Well, I bought my 04 5AT Sedan about 2 weeks ago and I paid for my mothers down payment on her 6MT Sedan a couple days ago and I've been driving both.

I purchased the 5AT because I was sick of using a stick at stoplights and in traffic in my Mustang. It's only fun when you're really out driving the car for pleasure.

So when my mother chose the 6MT I was kinda sad I didn't choose it because they can be a lot of fun too. I never regretted it because I only wish I had a manual about 10% of the time.

After driving it quite a bit I found that it doesn't seem much faster at all then the AT. If anything I was faster with the AT. They have come along so far over the years in performance and accuracy and it perfectly shifts at the right time nearly everytime depending on how hard I'm gassing it.

The other thing my friend and I noticed was the seating position needed for the stick seemed much closer to the dash than in the AT. I also liked having the rear seat AC vents and center dash of the AT.

All in all, I'm really glad I chose the AT. I might have been different with the coupe since the first thing I'd do is throw in a supercharger. But for the sedan I couldn't see not getting the AT. It's all about riding in luxory but having the performance and speed when you want it.

04 Sedan. Obs. Black W/ Willow. Premium, Navigation, Sport Tuned. 35% Tint on sides, 20% back, K @ N, Brand Spankin New.

 

Good post, man. Many of us opine about one another's trannies, but it's nice to have a true dual opinion [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

"But for the sedan I couldn't see not getting the AT. It's all about riding in luxory but having the performance and speed when you want it."
__________________________________________________ _

Car&Driver and I respectfully disagree. A quote from C&D. When they tested the 6mt sedan for the first time.
"Say hello to the four door Z" They call the car a sports sedan and so do I. If you want a auto, and you want to call the whole car a luxory car, fine. But the sum of the parts doesn't surmise that label. Very little seperates the G35 sedan from the 350Z. Except for one thing (grin), the front seats, their definately not sporting material, luxory all the way, no side support.


Ivry 6mt sed
Crawford Pleneum
Injen CAI
22" resonator
Cusco sway bars
350Z springs&struts
Enkei RPM2

 

How cool is it that your mother drives a 6mt sport sedan!

My mom drives a big old caddy, couch on wheels.

Think you will get your mom to a track and race her?

I too enjoy my 5at sedan. Think it is rather good for an auto

Have a healthy day!
93 J30t, Black on Black (sold as of 9/10)
03.5 G35, Black on Black

 

Thanks for the comparison. I've driven the 6 speed sedan and I've riden in the G35 auto. I like both, but what I didn't like about the 6 speed was quick clutch take-up and how hard it is to make a clean 1-2 shift. This has always been my biggest gripe about my Maxima. The clutch is stout and great for racing, but around town it's a bit of a pain and lacks much refinement. I guess you can't have it both ways. I don't like the lag of G35 autos manual-mode upshift, but I'd rarely use it for upshifting. Downshifting into turns is all I'd use it for and it sounds like it's pretty decent at that.

There is a G35 6 speed sedan at my track that's been pulling low 14.6s@96mph with 2.1 60 foots. There's an auto G35 sedan pulling low 14.7s@96mph with 2.3 60 foots. I'm a diehard racer and it sure looks to me like the auto G35 simply lacks the ability to get off the line hard. Once rolling, neither car would on each other. Also, if the auto was to pull 2.1 60 foots (unlikely), it would be about .2-.3 quicker in the 1/4 mile and ultimately quicker than the 6 speed. From what I've seen, the 6 speed and auto and pretty evenly matched. Once a stall torque converter comes out for the auto and possibly some updated tranny programming, the auto G35 might be a better straight line machine. On a road course, the 6 speed is the only way to go.

With that said, I think I'm still leaning towards a used auto G35 then I'll get a Crawford plenum, ECU, and possibly some exhaust work or headers. I think that combo should be plenty stout for what I want, a quick luxury cruiser. I'll get an old school SE-R, Miata, or Mustang 5.0 for my real track car.


Dave

96 Maxima SE
14.45@99.51mph with a 2.316 60'

JDM intake manifold, JWT ECU, Y-pipe, UDP, hacked stock airbox, 2K Maxima muffler

 

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

I don't like the lag of G35 autos manual-mode upshift, but I'd rarely use it for upshifting. Downshifting into turns is all I'd use it for and it sounds like it's pretty decent at that.

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You don't upshift in manual mode on the sedan so much as tell the transmission, "you can use this gear now if you want to." Think of it as a max gear selector for the auto instead of a right-now gear selector.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

I wish Infiniti had used a system like that on the Acura TL for the manumatic shifting modes. On the TL, when you want it in a gear, it will go to that gear if it won't hurt the engine.

 

Yeah... the transmission was the only thing I felt like I was sacrificing when I picked the G35 over a 330i.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

Maybe there is a way we can program the ecu on the shifter to work differently.

 

sicshift: "It's only fun when you're really out driving the car for pleasure." I have a different philosophy: It becomes fun when you drive it, no matter how many lights, or traffic stands in the way. I guess it's all the way you approach it: I choose to define my environment rather than have it define me.

G35/S/MT....this car rocks!

 

I drove a 2003 tl type s and thought the auto shifting in my g35 is way better. The tl-types automaticly shifts to second for you. I found that really annoying. I haven't driven the new 04 tl yet. I was actually suprised because I love acuras. I had a legend for 8 years and was going to buy a tl, but after test driviing the g35 i was hooked. Thats why I now have an AT G35 sedan.

 

Its cool to have similar cars in the garage long as its a good car. My wife has the 5AT sedan and I have a 6spd coupe. I would have gotten the 6spd sedan but didn't want the same body type. The manual sedan is more user friendly IMO. The AT is a smarter car if you drive in a lot of traffic.
Spoon