In about 6 month, give or take couple, I'll be starting to look at G35 sedans. Here's my dilema: do I save some cash and buy a used 03 auto or do I buy a new 04 6 speed? Am I crazy to even debate it?

1) I've driven my 5 speed Maxima for over 5 years now. It's fun, but driving a manual is never quite as smooth (prior car was a auto 94 Z28). I get tons of rentals trucks for work and I really do like the cruise factor with the auto.

2) Getting a used auto will save me at least $5K if not a lot more.

3) The auto comes with 5 gears which is always better than a long geared 4 speed. Definately a plus for me.

4) I like the fact that I can manually shift G35 auto. I know it doesn't make a difference in acceleration, but having the control in turns would be very nice. How quickly does the manuatic respond to a downshift from 4 to 2? I plan on doing the Tecnhosquare ECU, Crawford plenum, and exhaust. This would be my "cruiser".

5) I plan on getting a project car like an old SE-R or Miata for track fun so I'll probably be able to get my manual "fix".


I personally know "ShortChaz" and I've ridden in his stock G35 (complete base model, 16" rims, cloth). The car was strong and torquey. With only about 8K miles on it, he did a low 14.7@96mph with a 2.3 60' with no track prep (lots of gas, spare/jack on board, no tire psi changes). ShortChaz is a big guy weighing in a 260lbs+. I can't help to think that his stock G35 could go 14.5s with nothing other than my lighter body driving (180lb) and the spare/jack removed and less gas on board. A 14.5 in a stock G35 auto at my track would be impressive.

It seems like the auto's biggest problem is just getting off the line hard. This is probably the line holding me back from the auto. Has anyone been able to pull 2.2 60 foots with the auto? With a manual it would be easy, but the traction/ABS seems to interfere a lot.

Can you guys give me your opinions?

96 Maxima SE
14.45@99.51mph with a 2.316 60'

JDM intake manifold, JWT ECU, Y-pipe, UDP, hacked stock airbox, 2K Maxima muffler

 

Dave, it sounds like your leaning toward the auto. I have driven the auto G35 and it is a fine car. Stomp the gas and go. If I had to commute in bumper to bumper traffic every day I would have picked the auto.

For me I wanted to row my own gears. Athough I have owned many manual cars in the past I am having trouble in shifting My G smoothly. My wife is also having a tough time. We have been having competitons on who can shift better without giving the passenger whiplash.

Ultimately the choice is yours. Fans of the Manual will try to sway you to their side. Your best bet is to test drive both doing the things you normally do like parking in tight spaces, driving in rush hour traffic and accelerating on to on ramps.

Jim



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

 

after looking at your list, it sure sounds like the auto gives you more of what you want, driving-wise and money-wise. as for me, i'd rather get a new car. but... it also depends on what options come on that used auto and the new 6mt.

good luck w/ your decision! it's a G so you can't go wrong. [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

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

 

Just note that the "manual" mode on the auto sedan doesn't let you select a gear. It lets you select a top gear (you put it in 2 and it's a 2-speed auto, not in gear 2 - put it in 4 and it's a 4-speed auto, etc. -- 5 and D are basically the same thing). How fast is the downshift? Not very. About a 1/2 second delay.

It's still a blast to drive. I just don't mess with the manual shifting as much as I might if it worked like a Steptronic. [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

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

 

Dave, it's not clear from your post but it sounds as though you might not know that the 6MT was also a sedan option in 2003, not just 2004.

--Steve

 

Are you saying I can't manually "tap" shift in manumatic to grab 2nd? What's the point of the setup then. I could have sworn when I was riding with ShortChaz that he was manually upshifting under part throttle. Why wouldn't it work downshifting?


Dave

96 Maxima SE
14.45@99.51mph with a 2.316 60'

JDM intake manifold, JWT ECU, Y-pipe, UDP, hacked stock airbox, 2K Maxima muffler

 

Last weekend I test drove a Sedan Premium Auto followed by a Sedan Premium 6MT. I currently have an RX-8 and to me the G35S 6MT was SOOOO much more fun to drive than the G35S Auto. The manumatic is not bad for it's ilk but nowhere near the responsiveness/control of a real stick. I got the impression the manumatic would stay in whatever gear you selected until you were about to stop/stall when it would put you into 1st (e.g. I stayed in 5th at below 20mph). Also I bounced off the rev-limiter in 1st, 2nd and 3rd and it wouldn't change up without my intervention so it's closer to a real manual than most manumatics I driven.

One of the best things I noticed about the G35S (other than niceties like memory seats, auto headlights, 6 CD changer, dual-zone climate control etc none of which I could get on the RX-8) was that the G35S 6MT was so smooth moving away from standstill in 1st compared to my RX-8 (almost felt like an auto) - good for city driving. But why does it have the tiny rubber pedals instead of sensibly sized aluminium ones? Anyway I would say test drive a 6MT back-to-back with an auto before you do anything rash.

 

I've already driven a 6 speed G35. Definately fun, but I really don't like the vibration thru the shifter which is something that bugs me about my Maxima. I totally understand that driving the 6 speed was more fun for you, but is your current car a manual? I've been driving my 5-speed Max for 5 years and I'm not terribly sick of driving a manual, but if the performance difference between the auto/6 speed is minimal (which it looks like it is), then I don't see much point to get a 6 speed. The auto would allow me to save some serious cash because there is a large selection of used autos around. The 6 speeds were introduced in 03.5 and I wouldn't want a 6 speed without LSD so my only real option is to buy new. Like I said, I'll also be getting a manual project car.


Dave

96 Maxima SE
14.45@99.51mph with a 2.316 60'

JDM intake manifold, JWT ECU, Y-pipe, UDP, hacked stock airbox, 2K Maxima muffler

 

If I were you in 6 months I'd buy a used automatic from a dealer on eBay. Seriously.

--Steve

 

I have heard many people say:

"I wish I had gotten the manual!"

It is rare to hear someone say:

"I wish I had gotten the auto."

Also, the performance difference between the stick and the auto is very significant, IMO.

That being said, I have nothing against slush boxes and if you are mostly looking to cruise. Then the auto may be fine.

 

From what I've personally seen at my track, the difference between the auto and manual 6 speed is not terribly significant. Last week a guy took his stock 6 speed sedan out to our track and yanked 2.1 60 foots and netted consistent 14.6s@96mph. ShortChaz (Charles) in his stock G35 has pulled 14.7s@96mph with horrible 2.3 60 foots. If Charles was able to pull 2.1s in his auto (most likely impossible), he'd be running 14.3s. The 6 speed 350Zs typically pull 14.2s and the same goes for the auto 350Z that runs out there.

Once people figure out how to get off the line hard in the G35 auto, I think we'll see significantly better ET/MPH out of them. I read last night that someone pulled a 14.4 in their stock G35 auto sedan which is the best I've heard so far.

I'll still do a comparison test though.


Dave

96 Maxima SE
14.45@99.51mph with a 2.316 60'

JDM intake manifold, JWT ECU, Y-pipe, UDP, hacked stock airbox, 2K Maxima muffler

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

Are you saying I can't manually "tap" shift in manumatic to grab 2nd? What's the point of the setup then. I could have sworn when I was riding with ShortChaz that he was manually upshifting under part throttle. Why wouldn't it work downshifting?

<hr></blockquote>

You can force a downshift (if it won't over-rev the engine), but you cannot force an upshift. Under part throttle, if you're already above the rpms where the auto would otherwise shift, then it will upshift fairly quickly. If, however, you're at full throttle and only 4000 rpms, you can bump the shifter and the dash display will increment, but the transmission won't make the shift until it's past 6000. Think of it as D5, D4, D3, D2, D1.

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

 

Go for the 6 speed. You can get an auto when you get old.

 

I've had nothing but a stick since I was 16. Lots of fun, but sitting in traffic sucks *** with a stick. I can't believe it, but I chose the auto and love it.

04 Sedan. Black W/ Willow. Premium, Navigation, Sport Tuned. Brand Spankin New.

 

My G is auto and I have absolutley no regrets. I drove sticks for over 20 years but the reality of my daily drive is bumper to bumper traffic. How you'll actually use your car should be the deciding factor, not race track performance.

As for manually shifting the automatic, it's disappointing that it doesn't revert to first when you stop the car (my TL did that and it was great). Otherwise, up and down shifting is fine but nothing like a true manual experience.

HTBomb's Magical Hot Wheels