Current thoughts on MT vs AT

[Mr. Mac]

Been a manual guy all my life, but holy smokes, after nearly two months now driving the Z NISMO my apprehension about it being auto is practically gone. It's amazing how responsive and lightning fast the NISMO's AT shifting is (especially in Sport+ Mode), and since I've finally gotten pretty much settled into driving it in manual mode as well with muscle/sound/RPM memory exclusively using the paddle shifters like I would with a stick on spirited drives, I gotta admit that the fun factor is definitely there. Oh, and the bonus I've learned with this is both hands stay firmly planted on the wheel driving through the twisties. Now I wouldn't go so far as to say it's any funner than a stick, but certain AS fun, just a different kind of fun is all. In fact, when I bought the NISMO, my plan at the time was to just enjoy it until if/when a MT version is introduced, and then trade for it, but now that I'm understanding how to work the transmission in both auto and manual modes it's like having my cake and eating it too for different conditions and moods... to the point I'm seriously questioning whether I'd actually do that trade if the possibility ever happens to present itself. Anyway, just wanted to share this experience and feedback if anyone else is as apprehensive as I was and on the fence about the NISMO being available only as an AT. Cheers!

 

[MCN1SMO]

Good write up. Ive been a auto true believer since day 1. I owned two manual 350z and loved them but then moved to a GTR and while a DCT is a bit different it was the paddle shift method itself that sold me to where I had no need to go back to manual. Bought my 2023 Z in auto and thought it was good but it great. For daily driving it was totally fine besides a few quirks and occasional sluggish 1-2 shifts but again overall fine. The 2024 NISMO solved and short comings my 2023 had. It's much more responsive to where I just have no interest in a manual Z. Keeping both hands on the wheel and just grabbing the paddle for a quick upshift just makes sense to me

 

[Mugzilla]

I'm a MT guy. I've owned 13 cars. 11 have been stick. (One of the ATs I bought and sold as a flip. The other was a 100k mile car....)

Yes, the paddled ATs will shift faster than I can. They will rev match. They will go 0-60 faster than my MT.

But after having my mere Sport MT for a week, and putting a whole 240 miles on it, I love the feel and control of the MT.

 

[bpeckham]

I love the MT Z. I have to confess that I can't compare it to an auto Z as I've never driven one, but most other autos feel like they're fighting me. Is the auto Z that way?

 

[MacCool]

My current 2024 AT Performance is the 9th Z car that I've owned since my original 240Z that I bought in 1970. All of those previous Z's were manual transmissions, with the single exception of my 280ZX Turbo, which model only came with a Borg Warner automatic because Nissan decided that their manual transmission/clutch wouldn't stand up to the torque of that first turbo-Z.

(that was a fun car....at that time is was billed as the fastest stock production turbo car in the US. For reference...zero to 60 was 7.4 seconds/16.6 quarter mile...7 lbs of boost. It was a fast car and rivaled the acceleration of my '69 Roadrunner with 3-2bbl, but a lot more fun to drive. And [email protected] seconds is what my wife's Murano does).

So...I was always a die-hard MT guy..I don't think I ever owned an automatic (other than that S130) until I bought my first GMC truck for hauling my wife's horse trailer.

All that said...I was faced with a dilemma when I noted that the only RZ34 that my dealer was going to have was an automatic. I didn't even hesitate a moment, went for the AT, and I'm very glad that I did. I was afraid that my testicles would shrink.....but they didn't. I couldn't be happier with this automatic transmission Z...it is the most fun Z car I've ever owned.

 

[Jah_Happy]

I like both honestly. If I lived in the city and had to commute through traffic, I would definitely be eyeing the auto. Fortunately I drive my Z mostly through country roads and the manual is an absolute blast. I'll continue to enjoy it until there's no more out there.

 

[TheRoyalStig]

I can appreciate both. I had a 2018 GT-R and loved the DCT. Just having full control of my gears is enough to make me happy. I don't want full auto though, doesn't matter how fast it goes it takes away too much interaction.

However one of the big reasons I bought the Z was as a last hurrah on a manual vehicle. I know with how few manuals are getting released there's a good chance there's never a new manual car that I'm actually interested in again. So i wanted to make sure I had one last go at it on a brand new car that I was actually excited for.

 

[trackratZ]

Posts so far have lots of personal histories and preferences, that's cool. But....what about reliability so far between the two trannies and clutch/torque converter, since we have couple years of ownerships already?

 

[Hubert]

If a manual Z-NISMO was available, I believe I would trade-in mine. If it never happens, then I'll be happy with my manual Z33.

 

[Fanatic]

It's more exciting to drive my auto transmission '24 Z Nismo compared to my '23 Z Performance 6MT.

 

[Mr. Mac]

Posts so far have lots of personal histories and preferences, that's cool. But....what about reliability so far between the two trannies and clutch/torque converter, since we have couple years of ownerships already?

That's a great question. No idea myself, but perhaps someone here with more experience on this can chime in.

 

[MacCool]

Posts so far have lots of personal histories and preferences, that's cool. But....what about reliability so far between the two trannies and clutch/torque converter, since we have couple years of ownerships already?

I dunno, probably too early to judge reliability of these two transmissions in the current Z platform, but the auto, "9-speed Mercedes-Benz 9G-Tronic automatic transmission with launch control, manufactured under license of Jatco and re-branded as "JR913E", is used in a variety of other cars and truck including the Nissan Frontier with reportedly good reliability. I don't know about the manual, but the 6-speed in my 2014 370Z was just fine. In the Z34, the manual clutch was notorious for cylinder failure although I never had an issue over 60,000 miles.

 

[zpro_fast]

In my experience, auto really shines in more powerful sports cars. Where you don’t need the manual to create or hold more power by dropping clutches or holding gears. I think the auto in the standard z is too slow and old. I haven’t driven a Nismo, but have heard great things

I personally love MT. I know it’s slower, and that part sucks. I just love being able to ‘play’ with the car more.

Except in traffic.

my issue with the nismo is not just the auto, it’s the price/weight/power.

it’s not enough to justify over the standard z.

I had a nismo on order. When the auto was announced I was still in. Track weapon I thought. All hyper cars are autos.

but the weight price and power was a let down.

the style and handling improvements were awesome, but I can do that to my standard z.

from a reliability point of view. Both have already had issues. I would imagine the manual will be more problematic even though I own one. Clutches and synchros seem to have issues over time. Albeit minor that can be fixed.

buy what you love I guess.

I heard the Z is here to stay with a new model planned from Nissan. Will be interesting

 

[zRedBaron]

That's a great question. No idea myself, but perhaps someone here with more experience on this can chime in.

If its anything like the Z34s 7AT in terms of reliability, track rats and canyon carvers are going to be in for a rude awakening.

I owned a 2012 7AT 370Z, torque converter seized after a year and a half of street driving and canyon runs. Whole transmission was replaced under warranty.

Replaced trans, did 1.5 track days and the torque converter and flex plate died a viking death at Auto Club Speedway, Fontana.

Replaced trans again, mounted transmission cooler and ran between 7 and 10 track events with Nissan Challenge and then I started getting misfires at Fontana again. Flex plate was the first thing to go this time.

Entire trans was replaced yet again, ran one more track event with it. Searched for a 6 speed MT in red, bought it, swapped all my parts over, sold the 7AT and never looked back.

The 7AT is meant to feel fun, fast and crisp in the most ideal conditions and for the typical driver on the street it holds up fine. I expect this will be true for the 9AT in the RZ34 as well, but my hopes aren't very high for anyone who is ballsy enough to track it on a road course regularly and in warm conditions.

I enjoyed the 7AT when it worked but when it didn't it was catastrophic, costly and absolutely heart breaking when you're making payments on a car that spends several months at a dealer for repairs for the same thing every 1.5 years or so.

 

[MacCool]

If its anything like the Z34s 7AT in terms of reliability, track rats and canyon carvers are going to be in for a rude awakening.

I owned a 2012 7AT 370Z, torque converter seized after a year and a half of street driving and canyon runs. Whole transmission was replaced under warranty.

Replaced trans, did 1.5 track days and the torque converter and flex plate died a viking death at Auto Club Speedway, Fontana.

Replaced trans again, mounted transmission cooler and ran between 7 and 10 track events with Nissan Challenge and then I started getting misfires at Fontana again. Flex plate was the first thing to go this time.

Entire trans was replaced yet again, ran one more track event with it. Searched for a 6 speed MT in red, bought it, swapped all my parts over, sold the 7AT and never looked back.

The 7AT is meant to feel fun, fast and crisp in the most ideal conditions and for the typical driver on the street it holds up fine. I expect this will be true for the 9AT in the RZ34 as well, but my hopes aren't very high for anyone who is ballsy enough to track it on a road course regularly and in warm conditions.

I enjoyed the 7AT when it worked but when it didn't it was catastrophic, costly and absolutely heart breaking when you're making payments on a car that spends several months at a dealer for repairs for the same thing every 1.5 years or so.

The 7-speed used in the Z34 was also a Jatco transmission licensed from Mercedes. Like the 9-speed, it's reputed to have good reliability in consumer use. The track is a different environment.

Brainerd International Raceway is a few miles from here. Back in the day, I'd go there to watch Paul Newman and Tom Cruise race Z cars. Tom Cruise even owned a home close by. Fun to watch, but I've never driven that track. When I was a kid, I used to race my Austin-Healy bug-eyed Sprite in a regional auto cross league but when it came to grown-up cars, my insurance agent said "no way", and I've never been intrigued enough to put my summer daily driver at risk in that grueling environment. I don't mean to put down track enthusiasts...everybody needs a hobby...it just requires a financial commitment that never provided enough potential reward for me.