modifying an automatic...

Codename067

The real answer I think depends on how you modify it.

And no offense to anyone that buys AT, but I can't possibly imagine driving a car like this, with automatic transmission. It defeats the entire purpose of having fun with a car as powerful as this, lets not forget gear control. Just my 2 cents

Tazicon

You have not driven an AT then.......................I can tell from your statement

Codename067

I've driven other cars of equal or similar power in automatic transmission. Friends cars.

Certainly wasn't the same as Manual.

11Thumper

Right, it's AT Captain Obvious...

Zbrah

pedro_eskda
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XiP

also,

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Jordo!

Last I checked you have full control over shifting gears with the 7AT...

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Codename067

Hmm thanks for the info. I didn't know. The Autos i've driven were older ones. e46 m3, camaro, and evo. Those were fairly quick but a little boring to drive.

But I haven't driven new auto cars

FPenvy

yes in manual mode it will not shift up for you but it will down shift so it doesnt stall. i drive mine 99% of the time in MT mode.

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tiger123

Go to a Nissan dealer and test drive a 7AT.......then come back and post your comments.

Agree with previous post. MT are going the way of the dinosaurs. Dual Clutch Auto's are taking over. Just look at Ferrari's. MT not even available in some of their newer lines and growing with various car MFG's as well.

The 370Z 7AT is faster than MT. I have driven both........And yes, you have absolutely full gear control.................Full control.

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Jordo!

On that note, for me, the greatest evidence of a change in attitudes that match the change in tech: The BBC Top Gear lads NEVER complain about "flappy paddle" gear boxes anymore, which they used to do almost without fail.

In fact, they are more likely to praise them if they even mention it -- there are virtually no more high end cars that even offer a traditional 3 pedal set-up anymore.

In any case, although our AT is technically a fluid coupling trans, it has full lock up (i.e., a solid, mechanical link from engine to gearbox) in gears 2 - 7.

Moreover, the gearing ratios are very good, very close, and similar to those for MT, although needing an extra gear to achieve it. Additionally, as it turns out, in 0-60 runs (stock), the AT is typically found to be about .1 sec faster than the MT.

Finally, I have seen no clear evidence of any extra drivetrain loss either; it seems to make just as much power as the MT from various mods. The only major caveat would be that gears 5 and up tend to be prone to failure with the substantially higher increased torque and heat produced from a boosted motor.

I have no idea if failures on OEM clutch are more or less likely at significantly higher levels of torque, but I know that clutch failures (CSC) even without mods are common on the MT, so you probably break about even there.

So basically, personal preferences aside, both perform very well (as well as have their own unique set of drawbacks), and are both are appropriate for a sports car.

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wstar

Actually, I've just recently been staring at all the related numbers, and the ratios are quite different between the two:

7AT: 4.924, 3.194, 2.043, 1.412, 1.000, 0.862, 0.772 w/ 3.357 final drive
6MT: 3.794, 2.324, 1.624, 1.271, 1.000, 0.794 w/ 3.692 final drive

If you go ahead and multiply out for the final drive difference, you can see that the 7AT has a wider range on both ends; the low gears are even lower than the 6MT, and the high gears are higher:

7AT: 16.530, 10.722, 6.858, 4.740, 3.357, 2.894, 2.592
6MT: 14.007, 8.580, 5.996, 4.693, 3.692, 2.931

However, the percentage change in ratios between successive gears looks like this:

7AT: 35.1% -> 36.0% -> 30.9% -> 29.2% -> 13.8% -> 10.4%
6MT: 38.7% -> 30.1% -> 21.7% -> 21.3% -> 20.6%

Which means the 6MT has narrower gearing in the middle gears that you care most about (3->4->5), which keeps you in the powerband easier. The 7AT has wider gears at the bottom/middle, but then significantly narrower way out at the top (which is useless for anything but high-mpg cruising, unless you drop in a very very different final drive gear).

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b15

Sure it has a manual mode but, to me, It's not the same driving experience. I extensively test drove both and bought the MT because I found it more enjoyable. Guess I'm a dinosaur! Still wouldn't change a thing if I had to do it over again tomorrow.

Wonka2581

Dude you really need to drive the new 7AT in the 370z. its amazing, now thats only in the 370z/G37 the 350z/g35 auto trannys are junk...

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Wonka2581

And what is wrong with modding or buying a 7AT?? I have a 7AT and love it! I have had plenty of MT cars, and by far this car is extremely fun in the 7AT version. I took it over the 6MT at the dealer. if you have not tryed out a 7AT go and test drive one, you will be second guessing your self on that 6MT you got!

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