Current thoughts on MT vs AT

[zRedBaron]

Great inputs, tough days with the AT! This is the environment I will use it on, so the Manual still gives the nod. Clutches, pressure plates etc. are up to how drivers use it. Certainly a heavy duty setup including lightened flywheel probably adds to the robustness on track.

Yeah manual is the way to go for anyone who is going to be spending time on a road course, hope the Nismo owners don't overestimate its ruggedness.

 

[ZillaZ]

I can drive and like driving MT's - owned a few. However my new Z is going to be my summer / clear roads daily. I spent plenty of time in city traffic with an MT and I will not be tracking my Z. I do have the occasional fun drive on the weekends through some back-road twisties and sure, a manual can be more fun there but I wen't AT with my new Z.
I just got mine a couple days ago and drove it a lot today, spent a good amount of time using the paddles and it's super fun. AS fun as a manual? Maybe not I need more time with it but I will be happy with the AT when I start driving it to work or get caught in traffic on a road trip.

Side note this is the first time I have ever driven a car with launch control. Ran it a few times today and holy crap! This car is so fun!

 

[Vintage]

I've had alot of fun with MT's in many sports cars I've owned over the years. But the AT's have become so good, I feel they're better suited for my daily driving. As much as I enjoyed the AT in my 23 Z Performance there is a noticeable difference in my Nismo AT. The shifts are alot crisper and cleaner and having the Sport Plus mode brings the car to another fun level.

 

[MacCool]

As much as I enjoyed the AT in my 23 Z Performance there is a noticeable difference in my Nismo AT. The shifts are alot crisper and cleaner and having the Sport Plus mode brings the car to another fun level.

The Nismo uses the same 9-speed Jatco but reportedly has revised clutch packs along with different engine management software to get that faster shifting and "other enhancements".

 

[KCZ]

I've been driving MT's my whole life...learned on a neighbor's farm truck when I was in HS. and since then have owned a whole assortment of MT's, from SUVs on back roads to sports cars on the track. I know AT's are supposed to be faster, but I can't imagine a sports car without a MT and wouldn't buy one with a AT (what was Nissan thinking with the Nismo???) My 350Z, Boxster, Evora, and now Z have all had MT's. (I might feel differently if I lived with stop and go traffic on a daily basis.)

 

[SneauxMan762]

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.

Preach! ATs have a half second on all MT's as far as it goes. I got my MT because they may not have many more in the future. I have a Nova for AT metrics lol.

 

[VR30Z6spd]

MT guy always on sports cars, yes auto is faster. but the feedback and control of MT is much more fun. especially since its not a daily car

 

[MacCool]

MT guy always on sports cars, yes auto is faster. but the feedback and control of MT is much more fun. especially since its not a daily car

After many MT Z's over the years, I thought that too. Until I got older, and got my first AT Z.

edit....must correct...my 1981 280 ZX Turbo (S130), was only available with a Borg-Warner automatic transmission. I remember it as blisteringly fast with a lot of turbo lag, but reviewing the C&D article from all those years ago...they reported 0-60 in 7.1 seconds. ("The automatic transmission can accelerate from 0-60 in 7.1 seconds.")

 

[trackratZ]

I'm 'sticking' with manuals, not young anymore but gotta have the total driver involvement, any gear I want!

Sorryfor the messy garage, work in progress

 

[el mágico]

Mine is MT, but see the advantages of the AT. However it's not my daily, just a when I feel like it car. Besides, this may sound odd, but I've seen manual cars skipped over by car thieves because they could not drive them.

 

[Champ]

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

 

[SneauxMan762]

Mine is MT, but see the advantages of the AT. However it's not my daily, just a when I feel like it car. Besides, this may sound odd, but I've seen manual cars skipped over by car thieves because they could not drive them.

Lol they struggle @ my dealership to find a tech to move my car every time. Its a great anti-theft feature!

 

[METROdigital]

Has anyone coined the term "clutchless manual"? Paddle shifting is driver determined, just like our MTs. I too the finality of the Manual, which I sometime call a”Standard".

 

[Zenogias]

Has anyone coined the term "clutchless manual"? Paddle shifting is driver determined, just like our MTs. I too the finality of the Manual, which I sometime call a”Standard".

Paddle shifting is sending a message to the AT box to override what it wants to do and immediately shift up/down. You are not manipulating the gear box, you are just issuing it an order that it will do itself.

A manual transmission means you are physically changing the gears with your own power, not ordering a chip to do it for you. So no, I would say the term "clutchless manual" does not apply to an AT box no matter how good it is.

 

[Thefunk]

I hope no one is trying to drive an AT on the track without using the paddles in manual mode. In auto mode the 9AT is made for street (even then it can get a little annoying).