OK guys, let me preface this by saying that I’ve probably spent about 3 hours searching this forum and still don’t have a clear answer to this question. So please no “search is your friend” comments. 

Bottom line, after reading all the threads I could find, the reviews still seem extremely mixed on the G’s automatic for 2007, and I’m wondering how this can be? There are numerous people who aren’t happy with the speed of the shifts while in full manual mode. And there are those that say the tranny has virtual no delay, lag or pause. I guess the main problem is that delay, pause or lag is highly subjective based on what you’re accustom to or have been driving in the past. Based on the cars I’ve driven, cars I’ve owned, and research I’ve done , I’ve come up with 2 possible scenarios,

1. Infiniti has set up the car to shift slower when it’s not being driven hard in full manual mode. For instance, under more than 70 – 100% throttle position, determined by the TPS (throttle position sensor) a more aggressive map is used and the delay is reduced. Under less than 70% TPS changing gears via paddles or shifter, the delay is more prominent due to the less aggressive map. When people report delayed shifts on the board they fail to mention what type of driving they were doing at the moment, and that’s why there are so may people on both sides of the table.

2. What people are feeling is not the Tranny, but the Drive by wire. I remember the first time I drove a Q45, 2004. I buried the throttle and the car literally waited 2 seconds before it downshifted. After playing around with it for a while, I realized that it was more of the DBW I was feeling, rather than the transmission. Not saying this is the case with the G, but I hate DBW and it’s often confused with the tranny.

So when all is said and done, I know the G is not going to be as good as a 335 automatic, and that’s OK. That car is too much $, and I’ve accepted it. For those of you who have never driven one though, the transmission is an absolutely gem. I’ve never felt an automatic quite like it. Those of you who have driven one, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

So back on track! From 2007 G automatic owners, how do you sum up the shifts in the car, in full manual mode, under spirited driving?

1. The car shifts instantly
2. Slight delay
3. Noticeable delay
4. Cup of coffee and a Danish.

 

If there is a delay when shifting in MM (either with the Paddles or Shifter), than I certainly don't feel it. I felt it in my 03 G, but the shifts in my 07 feel virtually instant.

 

the shifting in manual mode is quick but not instantaneous. Note, however, that note of my driving has been "hard" because I'm still in the break-in period.

Others who have really let the car rip have claimed the delays are extremely minor.

 

I've found that there is clearly a delay and a slight 'lunge' when upshifting at low throttle. Because of that, I only use the paddles when driving the car hard, and the delay/lunge disappear under those conditions. I don't have an explanation for it, and it might be partly attributed to butt-dyno, but it is very noticeable to me.

 

the delays I think exist are more perception than reality, for the following reason...when I drive a stick shift car, I tend to let off the gas a bit while shifting gears. However, with the paddle shifters in the G, there is obviously no clutch and there is obviously a tendency not to let up on the gas at all during shifting. So it seems like the RPM climb quickly before the transmission actually shifts gears; this might give the impression that the shifting is slower than it really is.

 

There's absolutely no delay in shifting, what I think people are referring to as a "delay" is the actual shift time which is about 1/2 second from the time you pull the paddle to the time you are 100% engaged in the next gear. to Clarify, when you pull the paddle it's instantaneous that the shift begins. the timing is about the same as most peoples good MT shift. It also gives you a "perfect" shift every time so there's not that rough-shift feeling you get in a MT, but if you watch the Tach & Speedo, you'll see that you are still gaining speed and having an amazing shift at the same time with maximum momentum going into the shift.

The tranny is amazing, I have no issues with it at all.

I have two requests for improvement that would be nice for future revisions.

1.) when you pull and hold the paddle, it would be nice if it would hold you in neutral, does nothing more then make it a little more fun to drive.

2.) I wish while you in D or DS mode, you knew which gear you were in.

 

Excellent point, I think I tend to keep my foot on the gas and pull the paddle, where as your right, with a MT you bounce the gas as to not go into the red during the shift.

 

in full auto, its liek butter. the delay you feel is infact the DBW. im coming from a nDBW car so it took a little time for me to get use to. in full manual, it shifts instantly in my car. again, im coming from a car that did granny shifts, and thats with a chip to make it shift "faster". it almost feels as tho its sequential (not that ive driven it but from what ive read and seen). its miles away from my Audi tiptronic with a chip, tho ill take a nDBW car over a DBW, atleast till i get use to it.

 

I'd at least like a way to go from DS into full manual mode w/o having to ushift/downshift.

 

I only use the manual shift mode when I am doing 'spirited' driving. I dont feel any delay, I think it shifts just as quickly as I could in a 6MT. I think you guys are making a valid point about it feeling like a lag b/c your not rolling off the throttle and back on as the next gear engages, giving you that lunge feeling. It shifts quickly and smoothly. The car is much much more agressive when in manual shift mode. I have no issues with it whatsoever. I have heard some suggest that they think the paddle shifters shift quicker, but I only drove the sport model on a test drive, so not enough to compare....

 

Thanks for the responses, going to test drive one very soon!

-Paul

 

While I don't have mine yet, I can tell you from the multiple test drives I had, I could not notice any lag in shifting. On the sport model in particular, using the paddle shifters, the shifting was fast, accurate, and decisive. I was very impressed with it.

 

Me too! In my VW Touareg, as soon as you changed to DS, it displayed the 'S' and the gear it was in - made it much easier to figure out where you were starting from going into manual mode.

Anyway, no problem with lag time on shifts here - there may be a perceptual lag when shifting a manual in part because you're doing a whole lot of other stuff (clutch, gas, etc) rather than just waiting for the car to shift.

 

The 5AT in the sport sedan is setup for performance. Takes you right up to redline in every shift when pushed. Rev matches on downshifts is very accurate and smooth. This allows for smooth shift transitions and saves abuse on the tranny and driveline.
Shifting is quick for the most part. This depends on the drivers mode. When you drive it easy.. it shifts real smooth and buttery as you would expect a buick to do. When you drive it fast and ease up the upshifts can become out of sync and not very smooth.. So it's the transitions that are not perfect.
Manual shifting works great and really gives you manual like control over the engine. Paddles have a great feel to them, its just not an add-on gimmick.
The tranny also feels stout.. seems like it built to take the power with ease.. its not being overworked or stressed.
I always have driven a stick.. but this car seemed to be a better match for the automatic.. at least it works out that way for me.

 

Also on a non DBW system, the ECM used to pull timing between shifts to ease up on the torque between shifts.
Now they can control the throttle and do all kinds of things to get the shifts the way they want.
These are the good ole days of hotrods!