I've noticed since I've owned my car (6 years now) but never posted it. I swear the throttle and shift speed/firmness feels much better when in automatic vs manumatic. When in manual, the throttle feels a bit deaden on initial tip-in and the shifts feel a bit softer/clustsy. In auto, the throttle is linear (feels almost like a cable throttle) and the shifts feel nice, firm, and quick. It's not a huge difference between the two setups, but it's noticeable to me. As always, I'm left as to wonder why Nissan did it this way.

 

Its you.....or maybe just me?..
You mean lyk it takes a min when droping in gear as if it needs more time to engage.
I guess I kinda knw what ur saying but then agin ..it has to do with the right gear- at the right speed

 

I think it has to do with the torque converter being locked up and you being in a more responsive gear vs when the trans is geared up 2-3 gears than optimum ratio.

 

downshift when you drop it in manual and then tell me the throttle feels dead, my slip light blinks when i down into 2nd from 3rd and mash the pedal

 

As mentioned before, for some reason when in automatic mode, the torque converter seems to like to be locked up a lot more while in manual mode it tends to be in a "slip-lock". There's a whole thread about this along with a video.

Lets say you cruise at about 55mph in D, the gears will probably locked and when you step on the gas a bit but not hard enough for it to downshift, it feels as if it's a manual car. If it's in manual mode though, it'll have that "slip" to it, you step on the gas and the rpms have to catch up before really going anywhere.

 

so which method is better in terms of performance?

 

^ in what situation?
Drag? Or track?

Manual is faster

 

In a drag race, I've found it's better to let the auto shift itself on the 1-2 and after that, manually shift to keep it from shifting a bit too early.

For auto-x, I always use manual to keep the car from shifting when I don't want it to.

 

I do agree, in auto the transmission does seem to lock the TC quite a bit more. It still doesn't explain to me why the throttle is more sensitive when accelerating from a dead stop and that the auto shifts are slightly firmer and direct. Keep in mind I'm talking about 03/04 sedans which when in manual mode, will basically behave like an automatic unless you manually select a gear. The 04.5+ cars require you to take upshift control after coming to a stop in manual mode or slowing you down.

 

I like MM myself. Seems to shift a touch faster.

 

You're not alone, Ive tested it my self just few days ago, Even from Dig leaving it in auto, I was Able to gain on the 2010 Fx35. And when I shift in Manual mod, He would gain on me.
So MM is only good If u need to be riding gear for like a roll race, or getting ready to cut lanes, ready to jump, but On straight away auto does a better job.

 

It feels alot more responsive in mm than in drive. Imo anyway

 

responsive yea, cause ur riding gears. But Shifting wise, Auto shifts firmer and faster.

 

Lol

14.9 sec in Auto 14.5sec in MM guess again

 

Okie. .4 seconds I couldve sneezed and lost .5 seconds lol...
G35s arent exactly 1/4 mile cars lol.Sorry but the truth sux.