Z (or even a 350Z) with paddle shifting, but I've read comments and driven other paddle shifted tc autos and the end result is always the same.
The delay is annoying, and you still get that disconnected feeling from the torque converter. If it has an automatic mode, I'll just let the car shift for me.

I don't drive manuals because they're faster.
The main reason I buy it is for the feeling of being "one with the car" - something that no other transmission can come close to reproducing, be it auto, or CVT or even DSG.
Secondary reasons include cost (usually $1k cheaper), and instant weight reduction (~50 lbs or so).

But nice of you to assume

I'll regurgitate what was said in the Winding Road review.
"Do yourself a favor; buy the manual if you're going to buy this car."

[Endgame]

Houston! Wow.. traffic sucks there man!! I DEFINATLEY know which I would get in Houston.

While I am still 95% getting the 7AT, if my wife does not mind me getting the MT, I would definately pick that up. That is primarily due to the fact that I plan to work from the home office more this year, or will be traveling. Thus, a 'daily driver' will not really be needed.

Again, either way, you can't go wrong. You are still in a Z!!!

[LenZToy]

Originally Posted by Endgame

Houston! Wow.. traffic sucks there man!! I DEFINATLEY know which I would get in Houston.

While I am still 95% getting the 7AT, if my wife does not mind me getting the MT, I would definately pick that up. That is primarily due to the fact that I plan to work from the home office more this year, or will be traveling. Thus, a 'daily driver' will not really be needed.

Again, either way, you can't go wrong. You are still in a Z!!!

Amen brother! You said it all!

[Horses pushes]

Originally Posted by Endgame

Houston! Wow.. traffic sucks there man!! I DEFINATLEY know which I would get in Houston.

While I am still 95% getting the 7AT, if my wife does not mind me getting the MT, I would definately pick that up. That is primarily due to the fact that I plan to work from the home office more this year, or will be traveling. Thus, a 'daily driver' will not really be needed.

Again, either way, you can't go wrong. You are still in a Z!!!

Get her an a/t accord, teach her how to drive a manual like I did to my wife. Then you are all set to get the 6MT. One thing I worries all the time is that my wife shouldn't be driving my Z at all.

[m4a1mustang]

Manual definitely keeps me more focused. I have a tendency to zone out just cruising in an auto.

[Skaterbasist]

7AT: More practical!

6MT: More fun!

Someone who really wants a 6MT makes no excuses. Personally, I don't see why anyone would get an automatic on a sports car like the 370Z.

And not to mention, you save money by going with 6MT. That's just the added bonus

[Crash]

Originally Posted by wellarmed

In fact in a drag race I'll put my money on the auto. Why would ANYBODY want to use a clutch?

In drag racing, they're using manual valve-body autos. True they have no clutch, but they also have only 2-3 speeds. Most high power drag cars use power-glide or TH350 transmissions. Less shifts = less lost time.

Not worth it to me. Even if Auto is faster in the straight line, it's not nearly as fun.

[epod86]

It's true, manuals aren't exactly faster, they just sound it. If I want to pull ahead of suburban-runaround-with-an-inferiority-complex-to-sports-coupes, have to rev like I'm already deaf, and scare said runaround, or piss them off more, it depends.

[shumby]

wow 7 pages and we all kept it clean sort of. For me I like the ^MT and 7AT but the 7AT won out as the wife drives it from to time. She drives a stick infact it was all she drove until 4 years ago. But she said a luxuary sport car (G37S) should be AT so that6 is what we got. She controls the fun hole so she wins.