Auto or Manual-never driven stick

mishee71 · 05-06-2010, 06:57 AM

I've never driven a stick shift but I thought if I got a car like a Z that I'd learn. I don't necessarily want the sport pkg but the syncrev match is supposed make shifting easier. Would anyone recommend a manual Z to a new stick shift driver?

my2004Z · 05-06-2010, 07:01 AM

A manual is a manual and the syncro rev is pretty slick. Either way it will take some practice. I bought my 370Z with an auto coming from a 350Z manual. I like the tighter gear ratios on the auto and the paddle shifters are so quick and reliable.

It's hard to say whether you'll like it or not since you've never driven one before and this will come down to personal preference and ability. You might want to practice on a beater before stalling out in a brand new Z.

LunaZ · 05-06-2010, 07:01 AM

You should probably learn to drive a manual before purchasing a Z if a manual transmission is what you really want.
Learn on something easy like an old Isuzu Pup Diesel.
That being said, the new Z is a very easy manual to drive, and the Synchrorev is like cheating.

Jeffblue · 05-06-2010, 07:03 AM

i learned how to drive stick on other cars specifically so i could get the 370z in manual. try and find a friend who has a stick just to get used to the idea of whats involved before getting your Z. however, even if you can't, if you have the inclination to get the Z in a stick, i think it will always be something you want. if you get the 7 speed automatic, but wanted stick and didn't get it cuz you didn't want to learn on your new Z, then you will be annoyed every time you drive.

m4a1mustang · 05-06-2010, 07:21 AM

The Z is fine to learn on. You just need to decide if a manual is what you want.

The 7AT is a sick transmission... it's probably the best automatic at this price range. It's consistently quicker than the manual transmission Zs.

The 6MT is an OK transmission. It's solid but it's very, very finicky and tempermental. The Tremec 5 and 6 speeds that I am used to driving are far better than this one. SRM is definitely helpful for a novice.

drivin blind · 05-06-2010, 07:59 AM

I think you have to get the sport package to get the sync. match. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone here will chime in. RP

Who Knows · 05-06-2010, 09:24 AM

I can not help but notice that every one that tells you to go with the manual
transmission all seem to have manuals----they don't know anything about the
370 auto other than what they have heard. It takes a little while with the auto transmission to get the most out of it / same is true with the manual

The people that have the new auto's you will note in most cases came from a manual transmission and are really happy with how the auto it performs---What people don't get is the automatic is much like a stick transmission without a clutch if you want it to be. I really, really like the transmission and I came from a long line of high performance manual transmission cars
( kept my wife from wanting to drive them) the last of which was a supercharged 2006 Saleen. Just my feelings on the subject.

kenchan · 05-06-2010, 09:25 AM

it's going to be harder to learn the Z than a lower powered car but im sure it's doable.

the first problem AT drivers have when driving MT is that their feet are literally all toe thumbs and not sensitive/no muscle to control the fine throttle and clutch inputs required to drive a MT smoothly.

you add more power and aggressive gearing to that and you get a youtube moment.
make sure your friends are out there taking vids.

UNKNOWN_370 · 05-06-2010, 09:45 AM

If you search this! There's dozens of threads like this. There's 2 or 3 running now damn! Kill the thread!

m4a1mustang · 05-06-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Who Knows

I can not help but notice that every one that tells you to go with the manual
transmission all seem to have manuals----they don't know anything about the
370 auto other than what they have heard. It takes a little while with the auto transmission to get the most out of it / same is true with the manual

The people that have the new auto's you will note in most cases came from a manual transmission and are really happy with how the auto it performs---What people don't get is the automatic is much like a stick transmission without a clutch if you want it to be. I really, really like the transmission and I came from a long line of high performance manual transmission cars
( kept my wife from wanting to drive them) the last of which was a supercharged 2006 Saleen. Just my feelings on the subject.

I come from Mustangs, too, so I was taught to shun the auto transmissions as they were ALWAYS pieces of crap... but the 7AT is just awesome in the Z.

CrownR426 · 05-06-2010, 10:26 AM

Hey, I'm from Northern Jersey!
If you need help driving manual let me know.
You should go manual because it's better on the gas.
+ The 370z's come with the synchro rev matching system.
Blips the throttle perfectly on downshifts, so you could be sloppy lmao...
Or you can go auto.

Rui Z · 05-06-2010, 10:56 AM

I learned to drive a manual in the 370 and I'm glad I chose manual (w synchrorev in the sport package). Driving is so much more fun for me now. Now I understand why all my friends were telling me to get a manual.

kenchan · 05-06-2010, 11:03 AM

sounds good, Rui. a car like the Z that wants to be motored, MT is the way to go. same as your MINI. go get a getrag.

whoady4shoady · 05-06-2010, 11:13 AM

Manual all the way. You have more control over your vehicle and how it reacts IMHO. I test drove an auto z, and while it is nice in auto mode, the sport mode feels strange and less controled IMHO. It is also boring in comparison, but to each there own.

frost · 05-06-2010, 11:18 AM

FINALLY! A thread that compared autos VS manuals.

05-06-2010, 06:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
mishee71 Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 5 Drives: between cars Rep Power: 16	Auto or Manual-never driven stick I've never driven a stick shift but I thought if I got a car like a Z that I'd learn. I don't necessarily want the sport pkg but the syncrev match is supposed make shifting easier. Would anyone recommend a manual Z to a new stick shift driver?

05-06-2010, 07:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
LunaZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vagabond Posts: 6,704 Drives: Project: a white one Rep Power: 513	You should probably learn to drive a manual before purchasing a Z if a manual transmission is what you really want. Learn on something easy like an old Isuzu Pup Diesel. That being said, the new Z is a very easy manual to drive, and the Synchrorev is like cheating. __________________ 2009 370Z Sport/Touring/Navigation \| see my journal for mods facebook: Be my friend... or not.

05-06-2010, 07:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	The Z is fine to learn on. You just need to decide if a manual is what you want. The 7AT is a sick transmission... it's probably the best automatic at this price range. It's consistently quicker than the manual transmission Zs. The 6MT is an OK transmission. It's solid but it's very, very finicky and tempermental. The Tremec 5 and 6 speeds that I am used to driving are far better than this one. SRM is definitely helpful for a novice. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

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05-06-2010, 07:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
my2004Z Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 285 Drives: 09' 370Z w/Sport 7AT Rep Power: 38	A manual is a manual and the syncro rev is pretty slick. Either way it will take some practice. I bought my 370Z with an auto coming from a 350Z manual. I like the tighter gear ratios on the auto and the paddle shifters are so quick and reliable. It's hard to say whether you'll like it or not since you've never driven one before and this will come down to personal preference and ability. You might want to practice on a beater before stalling out in a brand new Z.

05-06-2010, 07:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jeffblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Age: 37 Posts: 9,192 Drives: Z32TT & 335xi Coupe Rep Power: 38	i learned how to drive stick on other cars specifically so i could get the 370z in manual. try and find a friend who has a stick just to get used to the idea of whats involved before getting your Z. however, even if you can't, if you have the inclination to get the Z in a stick, i think it will always be something you want. if you get the 7 speed automatic, but wanted stick and didn't get it cuz you didn't want to learn on your new Z, then you will be annoyed every time you drive.

05-06-2010, 07:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
drivin blind Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 39 Drives: 10 370Z/11 STI Rep Power: 16	I think you have to get the sport package to get the sync. match. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone here will chime in. RP

05-06-2010, 09:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
Who Knows Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 8 Drives: 2008-370z-Blue-auto Rep Power: 16	I can not help but notice that every one that tells you to go with the manual transmission all seem to have manuals----they don't know anything about the 370 auto other than what they have heard. It takes a little while with the auto transmission to get the most out of it / same is true with the manual The people that have the new auto's you will note in most cases came from a manual transmission and are really happy with how the auto it performs---What people don't get is the automatic is much like a stick transmission without a clutch if you want it to be. I really, really like the transmission and I came from a long line of high performance manual transmission cars ( kept my wife from wanting to drive them) the last of which was a supercharged 2006 Saleen. Just my feelings on the subject.

05-06-2010, 09:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	it's going to be harder to learn the Z than a lower powered car but im sure it's doable. the first problem AT drivers have when driving MT is that their feet are literally all toe thumbs and not sensitive/no muscle to control the fine throttle and clutch inputs required to drive a MT smoothly. you add more power and aggressive gearing to that and you get a youtube moment. make sure your friends are out there taking vids.

05-06-2010, 09:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
UNKNOWN_370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: ny'r livn in tx Posts: 8,687 Drives: well over 130m.p.h. Rep Power: 14859	If you search this! There's dozens of threads like this. There's 2 or 3 running now damn! Kill the thread!

05-06-2010, 10:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
CrownR426 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Korea Posts: 4,676 Drives: Manual Rep Power: 848	Hey, I'm from Northern Jersey! If you need help driving manual let me know. You should go manual because it's better on the gas. + The 370z's come with the synchro rev matching system. Blips the throttle perfectly on downshifts, so you could be sloppy lmao... Or you can go auto.

05-06-2010, 10:56 AM	#12 (permalink)
Rui Z Track Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: (.)(.) Posts: 931 Drives: 8====D Rep Power: 17	I learned to drive a manual in the 370 and I'm glad I chose manual (w synchrorev in the sport package). Driving is so much more fun for me now. Now I understand why all my friends were telling me to get a manual.

05-06-2010, 11:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	sounds good, Rui. a car like the Z that wants to be motored, MT is the way to go. same as your MINI. go get a getrag.

05-06-2010, 11:13 AM	#14 (permalink)
whoady4shoady A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 1,088 Drives: 09 Silver Nismo Rep Power: 19	Manual all the way. You have more control over your vehicle and how it reacts IMHO. I test drove an auto z, and while it is nice in auto mode, the sport mode feels strange and less controled IMHO. It is also boring in comparison, but to each there own.