I like the AT manual mode for maximum acceleration because I can go all the way to redline in each gear. I don't experience much lag between gears. If the lag in AT manual shifting were more than pushing in a clutch and shifting then the AT would not be faster than the manual.
With an AT you can totally concentrate on negotiating corners and curves using the paddles with both hands on the wheel or one hand on the wheel and a flick of the wrist on the shifter to run up or down through the gears.
Check out this link:
Tokyo 2009: Lexus reveals $375,000 LFA supercar...finally [w/VIDEO] — Autoblog
I know the 370Z does not shift as fast as a super car or Formula 1 but if a manual transmission is faster and is better for racing why did they build these with AT's, paddles and shift buttons?
It is hard to beat an AT ....... and I might add ..... my everyday driver is a supercharged Nissan Frontier with manual transmission, cold air intake and dual stainless exhaust system.