6MT vs. 7AT 370z
 

Recent 0-60 & 1/4 mile figures proved that the 2009 G37S with 7AT(same tranny as the new Z) ran better times than it's 2008 and 2009 manual counterpart. Do you guys think it will be the same with the new Z? After all, they have refined the crap outta the thing and it's got and extra gear.. not to mention ferrari-style F1 shifters!

yes I have no doubt it will be the same for the Z. However this thread is going to explode with &at bashing soon. Time to sit back agrab a beer and read the funny posts.

:drama:

Right. The 7AT WILL be faster in a straight line for sure, just like with the G37. Same tranny, same gear ratios.

The MT crowd can boast to the fact that the MT is probally more fun to drive however.... I am leaning towards the 7AT, but MTs are SOOOO fun....

More fun to drive indeed ... until I'm stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on the 10. All of a sudden, not so fun.

But despite my distaste for having a stick in a commuter car, it's been ingrained into me that sport cars should have a manual, while "muscle cars" can get away with autos.

This really has me at a crossroads. I am not sure if I am ready to give up shifting and my beloved clutch pedal just yet. At the same time, technology is progressing and I feel we need to keep up with superior shifting times of paddles.

I think I will probably end up with the 7AT since the shifting is faster and the final drive of the auto will be more boost friendly.

If half a second delay between shifts is acceptable to you because you spend 90% of the time putting around town, then get the 7AT. It's my opinion that people who get the 7AT Z would be happier with a G.... If you get the less comfy, less luxurious car, it's because you want to drive it like its meant to be driven. If Nissan had offered the GT-R's transmission in the Z, I would have gotten it hands down, but the fact of the matter is that the 7AT is just a slushbox automatic with "steptronic".

^^^^ and it begains. lol

Actually it's something like a .1 second delay. Just face the hard, cold reality of things: that transmission will shift faster than any human being can possibly shift, ever. I live in an urban environment and I commute every day and I plan on making my 370Z a daily driver so I am definitely getting the 7AT.

It's fun. I mean if you can defend getting the automatic slushbox over the manual, then by all means I'd like to hear it. If traffic is your biggest issue...come on, its really NOT that bad to drive a stick in traffic...the benefits of the manual far outweigh the convenience of the automatic..if you can't see that, get a jetta.

Look at what every single magazine review said. It is NOT .1s....thats would be 100ms. Ferrari F430 Scuderia shifts in 60ms. Formula one car shifts in 30ms. GT-R shifts in like 80ms. Youre telling me the 370Z automatic comes close to that haha, youre kidding me...

The cold reality of things is that this isnt a DCT or a PDK or a Sequential Ferrari transmission. Its a plain old automatic transmission.

If they had put a proper transmission on it like the DCT from the GT-R, then I'd say yes, its faster and I would no doubt get it.

I live in a big city as well, one with bad traffic every day of the week and this will be my daily driver as well.

What is the practical benefit of a manual?

ha! take THAT guy! and jettas arent that bad :)

Practical? oh I dont know, being able immediately control what gear your car is in comes to mind. You know, always a good thing to be able to do. That is a dream with the 7AT. You gotta wait for it to decide that its ok to drop the gears. If you need to drop 3 gears, then that might take a good bit longer than it would on the manual.

Its not about practicality though, its about feeling connected and enjoying the car. A manual is much more satisfying than the 7AT...those were the benefits I was talking about, NOT the practical ones. Sure its less convenient and easy and comfortable, but like I said, its a sports car and you should be able to enjoy it and drive it as such, otherwise whats the point. It's not about getting from A to B..

Thats just my opinion though, its your car and your tastes my friend. I wouldn't put you down for getting the 7AT, not now not ever, but I have a different idea about cars I think than you do.

PS: I know Jettas aren't bad. They just aren't sport coupes.

Try living in a city with 2.2 million people; I enjoy a manual transmission too, but I'm leaning towards the automatic.