There's nothing absolutely nothing practical about a manual transmission... and yes, driving in traffic with a manual sports car is a nightmare.

I got an idea, how about everyone just buy what they want to buy :O

yup lol i agree:icon17:


but i will still get another beer cuz this ain't going to end soon.:drama:

Yeah your right. But because this 7AT has a true sport mode, where the gears are controlled directly by the paddle shifters with no assistance and practically instantaneous shifts, it will give you more of that direct connection you need.

It'll never be as fun as throwing the b|tch in gear with your right hand, gripping the wheel with your left, depressing and releasing the clutch, and slamming on the gas, but... hmm... that does sound like more fun... and the MT is like $1k cheaper... why am I not getting the MT again... i'm all confused...

k RCZ are you kidding me? bud.. you say you don't have the luxury of "being able immediately control what gear your car is in comes to mind". umm, pretty sure that's what the paddles are for. despite your backwards views and "YEA I DRIVE A STICK CUZ IM A REAL MAN WITH A REAL SPORTS CAR" attitude, you're gonna one day have to accept that paddles are a proven technology and they will become the median. Not to mention ferrari pioneered them.. every review having to do with the paddles vs. stick has said the paddles were better... go look at the new M3 & 911 article on car and driver.. go look at the G's performance figures.. all audis including the R8.. and ferraris. the fact of the matter is that you like the manual because that's all you know, you're looking for a reason to express why you're better than someone yet you don't even have the qualifications to know the difference!

PS - go watch the video with the nissan exec talking about the two; he clearly states that unlike most automatics the Z's was specially geared to be more performance oriented and give the driver the same sort of connection you feel with the manual. that's why there's an extra gear, that's why they spent years researching perfect spacing ratios between the gears.. Also, this is the fun fact of the day. What makes me mad is that I don't remember which review but it was on this website.. the tester said that the automatic also feels like it has rev-matching.. he said that there was no "S" button but you could see the car kind of auto-adjust as soon as you let go of the paddle

I'm simply not getting it out of convenience. My 370Z, if I decide to buy it, will be my daily driver, but I still want to option to crush riced-out Civics when I want to. I commute for nearly an hour every morning in traffic and sometimes in snowstorms, so a manual transmission is out of the question.

I am flattered that you think I could possibly have any influence on what someone buys. hehe Like I said, I don't care what you buy, it comes down to everyone's taste. The thing is that this thread was made to compare the two, so I was just giving my two cents. Take it or leave it, thats the beauty of it all.

Whats the difference between having a down paddle on the left and an up paddle on the right when they do the same thing that a steptronic gear selector would do in any other manumatic when you push it forwards and back?

Practically instantaneous is where I think you're a little misinformed. There is a sensible delay that may not bother you, but I know would bother me. Specially when we're talking driving it spiritedly or on the track...

Yeah, I know. We just can't seem to have one of these threads without someone getting their feelings hurt.
Making threads like these is like owning guns, we should be able to do it and be responsible about it ... but humans just aren't ready for that responsibility yet. :icon17:

I bet I can click a paddle 3 times before you even depress the clutch pedal all the way down.;) Preference is hardly a benefit. I assumed you meant something more objective.

+1 for invazn

The difference is that you can have both hands on the steering wheel which in turn allows for "more spirited driving."

This will be fun.

Actually I don't even know where to start. All I had to see is that you think "paddles" is some sort of all inclusive term for transmissions that give you the ability to select gears with paddles.

Sorry I can't even read that. I will try to decipher it though.
The paddles allow you to up or down, yes. The difference is that the paddles you refer to are attached to a automatic transmission. Other times, such as on the GT-R and the new Porsche PDK, the paddles are attached to something called a dual-clutch transmission. There is a HUGE difference in the quickness of the shifts between a "manual" automatic and a dual clutch transmission. Paddles on an automatic like the Z aren't any better than pushing a steptronic lever back and forth on an X5.

I am all for dual clutch technology, I love the transmissions on the GT-R and the new Porsches and the new M3. All 3 are dual clutch manuals with an automatic clutch pedal. NOT automatic transmissions. The aforementioned paddle transmissions ALL have a clutch which has to be engaged and disengaged. The only difference is that the car is doing it for you instead of you having to press the clutch. Keep in mind that is NOT the same as an automatic transmission which does not use a clutch.

Read my above comment on the difference between Dual clutch transmissions and manumatic automatic transmissions. Also on a side note, Ferrari actually doesn't use dual clutch on their F430 Scuderia, they use a very advanced Sequential transmission. Its a different type from both the Dual clutch and the manumatic. Racecars most often use sequential tranmissions.

I don't need to look at anything. I'm not even going to bother with your comment about manuals being all I know or being better than anyone. Also you have NO idea what my qualifications are or aren't. Not gonna go down to that level.

I hate this kind of threads. Just let people buy whichever they feel comfortable with. I drive an auto so I'm cooler than you or watch me do a 100 ft burnout in my 6MT-- is complete nonsense :shakes head:. Whichever one you're comfortable with, go with that transmission.

DO NOT confuse yourself with Dual clutch transmission(M3s, GTRs etc) vs regular automatic transmission with paddle shifters (like G37s and 370Zs). The DCT is far more superior than the regular Automatic transmissions. GTR DCT cost 20K dollars and we will never see a Dual Clutch Transmission in a entry level sports car like 370Z.

Twin-clutch gearbox - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

HowStuffWorks "How Dual-clutch Transmissions Work"





In conclusion, everyone is entitled to their opinions. Just because one isn't agreeing with one's transmission choice, doesn't make them wrong in this issue.

This thread will be locked shortly. If you have anything to say, you've got 20 minutes.

Ibtl

I bet you can click the paddle more than 3 times before I can press the clutch. But do you think the car is going to shift gears every time you click when you click really fast? You have a rough realization ahead of you. You may click it 6 times in less than 2 seconds but it will still only drop one gear haha. It doesnt just drop gears as soon as you press it.... ALL tranmissions have delay.


Awww come on AK ;)

I understand though, I'm just being informational. Other people are going to catch this thread and benefit from the information.

Everyone should always buy what they want, but I'd rather make them think I'm an *** now and be well informed, than for them to buy something on wrong information and be stuck with a car they dont enjoy.

Why must things escalate to arguments when we were all just having a nice chat...