6MT vs 7AT and the Track/Auto X

JoeD

There is nothing special to the Z's auto. Don't let the paddles fool you...it is nothing like the more advanced clutch-[pedal]-less manuals which just recently surpassed their equivalent standard-manual counterparts on a track driven by a professional. It still has a torque-converter, and while it's better than your average auto found in most passenger-cars...it's still an auto.

Regardless, even if the 370Z had an optional transmission on the same level as a DSG or Ferrari's F1...I'd still take the standard.

Endgame

Good honest thoughts guys...

Keep them coming!!

marcussoori

Sorry, but I drove a Golf R32 with DSG, and it shifts slower than my 370Z 7AT. My 2002 BMW M3 with SMG also shifted at the same speed or slower than my 370Z (to/from gears 1-5).

JMO

370Zsteve

Gimme a stick and a clutch pedal.

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Smallywood

I completely agree... No question about it.

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JoeD

Yeah...no. Sources show VW's DSG to have a shift-time of only 8 milliseconds, while BMW's SMG supposedly shifts in 80 milliseconds. A conventional automatic like the one in the Z will come anywhere near that.

Besides...too much importance is placed on shift-time. A competent driver operating a clutch and gear-lever can shift quick enough to where it doesn't matter, even when not trying to shift mad qu1ck. 400 milliseconds, or 100, or 50, or 3...who cares. At this point, you are marginally effecting straight-line acceleration. What matters is control over gear-selection, where in that case there is no comparison between a manual and conventional auto.

As mentioned above...gimme a stick and a clutch-pedal. There is no replacement for it when talking about sports-cars. I will always opt for it whenever it's available for a given model.

This is the first time I've seen a conventional automatic be defended to this level in a sports-car. Had the auto been a dual-clutch or sequential-style setup, and then we'll have an argument.

Steven

I think auto slushboxes are greatly improved now, but i'll stick to my manual 6 spd for the challenge and fun of driving a sports car. I love rowing through the gears.

Red370

ahh, I see this getting into another 6mt vs. 7at flame war, im backing out while I still can.

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Endgame

Hey guys... remember we are looking for track related comparisions, not just the typical MT vs AT.....

Thanks for the input thus far!

JoeD

Since there is no evidence to support one argument over the other, you would have to look into examples from other cars. I can't think of any sports-car offered with both a manual and conventional automatic where the automatic proved to be faster around a road-course.

I can't see why the Z would be any different. Based off conventional wisdom, this holds true until proven otherwise.

shabarivas

The AT shifts at about 500 milliseconds...

Thats a LOT ... compared to a competent MT driver... And lift off... kick in... gear change... engage is all done in ONE motion...

Lug

From what I've read, the best manage around 300 milliseconds but most aren't going to match that.

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shabarivas

Point is - you CAN... and its something you perfect from driving your car... not to mention... you can knock off more time on the shift if you were to do some clutch / flywheel upgrades...

While Autos have come a long way from what they used to be... its still not good enough for me to replace my driving habits...

RCZ

Theres a big diff on the track between a 7AT and a dual clutch box.....you can't compare a nissan 7at with a porsche pdk.

kannibul

Who are you referring to?

If it's me, I'm not comparing the 7AT to a dual-clutch setup, or even saying anything about them.

I'm just saying that that the 7AT shifts faster than a manual.


I'm also curious what will happen when boost is involved, specifically turbo's where it's more noticable that boost would be lost due to having to let off the gas to hit the clutch, shift and go back in.

I can shift my truck fast. My Z still shifts faster.