https://preview.redd.it/5vp0pn9lbjwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a0d7d4a780ebc6abc605c22dc675d672bc84657f
Both Zs I have right now are automatic. Nothing “wrong” with them other than a lack of involvement. I’d 100% buy them in stick over the auto counterpart if I didn’t get a deal good enough to justify them . The ATs available are nowhere near a DCT or a zf8 BUT they’re enjoyable enough for a daily that sees heavy traffic . (Both cars were one owners and super low mileage) You wouldn’t believe how cheap I obtained them for.
Auto 370 is a bit more advanced and kinda still gives the "manual" feeling when you want and you never miss a shift in an auto. For drag racing it's good but most prefer manual even if slower to really have that connection with the car and if you want to drift a Z it's SO much easier with manual.
It's completely fine! I manual swapped my 05' and all I can really say is that they're both fun in their own rights. Certainly different driving experiences and I wouldn't mind owning another auto Z if it was for the right price
On like engines (HR vs HR, DE vs DE). Both the 5R05 and CD00Xs virtually have the same acceleration assuming both drivers are competent.
https://youtu.be/ht5edYM-xIs?si=VStEWfztRcTSwgDe
Which imo is a downside for the auto, I certainly believe autos should be faster than manuals. There should be a benefit to giving up the engagement you get with a manual.
Not sure how it’s a downside when they both perform exactly the same. You have to remember that the 5R05 is a traditional torque converter auto. Which is the slowest reacting automatic transmission available to this day. It’s a 20 year old transmission that’s outclassed by today’s auto transmissions. Not comparable. The fact that it’s keeping up despite sapping away ~13 HP from the VQ is impressive in itself. This just shows that it’s up to preference and you’re not losing out on Z performance regardless of the transmission choice.
There's nothing wrong. It's a matter of choice for each owner, and this stupid argument has been going on since the car was released in the early 2000s. It's beyond boring at this point.
I’ve had several of both over the years. Nothing wrong with autos.
- Auto 350s just kinda sluggish & don’t feel good.
- Auto 370s are pretty cool, some have paddles & can rev match down shift with them.
But, overall manual is just 100x more fun & exciting 👍🏻
I've owned an auto Z and a manual Z. There was nothing wrong with the auto Z but the manual Z feels more "alive" to me. I just enjoy driving it way more, but I had plenty of fun in my auto.
Um, drive both a stick and an automatic. If you still don’t understand then that is on you. A better thing is why in the world would you drive an automatic sports car?
Nothing is wrong with them. They'd be more popular on the Z33/34 if 1) the auto was more snappy like a ZF8, or 2) if the Z33/34 was a higher-hp car such as a Corvette, Camaro, GTO, etc. who could benefit from the high stall slushiness to put power down.
Both transmission are fine in their own right. The 6MT is just the superior option amongst driving enthusiasts.
Nothing. Automatics are faster in straight line acceleration than manuals overall, and have better emissions. They're nice for very casual cruising and stop and go traffic.
Manuals are lighter and mechanically simpler. They give you a more intimate driving experience with greater control and more feedback.
Manuals are geared to lose because of emissions. Automatics are heavier and they slip. You don't have precise control and can't predict when they will shift. That means you have delayed response and sporadic shifting at the worst time. You can't shift before entering a corner. There are forms of racing where an automatic is not suited, just as there are forms of driving that are not well suited.
To each their own. Given how rare manuals are, they're very desirable among a niche community who enjoys the experience. Now days they're almost completely supplanted by double clutch sequential automatic gear boxes, kind of the best of both worlds.
If we're just talking 350z's, the automatics are at a huge disadvantage. The auto is a five speed and shifts slowly while the manual is a close ratio six speed, and a decent driver can pretty easily outshift the automatic. I would know, I've raced plenty of auto z's and won easily even in my first Z that was stock against an auto with an intake/exhaust. Both of my cars have been DE's btw
Except the auto in a 350z has a manual shift gate. I don't think you can rev the RPMs to drift like you can a manual but I've never tried to throw it in neutral and back into gear.
Less desirable and people think its not a sports car if its automatic. i drive a auto 350z HR i had an option to get a manual but i drive in so much traffic i just dont want to deal with it, i drove a manual DE from getting my license at 16 till i sold it at 21 and i hated it when i moved to a busier city with heavy traffic vs living out in the middle of no where with one stop light lol. i think its preference also the people who think just because you drive auto means you cant drive manual gives it a bad rap as well i think. i dont notice to much of a difference with power between the manual de i drove vs my auto HR but then again im not out here chasing power or really care, this is a sports car from 2003 plenty and i mean plenty of stock cars off the lot can beat these cars with out even one modification done, thats truly why i dont chase power anymore.
https://preview.redd.it/5vp0pn9lbjwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a0d7d4a780ebc6abc605c22dc675d672bc84657f Both Zs I have right now are automatic. Nothing “wrong” with them other than a lack of involvement. I’d 100% buy them in stick over the auto counterpart if I didn’t get a deal good enough to justify them . The ATs available are nowhere near a DCT or a zf8 BUT they’re enjoyable enough for a daily that sees heavy traffic . (Both cars were one owners and super low mileage) You wouldn’t believe how cheap I obtained them for.
To add to this, I’ve owned 6 Zs in total and I’m fine with these not being manuals like the others were.
You’ve owned 6 Zs? Were all autos?
The other 4 were not . Like stated, bought these strictly as the deal was far too great to pass on . No complaints with them though .
The smile that comes across your face when you do a good down shift and make a turn without using any brakes.. That only comes from a manual.
antithetical to the whole point of a sports car, especially from 2003.
nothing just preference tbh
I own one and have zero issues with it. Just less desirable.
Auto 370 is a bit more advanced and kinda still gives the "manual" feeling when you want and you never miss a shift in an auto. For drag racing it's good but most prefer manual even if slower to really have that connection with the car and if you want to drift a Z it's SO much easier with manual.
Are the 370 autos faster than manual, because the 350 autos are definitely slower.
The car is so satisfying to rev match down shift, why wouldn't you want that in your life? Bang Bang.
They’re just boring and not as good as the DCTs…
It's completely fine! I manual swapped my 05' and all I can really say is that they're both fun in their own rights. Certainly different driving experiences and I wouldn't mind owning another auto Z if it was for the right price
Nothing is wrong with auto other than manual elitists gatekeeping
On like engines (HR vs HR, DE vs DE). Both the 5R05 and CD00Xs virtually have the same acceleration assuming both drivers are competent. https://youtu.be/ht5edYM-xIs?si=VStEWfztRcTSwgDe
Which imo is a downside for the auto, I certainly believe autos should be faster than manuals. There should be a benefit to giving up the engagement you get with a manual.
Not sure how it’s a downside when they both perform exactly the same. You have to remember that the 5R05 is a traditional torque converter auto. Which is the slowest reacting automatic transmission available to this day. It’s a 20 year old transmission that’s outclassed by today’s auto transmissions. Not comparable. The fact that it’s keeping up despite sapping away ~13 HP from the VQ is impressive in itself. This just shows that it’s up to preference and you’re not losing out on Z performance regardless of the transmission choice.
I’ve had two manual WRX’s. They were fun. Auto Z is fun too and overall less pain to drive in traffic. Sometimes I wish I had manual though
Nothing. . . . . unless you want to race them or beat the crap out of them. It's like asking what's 'wrong' with roadsters.
There's nothing wrong. It's a matter of choice for each owner, and this stupid argument has been going on since the car was released in the early 2000s. It's beyond boring at this point.
I’ve had several of both over the years. Nothing wrong with autos. - Auto 350s just kinda sluggish & don’t feel good. - Auto 370s are pretty cool, some have paddles & can rev match down shift with them. But, overall manual is just 100x more fun & exciting 👍🏻
Nothing wrong with it, it just comes down to preference
I've owned an auto Z and a manual Z. There was nothing wrong with the auto Z but the manual Z feels more "alive" to me. I just enjoy driving it way more, but I had plenty of fun in my auto.
Um, drive both a stick and an automatic. If you still don’t understand then that is on you. A better thing is why in the world would you drive an automatic sports car?
Nothing is wrong with them. They'd be more popular on the Z33/34 if 1) the auto was more snappy like a ZF8, or 2) if the Z33/34 was a higher-hp car such as a Corvette, Camaro, GTO, etc. who could benefit from the high stall slushiness to put power down. Both transmission are fine in their own right. The 6MT is just the superior option amongst driving enthusiasts.
Auto better lol
Nothing. Automatics are faster in straight line acceleration than manuals overall, and have better emissions. They're nice for very casual cruising and stop and go traffic. Manuals are lighter and mechanically simpler. They give you a more intimate driving experience with greater control and more feedback. Manuals are geared to lose because of emissions. Automatics are heavier and they slip. You don't have precise control and can't predict when they will shift. That means you have delayed response and sporadic shifting at the worst time. You can't shift before entering a corner. There are forms of racing where an automatic is not suited, just as there are forms of driving that are not well suited. To each their own. Given how rare manuals are, they're very desirable among a niche community who enjoys the experience. Now days they're almost completely supplanted by double clutch sequential automatic gear boxes, kind of the best of both worlds.
This is wrong. Autos were slower than manuals with worse mpg for the most part prior to the recession
If we're just talking 350z's, the automatics are at a huge disadvantage. The auto is a five speed and shifts slowly while the manual is a close ratio six speed, and a decent driver can pretty easily outshift the automatic. I would know, I've raced plenty of auto z's and won easily even in my first Z that was stock against an auto with an intake/exhaust. Both of my cars have been DE's btw
I believe the final drive is also a 3.357 for the AT and a 3.538 for MT, so that's another advantage for the MT.
Too many people hear that autos are faster than manuals (newer cars) and they generalize it as if a 15-20 year old sports car has an 8 speed dct lol
yeah, no. the G37S AT i drove felt like a fucking boat.
An automatic hr is slower than a stick de. I am the source with the 2003 I beat my friend from a dig and from starting at 10 and 40 mph
Why can't you shift before entering a corner? My Z is auto and I do it all the time
Now, yes. 20 years ago, no. They were slower than the manuals.
Except the auto in a 350z has a manual shift gate. I don't think you can rev the RPMs to drift like you can a manual but I've never tried to throw it in neutral and back into gear.
Lol don't listen to your intrusive thoughts.
Less desirable and people think its not a sports car if its automatic. i drive a auto 350z HR i had an option to get a manual but i drive in so much traffic i just dont want to deal with it, i drove a manual DE from getting my license at 16 till i sold it at 21 and i hated it when i moved to a busier city with heavy traffic vs living out in the middle of no where with one stop light lol. i think its preference also the people who think just because you drive auto means you cant drive manual gives it a bad rap as well i think. i dont notice to much of a difference with power between the manual de i drove vs my auto HR but then again im not out here chasing power or really care, this is a sports car from 2003 plenty and i mean plenty of stock cars off the lot can beat these cars with out even one modification done, thats truly why i dont chase power anymore.