let's keep the thread on topic. Instead of M6 vs AT discussions, let's discuss the features of the new 7AT transmission and maybe get some actual input from 370Z 7AT members "how they like the transmission/shifting etc".

I drove both the 6MT and 7 speed auto today. I fully expected to buy this car as a stick, but after the two test drives I have decided I like the auto better. The shifts were fast using the paddle shifters, and having 7 gears is sweet. Also, for some reason the auto is a more quite car with much less road noise coming from the rear end. If I buy this car it will definitely be the auto.

I test drove both the 7AT and 6MT and came to the conclusion I will continue to buy MT cars.

I probably will never buy another M/T after buying the 370Z A/T.

Agreed... My friends tell me they've never seen anyone shift as fast as me without hitting a gate. I'd say that I'm in the low 300's or high 200's. I'll have my friends record me shifting the Solstice when I get a chance and post it. If you can find an AT transmission in a 370 that can shift faster than me, I'll be REALLY impressed.

Likely the road noise is coming from a higher final gear size in the manual. Because the auto and manuals have completely different gear ratios, the final gear will usually be specific to the last gear in the transmission. That way the RPMs are nearly identical for both transmissions at cruising speeds... It's a good chance that the final gear in the AT is smaller (thus less noise) to make up for the larger last gear in the transmission, while the MT will have a smaller 6th gear which would require the diff to be larger.

Is there are sport setting in the AT? In the BMW, if you move the shifter to the manual gate (to the left), it ghanged the shift points and holds gears to improve performance in spirited driving. Does the Z do the same?

^^ Yes.

"Power on" or Power off"?
 

Is that with "Power on" or Power off"?

+100

Don't care about the who's who of stick shift gods... :shakes head:

For me the performance gap between the two is important. In some cars, there is a tremendous performance hit. It seems like that may not be the case here due to quicker shifts and a very small weight difference (compared to AT's of the past). Another consideration is the amount of power each can handle. In the 350Z, the auto is pretty weak, requiring significant mods to be able to boost power of any significance, while the standard could handle significant power inceases as stock. I think the new AT is the same as in the FX50. If this is true, it can handle well over 390HP. This is a huge leap over the previous transmission and an important consideration when choosing between the two. I have an AT in my 350 and vowed never to get another one, but this tranny just may change my mind.

To be on topic I will compare the 5AT to the 7at in the 08 and 09 G37 respectively.


BOth the 7at and 5AT shift with the same speed and both down shifted and rev matched great. The only advantage I have found so far is the 7AT seems faster off the line. But it is just my feel I have no numbers to back this up so I could be full of it too. The DS mode is awesome when you either let the car do the shifting for you or you take control using the paddles or the stick. I personally use both during spirited driving. It just depends on what I am doing wth the wheel which one I choose to shift from. The one big advantage I see in the 7At over the 5AT is the fuel eco. You are puling far fewer revs at cruising speed in the 7AT for obvious reasons. That being said I really did not buy this car for its MPG lol.


PS just to reminde you the 5AT in the 08 G37 is not the same as the 5AT in the 350Z.

What's that supposed to mean?

"Power on" or "Power off"
 

It means WOT at all times and not power down between shifts. Now back to my question. Is that with "Power on" or "Power off".

There is no doubt that you can outshift some of the older AT's but with how far technology advanced I highly doubt you can outshift porsches new pdk, or mercedes new dsg's. I haven't driven the 7at Z yet but from what I hear it's very fast, no matter how good you are, you can't beat the future