It has been tested and found, according to professional drivers, that MM is quicker. I think that MM is quicker, especially from 1st to 2nd because you can take it to redline, then going into 2nd you get that kick in the butt that you dont get in drive.

2003.5 5AT
Premium Package
Tire/Wheel Package
K&N Filter, Z-Tube, EGK

 

Why would you downshift from 4th to 3rd on a WOT 0-60? Agreed, if I'm trying to accel and decel than MM is the way to go.

2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but chin spoiler/Z Tube-Popcharger

 

MOST MM/sportshift/tiptronic/etc are slower than just leave in D, HOWEVER there are few with exceptions... that's include G35 AT... MM will be about .3sec faster during 1/4mile run and IT'S BEEN PROVED many times...

 

Proved? Do you have a URL or reference I could read? I'm not even so sure that redline is the best place to shift, given the peak torque and HP envelope, but I'd love to read some well reasoned explanations if you've got a link.

Mechanically, or electronically, what makes the G35 MM different from those you say are slower?



2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but chin spoiler/Z Tube-Popcharger

 

The peak HP for this car is near readline... Look at the specs.
You always take the RPM's high enough to get the car into its peak HP range in 1st gear, then enough over so that you will begin 2nd gear as close to peak as possible without compromising your HP in first gear... at or near redline is the best place to shift accordingly.
Redline is 6550
Peak HP is 280 @ 6200
Peak torque is @ 4800
Shifting at redline puts you closer to where your engine starts to perform best in 2nd gear, without drastically compromising your performance in 1st gear. Any loss in 1st gear acceleration (minimal at best) between 6200 and 6600 RPM will be countered by the higher output you get from 2nd gear.

Also read toward the bottom of this page you can see that as tested, 0-60 was quicker in MM mode.

2003.5 5AT
Premium Package
Tire/Wheel Package
K&N Filter, Z-Tube, EGK

 

maybe your mileage has to do with it also... i didn't feel any difference b/w D and MM till 4k miles... but as i pass 4k mark, now i feel noticable difference(even more with z-tube)... D mode is really sluggish that i can't drive in D mode... from my experience, low end is about same but mid-high range is where i feel differences... it's like in D mode, it revs but car won't moving...
and for the proofs, i'm not nice enough to search for you but you can use search button for the proofs u'll find about people getting better times after 4kmiles... search is your friend...

no one believe me for this but, maybe you should try this too... i have ztube+k&N filter in it and whenever i put it in MM mode i hear constant pshhhh air sucking sound where i don't hear anything in D mode... if you have both mod, try it yourself... just stop your car completely(for your fafety, i don't wanna make you going at like 60+ and open the windows and listen for it) then roll down windows with music off and put it in MM mode... you will start hear pshhh then as soon as you put it in D pshhh sound stops...

 

KAHBOOM,
Good explanation on the shift points and a great thread I just read on FA with a good link (http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthre...b=5&o=&fpart=1) confirms what you're saying. Great rationale.

However, I referenced the link you listed and I believe you're referring to the quote, "The G35 gets from 0-60 mph slightly quicker by switching the traction control off and utilizing the manual mode of the five-speed automatic — it's also more fun. Sixty mph comes up at just over six seconds from a standstill".

I don't really think this proves anything. I agree that turning off the VDC will improve your 0-60 but they don't really list any times and they don't say whether they ran it with VDC off and MM as well as VDC on and MM, then doing the same thing in Auto mode. So I think that article is inconclusive as they've got 4 independent variable combinations but only seemed to control for 2. Unless the MM shifts more positively and quickly than Auto (I don't think it does at WOT), then I still don't see why the ECU/TCU would produce a score worse than my feeble reaction time. The ECU/TCU manages to shift exactly at redline it seems, while my reaction time might be off a few hundred RPM. That needle moves awfully quickly.

Nice sig by the way. Not that I wasn't paranoid enough to begin with. And how did it know Apocalypse Now was my favorite movie?

2004.5 Coupe/5AT/Ivory/Everything but chin spoiler/Z Tube-Popcharger

 

LOL... I agree also that MM is more fun, I've hearn many accounts of people getting better times in MM mode. Also the dealer even said to me that you can get better acceleration n MM mode. The shifting feels more direct in MM mode, so I've notived, especially once you get the timing right.
Also, when you get a chance, notice where the car shifts in 1st gear in D. It is normaly @ 6150, not quite 6200 (at least in mine that's the way it occurs) based on this alone, I get better acceleration in MM mode. I also notice more power via the "butt" dyno going into 2nd gear when shifting manually.

Uheenada, I get the same pshhhh sound. I think that it comes from somewhere under the car though. I can't really tel, but it does sound cool... almost like a jet ready for take off.

2003.5 5AT
Premium Package
Tire/Wheel Package
K&N Filter, Z-Tube, EGK