shift or paddle shifters
 

I once owned a 1978 280z and prior to that a 1962 E-Type when I was in my 20's. I am now 51. Can I learn how to drive a standard again? Do I defeat the purpose of owning a Z by getting an automatic?

I'm sure you can learn it over again - "it's just like riding a bike." :icon17:

The Z's a great car, regardless of transmission. I'd test drive (after you re-learn - probably don't want to be grindin' da gears on the dealer's lot) first.

The 7AT is loads of fun once you get used to using the paddles. I love mine and do not miss a manual tranny at all. Others will chime in with the usual drivel like "real sports cars are manuals", and I used to agree with them. The auto in the 370 is one of the best non-double clutch trannys you will find and it is just as fast as the manual.

This will probably degenerate into a manual vs auto thread, so I just wanted to put my 2 cents in first.

AZ

FINALLY, a manual vs automatic thread.

:icon18:

I've owned both and had fun with both of them. I'm about your age so i went with the 7AT and don't regret it one bit. it's a great transmission for an auto.

my only gripe and it's no biggie but sometimes when driving in D mode or whatever it seems like the transmission can't make up its mind what gear it wont's.

I never understand these threads. The only person who could answer this question for me, is me. What do you prefer to drive? Buy that.

just my 2 cents...i feel like im a more controlled bettter driver with a manual

As the former owner of a 1978 280Z and current owner of a 1966 E type, I took the stick. My mom can drive a manuel, whenever the occasion presents itself, flawlessly and she's nearly 80. She has had automatics ever since I was 3 years of age.
I am quite certain you won't be daunted with a manuel.

I only drive auto, but I'd say it really depends on you, what you like, and the kind of driving you do - a lot of busy commuting, and a manual is nice.

The auto is a little faster, and with full lock-up in manual mode is pretty efficient, but Nissan could have done more with it. It does have the equivalent of SRM built-in, however, for downshifts (when you beat the computer downshift).

Maybe you should consider the Sport manual with SRM?

Its all fun and games until you stall lol. I myself am so used to driving automatic cars. But the Z feels nice in manual. lots of power makes the bang feel more "bang for the buck"

Test drive both and choose whats best for you.

:iagree:

"Real men drive manual sports cars"



:hello:


I am actually very impressed with the 7AT and paddle shifters. It is definitely light years away from the 5AT 350z and very fun to drive.

I was going to get the the manual, done deal, but then I drove the auto and was blown away. In the past, an auto took all of the fun out of a car (the 5AT manumatic in my wife's 2004 T-Bird second guesses your every command, after about 5 minutes you just give up and put it in Drive), the auto transmission wanted to do one thing and I wanted to do another, very frustrating. The 7AT allowed me to control the car the way I liked and eliminated the clutch. What I like about a manual is the control and sense of connection to the car that it provides, not the clutch. The 7AT up shifts very fast, and rev-matches on down shifts. This is not a "slush box", there is a tight connection between the engine and the wheels. It has logic circuits to prevent/reduce inappropriate shifts in mid-corner on your canyon runs. It down shifts better and faster than I can. It moves between manual and auto operation effortlessly. It has a 19 mpg city rating compared to the 18 mpg rating of the stick. Supposedly the 7AT is even slightly quicker in the 1/4 mile. For me, this is the first auto that made the car better, not worse. Drive them both, you'll know in no time what works for you. Just know that the Z with the 7AT is still, very much, a sports car.

Guard Dad,

I agree with everything you said, but the 7AT is a "slush box". It does have a torque converter which is the definition of slush box. It's not a true double clutch. What I love about it is that on every upshift except from 1st to 2nd the converter is locked. That's why the shifts are so crisp. The automatic rev on downshifts is habit forming as well. I find myself doing it just to hear the new Stillen CBE.

AZ

I'm with AZroadster on this one.

I came from a MT 350Z and I grew to love the AT but:

1) In D mode it's superb round town and cruising, but it always seems to want to be in 1 gear higher than i'd prefer.

2) If you step on the gas it can get a bit scary if you hit the pedal too hard as the AT can suddenly drop a couple of gears - great in the dry but I reckon it'll be sh*t scary in the wet! Best bet , if you want to overtake for instance, is to drop it down a gear or two (depending on your revs) using the paddles and then accelerating, it's something you get used to though

3) There's a little bit of a delay in Manual mode when upshifting, between clicking the paddle and the gear changing, although you soon get used to it.

4) Using in manual can be a bit lurchy if you're not giving it the beans. The best advise I had, was to use the AT for town and MT for when your gunning it and wanting to change gears at high revs all the time. I feel much more confident now on fast twisting roads in manual mode than I was with the MT 350z, as being able to keep both hands on the wheel all the time is great.

The manual overide on the paddles is a godsend and really makes a big difference....one minute crusing along in auto, then and have a hoot through the fast bends with the paddles, then back to a cruise again.

It took me a a week or two to get used to it and work out what works best. Initially I really thought I'd made a big mistake getting the AT, but now I really like it and definately prefer it over the manual.

Good luck with whichever you choose, either way it's a great car!! As others have said, best to try both before you buy, but don't be put off just because the AT feels a bit alien as you'll get used to it. That said, I still go to turn the key every now and then when I stop the car :icon17:

A convert to AT
 

I went to the dealer (just a month ago now) with the idea of purchasing the touring sport with manual. The dealer only had one with AT, so I drove it. I was blown away. Floor the pedal and the AT downshifts at least 2 gears and runs straight up to the redline. This ain't your grandma's AT. I ended up buying the car I test drove.

The only issue I have so far is that the paddle shifters don't instantly change gears (as mentioned before). I am not used to the delay yet. However, in D the car almost always does exactly what I would do if I were driving with a manual.

This just doesn't feel like an automatic to me. I don't know how they did it, but now a real sports car can have an automatic! I have been driving manual sports cars most of my life. I had one of the first 240Z's.

The only upgrade I needed to make so far is a better radar dectector. Next week I get a clear bra and a backup camera. From a performance perspective I am completely happy with my Z. Though maybe twin turbos....

No confusion here about the torque converter, my reference was metaphorical not literal. Automatics customarily suffer from a soft or disconnected feel between the engine and the drive wheels, this is typically the result of the amount of "slop" built into the torque converter and the choices made in the programming of the gear selections. The 7AT seems to be optimized for the sporting driver with a "tight" (lock-up sequence) converter and a gear box program and design that highlights the sporting nature of the Z. The 7AT may or may not be for everyone but it is for sure a sports car.

The auto on the 370 is def unlike any AT system I've ever tried. You'll be happy with this especially on rush hour traffic. I remember LA traffic when I use to live in Cali driving my 75 280z in MT. It was the only time I wasn't having fun with my z.

I can imagine back in the early days of automobiles, specially out in the west when cowboys scoffed at people who drive the model Ts. "Real men don't drive cars, Real men ride horses!" is the most common phrase they probably heard,lol. That's what comes to my mind when I hear the ole machismo phrase "real men only drive stick".:stirthepot:

So the question is: shep58, have you test driven both yet?

We'll be going back and forth on here for awhile - it's what we do. ;)

:iagree:

I think that connected feel shows in the drive train loss for the 7AT being practically the same as the 6MT.

I do agree that it is hard to be smooth in manual mode while keeping low revs, definitely shifts smoother as revs climb.

Having driven a HKS Stage II MR-2 SC automatic for a while I am used to being careful with the throttle, though :) The NSX auto would only kick down when you were really aggressive, but mine didn't have a manual mode to help on moderate occasions.

I have not driven both. However I have only driven a shift 3 times in the past 18 years a honda civic for a girl who was too drunk to drive a Boxster and a 1999 Porsche 911each on one occasion. I was sweating and heart was racing. I taught myself how to drive a standard on an E-Type and of course had my 280z. For some reason I feel daunted to drive a manual. especially on I-95 in traffic.

^^^ If you don't have an OVERWHELMING urge to drive a manual (like I do - personal bias), you'll love the Z with an automatic, I'm sure.

Your 80 year old mom is driving Manuel? Go girl! :)

I was driving a 95 300z AT for 11 years. That car was fun. I went from that to a 370 NISMO manual transmission. I was a bit slow the first few days to get back in the swing of things. A month into driving this car and it feels as though I never got away from a standard. I had no problem getting back into a stick, so if that's what you want, it will probably come back to you pretty quick. However that's just my experience.