Any 15+ Nismo 7AT Owners Regret Getting the 7AT?

hey32g · 09-11-2017, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle

I had a 2012 7AT Sport and it was pretty damn fast in a straight line, not to mention on the race tracks down here in So Cal.

My only gripe was reliability and the sensitivity this unit has to heat. I had my transmission replaced 4 times under warranty. Granted, I drive hard...but I kept up with my maintenance and I even added a transmission oil cooler to help. The good news is that it did indeed help and extended the life of the trans under hard driving conditions. The bad news is the trans still broke.

If you are the type of guy who likes the twisties and drops down a gear or two before sailing into a corner, my advice is to get the 6MT if you can.

If you aren't that type of driver, you should be fine with the 7AT. Just know that eventually the day will come when the torque converter, flexplate, the transmission or all the above are going to go.

The 6MT's don't have this kind of problem, they get to deal with CSC issues though

Also, regarding the tuning from EcuTek and Uprev...keep in mind your upshifts may get quicker and sharper but your downshifts will become more sluggish. This is a non-issue for drag racers and street racers who like doing pulls light to light or from a roll, but in the canyons and the road courses I imagine this will become frustrating and possibly dangerous. This is feedback I received from DEPointFive0.

If it's a CPO would that all be covered as long as I stay off a track and don't modify it?

Eagle · 09-11-2017, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hey32g

If it's a CPO would that all be covered as long as I stay off a track and don't modify it?

If any of the components that are known to go bad on the 7AT actually fail and you haven't modified or tracked the vehicle, you are pretty safe. The dealer will have a hard time trying to prove you were negligent and or abusing the car and should replace the parts and cover the labor under your CPO warranty. If the unthinkable happens, you have to have it replaced and they are denying your warranty claim, let me know. I can guide you through the process to get that done. I've been down that road too many times unfortunately.

What boggles my mind is how Nissan made the 7AT a sealed unit, says it does not require service for the life of the vehicle (no ATF fluid flush and fill...ever) but there are numerous accounts of people having problems with their 7AT's and needing to have them serviced or replaced just from everyday street driving.

hey32g · 09-11-2017, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle

If any of the components that are known to go bad on the 7AT actually fail and you haven't modified or tracked the vehicle, you are pretty safe. The dealer will have a hard time trying to prove you were negligent and or abusing the car and should replace the parts and cover the labor under your CPO warranty. If the unthinkable happens, you have to have it replaced and they are denying your warranty claim, let me know. I can guide you through the process to get that done. I've been down that road too many times unfortunately.

What boggles my mind is how Nissan made the 7AT a sealed unit, says it does not require service for the life of the vehicle (no ATF fluid flush and fill...ever) but there are numerous accounts of people having problems with their 7AT's and needing to have them serviced or replaced just from everyday street driving.

Brings up a few more questions:

1. Which is more common a CSC problem or a 7AT problem?

2. If you change the transmission fluid (have a Nissan dealer do it) will they say that voided the warranty?

3. If you add a transmission cooler, will they say that voids the warranty?

4. Is the CSC problem still common on a '15+ Nismo or have they done something to address it?

I'm choosing a Nismo Z over a C6 Z06 for my perceived reliability, am I picking the wrong car? I know once the exhaust valve heads are addressed on the Z06, they're pretty reliable.

Wheels3309 · 09-11-2017, 04:53 PM

No regrets... Mine is my DD and I drive almost exclusively in manual mode (save for those rough mornings when I just want to drink my coffee on the way in to work

)

Personally, I like the flexibility of having it "both ways" so to speak... But as far as your concern about just leaving it in auto... the driving experience is obviously soooo much better when you are controlling the shifting yourself so I usually pop it into manual every time I get in it.

Absolutely love this car... even in 7AT form.

Eagle · 09-11-2017, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hey32g

Brings up a few more questions:

1. Which is more common a CSC problem or a 7AT problem?

2. If you change the transmission fluid (have a Nissan dealer do it) will they say that voided the warranty?

3. If you add a transmission cooler, will they say that voids the warranty?

4. Is the CSC problem still common on a '15+ Nismo or have they done something to address it?

I'm choosing a Nismo Z over a C6 Z06 for my perceived reliability, am I picking the wrong car? I know once the exhaust valve heads are addressed on the Z06, they're pretty reliable.

1. CSC is more common, but cheaper to fix.
2. If a Nissan dealer changes fluid ONLY with Matic-S ATF, your warranty still stands and should not be void.
3. No not easily, the only way they can do that is if they can prove the cooler caused a failure of some sort.
4. CSC problem has never been addressed. I believe the new 2018 "Heritage Edition" has an Exedy clutch which may or may not make a difference.

Whether or not the 370z is the right car for you or not is not something I can answer. It has it's issues which are a nuisance and don't normally creep up in normal driving or commuting. For the spirited driver, you will encounter at least one of the common issues this car suffers from. It's a good car, but has it's flaws like any other when pushed. I don't want to convince you into buying a Z or dissuade you from doing so. My suggestion would be to research some more here on this forum...as there a small handful of issues to consider. Some of them are just nuisances and can be fixed or addressed pretty easily. Others are somewhat expensive and if it pops up, could mean your car is down for a while. The CSC and auto transmission problems are the worst to encounter, hope that helps.

Eagle · 09-11-2017, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wheels3309

No regrets... Mine is my DD and I drive almost exclusively in manual mode (save for those rough mornings when I just want to drink my coffee on the way in to work

)

Personally, I like the flexibility of having it "both ways" so to speak... But as far as your concern about just leaving it in auto... the driving experience is obviously soooo much better when you are controlling the shifting yourself so I usually pop it into manual every time I get in it.

Absolutely love this car... even in 7AT form.

I drove my car in manual mode all the time, absolutely hated leaving it in auto.

hey32g · 09-15-2017, 09:43 PM

Guys thanks for all your help. I've pretty much decided on the manual. When I started my car search I swore I would not even look at anything but manuals, then I drove the 370Z 7AT and was very impressed. But the more I've thought it through, the more I think I need to stick with the stick.

Thank you for all your input. It helped a lot.

Rusty · 09-15-2017, 09:51 PM

Enjoy the ride.

370zBoyz · 10-06-2017, 08:24 AM

I got spoiled by the fr-s with the paddle shifters moving with the steering wheel...I took the corner leaving the neighborhood and tried to shift with the paddle but then realized it's not with the wheel and I need to move my hand to reach the paddle

just something I need to adjust to

hey32g · 10-10-2017, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370zBoyz

I got spoiled by the fr-s with the paddle shifters moving with the steering wheel...I took the corner leaving the neighborhood and tried to shift with the paddle but then realized it's not with the wheel and I need to move my hand to reach the paddle

just something I need to adjust to

To me, and to Ferrari and Lamborghini, but not to Porsche, etc... it makes more sense to have the paddles fixed in one place, that way you always know where they are. In race cars they never have to move their hands so it works there, but on the road, our hands have to move on the steering wheel. I had a BMW with the push either side to downshift/pull either side to upshift - I hated that!

09-11-2017, 04:53 PM	#19 (permalink)
Wheels3309 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 301 Drives: 2015 370Z Nismo 7/AT Rep Power: 10	No regrets... Mine is my DD and I drive almost exclusively in manual mode (save for those rough mornings when I just want to drink my coffee on the way in to work ) Personally, I like the flexibility of having it "both ways" so to speak... But as far as your concern about just leaving it in auto... the driving experience is obviously soooo much better when you are controlling the shifting yourself so I usually pop it into manual every time I get in it. Absolutely love this car... even in 7AT form. Eagle and wideglideleon like this. __________________ Daily Driven 2015 370Z NISMO 7AT \| Pearl White \| R2C Black Hex Drop-ins \| HPS Post MAF Tubes \| Top Speed Pro 1 Axle-back Exhaust

09-15-2017, 09:43 PM	#22 (permalink)
hey32g Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 278 Drives: ‘14 370Z, Black, 7AT Rep Power: 6726	Guys thanks for all your help. I've pretty much decided on the manual. When I started my car search I swore I would not even look at anything but manuals, then I drove the 370Z 7AT and was very impressed. But the more I've thought it through, the more I think I need to stick with the stick. Thank you for all your input. It helped a lot. Eagle, Rusty and bbermann like this.

09-15-2017, 09:51 PM	#23 (permalink)
Rusty Ronin Samurai - Assassin Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky Age: 68 Posts: 35,185 Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M Rep Power: 2684437	Enjoy the ride. hey32g and Eagle like this. __________________ 浪人 - 殺し屋 "The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only" http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html

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10-06-2017, 08:24 AM	#24 (permalink)
370zBoyz Base Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Driver seat Posts: 207 Drives: Nismo Rep Power: 7214	I got spoiled by the fr-s with the paddle shifters moving with the steering wheel...I took the corner leaving the neighborhood and tried to shift with the paddle but then realized it's not with the wheel and I need to move my hand to reach the paddle just something I need to adjust to