2009 Nissan 370Z Automatic - Short Take Road Test
 

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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.

4.6 and 13.1 on an Auto? Wow time to trade my manual :) seems like a ringer.

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).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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....

lol!! Right!

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? :confused:




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

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.