Automatic Z - problems? or bullet proof?

ajc1884

Hello everyone,

I'm going to talk to a dealer today about pricing on a 2012 touring edition automatic today.
I currently have an 09 manual w/ sport package.

Before you comment/ask why i'm going from a manual to an automatic the answer is i'm sick and tired of constantly shifting !!!!

Question..is an automatic reliable as the manual transmission? Anyone have any problems with their automatic..or heard of any problems.

thanks so much in advance!!!!

SouthArk370Z

Not sure I'd call it "bullet-proof" but it seems to hold up very well.

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JARblue

It's better than the MT. Until you go forced induction.

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6spd

Here are some specifics about the auto trans in the Z: 1. It's fast, faster than the manual, 2. It only allows you to shift smoothly if you drive it the way it wants you to (Don't think you can throw it in manual and shift smoothly the way you want to, as its very rough and hard engaging if you shift at points it doesn't like, ie. it likes a very short 1st, short 2nd, and a very long, wound out 3rd, as opposed to your typical shifting patterns of most cars, 3. It doesn't like to be tracked or to see high rpm's for very long as they start to get hot and slip very badly (had this confirmed to me by a Nismo Tech at an event last year after having my old Z fail me on the track) 4. They are maintenance free, so that saves some future cost, 5. It'll do everything an auto should and if you don't ask it for too much or try to drive it your way, it'll serve you well.

I was in your boat. I had an '09 manual, got tired of shifting and thought the grass was greener, got rid of it for a '13 auto, which I ended up selling cuz I grew very quickly to despise the tranny, now I'm back in a '14 manual. Pretty costly mistake getting rid of my baby, my '09, back then. Just saying, from experience, the grass is NOT always greener on the other side. Best of luck in your decision though!

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Ubetit

I've had nothing but manual cars for 26 years until I got my auto Z. I haven't regretted it one day. I didn't really like the manual Z coupe I drove so I bought an auto roadster.

merkil

Wstar has put a lot of track miles on his auto and has been fine for the most part up until recently. Though I believe it was a motor issue and only the tranny flex plate which cracked. Nothing actually wrong with the internals. Maybe he can chime in and correct me if I'm wrong.

If you track, you must have a tranny cooler but according to wstar you can feel the shifts become sluggish when the tranny starts to get to hot and it's a good sign to back off. He has also told me that to even get to that point on the street you would be losing your license.

For normal and spirited road sessions I think the auto will be just fine, even in the high rpm. Maybe up the line pressures a bit in uprev to protect against potential slip.


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wackjum

It may be "maintenance free" but in my experience, it shifted a lot better after doing a fluid flush at around 38k miles.

I like the 7AT in the 370Z. It is very good for what it is. It feels about 85% as good as the DCT in a Ferrari 458 when cruising around at moderate temperatures. The real problem with the 7AT is that it starts to get sluggish as it warms up. Additional cooling may help this, but I don't have any direct experience on this.

coolvans1988

no problems so far and wife enjoys driving it.

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6spd

Yeah, thats what the nismo tech told me about the cooler, it most definitely needs one for track use. I'm sure there are auto's out there that have been tracking as much as wstar, but experiencing problems first hand and then having it confirmed to me, in private mind you, that the auto wasn't meant to be tracked was enough to deter me. But, just because it wasn't designed for it doesnt mean it cant

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nomodsjk

I have a auto with 10 lbs of boost via the Stillen supercharger and after putting the trans cooler, grounding kit. And a custom tune from r/t tuning it shifts like the amg I used to have. It's absolutely amazing. No hard shifts at all.

ajc1884

Wow thanks for the great feedback thus far!!

I will never track the car so I don't have to worry about the tranny warming up too hot. I only typically drive spirited when i'm alone on some long back road or some punk in a Honda civic or equivalent starts revving their engine at me.
Mostly I use the Z as my second DD and really like just leaning back, pressing the throttle and cruising around.
Shifting gets me out of my "relaxing zone" while driving.

Fuzzzy

That would be a solid vote against at my house.*

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gbrettin

There seems to be a couple options for the 7AT if you plan on putting out high HP.
1.) GTM Stage 4 - Be sure to read all the GTM threads if you plan on going this route.
2.) Fast Intentions - In testing phases but should be released soon.

also

The 7AT holds the power just fine gears 1-4. The clutch packs are smaller on 5 and even smaller on 6/7. Basically 5-7 is sketchy with high HP (more so 6/7).

H2O_Doc

I had a 7AT and it was the best auto I've ever owned. Smooth, faster than the 6MT, and I always felt comfortable with it. Really a great transmission for my non-boosted application.

Having said that, I traded it for a 6MT and have never regretted my decision.

JWillis72

I love mine! I have a cooler on mine and a custom tune because it has a supercharger on it and I track it. I spent last weekend at Sebring and it was about as hot and humid as it gets and it never missed a beat.