AT vs MT confusion

[5thZ]

I’m way past if the 6MT can handle the power. It’s the way it puts the torque / power down that’s just wrong.

Re-read my post, I’ve tried to spell it out. It’s ZERO to do with Rev match or the mode you’re in. I hardly mention that at all. I drive the 2010 370Z Nismo almost exclusively with Rev match off - and it only kicks in on downshift anyway. So how does that affect shifts1-2 or 3-4 ?!? It doesn’t.

My main points were how badly it shifts compared to other MTs … read or search the threads here on complaints about shifts from current Z Performance MT owners. It wouldn’t let me format links, but here’s one:
https://www.nissanzclub.com/forum/threads/anyone-had-any-issues-with-shifting-6mt.2849/

I can’t understand why Nissan is still selling a trans that was in every 370Z for 15+ years and just doing a CSC delete. Except for cost effectiveness, it doesn’t make sense to me. If you like it, that’s fine. I think they’re shite.

My question to you: Why should I have to mod the Clutch / Trans / Pedal / Fluids on a brand new Transmission in my Z to get it to work as it should? I don’t need that headache and ‘trial-and-error’. Nissan should have done their homework instead of slapping in a 6sp they used for 15+ years !

Go to a VW dealership and drive a 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI 380 S (it has a VW 6sp MT) and it’s like apples and oranges. Butter, on a cheaper car. But even VW said it’s the ‘last MT’ for that model, moving to a 7sp DSG dual-clutch AT from now on.

I’ve driven almost exclusively MT sportscars all my life going back to the 70’s - 240Z / 280Z / 300ZX … I owned a Golf GTI in the 80s which was lovely… only my wife’s BMW and my new Nismo Z are AT and that’s fine by me.

Edit: Added link to Z 6mt owner complaints re: shifting.

Okay, you mentioned rev match once and synchro another time and when I glanced through it thought you were talking about synchro rev.

In all honesty, after reviewing your post more carefully, it still seems like there are no actual mechanical problems with the MT that prevent it from being reliable or holding increased power (going back to OP's main point - about the "MT can't handle the power the AT Nismo can".

It seems like most of your concerns are about how the user experience is and what you feel it should be instead, and not "the MT isn't reliable", "the MT can't handle power", "The MT CSC fails just like the 350 and 370z", etc.

To each their own. I personally got a MT because I got an AT on a 370z for track use. Because I didn't want to do a CSC delete or external swap. Come to find out, the AT in the 350z and 370z couldn't hold too much torque and they overheat and go into limp mode, requiring cooling that the MT doesn't need.

I went with a MT bc Nissan's 350z and 370z and G series AT's sucked. To be fair, I completely forgot about the Q series and their AT's.

The new AT's hold a lot of power. Absolutely. But to OP's main point about the measly, what, 50hp and torque the Nismo Z makes MANDATING only an AT is silly.

I like my name says, I've had 5 Z's and 1 G. I'm completely fine with the MT feeling the way it does.

 

[Meg_Z]

Just like in my last post I would like to understand what these "Many issues with the Nissan Z 6MT's" are.

If you could specify and quantify that reasoning it would help the community. I am not aware of any actual issues with the 6MT in the Nissan Z.

I own a 23 Performance Z w/6 speed and also don’t know what’s crap about it? I always hated when folks throw around vague criticisms of something. Like some here have already asked what is exactly bad or crap about it shift notchiness or heavy clutch take up or feel?

Of course to each their own we all have different opinions. Lastly I have driven numerous manual transmission vehicles European, Asian, and American and they all had a different feel. Some better or worse in certain aspects. Overall I think I have a good understanding of them and what’s good or bad, but once again my opinion is subjective just like everyone else’s!

 

[mikecarpage]

I own a 2024 Performance with a Manual - can any other M/T owner speak on a powertrain vibration felt through the shifter at above 4k RPMs? (the shift knob vibrates in place. the car doesn't vibrate, just the shift knob)

I've driven a fair amount of manual transmission vehicles and I can't say I remember any pulsating/vibrating at or near the limits as much as this. My e39 540i is stout/smooth all through the rev range. I can't say I recall if this has always been the case or if it's just come on recently. After experiencing this, I began to question this transmission? Time will tell?

Is it normal for these cars? Can anything be done to mitigate (better fluid, different clutch, bushings, etc.)

 

[5thZ]

I own a 2024 Performance with a Manual - can any other M/T owner speak on a powertrain vibration felt through the shifter at above 4k RPMs? (the shift knob vibrates in place. the car doesn't vibrate, just the shift knob)

I've driven a fair amount of manual transmission vehicles and I can't say I remember any pulsating/vibrating at or near the limits as much as this. My e39 540i is stout/smooth all through the rev range. I can't say I recall if this has always been the case or if it's just come on recently. After experiencing this, I began to question this transmission? Time will tell?

Is it normal for these cars? Can anything be done to mitigate (better fluid, different clutch, bushings, etc.)

More NVH, more RACECAR!! haha, sorry, had to. No I'm not aware of that or any fix. If you call Z1 or CZP on a good day they'll steer you in the right direction. Don't recall that on my other Z's or this new Z, but the new one has less than 300 miles still and still in break in period. Sorry I can't help!

 

[MattJ2020]

What if, the manufacturer who put the car together, is really you know… telling the truth that, the Manual gearbox isn’t well suited with the Nismo specs?

 

[5thZ]

What if, the manufacturer who put the car together, is really you know… telling the truth that, the Manual gearbox isn’t well suited with the Nismo specs?

What if, they had a reason to sell the Nismo only with an AT (poor sale numbers, AT shifts faster, so it'll have a faster marketable 0-60) so they make up a make believe story that it's so much superior that only the AT can handle the additional measly 20HP and 34ft lbs of torque? (Point OP asked about)

Take a look through history guys, the MT has consistently been the ONLY way to get the power 700HP and 600TQ PLUS) reliably on the platform up until the new Q-series AT and all of a sudden some of y'all are not remembering or weren't around the platform long enough to realize that manual was the way to go for much higher power builds than the 420hp/384 tq Nismo. Guys were ripping out Q transmissions and modifying bell housings but still the ATs weren't great for high power. Then you had CJ Motorsports do a BMW AT swap. Specialty Z has it in their car too and it's up on YouTube. None of that stuff was necessary on the MT when pushing *significantly* higher power than the Nismo Z

Saying the Nismo needs the AT bc only the AT can handle that power reliably is silly and embarrassing

 

[ZillaZ]

My take (not that it matters) is that since it is known that an auto perf would best a manual Nismo and most video's comparing cars would absolutely trash the Nismo for this. You can avoid all that by just not making one. I very much dislike how much influence um, "influencers" have.

It is the same in the tech, movie, TV, video game... etc world. You see companies do things that people who reach a ton of people and review your product will like instead of what the common person will like.

It's not the entire problem but it's part of it. You see video's of the Z vs a Supra, Mustang, Camaro... etc. and even Nismo's vs Performance. These channels with thousands of followers are in fact influenced by what these people say. And if a manual Nismo is beat by an auto performance that can hurt your reputation.

People who understand or would want a manual Nismo are a lot less common than the people who will see those video's then just trash the company / car in the video they are watching. The world today doesn't think for themselves as much as they used to.

I could be wrong but no doubt the marketing and word of mouth that you don't need a Nismo to have the fastest Z off the lot would make people cringe. You spend a lot more money for an "inferior" model of that car. Doesn't matter if it only matters on a track. The optics are not good.


All that said, they no doubt would sell some if they made them. But how many people would see a video where a Z that costs $10k more is out-performed by that lower-end model and think "I'll pass on the Z"?

Who knows.

 

[FSUZ33]

I don’t think it had anything to do with handling power. The power bump was minor. Minor enough that it barely, if at all, makes up for the added weight.

One angle could be that there is quite the premium between the Perf and NISMO. There are knick-knacks here and there (red buttons, graphics on the cluster, 13 square inches of alcantara on the steering wheel). and more substantial upgrades that start making a difference, like brakes, suspension, Recaros, bodywork, and as @5thZ calls it, a “measly” power upgrade (maybe I should have put that in the knick-knack category).

Nissan really focused on the “beefed up” AT as a selling point. If they did offer the MT in the NISMO it wouldn’t have some of those bells and whistles Nissan was raving about (faster shifts, multiple modes/profiles, whatever…).

Yes, many people would still pay the premium for an MT NISMO, but many MT-only enthusiasts would not, b cause they prefer to save thousands buying the Perf, and spend half of that savings on upgrades that they choose, not Nissan.

I’m not trying to rate/debate MT vs Perf AT vs NISMO AT. As I’ve said in this thread, no MT NISMO was a mistake and a missed opportunity in my book. I really think they felt the MT would undermine what they chose as one of their main selling points for the NISMO, the “beefed up NISMO tuned“ -insert more marketing babble here- automatic transmission.

 

[mikecarpage]

Here's something to think about. Manual Z owners can buy NISMO Cold Air Intakes & NISMO Exhausts, from Nissan, for HP gains and still drive their car just fine.

Also, I'll wait for the day when a NISMO owner (or influencer) swaps an OEM 6 speed manual transmission and related components into a NISMO and drives it - proving Nissan that 20 horsepower isn't too much for the transmission

 

[alienpoker]

It feels Nissan, hard to explain, but their MT in all models are always like this. They are hard to shift smooth. I see where you’re coming from. The turbos do not help in this case as going through 2-3k rpm the turbos pull you and when you push in the clutch there is a lot of lurch, followed by a notch shift into 2nd is, I agree with you, not pleasing. I think it may have to do with their clutch/flywheel designs. I’m not sure. Either way I love the stick shift, and am just happy with it being a car I can have.

Agree.
The things that helped me solve the issue:
Don’t try and lift off the gas so much when shifting, like you normally would. It’s counter-intuitive to the way you usually drive a manual. You select ‘sport mode’ and then it likes the gas pedal held almost steady while you engage the clutch. Try it- ‘no lift shifts’ help control the lurch you mentioned.
Change the Clutch return spring to a different spring rate. I think I bought a lighter one for $25, which took a couple of mins to swap. Some people change the whole pedal mechanism or remove that spring entirely!
I’ve never tried changing the flywheel, as I’ve heard a lighter flywheel just makes it more noisy and I think the drivetrain is already too whiney/noisy.
About every 60K mi, sooner if you track the car, swap the trans fluid. There are recommendations for better choices than OEM viscosity. Even if you just drain & refill with OEM, it still helps. Probably look at replacing some synchros at that point if it’s getting really notchy.

I predict 2025/26 to be the last of the manual Zs - if not the last ever Nissan we sensibly can call a Z. Almost made it to 60yrs since ‘69. After this model year, it will be some hybrid or EV, if Nissan even continue to make a sportscar. Think Ford and the ‘Mustang’ EV.