So i've test driven both the AT and MT G35 sport. Both are quite remarkable cars. I've always driven MT cars so i came into both test drives more or less leaning heavily towards the MT. However, after test driving both, it seemed to me that there were some subtle, less refined differences in the MT. These changes (read: disappointments) were located in the center console of the car.

1. in the space that accomodated a drink holder on the AT, the MT had a space with two squares in it, neither square seemed deep enough or large enough to accomodate even a modest sized beverage (maybe a bottled water). When i asked my salesman what it was, he said that that was the drink holder. HUH????? when i asked what type of beverage would fit in there and he quickly started side stepping. I thought, surely this has to be a stripped down version of the MT but my salesman again noted that "some adustments" had to be made to accomodate the MT.

2. The center arm rest. While at a comfortable level in the AT in the MTi felt as though i had to lean/slump downward to the right just to make use of the arm rest.

Has anyone noticed this in your test driving experience? Or for you manual owners out there, please tell me my salesman is clueless and i must have been driving a very stripped down version of the G.

If what my salesman tells me is indeed the case, i hate to betray my love for the manny but i'd almost certainly have to choose the AT.

 

Yes what you see is what you get.....

 

sedanman, do you have a MT or AT? what are your thoughts on the MT?

 

I have the AT. I never drove the MT because I bought my car very early before dealers had them. From stories I hear and read I would make sure I drove an MT before buying. As far as the AT goes I love it.

 

+1

I only drove 2006 MTs, but spent a fair amount of time with them - and found that the AT in the '07 gave me all of the control I wanted, while still allowing laziness in traffic

 

just go MT for the hell of it.. yeah traffic is a bitch.. but auto is just so boring.. g35s are sports cars..

 

They are?

 

Surprised me also.

 

The cupholders and armrest has been an issue since the first MT offered, not to mention the lack of rear vents. None of those were big enough issues for me to choose an AT over the MT. I never regretted it. Maybe get a tiny pillow and some velcro....lol

I'm not sure why they can't design it better. My bro's 3 series has all three well designed depite the MT.

 

You apparently don't drive them right...

 

the 6mt is a more fun car. anyone can drive a car, a true lover of cars will drive a 6mt and not be afraid to learn how. i just bought a 6mt and drove the auto at first, i never had a stick car before and have driven a couple other like the 330 performance pacackage, 335, my dads yellow viper and thats it. but when you get auto , a girl drives auto , you get manual and your a man. i am 19 and just got my 07 sedan in stick after regretting my automatic g35 2 door 04 that i got as a gift.

GO MANUAL , takes time to learn but once you master it, its unreal.

my best friend has an m3 in manual and i let him drive my car. the feeling when he was drving it was amazing. i felt like i was in a race car. rev matching hiting it , power shifting all that stuff was just so smooth , it just takes time. and it worth it. 6mt
!!!!!

 

omg.. i've been a girl for the past 24 years..

 

yowza, when i was 19 i had a ford escort! LOL These are all very good points, like i said, i've never owned an AT before but for the money i would expect that one wouldn't sacrifice some of the niceties of the AT. I've driven them both and do like the comfort of the AT...and while the MT has that i do think its fairly lame that that Infiniti couldn't engineer a MT without giving up some things like cup holders. I think someone noted that you don't see these issues in bmw's. You wouldn't even see them in an Acura TL.

Plus for thos of us that drink coffee as we trudge to work, AT makes it that much easier though i have gotten pretty good at driving with my knees while sipping. i think it'll be a game time decision.

 

Me too.

One debate I can never be rid of soon enough (coming from 2 years on the my350z boards) is the "Am I a puss for driving an AT?" You know what, it depends on YOU. Me, I live in an area with the second worst traffic in the country and can run into hours of stop and go traffic anytime anywhere. I can drive a MT better than most, but for me the AT is still a ton of fun and it has nothing to do with being more of a man or knowing how to drive or not.

I will say this. Of all the guys I've met (tend to be under 24 years of age) at Z meets and of all MT drivers in general, maybe 10% can actually shift absolutely precisely perfectly fast enough to beat the newer gen AT cars and 0% shift as fast as they think they do. Everyone thinks they are Joe Shifter out there, "Buy a MT or you're a woman" but the bottom line is they aren't nearly as good as they think they are.

Just my opinion though, this particular line of debate tends to really set people off.

 

Amen on the traffic problems, I live in Alexandria...you can hit gridlock on a saturday morning.