Swap 7AT for 6MT
 

I've had my 370 for about 6 months now and I'm regretting the decision to get the 7AT. There were a few reasons behind the decision at the time but now I think I'd be a lot happier with the 6MT.

Anyone have any experience or opinions on going back to the dealership or other options to make a switch?

Thanks

it's cheaper to just trade it in. trannies are not cheap.

plus you need to get new console pieces and change the ecu

You'll get hosed on a trade-in.

Sell it privately. 370Z values have kept up fairly well (frankly all used-car values have surged over the last several months).

Precisely why I got the 6mt, knew id end up regretting it. I feel ya brother.

Mine is an AT and I couldn't be happier. Someone would have to pay me to get manual over it. But it has a lot to do with roads and traffic in my area as well as my personality. It sucks that you'll loose on the deal no matter what you do. What exactly do you miss most about manual?

There are very few used 370's available (at least in FL). Check cars.com and autotrader. Post your car on one of these sites and you will surely sell for a better price than trading it in. I couldn't imagine driving this car or any Z for that matter with the AT.

I have never had an Automatic car.

Are they that difficult to manage?

Having come from a manual (and still have it for "truck" things) - I dig the automatic.

If I want a reminder what the rest of the world deals with, in terms of automatic transmissions, I drive my wife's civic. :)

often see folks posting on this board about where to get a 370 with a few miles on it... try searching for their posts then PM'ing them

agree with others your best bet is to sell or swap... you may find someone that has a manual they regret...

if you make this work, consider sport package with SRM... can always turn it off, and you don't want to have another regret :)

This thread is on the road to being a at/mt bash fest. Remember that the poster knows what he wants, no point trying to convince him, just help him if you can :tiphat:

Nah I think people can be civil.

I can understand the want to switch to a 6mt.

I think I'm happy with an AT, but that's because most of my driving is in city, and though I wont track, the bolt on mods out there will satisfactory, if I wish to open things up later.

I've driven both, and the AT seems the way to go for me.

I say look for a swap on this site, otherwise like others said, sell it privately, you'll be eaten alive by a trade in right now.

Angie's #1 Rule on Sport Cars: "Always get a manual or you'll regret"

I'm sure people that have the Nissan GTR regret having an "auto". Sure it's a dual clutch and a different beast, but OMGZ IT'S AN AUTO!!1!!!!o.

Keeping the this auto transmission in manual mode is the only way to go in my opinion. I don't miss the clutch in the slightest bit. Best of both worlds.

Take a look around people... manual cars will shortly be a thing of the past. Why mess around with a clutch and go through all the hassle of replacing worn parts when a computer can perfectly heel-toe for you. I say within the next 10 years, a manual tranny won't even be available. It'll all be dual-clutch or something similar. It only makes sense. Most "super" cars come with dual clutch because they know that makes their numbers look better.

Before this gets into a AT vs MT thread again i'll stop but everytime someone claims that a manual is the only way to enjoy a car like this it makes my blood boil. So if you have a M/T and enjoy it... good for you, and shut up. No one cares what your opinion is about the A/T. It doesn't take anything away from this car... /endrant

oh boy... and it begins. Im keeping my mouth shut this time. I think you just :stirthepot:

But that's what I didn't want to do. I know that rant came off a little strong but you must understand where us 7AT drivers are coming from. To buy this kind of car and to be told relentlessly that it's no good and that we all should of went with a M/T. It gets old after a while.

where's the fun in driving auto?

word.

By your definition then... driving a 93 cavaller with a fart can (M/T) is more fun than a 7AT 370z.

actually it is more fun than even driving a Auto GTR. so why not a 7AT 370z?

:ugh:

OK.... Here are my thoughts. I went from my MT 240sx Silvia conversion to an AT car for a while. The AT was a good AT tranny with the manual shift mode. I LOVED that car and it was fun (for what it was).

I was sold on the 7AT as soon as I heard it was being released. However, I keep having flashbacks to my oh so cool S13 and I realized that if I looked at the short term benefits of the 7AT and purchased it, I would GREATLY regret it months down the road. I will take one more test drive in the 7AT before making my final decision, but I am sure I am going with the MT. While the AT I had was fun, and I agree the 7AT Z was fun, the MT still seems to be the way to go.

Granted, I do not have to go into the office every day (2-3 days a week); other than that my driving is all for my fun, to local client calls, or to the airport. I just think the MTs are more fun.

SO - As stated before, you will get owned big time on a trade in right now. If you really want to go MT (and I can understand your logic there), your best bet will be to do a private sale and start over from square one; even that may have downsides.

Carpe Diem!!

:iagree:

It really depends on what you are using this car for. If it's a daily driver, IMO the auto is the way to go, since you are going to be sitting in traffic sometimes and that's no fun at all with the mt. However if you're tracking or taking it out on Sundays the stick makes more sense. Just my .02

I've got the auto and I love it, but I'm a geezer of 49 and I've had my fill of MT's. Plus I can use the slap stick (paddles) if I want to race. This AT is very very good in manual mode. The car is very fast either way. No regrets here.

Two words...

Auto-Stick

I agree with what others have said, trading in will cost you a lot of money, best case you'll transfer the balance to your new car and end up upside down with a higher payment.

If you're that serious, if you have a second car, park the Z and sell it for what your market is asking. In other words, don't over price the car because it will sit and you will end up having to lower the price over and over. I have sold a number of cars before and what has worked is looking over the ads and pricing it slightly lower than the others. Also, your write-up is important as well...don't just list details, sell the car! Pictures inside and out help too.

If you're happy with a manual go for it! I went the 7AT because I don't plan on major mods (TT etc...etc) I like the way it drives, and my area has a lot of traffic. Good luck!!!

My Next Z (a Roadster) will likely be a 7AT. It is really good and works well with the car..

all you old people and your nest eggs...:icon17:

Until i drive something that's like a family car, I dun think I'm gunna get AT...

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback. And I'm definitely not trying to start a 6MT vs 7AT debate. Two things happened when I shopped for my Z. First, I let a woman get involved in the decision and it clouded my judgement. Second, I thought the traffic during my commute would cause a brutal drive on the days I drove this car.

The 7AT is easily the best AT I've ever driven. It's smooth and in manual mode, the paddles are immediately responsive. It's not about speed either. There's plenty of speed with the 7AT. It's more about how much fun I have driving. I just enjoy driving a car with manual transmission so it really comes down to preference, not that one is "better" than the other.

If there's someone out there who might be interested in a swap or picking up a very lightly used 370Z, send me a PM. Platinum Graphite, Sport package, Touring, NO Nav with less than 3000 miles on it. If it works out, great. If not, it's not the worst thing in the world and I'll get over it. Lesson learned though, I'll get a MT next time.

You know what this thread needs? People's personal opinion on auto/manual!!!

/sarcasm

I'm not going to drive a cavalier again Angie! I had one when I was 16 and totaled it when I was 18.

My 7AT will not be like the Cavalier. Neva!

GrowlZ!

Must have been a suicide attempt :rofl2:

Nothing wrong with a civil discussion about it. Perhaps if someone reads several viewpoints regarding at mt, they will be better able to make an informed decision. I don't see anyone getting all fired up about it in the thread. Whatever makes you happy, I drive what I want, as you do. It's all good. :driving:

<chuckle> Been there, done that, still didn't get the T-shirt...er, car. I was all set to get a 2009 AT7 base sport coupe, until the SO gave me a sneer... "I really don't like the look of that". <sigh> Suddenly now I'm waiting for the 2010 AT7 Touring Sport Roadster in Black Cherry! I chose the AT over MT because I do a lot of in-traffic driving around the Baltimore loop. I took several trips around downtown during rush hour in the S2000 when I lived in Boston... my clutch leg can't handle that kind of abuse on a daily basis anymore.

Just don't conflate dual-clutch SMGs w/ paddle shifters with a paddle-shifted auto like our 7AT. They may both have paddle shifters and no clutch pedal, but mechanically and in terms of performance, they're entirely different beasts.

I definitely wouldn't recommend trying to switch transmissions (in either direction) on the 370Z. It would be less expensive to sell the car and buy another. Maybe if you're really lucky you can find someone with similar mileage with the opposite transmission that wants to switch for some reason.