I just took out a 7AT for a ride...

chris410

...if someone enjoys manual go for it...to say an auto is not fun is simply silly.

To add to it...put the auto in manual mode and you now have two ways to shift VS manual you have no option other than shift. Either one is a blast so the choice should match preference. Although, on the street the auto does hold the advantage since it hooks up better than the manual hence the slightly faster times we keep seeing.

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Chris
Current: 2014 WRX Stage I + SPT / 2013 Hayabusa 202HP
Former:09 370Z 7-AT PW/Ark Type 2 exhaust/Evo R lip/TSW Nurburgring carbon

Sardis

It's all love..

The two horrid things about autos have all been fixed.. Shift times and excessive loss through the drivetrain.

Now it's all just down to preference, which is how it should be

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"Because in a split second, it's gone." - Ayrton Senna

chief_Roka

This one of the or the most intelligent statement made concerning the auto manual debate.

I luv paddleshift! I think its way more fun!
And fact is. You have more control over the car.

sw1318

Here is my personal opinion:

I’ve driven manual most of my life and when I got my hands on an EVO X MR SST 40min test drive around the twisty mountains with a mate from Mitsubishi, I can tell you paddles provide exceptional control compared to my manual EVO 7 and 8. The control of the paddles allow you to focus your turning points and speed where as a manual you will loose some time during shifts. Also, the paddles allow me to focus more intently on left foot braking. Those who have mastered this will understand what I mean.

With the above all done and satisfied with how a twin clutch transmission feels, I then went back to my 370Z 7speed auto and gave it another hard run around the same mountain.

The verdict: I can tell you the 7 speed feels just as good and quick as the SST, you will feel a slight jolt when up shifting only at lower rpm (same as the SST) but this is due to the fact that the gears are shifting so fast that it just bangs into place instantly. Nissan have done a great job with this 7 speed even tho it’s not a twin clutch setup, it’s surely close.

In the beginning I felt I had more control with the manual but after seeing my lap times around the mountains I can tell you I’ve made the correct choice in my purchase. The manual on the other hand is more work and you might ‘feel’ like you are in more control. However, once you have mastered the technology behind paddle shifting, when and how to shift right and smoothly, you will feel highly rewarded.

Both transmissions are superior in my opinion and it’s more to do with “preference” as some here have already suggested. Both are also launchable if you do it correctly. Both have rev matching technology when downshifting. It really depends if you want to do more exercise with your left foot or be more relaxed with the 7SP among the same or similar performance. The saying ‘manual is for sports cars and for real drivers’ is no longer relevant in the current era as automatic transmissions are now more aligned with manuals or even better.