I drove a pair of 2004 G35 Coupes yesterday, thinking to buy:

1. Leather 6MT with Aero pkg. or
2. Leather Auto with Performance Tire and Wheel Pkg (the 18 in tires and wheels) and no Aero pkg.

All of the specs indicate that these cars are virtually the same except for the transmissions (of course) and the Brembo brakes on the 6MT. And yet, the 6MT felt firmer, more responsive. And the exhaust note sounded different. Is this my imagination? Or are there differences in suspension tuning, exhaust, etc. that don't show up in the documentation?

Thanks,

Steve

 

not sure on that.... but the exhaust sound is related to gear, shifting & rpms, which your controlling on the 6MT, so a sound difference is not suprising.

03 6MT coupe, red/willow, premium, aero, splash guards, alum pedals, clear corners, 15% tint

 

its all in your mind, steve [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]
same suspension, same wheels, same engine, same exhaust, as you said the only difference is the transmission and brakes [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I'd go with the 6MT all the way.

<font color=green>-Rambo</font color=green>
G35c 6MT DG/Willow/HyperGround/BorlaExhaust

 

If it was the engine/throttle that felt more "responsive", yeah, that's a real difference. Auto trannies' fluid couplings inevitably sacrifice some responsiveness by the nature of their design. A manual transmission wll always have a more direct, "connected" feeling.

 

Also the manual transmission is putting about 5% more HP to the wheels than the auto due to drivetrain loss (both have ~280HP at the crank).

G35 6MT/DG/Fully Loaded
[i]HyperGround Kit
350Z intake duct
K&N drop-in
Aluminum pedals
50%-35% smoke tint

 

Thanks all! I purchased a 2003 6MT last night. Diamond Graphite, Willow, Premium, Aero (not wild about the spoiler, but believe it's hard to find a 6MT without).

Steve

 

Woohoo!

Welcome to the club!


03.5 Coupe - Black/Willow, 6MT, Premium, Navi, Aero, Sat

 

Good luck with the ride! You will enjoy it.

2003.5 G35C BL/GR, NAV, PREM, AERO, TINT, SPORT, Valentine 1