Is the automatic probably just as quick as the 6-speed? I remember hearing somewhere that the final drive ratio is now the same regardless of tranny, which is a change in favor of the automatic. The fastest I've seen for the 6-speed is Car and Driver's 5.2 to 60 and 13.9 @ 103 in the quarter. Edmunds, who traditionally has slower numbers than most by a few tenths at least, got 5.6 and 13.9 @ 102 with the AUTOMATIC, and they may well have left it in full auto. Seems that they are at least nearly identical now.

I think, as always, it comes down to the driver of the car. The manual should have less drivetrain loss and therefore more power.

We need some dynos to get some HP numbers and then have some runs of members with 6MTs and Auto's to truly settle this debate.

the manual will have less drivetrain loss, but the auto will have more torque so i think they make up for each other in the end.....

Why would the auto have more torque?

Yeah I've never heard that before either??

in the 05-06 the autos had 270 torque while mt had 260

Right, but they also made changes in the engine. In this one both are rated the same 306 and 268, so with those numbers, the MT should have less drivetrain loss and more torque.

Yeah, its not like old times. Both the Auto and the 6MT on the 07's have the same power numbers, because, they have the same motor. There is no more "Rev-up" or "Non-Revup", it is strictly VQ35HR.

i havnt bothered to look at the numbers on the new one (cause i know i wont be getting it grrrrr )i was just basing my knowledge off of the last G.

The torque converter amplifies torque coming off the line. This helps make up for the lower efficiency.

I think the auto is as fast as the manual, and I drive a 6mt!! As a matter of fact, I've been driving stick for over 13 years now. (Automatic cars in South America are WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!)
Automatic transmissions have really evolved! They are not like they used to be years ago.
To me, stick shift is a LOT MORE fun to drive. However, I drove an automatic sedan with tiptronic transmission (loaner car) and I though it was as responsive as my 6mt! (Yes, it's less hp (only 280) - but being able to change gears at the desired RPM on an auto is pretty cool, and the car definetely runs better!
Anyway, that's just my input! I might get an auto in the future!!

Could you explain this better? I always thought the torque convertor was less efficient than a manual? Since it is not actually motorized or adding torque/hp to the drivetrain, I would assume the only way to actually increase torque is by slightly varying the drive ratio...giving the transmission a sort of small variable range for each gear, kind of like the effect with clutch slippage. Even if this were the case, drivetrain loss would still be there...

I just don't think an automatic can be as fast as a clutch for several reasons. It might get 99.5% as fast...but I don't think it'll ever be exactly as fast unless it makes up the time through faster shifting.

I would say it comes down to the driver. Both will be close.

I agree with you!

So then you mean...they're the same speed?