2009 Nissan 370Z Automatic - Short Take Road Test

Educ8r · 04-24-2009, 04:00 PM

Article

Moving the shifter to the left from D to manual mode puts the car in a sporting mindset, with the paddles calling forth sharp, lightning-quick shifts that helped this car set the quickest acceleration times we’ve yet recorded from the new Z: 0–60 in 4.6 seconds and the quarter-mile in 13.1 at 108 mph, quicker by 0.2 and 0.3 second and 1 mph than our quickest manual car. With either the automatic or the do-it-yourself transmission, the 370Z is EPA rated at 18 mpg city/26 highway. We saw 18 with the auto, down 1 mpg from the manual 370Z.

370z4Steve · 04-24-2009, 04:12 PM

4.6 and 13.1 on an Auto? Wow time to trade my manual

seems like a ringer.

FlashBazbo · 04-24-2009, 06:35 PM

Automatics are so good now that a lot of them on sports cars are faster than a manual. Porsche's electronic double-clutch system is much, much quicker than their manual.

And for a long time, most turbocharged cars with an automatic have been faster than the same car with a manual.

And those results are with professionals driving the manuals. With "real people," I suspect 90% of drivers would be quicker with a good automatic (because they're just not that good with a manual).

fastgt350 · 04-24-2009, 07:17 PM

thats great numbers ,close to my m3's numbers cant wait to purchase one

frost · 04-24-2009, 07:19 PM

Makes me feel a little better I went with the auto ... a little.

Endgame · 04-24-2009, 07:22 PM

I KNEW the auto would be faster!! This is even closer to the Cayman's PDK numbers.... WOW NISSAN!! Bravo!

frost · 04-24-2009, 07:28 PM

^ It should be, since it's somewhere around $1,200 more

juan05 · 04-24-2009, 09:12 PM

i need to see a video to belive this. i cant belive auto is faster than manual...im in shock.

zman1910 · 04-24-2009, 09:38 PM

That's a pretty significant advantage....108mph

force11111 · 04-24-2009, 09:52 PM

I traded my manual in for an automatic just a few days ago, and I have no regrets. Definately a faster car on the straights, and I spent a lot of time practicing on that manual. Another nice bonus is increased fuel eocnomy in town. I'm getting much better milage now.

Matt

frost · 04-24-2009, 09:53 PM

I'm sure this has been said a million times, but I wish the paddles moved with the steering wheel so it was easier to shift during turns.

zman1910 · 04-24-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frost

I'm sure this has been said a million times, but I wish the paddles moved with the steering wheel so it was easier to shift during turns.

It sounds easier but it's not. My TL-S paddles move with the steering wheel and I'm always wishing they were stationary. When I'm cornering my hands are never in the right place....

Endgame · 04-24-2009, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frost

^ it should be, since it's somewhere around $1,200 more :d

lol!! Right!

Lug · 04-25-2009, 12:54 AM

The numbers seem a bit optimistic. That puts it faster than a C5 vette (that's 100 lbs lighter, lots more torque, and 18 hp more) Didn't we had another article that had the auto at .2 sec slower than the manual?

edit: just noticed it doesn't have the sports package so is a bit lighter and maybe has less rolling resistance from the tires?

Chan Chee Hoe · 04-25-2009, 02:35 AM

I think is printing error,Nissan says the Auto version hit 0-100km/h in 6.2 secs,but i only can get 6.8 secs,the best time.

04-24-2009, 04:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Educ8r Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 397 Drives: a car Rep Power: 17	2009 Nissan 370Z Automatic - Short Take Road Test Article Moving the shifter to the left from D to manual mode puts the car in a sporting mindset, with the paddles calling forth sharp, lightning-quick shifts that helped this car set the quickest acceleration times we’ve yet recorded from the new Z: 0–60 in 4.6 seconds and the quarter-mile in 13.1 at 108 mph, quicker by 0.2 and 0.3 second and 1 mph than our quickest manual car. With either the automatic or the do-it-yourself transmission, the 370Z is EPA rated at 18 mpg city/26 highway. We saw 18 with the auto, down 1 mpg from the manual 370Z. __________________ imagination + creativity = endless possibilities Last edited by Educ8r; 04-24-2009 at 04:04 PM.

04-24-2009, 07:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
fastgt350 Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: s.fla Posts: 4 Drives: 2008 m3,2000 gs 400 Rep Power: 16	thats great numbers ,close to my m3's numbers cant wait to purchase one Last edited by fastgt350; 04-24-2009 at 07:18 PM. Reason: misspell

04-25-2009, 12:54 AM	#14 (permalink)
Lug A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 1,926 Drives: 2006 350Z Rep Power: 20	The numbers seem a bit optimistic. That puts it faster than a C5 vette (that's 100 lbs lighter, lots more torque, and 18 hp more) Didn't we had another article that had the auto at .2 sec slower than the manual? edit: just noticed it doesn't have the sports package so is a bit lighter and maybe has less rolling resistance from the tires? __________________ keep Chubbs in your pocket - Chubbs Last edited by Lug; 04-25-2009 at 01:06 AM.

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04-24-2009, 04:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
370z4Steve Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: west Posts: 231 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 673	4.6 and 13.1 on an Auto? Wow time to trade my manual seems like a ringer.

04-24-2009, 06:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
FlashBazbo Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Middle Tennessee Posts: 97 Drives: '09 370Z T-SP-7AT Rep Power: 0	Automatics are so good now that a lot of them on sports cars are faster than a manual. Porsche's electronic double-clutch system is much, much quicker than their manual. And for a long time, most turbocharged cars with an automatic have been faster than the same car with a manual. And those results are with professionals driving the manuals. With "real people," I suspect 90% of drivers would be quicker with a good automatic (because they're just not that good with a manual).

04-24-2009, 07:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	Makes me feel a little better I went with the auto ... a little.

04-24-2009, 07:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
Endgame A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,613 Drives: Nothing Now! Rep Power: 224	I KNEW the auto would be faster!! This is even closer to the Cayman's PDK numbers.... WOW NISSAN!! Bravo!

04-24-2009, 07:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	^ It should be, since it's somewhere around $1,200 more

04-24-2009, 09:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
juan05 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: west palm beach Posts: 372 Drives: nismo 370z black. Rep Power: 16	i need to see a video to belive this. i cant belive auto is faster than manual...im in shock.

04-24-2009, 09:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
zman1910 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: FL Posts: 361 Drives: 2011 Audi S4 Rep Power: 429	That's a pretty significant advantage....108mph

04-24-2009, 09:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
force11111 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hilo, HI Posts: 8 Drives: 09 370z auto Rep Power: 16	I traded my manual in for an automatic just a few days ago, and I have no regrets. Definately a faster car on the straights, and I spent a lot of time practicing on that manual. Another nice bonus is increased fuel eocnomy in town. I'm getting much better milage now. Matt

04-24-2009, 09:53 PM	#11 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	I'm sure this has been said a million times, but I wish the paddles moved with the steering wheel so it was easier to shift during turns.

04-25-2009, 02:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
Chan Chee Hoe Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Singapore Posts: 861 Drives: 370z,Yellow,7sp A Rep Power: 18	I think is printing error,Nissan says the Auto version hit 0-100km/h in 6.2 secs,but i only can get 6.8 secs,the best time.