Hi, this is my first post. I test drove both the 6mt and the auto G35 sedan at my local infiniti dealership in San Diego, and I was impressed by both. I have driven manual my entire life and currently own a 2000 Audi S4 6speed. I am positive that the G35 sedan will be my next car but I cannot for the life of me decide whether to get the manual or the auto. The 6 speed is a great shifter but the auto in manumatic mode also seems really sporty and would be much better for the often miserable socal traffic. Does anyone have any suggestions, feelings about their specific auto? Will I regret having an auto after all of these years driving a manual? Thanks for the advice.

 

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Will I regret having an auto after all of these years driving a manual?

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Yes.

'03 G35/6MT Sedan Black/Black

 

Welcome to the forum, man. You'll be happy with either, in my opinion. I've driven MTs for a while, but I got the AT G and I don't regret it at all... Everyone's got an opinion on this one (hotly debtated often), but when it boils down to it, you really will be happy with either one in the end, as you sound like you appreciate a car for the entire package, not just he image of one tranny or another.

What kind of driving will you be doing? If you've got a lot of stop-and-go, I'd go AT simply becaise I do the same and much prefer the AT in that traffic. If you'll be doing a lot of curvey, sporty driving, the MT might please you more-- though I find the AT to work well too if you want. All up to you-- Best of luck,

G

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

 

I think you answered your own question when you said, "The 6 speed is a great shifter but the auto in manumatic mode also seems really sporty and would be much better for the often miserable socal traffic."

Your going to get people on all sides of the fence on this one. Bottom line is that your the one who needs to be happy in the end not what the people on this list feel about the subject.

Jim
'03 Sedan
Brilliant Silver/Graphite
6MT/ Premium package
Sport tuned suspension
Aerodynamic Body Kit
Navigation and Satellite Radio

 

If you need the auto get it. I suggest the MT, it has enough torque to leave it in either 2nd or 3rd gear and still start from a stop to facilitate the cup of coffee in the right hand.

but if you get the auto, go buy an MT project car for a couple grand (say a 91 or 92 240sx (RWD, 50/50 balance)or a 5-10 yr old miata for a weekend car)

The G IS my project car, so I got two in one


Better Life thru Chemistry
Black on Black 03.5 Sedan 6MT - Custom Catback, Custom Intake Tube, HyperGround Kit<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by 3point5SE_Auto on 11/10/03 04:33 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

I guess I have to agree that if I had to deal with regular traffic, I'd go with an automatic. Traffic's not something we think a lot about in Maine.

'03 G35/6MT Sedan Black/Black

 

If you've driven MT all this time, and you're not bothered by it in traffic, by all means, get the MT. I have a Lexus GS300 AT and G35MT, and even in traffic, the G35 is fun!

G35S 6MT
Diamond Graphite/Graphite
Premium Package

 

A big factor that noone's mentioned so far is that the manumatic mode is not a "true" manumatic. It's a "range" select rather than a "gear" select. If you put the shifter in "4", the AT will not stay in 4, but will use your current speed and acceleraton to select the best gear in the range 1 through 4... the tranny simply will not shift to 5. It's great for the occasional downshift, but it does not allow you to experiment with different upshift points.




<font color=red>chinee</font color=red>
03.5 G35s

 

Are you sure? Mine seems to hold the gear I have it in, maybe I'm not noticing it, but it does seem to! I know the first couple of times I tried it, I was forgetting to upshift, and the engine was starting to wind!

Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan

 

It won't upshift past the number you select (let's say 3 for example), but will gladly drop to 2 or 1 on it's own if it feels the need. Also, in this instance, it may decide at the moment that you bump it from 2 to 3 that its not time to upshift yet, and stay in 2 for a bit longer on it's own.

The sedan's manual mode is a max gear selector, not a current gear selector. Beneath your choice of top gears, it's still an automatic doing it's own thing.

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

 

I've owned both the 6MT and the 5AT. They both have advantages. If you're trying to get a neck jerking start off the line and you like the engaging effect of rowing the gears then the 6MT is fun.

If you like being able to just punch it on the freeway and immediately be in exactly the right gear to pass someone then the 5AT is nice.

--Steve

 

I guess I will have to pay more attention to it, I really didn't know this!

Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan

 

Next time you drive, set your tranny in manumatic and select "4." You will notice that it will shift normally through 1 - 2 - 3 - 4, then go no higher. As you slow down the tranny will downshift as needed, it will also downshift to a lower gear from 4 if you punch the throttle.


<font color=red>chinee</font color=red>
03.5 G35s

 

I drive the I-5 in San Diego darn near every day from Oceanside to Old Town. I went the 6MT route and I am glad I did. When you get closer you might want to call the guys up in Mission Viejo to price check the San Diego Team.

Ken

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

 

At least now the one in Carlsbad is no longer Discover Infiniti.. Hoehn bought it from them. So there's some competition down here.

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