Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post

LunaZ · 03-06-2011, 02:04 PM

I'm old school. It's gotta have a clutch pedal!
Driving a manual is just so much more "involved" than driving an automatic. Are twin-clutch, DSG gearboxes faster than a human being? Sure they are, but you miss out on "feeling" the car as you slip the clutch and manage power delivery to control wheelspin on a launch... and that's just one example of the things that technology takes out of the driving experience.

I know a guy who drives Ferraris and trades up every couple of years. I remember back in 1997 how excited I was to try out his new 355F1 that he traded his manual 355 convertible on. The car with new transmission was novel for a bit, but it didn't feel as magical as moving that lever through the gates in the convertible. Something was missing.

Someday I'll be forced into having an automatic in whatever new sports car I purchase and I'm sure it will be faster at shifting than I am, but I'll be a little hurt that I'm becoming somewhat less necessary in the driving process.

Oh, to answer the OP, no regrets on my decision.

03-06-2011, 02:04 PM	#56 (permalink)
LunaZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vagabond Posts: 6,704 Drives: Project: a white one Rep Power: 512	I'm old school. It's gotta have a clutch pedal! Driving a manual is just so much more "involved" than driving an automatic. Are twin-clutch, DSG gearboxes faster than a human being? Sure they are, but you miss out on "feeling" the car as you slip the clutch and manage power delivery to control wheelspin on a launch... and that's just one example of the things that technology takes out of the driving experience. I know a guy who drives Ferraris and trades up every couple of years. I remember back in 1997 how excited I was to try out his new 355F1 that he traded his manual 355 convertible on. The car with new transmission was novel for a bit, but it didn't feel as magical as moving that lever through the gates in the convertible. Something was missing. Someday I'll be forced into having an automatic in whatever new sports car I purchase and I'm sure it will be faster at shifting than I am, but I'll be a little hurt that I'm becoming somewhat less necessary in the driving process. Oh, to answer the OP, no regrets on my decision. __________________ 2009 370Z Sport/Touring/Navigation \| see my journal for mods facebook: Be my friend... or not. Last edited by LunaZ; 03-06-2011 at 02:07 PM.