Confessions of a 7AT Driver

EndyKwon

It's moderately easy to spot a MT driver: look for that little back-roll before the car accelerates or the brake light isn't on during a stop light (on a flat surface). And then there's the little delay in sound between shifts, especially when the driver doesn't feel like shifting like The Fast and The Furious.

I sometimes get self conscious whenever there's a sporty car next to me because I feel like he/she is going to judge me for driving an automatic. So what I would do is leave my car in neutral during stoplights and then manual shift with delays in between shifts so it can sound and look like I'm driving a manual.

I wish I had a manual sometimes.

XiP

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MB370Z

No offense dude but how old are you? I use to have the same mindset when I was younger but now I much rather have an auto especially while stuck in traffic. I had a lot of younger guys compliment my car until they saw it was an auto and thought it was a POS.

EndyKwon

19.
Going to play a little bit of devil's advocate here: I'm not hating on my 7AT; I love the revving downshift and the comfort when it comes to being stuck in traffic. Don't call me immature though, I still think that a manual transmission on a GT-R is like using an abacus for rocket science.

It's just the manual elitists that get me all self conscious at times.

forza370z

While there is nothing wrong to drive an auto or a manual. And no matter how auto guys here talk how bad the manual transmission on this car, I'd still pick up a manual any day. It's about the connection between the driver and the car. And it takes skills to drive a manual car fast. Rev matching, heel-toe, power shifting are not avaliable in an auto. It's challenging and whole lot of fun! Guess I'd be bored already if I owns an auto(that's why I sold my auto G coupe). But then again, if I am getting little older I'd pick up an auto and just be "lazy" stuck in the traffic.

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Mt Tam I am

Last week I spent over an hour in stop and go traffic, followed by another 30 minutes all on the way to Laguna Seca. I hate sitting in traffic like everyone else, but to complain about the easiest clutch to engage I've ever known, is the part that gets me, during a debate about the two transmissions.

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fonzo179

Power to the AT! I love mine because in both the Virginia and Kentucky hillsides, I was able to "zone in" on the road. Being able to feather the accelerator in and out of the turns, catching and letting go mid-gear and smoothly cruising in and out of straitaways...remarkable

MB370Z

I never called you immature. I'm just saying who gives a **** if someone is driving an auto. Not everyone on the road is a racer trying to look "cool". Only people who are immature are the ones judging people driving autos.

What does that have to do with anything I posted? All of my past cars have been manuals and I'm just saying now I much rather prefer an auto.

Mecinoid

Sorry, I was just trying to back you up. Won't do that again....

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Mecinoid

And most race car have what? Automatics, S7's, PDK's, Dual Clutch Autos/Man.

I have drag raced autos and sticks. Which do you think are faster, which do you think are more consistent? I'd rather shift once in a Powerglide than three or four times in a stick going down the quarter mile with a higher risk of a miss-shift. Not to mention the fact that I can leave my hands on the wheel for more of the run. I only have to drive one handed for 1 second or so during that one shift at half track.

The transmission variations are getting more and more blurred these days.

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Mecinoid

Yeah, but when you downshift coming into a light you look like a genius with the S7's auto downshift reving. I'm always in the right gear when the light changes.

You could always put in a $3 switch to turn off the brake lights. It also comes in handy running dark from the popo. Not that I'd ever do that ...

I like my S7 (Sequential 7-speed) I have other sports cars with stick shifts in them and they don't sound as good running the gears. Those quick shifts that come effortlessly are b-e-a- utiful.

Not to mention the engagement point on a stick shift Z is way too high. I've always modified the engagement point on the Z to engage 1" off of the floor. Just like my old school stuff. It's a lot easier and faster during speed shifting.

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ElVee

I think there will be people who judge you for an automatic (I am one as well). But I also think those times are a'changin' as we move forward.

Then again, that's part of figuring out who the douchbags are and who the real car enthusiasts are who really don't care what *you* choose as long as you like it and everyone appreciates the hobby/lifestyle. I can control the gears/experience just about as well as a manual driver, and I don't need to be bothered with rowing downward. I think that's really what matters: whether you can keep the rpms where you'd like them. A full-on auto I would probably judge just by saying you're not getting much control/fun out of the car....though admittedly they'd be getting better mpg probably.

On topic, I have a bad habit from driving my auto '03 eclipse. It would shift just a little speedier if I let up about halfway off the throttle during a shift (I was blessed with sport shifting 10 years ago). It might also subconsciously be a "I'm-hiding-that-I'm-auto" thing. I admit, I did get used to the rocking sensation of the power being re-applied. It's less useful/obvious in the Z, especially since it's 7 gears instead of 4, and the first 2 are pretty quick.

Oh, and I'm sorry I passed you while you were changing gears.

ElVee

I love this as well. Not sure what other non-enthusiasts think that don't know what rev-matching is, but it's pretty much guaranteed to get pedestrian eyeballs, lol.

(Another confession: I don't do it next to muscle car V8's driven by borderline rednecks who will just take it as me challenging them. Well, unless it's a 5.0 Mustang and I want to bait them into roaring off so I can fap just a little bit...)

Nuccigucci

now why would you do that? why not just get used to the engagement? that makes no sense especially because if its that out of spec by doing something as foolish like that the clutch wont disengage fully youd have premature wear you your clutch not to mention youd ruin your transmission! what old cars are you talking about? because even in the "old cars" yes they do have different engagement points they should never be an inch off the floor

Bucketlist2012

I gotta say, On an Old School Muscle car, I do keep the engagement point as close to the floor as possible..Of course without premature wear, but the way I drive it, the clutch is going to be worn out pretty fast anyways...

But I don't think i would do that with a modern Clutch, JMO...

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