Get the auto....you'll be glad you did when you are sitting in traffic.

I've had manual's for the last ten years and just got sick and tired of sitting in traffic every day pushing that damn clutch in and out.

The G35...in my opinion, is NOT a sports car, but more of a "sport luxury" car. There is no shame in getting the auto....many professional race car drivers choose to drive automatics in their daily drivers i.e. Mario Andretti, Paul Tracy.

 

I would not have bought the car if it had not come with the 6mt.

 

I'm 32 and I've owned my G for nearly 2 years now and I've never once had anyone ask me if my car was a manual or auto. My wife was a bit confused though because all my cars except for my 94 Z28 were manuals. She figured manuals were in my blood

IMO, it all depends on what you want because you're not really giving up any acceleration with the 5AT until you consider running slicks and in that case, the 6MT does have the advantage and will be significantly quicker in the 1/4 mile thanks to a higher launch rpm. In some cars, getting the manual is a no brainer because the performance difference is significant. In some cars it's a wash.

My overall rational for getting the 5AT was:

1) The 6MT is out of character for a car of this caliber. The tranny isn't smooth.

2) The 6MT has proven to be a rather unreliable piece and the clutch/flywheel are weak sauce. Even with pretty aggresssive driving, you shouldn't smoke thru a clutch and burn a flywheel in 20-40K miles unless you're a rookie driver. My Maxima still had the orginial clutch after 113K miles and over 150 1/4 mile passes with 4000-5000rpm launches, some of which were on drag radials. The clutch NEVER slipped and is still going strong for the current owner.

3) The 5AT offers up great gearing and the manual shift mode is responsive, especially on downshifts where I need it most.

4) I plan on getting a 3rd car that will be specifically a weekend drag/auto-x car. Most likely it will be a 89-93 Mustang 5.0 or a 96-97 Camaro SS and it will definitely be a manual.

 

What is this has to do with my preference on driving MT? I've been driving stick for 12 yrs and I don't care what the history of the G35 MT. All my car has been Stick and you're right that G's gearbox is not the smoothest out there, but this will not stop me from purchasing a MT car. I do have an SUV witch is Auto that I use for bad weather and for really long long drive but i still prefer driving stick on long drive since i always feel that I'm going to fall asleep driving Auto on a freeway.


Like I said on all my Post

Its either you're a MT or an Auto person.

it's all about the driving experience.

Edit:

I don't care anyways about stock clutch, i always prefer aftermarket because of it low engagement point and grabs better.

 

Atlanta can't hold a candle to Houston. And I been in Houston and Atlanta before for business. Atlanta is not that bad. Even San Antonio seems worse than Atlanta. You are use to Kansas City.

 

My cousin lives in Houston. I've been there many of times. Houston is bad, but it's nothing like LA, DC, or Atlanta. Also, you don't live in Houston so you don't face the traffic on a daily basis. In the Atlanta, the highways are bad, but the main alterials are the main problem because most of the main roads are two lane and winding. They're not 4 and 6 lane like they are in LA, Houston, etc. There is NO WHERE to go test you car or even open it up unless you're out driving before 6am or after 8pm. There are simply too many cars.

Btw, all this data completely disagrees with what you're preaching, as usual:

http://www.forbes.com/logistics/2006...07traffic.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...0900408_2.html

http://biznettravel.blogs.com/travel...y_advocac.html

http://skyscrapercity.com/archive/in.../t-210979.html

http://www.peachpundit.com/2006/06/0...ute-in-nation/

 

Both are not especially fast if one might insist on calling the G a sports car, so accleration would be about the last thing about this car Id make my decision on tranny over. Its a big heavy GT car.

I think the decision must be a lifestyle choice. And you are not either a manual or auto person. My other two cars with far more performance are manuals. Just placed an order however for an auto G35X. Why?

Two reasons:

1. Didnt think the 6MT gearbox was as smooth as I expected. Personal opinion, others may rightfully disagree.

2. Its a big car and heavy. Just didnt feel comfortable trying to drive this thing like a sports car. Were it 600lb lighter, 15% smaller, and with better sightlines out the windows, I might have chosen otherwise. Be that as it may, I figured Ill get the auto with AWD and enjoy cruising the boulevard.

 

LOL! And since you stayed in Atlanta for maybe 2 months and moved back home you think its bad?

Maybe its changed since I was there back in 99 but it was definitely not as bad as Houston then. Sure pull your numbers. Houston is only 1 digit behind Atlanta.

WOW!

 

Wow, I think Ive created a monster. LOL. This has been comedy entertainment for me! Thank you.

Okay, please dont stone me for bringing another can of worms out. But there was a post on here in re. to a Beamer having a better transmission. I have not test driven one. My ex designs them and I have ridden in plenty of BMW's. I love how they are solid. Test driving one to figure out whether I wanted a G35MT or 325i only crossed my mind twice. But now its coming up again. So for those of you with actual EXPERIENCE with driving comparison of the two please reply.

Like I said, I dont know how to drive stick yet. But whatever car I get, I believe it to be a stick. After reading these posts btwn the g35 vs the 6MT, MT it is. Now its 325i vs g35 6MT.

Let the good times begin...!

 

You must be the expert on my life, Holme Slice. I lived in Atlanta for over 6 months. I dealt with the traffic, day in and day out, 7 days a week. I do both local and interstate travel and I was all over Atlanta at various times of the day. Along with dealing with the traffic and I dealt with the world's busiest airport (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International) at least once a week. It was 3-hour ordeal getting to my plane's gate from my house in Alpharetta ~35 miles away. And that's if I left at 500-515am. Atlanta is no place for a 6MT if you have to face the busy times (6am-10am and 3pm to 7pm).

 

Not to what I was told and to what I see by the history of this forum. At the most you were there 4.5 months.

 

I highly recommend the manual. Assuming you're shifting properly, you're faster than an AT, you get to 'feel' the car and the transmission. There's just so much more you can do with a manual than an AT in terms of an 'enthusiast' perspective.

If you're not too big on ripping around a round-a-bout or a gorgeous mountain road at high speeds, then you won't notice much of a difference of having a 6MT nor the performance suspension. If you're in stop and go traffic often, I would recommend an auto.

I'm in the Seattle area, which tied LA for most traffic congestion a couple of years ago, but I live near my office at Microsoft and use some twisty backroads. Otherwise, I'd be in an AT. But my first choice was the 6MT.

And if you want speed and handling, I would get the G35 6MT. If you want a little more 'comfort', a little less road noise, and are willing to sacrifice performance, get the 325. They both depreciate in value about the same. But if you want to be able to give someone a run for their money, the 325 is not the car to do it in. Also, keep in mind German autos seem to have minor electrical issues after 50k miles. If you don't plan on keeping it much past that, then no worries.

 

Well I bought the 05 Obsidian black coupe with a 6 speed. it was and still is the first stick car i have owned. Im very happy..... to me a sports car should always be a stick car..... its pure preferance... when i drive this nice car i never worry about drinking my beverage... and shifting... or talking on the phone... id rather enjoy the pure sports car experience this car gives me. it truley is a luxury sports coupe. I can always park it at a starbucks and enjoy my drink while staring at it from a distance... as we all do this anyway...
hope you make the decision one that you'll be happy with...

 

Its all on personal preference. i drove autos all the time and my G is my only stick. no regrets at all. i did already know how to drive stick but it still took me awhile to get used to the racing clutch on the 03's.

 

Why waste your time with the 325? If you're going to get a 3-series, then I'd recommend either the 330i sedan or the upcoming twin-turbo 335i coupe. Sure, the entry price of 325 is obviously lower than the 330, but once you start adding options (many of which come standard on the 330), you'd be better off spending the extra $2-3K for the 330.