Pros & Cons IMHO of course;

AUTO

Pro:
Easy living, just dial and drive.

Quicker downshift from a relaxed driving position.

Slightly less cabin noise / vibration.

Con:
Hesitates when shifted manually, sometimes hits rev limiter.

Downshifts (throttle kickdown) are inconsistant from one day to the next especially if someone else drives the car due to the computer "adapting" to your driving habits.

Torque converter insulates the feel of power to a degree.

Slower acceleration, but not that much, (.3 sec 1/4mi.)

MANUAL

Pro:
Direct connection... feel the power.

You select the gear without "adaptive" programming.

Better sport driving experience, since you can feel the gears through the shifter directly, clutch control, etc.

Cheaper to maintain if you keep the car many years.
Clutch + pressure plate $1k installed
Auto trans...$2-3k

Con:

Pain to deal with clutch in traffic/city (But OK on fwy, since wide torque band saves having to downshift in most passing situations).

Shifter a bit heavy/notchy (again IMHO).

To sum up...

It depends if you prefer the sport over luxury (6MT),
or luxury over sport (Auto)

 

To answer the original question:

Due to circumstnces where I needed to get a car quickly in late 1996, I got an automatic 1997 Maxima after years of driving a manual. It was OK at first (and a very good automatic), but by the end of the 3 year lease I couldn't wait to get rid of it and get a manual again.

There is no way I could or would go from a manual S4 to an automatic anything.

2003.5 G35S 6MT - Silver/Graphite, Premium, Winter, Aero

 

This is one of those questions only you can answer yourself. As for me, I've got 4 cars in my household right now...and *every* one is a manual.

'04 6MT Sedan | '95 E36 M3 | '91 Miata

 

in addition to traffic and stop/go driving, some people also think about who gets to drive the car. getting a manual will limit who gets to sit in the driver's seat. that could be both a bad and good thing.

either way, you are getting a great car, no matter how it's shifting through its gears.

<font color=purple>.g35girl.</font color=purple>

 

I chose the automatic and have not regretted it. The G does not lose much performance with the automatic as does others such as the BMW 3 series. I feel that I get excellent performance with the automatic and it would take the six speed 330i to keep up with me. I can easily outperform the 330i auto. Also quick acceleration off the line repeatedly is very relaxed with the automatic without thinking about feathering the clutch or upshifting quickly .

 

Would be nice if the manual mode on the auto functioned more like the BMW Steptronic, though....

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

 

I gave in to my commute and got the auto tranny for the very first time ever. I do not regret it at all. There is no question that the stick provides better controll but I do use the manumatic all the time and it is adequate for most cases. I have to say though it does take some time to get used to the manumatic, esp. figuring out the shift lags. but one develops the technique after a while. On the hwy, I will downshift to 4'th or 3'rd in anticipation - just the way I would do with a stick - and that works well. Tight curves is a little more trickier as the shift lag is a tad more. All the same, the auto is very decent compromise.

 

All depends how you drive and what you are comfortable with. Some people like the stick, but have to drive in traffic during daily commute. Some people don't mind staying in 1st , then 2nd, then 1st, etc. If you think you are not going to get frustrated, lazy, "old", or have a 2nd auto car, then I say go with the Manual tranny. You only live once!

G35S 6MT
Diamond Graphite/Graphite
Premium Package

 

on the way to work, i sit in traffic. I stay in 1st, or 2nd... and get excited when i get to shift to 3rd. That sucks! But on the way home at night, it open highway ahead of me. That makes it woth it. Will my next car be a stick? As long as a good 6 speed os offered with it, then yes!