[OFFICIAL] Manual v. Automatic Thread

[Mt Tam I am]

Originally Posted by wstar

^ I get that. There are a lot of drivers who just enjoy the Manual experience. I think "will never understand" isn't necessarily true. I drove a 6-speed car exclusively for a decade before buying the 7AT Z, and often made some of the anti-automatic comments seen in this thread. I can drive a stick pretty well (well, perhaps that's questionable now that I haven't touched one in 4 years!), I just don't want to anymore.

That's why I run it in M-mode 24/7 - I'm used to picking my gear, and I prefer to pick my gear. I know what gear the car should be in based on the situation, and a regular automatic in D-mode doesn't and never will. All an automatic gear-selector can see as input is "Hey we're travelling at 57mph and the engine's at 3,300 rpm and the gas pedal is at 3/8ths", it doesn't know things like "And he's about to make a sudden left turn under braking, so let's predictively move down a gear before we do, so that we have power on tap at the turn's exit, but we don't have to upset the car downshifting mid-corner to get that" versus "And we're about to cruise steadily at this speed for the next mile, let's move up a gear to save fuel and heat".

The act of choosing your gearing is integral to driving a car fully. The act of operating a manual clutch is just an artifact of the mechanism for switching gears.

I relate to the artifact. Similar to: I am the safety on my gun.

I do enjoy the experience. Thank you for recognizing this.

In other "flappy paddle" cars, going into reverse can be weird. Obviously this doesn't apply to the Z or you would not drive it 24/7 in manuel mode. Well done Nissan.

[luigi90210]

Originally Posted by wstar

That's why I run it in M-mode 24/7 - I'm used to picking my gear, and I prefer to pick my gear. I know what gear the car should be in based on the situation, and a regular automatic in D-mode doesn't and never will. All an automatic gear-selector can see as input is "Hey we're travelling at 57mph and the engine's at 3,300 rpm and the gas pedal is at 3/8ths", it doesn't know things like "And he's about to make a sudden left turn under braking, so let's predictively move down a gear before we do, so that we have power on tap at the turn's exit, but we don't have to upset the car downshifting mid-corner to get that" versus "And we're about to cruise steadily at this speed for the next mile, let's move up a gear to save fuel and heat".

wait, so the 370z AT will not downshift for you to engine brake the car when you are braking?(IE you're coming up to a right turn, you brake so you can turn and the car will downshift automatically to a lower gear so you can make said turn)

see i was under the impression that all AT cars did that(well all normal AT cars), my eclipse does that, my altima did that, my friends auto civic does that, my moms merc kind of does that(she has some problems with the transmission shifting so it doesnt do it all the time)

the only AT cars i have driven that didnt do that were the CVT transmissions and it makes sense why it doesnt do it because CVTs technically do not have any gears

if the 370z AT doesnt do that then i can kinda see why someone would keep it in M 24/7(i still dont agree with it but i can understand the frustrations of not being in the right gear coming out of a turn, whether its on the track or on the streets)

[kenchan]

Originally Posted by luigi90210

wait, so the 370z AT will not downshift for you to engine brake the car when you are braking?(IE you're coming up to a right turn, you brake so you can turn and the car will downshift automatically to a lower gear so you can make said turn)

see i was under the impression that all AT cars did that(well all normal AT cars), my eclipse does that, my altima did that, my friends auto civic does that, my moms merc kind of does that(she has some problems with the transmission shifting so it doesnt do it all the time)

the only AT cars i have driven that didnt do that were the CVT transmissions and it makes sense why it doesnt do it because CVTs technically do not have any gears

if the 370z AT doesnt do that then i can kinda see why someone would keep it in M 24/7(i still dont agree with it but i can understand the frustrations of not being in the right gear coming out of a turn, whether its on the track or on the streets)

CVT does not need to do that because theoretically it can instantly be in the ratio optimized for fuel economy and power.

planetary gear AT cars downshift on their own, but not in the optimum gear you want to be as it is programmed to save fuel as default... (like it wont automatically enter 2nd gear to be in torque band before entering the turn). that's when the AT guy paddle shifts to mandate the lower gear to get in the torque band to prepare for powering out of the turn.

[frost]

Since everyone wants to beat up a topic that's years old, I'll move all your posts to a thread that's years old and let you continue

[Haboob]

Originally Posted by frost

Since everyone wants to beat up a topic that's years old, I'll move all your posts to a thread that's years old and let you continue

Yay!

I hate this dead horse so much, I want to keep kicking it.






However...

Sometimes I wish I had an AT, because I'm just too tired or lazy to shift.




Aaaand, I wish the AT didn't have the gear selector on the center console - wish it was done all through the paddles. That may have convinced me to go AT.

[FPenvy]

Originally Posted by frost

Since everyone wants to beat up a topic that's years old, I'll move all your posts to a thread that's years old and let you continue

can i beat up your gear stick since youre years older than me......and sexy

[2sl0w]

At first I was pissed that I had Automatic locks. I prefer to lock my doors to be Manual...

As much as I like to derail derailed threads how about some devils advocate from a tuning perspective. We know 7at is faster than 6mt in the 1/4 mile.

Most of us here have mods that increase our HP/TQ/Acceleration. You would think all 6mt owners that are going for pure speed would jump on the 6mt to 7at conversion with a tunnel vision view of modding for performance.

But we must also remember that when we change things to make the car more powerful it gets more exciting as well . Exhausts, Intakes, Wheels, plenum mods. Some of us pursue HP efficiencies and solid gains other go for noise and excitement. (IE Post maf tubes + dropins and CBE vs SRi's and shorttails).

It is what makes car modding fun. I personally prefer efficient HP production and the experience is secondary as far as bolt on mods. I do not have a loud intake, I have all my noise deadening material etc. BUT I bought a 6mt over an automatic because I enjoy the experience of driving a manual car. It is a more involved process and even if it is slower it is more fun for me. It is a paradox for sure.. always modding for performance but using an antiquated method to shift gears because I enjoy it more. (Similar to people who mod for sound and looks over absolute performance)

If you read all of this then right now your thinking what is this guys point.. and the point is.. stop reading a forum and large walls of text and go enjoy your sports car. Who cares about the transmission choice? At least we get to choose still. <--- This is the point... / thread.

Now go forth and conquer in your sports car in the real world and stick to the important threads like which CAI or exhaust is the best... or nitrogen vs air in tires, or which engine oil and VVEL mesh the best.


TL : DR
Either option is the best depending on the person. The absolute truth is the best transmission is the one we choose because we have a choice.

[wstar]

Yeah it's too bad that it's not completely drive-by-wire, or I'd just wire up custom dash switch for P/R/N/M and then have just the paddle shifters. Unfortunately the stick also manually moves a mechanical selector on the side of the transmission for P<->R<->N<->D, so you can't get rid of it. However, the distinction between D and M is purely electronic and hackable.

[theDreamer]

Would you be able to wire it so it is always in M mode?

[wstar]

Originally Posted by theDreamer

Would you be able to wire it so it is always in M mode?

Yeah I plan to experiment with that. I was going to do it this week, but I have company in from out of town interfering with my car-mod schedule. Maybe by early next week I'll know.

[theDreamer]

Originally Posted by wstar

Yeah I plan to experiment with that. I was going to do it this week, but I have company in from out of town interfering with my car-mod schedule. Maybe by early next week I'll know.

Company in town just means for hands to help then....give them something to do, like taking out all the sound dampening tar, and get some use out of them.

[falcon300zx]

Nothing wrong with 370Z 7 AT.

I own both 370Z A/T and 300ZX M/T. They are both awesome, but act and should be treated differently at time of driving.

I drive both of them hard and push both of them way past 7500 RPM occasionally.

370Z in Manual paddle/tip tronic mode does not up shift for you. It only downshift for you but wait for a very long time to react. But, hey it is faster of the line than most racers can shift through gears. It has pros and cons.
Less responsiveness when you want to race your car or try to power slide and drift it.

300ZX 5 speed M/T is a definitely different story, it requires more respond and input, but a lot more fun to drive AS LONG AS t THERE IS NO TRAFFIC LIKE IN SEATTLE, running between 1st - 2nd for hours. This could be really suck.

I decided to get A/T for my Z34 because of couple reason.
1. My GF can also drive it without worry about rolling back down the hill.
2. If I go on a long *** ride with heavy traffic, my back and my knee don't .itch about it after I get home.
3. 370Z auto give you a plenty of fun without engaging the clutch which in new era now. Forget the 19 century technology. We live in a tech world now.

Summary: buy what suit you and your situation is the best decision, good luck.

[nmjaxx9]

7AT mucfuka!!!!!!

Someone told me a 6 speed is faster but they couldnt prove anything.

[Haboob]

Originally Posted by FPenvy

can i beat up your gear stick since youre years older than me......and sexy

[1slow370]

a 6 speed is more enjoyable and you don't have to worry about all the people who would think you aren't as cool because because your car could be driven by a small child.