Looking for Feedback on the AT in the New Z

[Lvckv99]

A 6M tuned Z with an aftermarket exhaust sounds 100 times better than AT. Always has been.

AT is fast, but horsepower is what counts regardless of the transmission.

 

[BigBlue]

Personally if it were me I'd get a six speed, but I'm of the mindset that if I can drive a car its going to be a manual trans and I've done so when on crutches, etc. Most people wouldn't put themselves through that.

People don't seem to mind the 9AT that own one, but I'm also very biased in that my logic is I'd never pay 50,000+ for a car I can't change my own gears in.

That aside, its a typical slushbox auto. Sure, it's not the trash you'd find in a 70's GM slushbox but I wouldn't expect PDK or DSG levels of precision either. For me the frequent shifting would be a detractor, it ruins the engine note. But again, I'm biased.

The Auto is faster with better fuel economy. When in sport manual mode it provides the same engine braking as the stick car and you don't have the money shift problem. No bias just fact.

 

[Punch]

I finally got an auto, Im very pleased with it. I love how it downshifts automatically, something I dont like doing at all without a clutch, however if the computer is doing it without any risk of damage? I couldn't ask for much more.

 

[NocturnalEmber]

The Auto is faster with better fuel economy. When in sport manual mode it provides the same engine braking as the stick car and you don't have the money shift problem. No bias just fact.

Personally I rev match; engine braking I typically reserve only for going down mountain roads. Money shifting I'd say is a skill issue or a very infrequent mistake. Generally there's plenty of feedback before you let the clutch out if you're going into a vastly inappropriate gear.

Fast wise I won't argue that a good dual clutch or PDK shifts faster than a manual trans, and the 9AT might be faster in a straight line. People that buy the manual buy it because of the driver engagement. The .2 seconds of an edge the 9AT has in straight line acceleration isn't really a selling point for most people looking for the manual trans. There isn't enough of a disparity in straight line times that would make me ever consider getting a 9AT car, the driver engagement is just not there by design.

Plenty of people can justify getting a car with two pedals, but for me that's a hard no because of what the selling points are on a manual trans that the auto inherently doesn't have. I think people are insane for buying a performance car they can't shift gears in, and those people that buy the 9AT probably think I'm insane for thinking a 6MT is superior even in stop and go traffic. Different strokes and all that.

 

[RobotAZ]

I get over 30mpg on roadtrips with my 9-speed. Sport mode makes shifts harsher but otherwise seems like it does nothing. Manual mode is a must for keeping the revs up during spirited driving.

Just got my first fluid change at 25k. I could be halucinating, but it feels like it pulls better and shifts a bit smoother.

Wish the paddles were on the steering column instead of the wheel.

Sport Mode definitely does something without paddles. If you start driving aggressively it is very good at holding revs and downshifting. There’s very little I would change about this tranny. If I could sit down with a great programmer, sure, but I’m fine with what it is. It’s a very good transmission.

One of the most important things to know about the 9AT is that if you grab a paddle and start shifting without pulling the shifter back to put it in Manual Mode, it will go back quickly to automatic shifting. If you pull the shifter into Manual first and start using the paddles, it stays in that gear even being an idiot in 1st leaving a stoplight with the music too loud to hear the car (ask how I know).

 

[Punch]

Yes it will go back if you don't continue shifting the paddle in Auto, its seems like a show off for a few moments mode.. Another thing I noticed was when I was at a light( in paddle shift mode), and I did not shift to 2nd in time, instead of the engine passing the red line , the transmission shifted into 2nd gear before I could do it myself. I'll take that feature!! I cant tell you how many times this has happened to me in other vehicles, I hate it, and there is no one to blame but myself.
Id also lay off the downshifting, its amazing that it does it for you in manual! I would advise Z Auto drivers to just let it do its thing on the way down.

 

[ShearMe]

I was at a light( in paddle shift mode), and I did not shift to 2nd in time, instead of the engine passing the red line , the transmission shifted into 2nd gear before I could do it myself.

My car in manual mode does not do this. As RobotAZ mentioned, if you merely press a paddle for temporary manual shifting the car will go back into Auto mode quickly.

There does seem to be a little bit of intelligence to the transition. I have noticed that if I downshift with paddles (temporary manual) while going down a hill, the car will hold itself in that mode/gear.

 

[FSUZ33]

...if I downshift with paddles (temporary manual) while going down a hill, the car will hold itself in that mode/gear.

I 2nd this motion!
Sometimes following cars that are gradually slowing I downshift rather than tapping the brakes just because I can. For the Die-Hards - Yes, it's still an AT, but that little bit is all I have left to remind me of my 6MT days. That, and a NISMO Ti shift knob. Maybe I should superglue it to the top of the AT yoke. Bet no one's done that yet

 

[ZillaZ]

I finally got an auto, Im very pleased with it. I love how it downshifts automatically, something I dont like doing at all without a clutch, however if the computer is doing it without any risk of damage? I couldn't ask for much more.

Yeah I have learned to let the car downshift by itself. When I am in M and try to do it myself I always end up downshifting when the car goes from 4 to 3 and I throw it into 2 thinking I am going to 3 and RPM's get angry at me.

It's a skill issue I know

 

[bpeckham]

I 2nd this motion!
Sometimes following cars that are gradually slowing I downshift rather than tapping the brakes just because I can. For the Die-Hards - Yes, it's still an AT, but that little bit is all I have left to remind me of my 6MT days. That, and a NISMO Ti shift knob. Maybe I should superglue it to the top of the AT yoke. Bet no one's done that yet

Yeah! Why isn't there a cool aftermarket shifter lever-slider-button thingy for the 9AT? The aftermarket is failing here!