Manual or automatic?
Originally Posted by mal_TX
the 6mt tranny is NOT trash... it is a strong, robust transmission that puts being strong before being nice. it has good mechanical feedback to what is going on in the transmission and is a bit more picky about being shifted correctly than cheaper transmissions usually found in front wheel drive cars or less robust transmissions.
if you know how to drive a manual properly, there's nothing wrong with the 6mt in the G. if you don't understand the mechanics of what is going on in your manual transmission, you might be confused, but it is rewarding when you learn and get it right. The synchros in this tranny expect you to get the input/output rpms fairly close..
if there is one thing i might complain about is the weight of the dual mass flywheel... it carries a lot of energy and thus makes the engine take longer to unwind from high rpms. It is not a big deal but makes shifting quickly a bit trickier in some gears and also it makes it so the engine drops RPMs differently at different RPMs (affected by how much energy the flywheel is carrying, which is related to RPMs), and thus is harder to predict when it is time to engage the next gear for a smooth jerk-free shift. HOWEVER... this is done for a reason -- to make the car ride smoother and less prone to shudder/jerk while in gear due to your throttle inputs (letting off quickly while in 2nd gear, or coasting in 3rd) because the flywheel will "smooth out" the engine's power delivery. if you don't like it, you can change it I suppose, but I've gotten used to it and am satisfied to leave it like the Infiniti engineers wanted it.
if you know how to drive a manual properly, there's nothing wrong with the 6mt in the G. if you don't understand the mechanics of what is going on in your manual transmission, you might be confused, but it is rewarding when you learn and get it right. The synchros in this tranny expect you to get the input/output rpms fairly close..
if there is one thing i might complain about is the weight of the dual mass flywheel... it carries a lot of energy and thus makes the engine take longer to unwind from high rpms. It is not a big deal but makes shifting quickly a bit trickier in some gears and also it makes it so the engine drops RPMs differently at different RPMs (affected by how much energy the flywheel is carrying, which is related to RPMs), and thus is harder to predict when it is time to engage the next gear for a smooth jerk-free shift. HOWEVER... this is done for a reason -- to make the car ride smoother and less prone to shudder/jerk while in gear due to your throttle inputs (letting off quickly while in 2nd gear, or coasting in 3rd) because the flywheel will "smooth out" the engine's power delivery. if you don't like it, you can change it I suppose, but I've gotten used to it and am satisfied to leave it like the Infiniti engineers wanted it.
I was up in the air before this thread.
I am coming from an S2000 and absolutely LOVE driving it around my suburban area. Traffic is rare, but the tranny is so smooth and sporty.
For my next car (G35 Coupe), I was undecided. I am moving to downtown Vancouver, BC so I figured a 5AT would be more practical...
But then after reading this thread and assuming the 6MT would still be easier than my S2Ks 6MT, I think I will stick with the manual. Especially since the MY06 has Bluetooth.
Thanks for the input!
Now, if the G35 had an automatic like BMW's SMGII, or the new Lexus IS350, or even the new MB 6spd Tips, I'd consider those. But the current 5AT is far too plain for me to consider at this point now.
I am coming from an S2000 and absolutely LOVE driving it around my suburban area. Traffic is rare, but the tranny is so smooth and sporty.
For my next car (G35 Coupe), I was undecided. I am moving to downtown Vancouver, BC so I figured a 5AT would be more practical...
But then after reading this thread and assuming the 6MT would still be easier than my S2Ks 6MT, I think I will stick with the manual. Especially since the MY06 has Bluetooth.

Thanks for the input!
Now, if the G35 had an automatic like BMW's SMGII, or the new Lexus IS350, or even the new MB 6spd Tips, I'd consider those. But the current 5AT is far too plain for me to consider at this point now.
Originally Posted by wyatthanson
But then after reading this thread and assuming the 6MT would still be easier than my S2Ks 6MT, I think I will stick with the manual. Especially since the MY06 has Bluetooth. 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1125465741301
It works great too bad the one in my car is so bad. Other than the tranny, bluetooth and the seat belts I think the car is great
Originally Posted by alderran
I don't have any complaints about being able to shift smoothly but to me it feels like a manual in a cheap front wheel drive car. BTW was the clunking noise when you let out the clutch by design too?
as for the FWD feel.. seriously? All the FWD cars I've driven have the shifter connected by wire/cable and thus have absolutely no feel in the shifter, giving the illusion of a smooth transmission. In my G I can feel the dogteeth trying to bite, I can feel the layshaft spinning down, I can feel the engine RPMs, etc.
Originally Posted by alderran
The bluetooth also stinks. I gave up on yelling into the microphone after a couple of weeks and bought this one
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1125465741301
It works great too bad the one in my car is so bad. Other than the tranny, bluetooth and the seat belts I think the car is great
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1125465741301
It works great too bad the one in my car is so bad. Other than the tranny, bluetooth and the seat belts I think the car is great
I own an AT but have been a MT driver all my life. If you were to tell me vendors would stop manufacturing MT's because AT’s were more popular, then I would be very concerned and would likely buy an MT just to support the pureness of MT driving. I would never want to lose the choice of driving MT, BUT after having driven an MT in heavy traffic 4 hours per day for over 5 years, I could not bring myself to buy another MT. Perhaps when my commute is shortened would I reconsider driving an MT. Pragmatism wins over MT enthusiast in this case.
AT’s are becoming more sophisticated and will likely (if they haven’t already) outperform MT’s, both in quicker gear shifts and lower drive train loss.
Besides, 15% of 280 HP (in my 2004 at least) vs 20% of 280 HP is 42 and 56 respectively, a difference of 14 HP, which is not hugely significant in daily driving applications. And I think that’s what it comes down to, the application. Are you going to track it or is it to commute… my 2 cents.
AT’s are becoming more sophisticated and will likely (if they haven’t already) outperform MT’s, both in quicker gear shifts and lower drive train loss.
Besides, 15% of 280 HP (in my 2004 at least) vs 20% of 280 HP is 42 and 56 respectively, a difference of 14 HP, which is not hugely significant in daily driving applications. And I think that’s what it comes down to, the application. Are you going to track it or is it to commute… my 2 cents.
Last edited by g35dalf; Jul 5, 2006 at 11:28 PM.
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