Thanks Kevin, this was a total surprise to me, never heard of this before.

 

The only performance mod done to the car is the 350Z intake pipe though the gains of the Z pipe are questionable. My G is a fully optioned model. Racing conditions were decent, though not ideal. The track sits at 1100', temps were in the low 70s, humidity was in the 30-40% range, baro at a favorable 30.20. Calculated density altitude was 1,850'. I removed my tools and spare. I had a 1/4 tank of 92. The all season crap Bridgestone Turanzas EL42s were at 34 psi. The engine was baking hot from the 30 minute drive to the track. I got to the start line, put the tranny in manumatic mod and selected 2nd, and turned off the traction control. I rested my foot on the brake and gave it just enough gas to reach about 900rpms. The lights on the tree came down, I mashed the gas and nearly instantly released the gas. The rpms were about at 2000-2200 as I came off the line. The car instantly hooked up and barely chirped a tire:

60' 2.215
330' 6.197
1/8 9.420
MPH 76.30
1000' 12.183
1/4 14.497
MPH 97.59

I think in cooler weather, this car has the potential for 14.3s@98mph. I still sense a bog just as the car comes off the line. I wish these cars could come off the line like the 350Z autos can (1.9-2.0 60 foots). BTW, for fun, the corrected ET/MPH for sea level is around a 14.1@99mph.

 

What's the reasoning on why the VDC cause catostrophic engine damage? I'm of the belief that it won't cause engine damage. In a nutshell, it uses the throttle body and ABS system to limit spin and keep the car in control by way of it's various sensors. It's not really different than letting off the gas and hitting the brakes, however the VDC can do it a hell of a lot smoother than we can.

 

That is my belief.

However, VDC does have the ability to cut fuel. However, if you have NO fuel, you can't run lean, as you will have NO combustion in the chamber.

 

On my 05 G35 auto you can't put it in 2nd from a dead stop in manual mode.

 

How are you guys getting lower 14s on a stock 5AT? I thiought the best you can get with a 6-speed G is 14.2-14.3? i would think that the 1/4mi performance would differ a lot more?

 

He has an older sedan which has a different software program for the Tranny. Basically, it turns his manumatic into more of a top gear selector. Ours functions like a true manumatic in that it won't upshift for you unless you tell it to upshift. On older sedans, you just picked which gear you wanted to be in eventually and it would do the upshifts for you.

 

In this day and age, the difference in acceleration between autos and manuals is very minimal assuming the motor has a strong power band with good torque and the tranny has good gearing. The JATCO 5AT in the G35/Z/Titan/Q/M, has excellent gearing, well spaced gears, excellent efficency, and a decently high stall torque converter. Add in the torquey VQ35 and the auto is a potent car.

My G is competitive with what the 350Zs are running at my track (14.2-14.4@98mph). The G 5AT is a much quicker car than I gave it credit for. A couple years ago I watched my friend's stock G35 5AT sedan run a 14.7@96mph and he weighs 280lbs. I knew that I could do better since I weigh 100lbs less than him. I'm amazed my car could go 14.4 at almost 98mph with just a Z-pipe which may or may not add 1-2hp. Another friend has a 6MT sedan and he ran a 14.4@97mph.