6MT vs 7AT and the Track/Auto X
 

FLAME SUIT ON!!!

I know the 7AT is faster in a straight line and all... But, which do you think would be better/faster for the track or AutoX??

The CaymanS PDK best the MT on the track, but what about the Z's 7AT? Will it best the 6MT on the tracks??

I would really like to hear from those who may have tracked a 7AT.

Sorry for another thread like this. PLEASE let's keep this mild and civil as I really would like this input versus having the thread locked! If I looked over another thread discussing this point, just point me in the right direction.

THX ALL!!

7AT would best a manual in that situation for a few reasons.

1) More gears = more ratios to keep it in the best range for delivering the most torque/hp.

2) It shifts faster than a manual.

Not sure what others do but when I auto-x I keep it in second the whole way and never change gears because there is no need. With me I know that auto or manual it wouldn't make a difference as it would be in 2nd gear in both cases. For longer track use such as road courses I can't say as I don't have any experience with it.

280z/300zx is right, I also read a review about the auto in a auto x event and they felt neither 2nd or 3rd really felt like the perfect gear where with the manual they could slap it in 2nd and be happy.

I guess it depends largely on the course and your driving habits.

Couldn't this be due to (or be resolved by) changing the FD ratio?

(reference to the FD Ratio for the 7AT is different than that of the 6MT)

It could be, but I have not done much research yet on changing the FD ratio yet.

also gentlemen, keep in mind, the auto tranny's temp will skyrocket during prolonged track use, you'd need an expensive transmission cooler. Not needed for the 6MT. And I agree, depending on the track, you can pretty much stay in 2nd the whole time. Also keep in mind that the auto isnt a twin clutch setup like the Evo's.

Who said anything about twin clutch?

As for an "expensive transmission cooler" - either the auto has one, or, it's not that bad...considering.

I made a reference to the twin clutch for the simple fact that the twin clutch doesnt overheat like an auto tranny will. During auto x events, the transmission is under constant load, and overheating and inefficiency will occur. Its ok to defend your car, but the OP wanted honest opinions, and I gave mine.

There is nothing special to the Z's auto. Don't let the paddles fool you...it is nothing like the more advanced clutch-[pedal]-less manuals which just recently surpassed their equivalent standard-manual counterparts on a track driven by a professional. It still has a torque-converter, and while it's better than your average auto found in most passenger-cars...it's still an auto.

Regardless, even if the 370Z had an optional transmission on the same level as a DSG or Ferrari's F1...I'd still take the standard.

Good honest thoughts guys...

Keep them coming!!

Sorry, but I drove a Golf R32 with DSG, and it shifts slower than my 370Z 7AT. My 2002 BMW M3 with SMG also shifted at the same speed or slower than my 370Z (to/from gears 1-5).

JMO

Gimme a stick and a clutch pedal.

Yeah...no. Sources show VW's DSG to have a shift-time of only 8 milliseconds, while BMW's SMG supposedly shifts in 80 milliseconds. A conventional automatic like the one in the Z will come anywhere near that.

Besides...too much importance is placed on shift-time. A competent driver operating a clutch and gear-lever can shift quick enough to where it doesn't matter, even when not trying to shift mad qu1ck. 400 milliseconds, or 100, or 50, or 3...who cares. At this point, you are marginally effecting straight-line acceleration. What matters is control over gear-selection, where in that case there is no comparison between a manual and conventional auto.

As mentioned above...gimme a stick and a clutch-pedal. There is no replacement for it when talking about sports-cars. I will always opt for it whenever it's available for a given model.

This is the first time I've seen a conventional automatic be defended to this level in a sports-car. Had the auto been a dual-clutch or sequential-style setup, and then we'll have an argument. :icon14:

I think auto slushboxes are greatly improved now, but i'll stick to my manual 6 spd for the challenge and fun of driving a sports car. I love rowing through the gears.