First off im a manual guy. I learned how to drive a car in a manual. All of my cars except for one car were manuals. I love the all-wheel drive factor but i don't know if i will miss having a stick. The main reason i want an all-wheel drive car is because of the weather. I live in the D.C. area and some winter's can get bad like this past winter. I know the rear-wheel drive would be fun but how bad are they in the rain and snow? Also do you feel a difference in being all-wheel and rear-wheel? What about the hp difference can you feel the difference in that also?

 

To give you my completely biased opinion, I'd say manual. Winters are no big deal with winter tires.

 

There is a big difference between rwd and awd as far as traction goes. I came from a Lincoln LS v8 sport, which is rwd. I got stuck in the snow with that thing a few times even with brand new tires (all weather). I got my G35x in January, so I was able to tell a big difference in traction. Didn't get stuck in the snow with it.

I used to have a Ford Explorer sport that had 4wd (I know its not the same as awd), while driving in the snow in rwd mode, then switching 4wd on, the difference was almost the same between the 2 cars. The Explorer having the bigger difference I think.

Also, I'm not sure of the percentages, but the G35x is rwd biased after 15mph or so? except when you have "snow mode" on then its after 25 I think, otherwise its 50% power on front tires and 50% on back...

 

I'm a manual guy too, but I like the auto G35X better.

 

Get a set of snow tires and you'll have better traction than an X on all seasons. Also, the X's get a bit worse mpgs due to the additional weight (about 180lbs), additional drivetrain losses, and deeper final drive.

 

Auto G35X IMO.

Take turns like a champ!

 

i would say go with 6mt, the AWD works like a charm, but i would say it isnt worth it in DC... you guys got all your snow for the next few years this past winter... rwd in snow just takes some patience and a good set of tires.

 

There are around 10 rough, snowy days a year where even with snow tires my 6MT G35 is a handful...

...but on the other 355 days of the year, I'm so glad I didn't get a slushbox!

 

I live in MD, and given that snow plows take forever to get to the backroads, having AWD has saved me on more than one occassion.

plus, as I recently learned, the automatics can convert to a manual (albeit 5-speed rather than 6-speed, and with no clutch).

 

 

easyy nowww

 

I would say if the weather is usually harsh, go AWD. It's not like the motor is different (i think), you can still make moves and feel the power.

2 years ago I led a caravan to Lake Tahoe from Norther California. Boy did I wish I had awd it was an all out blizzard and even WITH chains I had to stay at ~20% throttle or the a$$ end would shimmy faster than a rap music video.

 

manual!

 

I'm a manual guy. I've driven nothing but sticks since I was 16.

I went with the AWD for the winter driving. To be honest, i don't miss driving a stick at all. I do own a V8 Mustang with a manual trans that i drive maybe 500 miles/year, but i haven't driven it since October because i put it away for the winter, but i still don't miss driving stick.

I've driven 10+ winters with RWD and snow tires too...and 2 winters with AWD (1 with all-seaons, the other with snow tires) and the AWD makes a huge difference..even with all-seasons. I love it. Just confidence in the snow.

I don't get the manual vs auto debate..or why there is one. All to often i hear "auto's are for girls" and other things like that. I've put my time in with a clutch. As fun as it is, i'm enjoying every second behind the wheel of an automatic G35. It's still fun to drive, and I am not into the whole "boy-racer" thing going around revving at anything with a performance exhaust on it.

Now...if the AWD came in a manual..i prob would buy one, but it doesn't. I don't miss having my daily driver be a manual trans at all.

 

Buy whatever suits you.