To me, even if an Auto were 5 times faster, I would still not get an automatic.

Like everyone here has been saying, it's a matter of preference or conviniance.

I just dont like the fact of having a machine (tranny) do everything for you. It's almost so boring that I start to get sleepy when driving an auto. I love the fun-factor of an MT and love to feel in control of my vehicle.

But then again, thats just my personal preference.

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I drove both, im an all manual lover, and I was getting the 6MT, but the 6MT didnt feel faster than the AT so I went with the AT, I already have my manual "first" car.

 

Domiken, first Congrats on your G.

Let me clarify this:

You choose an AT over an MT because it "felt" faster, even though the MT theoretically has a bit more potential (if you know how to drive it).

I always thought people chose an MT over an AT because of the fun factor and the fact that they have more control over their car, rather than because it "felt" faster.

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question. why dont you guys feel you have control with the AT? believe me i have a 69 camaro so i know how to drive a stick but between the paddle shifter and the AT manual shift capabilties there seems to be no difference. you can choose when you want to shift just like in an MT. hell, i was redlining on the test drive! (it was a cool salesman!)

 

^^+1.

I agree, I find that with the paddle shifters I am in every bit of control as with an MT. I've always driven manual trannys and where the AT lacks, at least for me, is the fun factor. I'd still be driving an MT today if my wife knew how to drive one.

 

I too have been driving stick forever, and I bought the AT ... BUT, I have to say that the 6MT will shift exactly when you want it to without thinking about it like the AT will. With the AT, there may be a 1 sec delay between the time you pull the paddle to the time it actually shifts.

Again, both trannys have their ups & downs, but the overall car in either flavor is still a winner.

 

You do realize that it only does that for a split second right as you start moving?

 

Thanks man.

I guess you did not read my post correctly, I stated I didnt go with the MT because it did not show any signs of it being any faster than the AT. I know all about manual cars, trust me, especially building and owning turbocharged vehicles, the MT of course has to be a bit quicker, but the difference isnt much. Most vehicles in MT form feel much much quicker than their AT siblings, but not this one which is the reason why I went with the Automatic transmission.

The fun factor is great, I am a young individual but im thinking of keeping this car for 3-5years maybe even more, so id rather be driving an automatic, also my intentions on the purchase of this car is for comfort and looks, not to be driving "spirited" on the road, I have another car for that. I did not like the clutch engagement on the manual or the shifter vibrations, theres a LONG thread about this decision on another car forum and people pitched in about it. I know the vibrations would **** me off, the much smaller armrest console sucks (I cant even rest my elbow when I shift, I could in my G20), no rear air vents for the passengers) just little things like that which I expected to be the same on the MT were not and it influenced my decision.

 

This isn't factual. In the '03 and '04 coupes it is the same engine. The only difference is there would be a bit more drivetrain loss in the auto so wheel torque and hp would be slightly less.

On the '05's + the tuning is different so that the peak torque is less in the 6mt than the auto but the peak hp is greater. The same drivetrain losses would occur in the auto versus MT.

In any event the differences are small and in real world driving hardly noticeable.

 

Fact:
The prior 260-280hp G35s (non-rev ups) with autos made on average 10whp/10twq less than the 6MT counterparts.

10whp/10wtq is not near as huge a difference as some of you 6MT owners are alluding to. I can't imagine the 2nd geb car, auto to 6M, is going to be any different in terms of power difference. Hell, even Infiniti admits the 07 5AT is within .1 seconds of the 6MT now. That's a driver's race.

I have owned many manual performance cars. I had my heart set on the 6MT G35 until I drove it. Like others have noted, the 6MT is a POS. It's unreliable and the vibrations are inexcuseable. Even Motor Trend called the 07 G35 6MT "a gruff old lump" because of the vibrations that came through the shifter. When buying my car, I drove a couple 6MTs and a couple 5ATs and honestly, the 5AT did feel faster around town because the throttle response and acceleration is instantanous. The shifts are quick and the torque coverter and gearing are perfect. From 0-60, I think most any 6MT 1st gen G35 would have a hard time keeping up with me seeing that my G ran 14.3s stock which is faster than what most modded 6MTs run.

As for a "disconnected feel" with the 5AT, yes there is some disconnected feel when you're rolling down the street at 40mph in 5th and tip into the throttle. The 6MT would feel the same way in 5th if you did the same. This issue can easily be resolved by kicking the shifter in MM and selecting 2nd and kicking the rpms up above 3500rpms. At that those rpms, the 5AT feels incredibly responsive for having a TC connected at the other end. I'm constantly amazed at the throttle response of the 5AT in comparison to other throttle-by-wire autos I've driven. Also, in MM, I can hold gears to redline and bounce off the limiter if I wish. The disconnected feel really doesn't exist with the 5AT unles you drop the rpms below 3000 and are in too tall a gear. I don't think the 2nd gen 5AT would behave any differently than my 03.

When Nissan can source out a good 6MT and not that POS Asisn/Warner 6MT they currently use, maybe then I'll consider a 6MT G35.

 

I'm concerned about comments like the above. I just test drove the first 2007 6MT my dealer got in a couple weeks ago. I really didn't notice any unusual vibrations from the shifter - maybe individual cars vary? The biggest problem I had was that the clutch is considerably lighter - I think too light -compared to my 2003 6MT - and lacks some of the "feel" and feedback my 2003 has, but I think I'd get used to it OK.

I've owned many manual performance cars, too -but were yours RWD? In a RWD car the shift lever is directly connected to the transmission which is directly connected to the engine and the smoothest engines vibrate when they run - you can open the hood and see it. I'm surprised if the shifter doesn't vibrate in a RWD manual performance car, and mine have ranged from a 1969 Z28 Camaro through a 300ZX to the present Infiniti with some other stuff and a couple of FWD Maximas in between. The FWD Maxima shifter of course had a cable between it and the trans so no vibration. I'm surprised that my 2003 G35 6MT has little noticeble vibration - just barely enough that you can feel if you put your hand on the shift lever.

Getting back to my test drive, I didn't take it over 5000rpm (I liked the way the car was equipped and might have bought it but for the color, and didn't want to beat on it before it was broken in), maybe the vibration people are talking about occurs mainly over 5000rpm?

The other thing I noticed - the 2007 6MT did not "feel" as fast as my 2003 6MT with comparable driving up to 5000 rpm. But I know its faster based on the published road tests. I suspect this is because more of the power band is above 5000 rpm in the new engine but also the car feels more insulated and luxurious.

I did think the handling on the 2007 is phenomenal - a noticeble improvement over my 2003.

As for the automatic, I have driven a number of 2003 to 2006 G35 service loaners, and the automatic is more responsive than most. I would say it is one of the best automatics I have experienced and the 2007 from what I hear is an improvement over that. However, every time I had one I quickly got tired of it and bored with it, and couldn't wait to get back into mine. One of my Maximas was an automatic, and I couldn't wait to get rid of that, too.

So now I'm asking myself if I should test drive the 2007 6MT again before I pull the trigger? But I don't think I would call the 6MT a "POS". I know I woudn't buy the automatic - I would just keep my 2003 6MT if I didn't like the 2007. The other stuff mentioned in this thread about the armrest and rear vents apply to my 2003 6MT also and are not issues whatsoever to me.

Thanks in advance for any feedback on my observations and questions.

 

I bought an '07 6MT without trying the AT because I like the control a clutch gives me. This car did take some time to get used to, particularly with clutch engagement. Two months into it the car feels completely natural to me, and I'm enjoying it greatly.

There is a little vibration in the shifter at 5000+ RPMs, but it's nothing bothersome. Just feels like raw power to me.

Since the torque doesn't peak until 5800 rpm I'd strongly suggest you try out one that you can get closer to the redline before making a decision.

 

After 1500 miles in my 6MT, it seems like the vibration is reduced from when the car was new. I'm not sure if that's a result of the engine breaking in, or if it's just that I'm getting used to it. However, I never really felt much through the shifter. The vibration that I noticed more was in the clutch pedal.

Regardless, I do think Infiniti should have been able to do a better job with the 6MT implementation.

 

I had a Z28 and Maxima too My Z28 was a 94 automatic with some mods and my Maxima was a 96 5MT with a lot of mods. My 96 Maxima had a direct linkage to the tranny. In 2002, Nissan went with a cable shifter. What annoyed me about the G35 6MT was that the shifter and clutch pedal vibrated just like my Maxima's. After 6 years of driving my Maxima, I got sick and tired of the unnecessary feedback through the clutch pedal and shifter. I also found the 6MT shifter to be unnecessarily short and the throws way to short. With a stubby shifter, you get reduced leverage and more vibration. The redued leverage causes you to get hung up on the gates which is annoying. Adding just one inch of lever length could greatly improve the feel of the 6MT and may take some of the strain off the syncros that tend to get munched on the POS G/Z 6MT. It would also let you shift faster and with more confidence.

Nissan can definitely source a better 6MT. My friend's modded 90 LX 5.0 that I drove daily in college didn't have excessive vibration nor do my friends 6MT F-bodies, Vettes, and Vipers. Drive a manual BMW and you'll see that Nissan can definitely do a better job.

 

Is it just me or am I the only one that completely disregards posts that are posted from members who drive AUTOMATIC sports cars?