Funny I had the exact opposite impression. I thought the ride in the RX8 was much softer than the G35 or S2000.

 

If you guys think about it, when was the last time nissan/Infiniti build a sports car with a manual. 97-98 240sx(which was the same tranny since 91') 300zx-which stop producing in '96? the puny sentra doesnt count. Certainly Maximas/I30 is all AUTO and so is the Altima and they didnt come out with the 6spd manual version until recently with the Spec model. I guess they dont specialize in manual so as long as its a manual its all good.

Now in Japan, im sure there's plenty of Nissan manual cars but whats in Japan stays in Japan we cannot compare on that.
Honda, on the other hand have been constantly building manual forever and im not surprise they thier manuals are better.

Although, I have never driven a G-manual but I have driven my old 97 240sx w/KA24DE & SR20DET's, and they are crappy trannys.

 

Maybe the 8 comes with different suspension options. I know for sure the ride is harder in my brothers 8 than my G, could be a sports suspension option maybe?

 

G's are made in Japan from what I understand, so why can't we compare? It's practically the same as their Nissan 350gt. I doubt they would make a different transmission for that and the G. I don't think the G's transmission is that bad, there are better, but there are also worse. In my opinion transmissions can get too smooth to where you receive no feedback.

 

After about a year of ownership now.. 11.5 months (16k miles)... my transmission has smoothed out for the most part. The 1st and 2nd notchiness is pretty much gone and it runs through the gears now pretty smoothly. This could also be due to the fact that I drive the G about once or twice a week now since I commute to work with my beater.

 

^ I second that...the RSX Type S transmission is really smooth. The friction point and clutch feel is also much easier to find than the G. But 4 banger engines are easier to drive in general because having more torque is less forgiving when driving manual IMO. I wouldn't mind commuting with an RSX 6MT to work and then letting loose with my G on the weekends...

 

I don't find the engagement point vague...after almost 1 year of ownership, I've grown to know where the engagement point is. It's tricky, but once you get use to it, it's not hard at all to shift smoothly.

 

GENIUS!!

 

Less than 1% of the drivers out there know we're not the fastest, but the remaining 99% drool over the G and how she looks. Nobody out there knows anything about cars anyway.

I just had a guy walk up and say that he loves Acuras and the RSX is the best lookin car out there. I felt real stupid having to show him "INFINITI" written across my baby's big a$$. Yah, he loves Acuras all right

 

I agree especially after owning an s2000 but its okay i still love the G for so many other reasons.

 

I also had problem with the engagement point of the clutch when I bought the car. I moved it down to engage approx. 1" from the floor and it made a world of difference. It felt like I went from driving a truck to a "good" sport car. This was done 3 years ago and I would never go back to the original setting.

 

First of all, you're wrong!

The Maxima has always came in a manual. Prior to 2002, the Maximas were available in 5spd. In 2002, Nissan introduced their frist 6spd tranny.

The 1-2 shift in the Maxima was MUCH smoother than the G and the throws were much longer.