This last weekend at the track, I ran six times. The first time I stalled the car. On runs 4 and 5 I missed shifts. So I'm definitely not the perfect driver. Had I had our 04 5AT, none of those situations would have occurred. So having a 6MT was absolutely ZERO advantage on those runs.

 

Wow G35_TX, I think you're a car ahead of me!!!

I'm with G35_TX, I'm totally committed to keeping this 6MT for quite a while (at least 4 years). After all, I have absolutely no reason to get rid of it...it's fast, it's affordable, it's practical, it's classy, and it's fun with the 6MT. I know we've "cried wolf" one too many times already, but just you guys wait and see.

Oh, and if I do get rid of it prematurely, someone PLEASE check me in to the looney house.

 

Yeah, there's a lot of that around here. Then again, I think there are more than a few who would enjoy the pygmy experience you describe, so it's not too surprising.

Absoultely 100 percent true on both counts. I couldn't agree with you more.

I've noticed that myself. We've got a whole fleet of SCCA- and NHRA-licensed racers on this forum. What's surprising is that none of them know what a rev limiter is or how it works, much less the difference between camber and caster. Interesting, yes? Racing drivers...

Here's the crux of my problem with your posts regarding the 5AT-versus 6MT debate: They're often cantankerous and sometimes belligerent. They almost always carry attitude. They also contain a good amount of truth, which I think that a lot of prospective buyers -- particularly the younger, less technically inclined ones -- have trouble filtering through the noise. They see your posts and dismiss them out of hand as sour grapes by an "old" (careful, JKW) guy who can't drive a stick. (Yes, I know you can shift for yourself. They may not.) Just my opinion of course.

This old standby argument has been around since the first two-speed autos were thrown together. The fact of the matter is that while I prefer the visceral experience of driving with three pedals, a lever and a wheel, automatics are closing the gap technologically. The 5AT in the G35 does a good job at letting the driver play boy-racer if he wants to. Innovative manumatic designs like the Audi DSG and (to a lesser extent because the reliability isn't there yet) computer-controlled manuals like the BMW SMG will one day soon make true manual shifting irrelevant and a thing of the past. (Heck, SMG-equipped M3s are actually faster to 60 miles an hour than the 6-speed units when they don't blow themselves to bits. At least they are in Europe, where the lawyers didn't wrangle the Launch Control feature from the engineers.) But we're not there yet, and for me at least nothing can substitute for the involvement and excitement rowing your own provides.

Agreed. And making people aware of the 6MT's faults is a good thing in my opinion. Sans attitude, of course.

One further note: Russell, the '05 5AT I took for a 15-minute test drive did not upshift at the rev limiter, even at full throttle. It bounced-bounced-bounced-bounced until I finally nudged the upshift. I did this several times in several gears to make sure it wasn't a programming glitch, and it was one of the reasons I was so impressed with the 5AT's manumatic mode: The electronics weren't taking over and deciding it was time for me to shift, be d[a]mned my wishes.

I do feel a little sorry for whoever buys that thing. I ran it to redline and beyond at least a dozen times at full throttle and the car only had about 300 miles on it.

 

That's cool, man. It's your money, I've thought about trading our X for a 6mt but have decided to keep it. What color did you go with? Good luck and what are you getting next? haha

 

Shouldn't you change your sig to reflect the new 6 speed G35? Are you still one behind G35_TX then?

 

I was talking about downshift, not upshift. If your in 2nd gear at 20 mph and floor it, it will downshift to 1st. It won't hold the gear. Thats what I was talking about.

 

This has been my experience as well. Just not in my car LOL.

 

I will try this on the way home this afternoon. I can't recall (old age again) this point WRT to my car...

 

Embarrassingly, my sig is now updated.

 

Understood, and your point is well taken. When you read something from me that reeks of attitude, picture me at my desk saying out loud:

"what a load of $hit..."

because that's usually the reality behind the typing.

Admittedly, I have a very short fuse and extremely low tolerance for bull$hit. I have a bad habit of calling it like I see it. I'm not good at sugar coating or pu$$y footing - never have been. (as the guy says in Predator - "I ain't got time to bleed...") It's probably good that I'll be retiring from the military in about 3 years because the Navy is running out of places for barnacles like me to serve - it's turning into a canoe club for frat boys and politicians. But anyway.

Agree my posts often carry attitude. Everything anybody does here carries some sort of attitude. I'll keep your comments in mind though, and appreciate/respect the manner in which you 'dished' them. You saw BS and called me on it. I think you know what I mean with regard to why I post like I do, I'll try (no promises) to be more aware and to smooth some of the edges before I click transmit.

 

It has nothing to do with strength. You will not be able to execute an upshift nearly as quick as the JATCO 5AT,

If you're such an expert driver, let's see some times or descriptions of your track experiences with this car or others.

 

It is not the end of all G35's, it is the fastest version, and with most cars where a manual tranny or regular automatic are the options, the manual transmission is always going to have the edge. The edge would obviously not be there if an inexperienced driver was driving the manual. For those of us that prefer a manual, most actually know how to achieve the potential. I would not have chosen a manual transmission if I did not know how to get the most out of it. I had 1 automatic car and that was a mistake, its just not fun for me.

I am by no means a professional drag racer, nor can I launch my car perfect on every launch. I've raced my cousins automatic coupe, I did win 3/5. I guess the first time I drag raced my car I was not use to it. With a bit more experience now I should be able to win 4/5 or 5/5. So even though I am not a pro racer, I can still get the most out of my car compared to the automatic.

You can't talk for everyone 'doooood. Have you ever driven your car in two different temperatures, lets take for example noon and night. You are going to feel the engine be a bit more lively at night when the air is colder and denser then you are when the air is warmer. When I have driven an automatic 05 loaner, it definatley does not feel as powerful as my 05 6mt when accelerating in any one gear.


You may have been behind the wheel longer then I been alive, but what does that prove? And there is no way you can be more in touch with a car when there is an automatic transmission period. A manual tranmission is the ultimate control over the cars drivetrain. I've driven the automatic g35 numerous times, I've driven at least 2,000 miles and there is no way you can control an automatic transmission that downshifts for you automatically in the crappy manual mode better than a manual transmission.

Before your panties get tangled 'dooood, keep in mind I am not saying you can't control an automatic, my point is for the ultimate control a manual is the answer.


I opted for the manual transmission even after I heard of a few people having problems. However, I gave the benefit of the doubt that most people posting 6mt problems are enthusiasts and drive their cars a bit harder than they need to be. I have an 86 300zx with 160,000 miles and there have been no drive train problems, so I don't expect this car to be taking a dump any time soon. In the event that there is drivetrain failure, my 100,000 mile warranty will most likely cover it.

 

I am not an expert driver, but my first time at the drag strip I drove my friends 2000 Mustang GT and ran a 14.1. Keep in mind at the time I drove a FWD Altima and never had any experience launching a high powered RWD car. I also ran my stock 2.5 altima, I had a 0-60ft of 2.40 with Turanzas.

Plus the was suppose to mean I was joking, wow everyone is so tense on these boards. Take a deep breath and relax.

 

Nikk6,

My 5AT is terribly easy to launch. All I have to do is put my foot on the brake, mash the gas, and quickly release the brake. It's an instant ultra low 2.2 60 foot everytime. Once I get some mods and run in cooler air, I'm pretty certain the car will pull lower 2.1s. Not many 6MTs can make that claim.

I drove a modded 5MT 96 Maxima and made over 150 1/4 passes in it over the course of 5 years so I certainly have plenty experience driving manuals on and off the track. The 5AT clearly isn't a dog and doesn't give up much to the 6MT. The 6MT is naturally going to feel a lot faster because there is a lot more driver involvement and the lunging from the shifting. An acquaintance at my track that has a 04 G sedan 6MT. He's an Cobra driver and has experience racing the 1/4 mile. His best in this 6MT is a lower 14.4@97mph with a 2.1 60'. My best is a upper 14.4@98mph with a low 2.2 60'. To me, there is no real measureable difference in performance.

 

I had an Automatic Maxima and it took no skill to launch it. No skill also (to me) = no fun/challenge. Even the clumsiest driver can launch an automatic, where is the fun in that? Not trying to argue about which is better for drag racing, I know the fastest drag cars usually use automatic. But at that point its wallet vs wallet and usually not much skill to drive a car in a straight line with your foot on the gas pedal. I've always felt driving fast in a stick is harder and whoever could execute better drive skills would win. Of course that applies to racing cars that are similar in stock 1/4 mile times.

What do you mean by there is no real measurable difference?

If you take a person who knows how to drive both transmissions, they go to the track and drag race the car. The manual will most likely come out with better performance numbers. The only cars where this would not apply is usually a car like a M3 with an SMG tranny...or even more high end cars.