The first shipment of cars are preset by Infiniti corporate. The second batch, not so much, but they're really pushing the automatic anyway. They know most sedan drivers prefer auto, but the coupe that's coming out next year, on the other hand...

 

Good! What consumers really need are stuff like the next generation 350Z and the rebirth of the Supra. There's no reason why Japan can't produce those types of cars imho....I know the market does dictate but asking to test drive a stick or to buy a stick shouldn't be a difficult process. Way back when I test drove the new (current) Altima in a 4 cyl. 5-spd and loved it, all 175 HP.....

 

That would be awesome...I just can't say no to that car...I would have to buy it on a whim...

 

Interesting that Sport MTs are only three of the 32 cars in Niello's web inventory list (which varies somewhat from the list above) and yet they make up two of the four cars described as "Sold." To put it another way, their allocated MTs are currently 67% presold and their ATs are 7% presold. That tells me that we MT buyers may be few in number, but we're hardcore about what we want.

The three MTs in Niello's listing also confirm my suspicions about how "inventory" MTs will typically be equipped - all three have black leather and two of the three have black paint, a spoiler, and/or rear wheel steer - all things I wouldn't want. At my age, I'm no longer into the Darth Vader look. Looks like a factory order for us, if we end up buying an '07.

 

Yep, that's a really good point. Here in Michigan, the one dealer on the west side gets about 1 MT in 50, if that. The overwhelming majority are AWD models. I still drive a '94 5.0L Stang because, although underpowered now, is still very fun to row through the gears manually. I'd like to replace it with a G35 6MT as I don't necessarily need an AWD (FX is used for that). I will certainly have to factory order as well.