Sometimes; barely. Car & Driver gave it 4.6 to 60 versus 4.8 for the manual, but they've been known to get a fast model when reviewing.

Of course, it does shift like an expert and in D mode it has no problem dropping down in gears and revving to the limit, so it s probably faster than most drivers most of the time anyway.

Well this old lady on a bicycle was faster than me when I am trying to shift... god dammit, she only had one leg too.

im in NJ, and got used to this cars trans in like 2 weeks, first manual daily driver. the clutch is a little springy and engages a little high but its not too bad

Where are you located?
If anywhere nearby me, I wouldn't mind meeting you and helping you learn this process.

Never mind, just read your post. NY/NJ
Hmm I am sure you can find someone where who would be willing to help you out.

i do, im always on 278 and i know how you feel. from a standing still i don't even give it gas, just let go of the clutch slowly, you'll get a very smooth start.

Get an automatic and put a manual boot on, now you're driving like a pro!

Auto defeats the purpose of owning a sports car. :p

try moving the car without using the gas pedal. Use the clutch and remove very very slowly until the car creeps forward. Do this 10 times. The on the 11th time, as the car slowing starts creeping forward, give it a little bit of gas. There you go.

Personally I like to blip the throttle and engage when the rpm drops. Used to daily driving carbon clutches...

One thing to keep in mind is that your shifting and clutching speed should be proportional to the rate at which you're accelerating.

For example:
If you're driving away at a leisurely pace and going up through the gears, the smoothest shifts will be relatively slow clutch depression, gear shift, clutch release.

If you're 'on it' and revving quickly to 5k+ rpm, you'll have to clutch, shift, and declutch much faster to have a relatively smooth shift. Realistically, you have to be lightning fast to have no forward-backward forces during rapid acceleration. Just imagine you're being forced back in your seat while your foot is flat to the floor in second gear. You hit 7.5k rpm and depress the clutch. Boom, you've lost your acceleration and you sense a change of momentum wanting to throw you forward. Now you complete your shift and you're back on the gas full throttle. Wham, you're back into the seat accelerating again. If you shift very quickly, you minimize the forward-backward throws.

When accelerating slowly, you don't have much change in momentum as you change gears and a slow clutch, shift, declutch makes for a smoother transition. Try it yourself. Accelerate very leisurely but then try to shift as fast as you can. I bet you grind the gears more often than when you shift quickly while you're accelerating rapidly. It's just natural to match shifting speed to acceleration rate.

matter of opinion.

Well-put

When you buy a sports car, then you can talk. :p