forget the AT or MT. where are the cars that just read our brainwaves?

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

forget the AT or MT. where are the cars that just read our brainwaves?

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They're doing it right now...(cue creepy music)

 

Yeah, in general people that are true auto enthusiasts tend to drive manual trans cars. Unless their car of choice isn't offered with a true manual trans.

I myself have owned 13 different cars in my life. 3 of them were automatics, including the SUV that I still drive today. I definitely consider myself an enthusiast, even if I have had auto tranny cars before though.....

 

Now that the outright name-calling has subsided, let's try again:

How is it "wrong" to have an AT/MM on a G35? From a performance stand-point, all you're looking at is a tiny amount more drivetrain loss and a little less-than-ideal (but always clean) shifting speed. I'd also throw in the inferior gearing, but we'd still be having this argument if both were 5-speeds, so I don't think that's the issue.

What it really comes down to is feel. Having a clutch feels better, I agree. I love the direct connection with my car, *when* I get to drive it like it's meant to be driven. But I would say that about almost any well-made car, not just a sports car. You don't need 280hp to enjoy a MT. My MX-5 has half that. Here's some other things that my MX-5 puts me in direct connection with that my G35 doesn't: engine noise, road noise, and road conditions, by virtue of being much lighter and having have a more rigid body with smaller wheels. The steering is more direct too, not that the G's is numb or anything. The MX also doesn't have any traction control or ABS to babysit me. Face it, there are quite a few things about the "true driving enthusiast" experience that the G35 insulates you from. It's much better than any other luxury coupe out there (otherwise I wouldn't drive it), but it sure as hell doesn't give you as direct contact with road as some other cars you could have bought for the same or less money. The S2000 and 350Z immediately come to mind.

So if you're a "true driving enthusiast," why did you buy a G35, with all its sound deadening and creature comforts? Do you want to really drive, or just cruise, but have that stick ready in case anyone calls you out for driving a cushy luxury car? Now, if you like your comforts but also couldn't live without the direct feel of the clutch, that's fine. Completely understandable. But a 6MT G35 driver calling out AT G35 drivers as not being "true" drivers or wrong on principle is utterly absurd. It's like a kickboxer saying Lennox Lewis isn't a real fighter because he doesn't connect with his feet. Come talk to me when you've dropped the gloves entirely.

Two other points:

#1. Some of you clearly don't get the traffic "excuse." I wake up every morning knowing that both my commute to work and home are going to be completely miserable, without a single stretch of open road. That's 5 out of 7 days a week, zero driving pleasure. If I had money to burn and could afford luxo-boat or even a limo for that duty, I'd go that route. Because I can't, I compromised and bought the highest performing car I could afford that would give me a break during the weekdays and still be exciting on the weekends. My G is perfection in that capacity. But no G is a perfect "true sports car" by any objective definition, so again I don't know why it's so important for you to point out that the 6MT is a couple notches closer to that ideal. If that was your goal, you bought the wrong car. If you were compromising when you bought your G, welcome to the club.

#2. Europeans drive Citroens.

-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe
Titanium '03 MX-5 Shinsen #532

 

all i have to say is that ive driven an auto mustang for 3 years ( my first car) and i never even thought of gettin a car in manual, thought it was the stupidest thing ever. until i got to the dealership and saw what options the stick had that didnt come with auto. i test drove it and i absolutely loved it, i was stuck on getting manual and i did. best decision i ever made

 

JDMan,

Do you really see the G35 coupe as a "cushy luxury car"? I certainly don't. Have you ever had the chance to drive a true "cushy luxury car"? If you have, then you definitely wouldn't even consider the G35c as such.

That said, I really don't think that a more "raw" car that produces more engine noise, road noise etc.. would make it more deserving of a manual tranny. Not in the least.

The G35c is not a luxury car. Look at its roots, for God's sake.... it's a 350Z with a back seat and slightly softer springs. If that doesn't show its heritage, then I don't know what will.

And don't look now, but there are VERY FEW new cars that don't have traction control and ABS to "babysit" you. That's marketing for ya, huh?

Anyway, my point here was not to "call out" the automatic driving G35 owners. It was simply that I think that a true auto enthusiast (any make/model of cars, I must stress since you missed the point) tends to prefer a manual tranny over a slushbox. Yes, even in this day and age of manumatics and better shifting automatics.

If I had my way, every new driver in the USA would HAVE to learn how to drive a manual trans. As a matter of fact, they would have to take their road test on a manual trans car and exhibit proper driving technique to obtain their drivers license.

Sadly, I think far less than half of Americans even know how to drive a manual transmission vehicle. Too many of us love our remote controls, cordless phones, and automatic transmissions. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with modern conveniences, but it does make us a fat, lazy society.

 

I agree with you on the having to learn stick and taking driving test in it. In europe thats how its done.

 

Well, now you're talking about someting I can agree with! There is a lot of interior noise in this car at speeds over 30 mph. To me it seems not so much from the 18" tires, but just exterior noise coming in from poor sound insulation.
Coming from a BMW, this was very noticible to me immediately upon driving the G. In a BMW you may hear the engine and drive line sound, but not objectionable wind and road noise. The G is noisey.
Now to get this back on topic, is the 6MT noisier then the 5AT?

 

Well I hardly ever use the full auto mode so I heep my rpms pretty high unless cruzing on the highway. So the engine loudness is probably comparable. As for the brakes, yea mine do squeak at times (10k miles on odo). Im replacing the pads with ceramics soon, tired of the damn dust.

 

Sometime it is not a matter or whether you can drive stick or not. I'm currently looking into buying the G35. I've been driving stick for 7 years, and I would like to get the 6MT. However, since my wife doesn't drive stick and I want her to enjoy the G35, I am more leaning toward buying the AT.

I know that driving stick shift is more fun and gives you more control; but does the "manual" feature in the AT sufficient enough. I've read most of the posts here, and it has turned into a MT vs the AT owners. All I am looking for is "unbiased" information.

 

At the end of the day dude, nothing anyone here says will make a difference. You and your wife have to drive them both for yourselves to see which will be the best compromise of interaction and ease of use for you. Some people feel the 6MT is too notchy, others feel it's pefect (like me) but going off of our opinions won't do you any good. If your dealer doesn't have cars of both transmissions available, the 350z has the same transmissions - head on over to your local Nissan dealer and take one for a spin. It won't be exactly the same but it's enough to give you a good feel for both.

Good luck with your decision, you can't go wrong either way since you're getting a G.

 

Yes the manual mode of the auto is more fun. It aint a real stick but. You can rev the engine as far as you want and shifts are pretty quick, not as quick as a true stick but I like it. With the manual mode you can definatelly get more performance out of the car, Once again its not as good as stick, if you can drive stick perfectly, but its more fun than the full auto mode.