A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Is there any major difference in the acceleration between the maunual and auto 350z? Im sure the manual will have a better take off from stand still but once rolling (10mph an on) can an auto keep up with a manual? Stock vs. stock please.
2004 Pike Peak Touring AT
A:
Depends on the drivers. Difference is too close to call.
Manual has maybe 15 HP more to the wheels, but torque is what decides the outcome of a drag. Auto is a heavier car, etc.
A:
Don't underestimate the automatic's ability off the line. The great low end torque and low gear ratio make the auto Z pounce off the line. Very few drivers get practiced enough to raise the engine to the perfect rpm and pop the clutch at the exact right time. (You can't surprise anyone when you're raising your revs at the light either) And these independant suspension systems just don't lend themselves to great drag racing, like the old rear wheel drives did. The history of sticks being faster dates way back to the muscle car days when we'd put heavier flywheels behind hi-revving Chevy engines, pop the clutch at about 4000rpm and storm off the line. Auto's didn't stand a chance then. But today's stick vs auto matches are so close that it's hardly worth letting that affect your decision. On a brisk morning when I stop at the red light leading into my Hidden Valley (CA) run, and spank 'Z' throttle it seems like that automatic pops off the line so perfectly that it would take quite a seasoned racer to do any better in a stick. And BTW, it also takes some seasoned shifting to outshift the auto. The last time I beat a Mustang GT, he was surprised at the pop start, and I could see his front fender drop back a little bit every time he shifted. Sticks offer more 'connectedness' to the car, while the autos are quick and easy - I call it 'stomp and steer'.
The race will be a close one, but either way, these cars ROCK!
A:
LOL!!! I like how you put it Jerry. "Stomp and steer!" Though you gotta remember to turn your TCS off!!!! Telling from personal experience!
Le Mans Sunset '03 Nav, Burnt Orange interior, Auto
A:
Well that's refreshing. More than 6 hours into the thread and no, "What's with that auto thing?" comments. Ha!
I like my auto because I can get into it, crank Sirius radio up loud, and leave others in my rear view mirror without pondering anything except what music would have sounded like today had not Lennon and Ronnie Van Zant died. But that's just me.
2004 Enthusiast LS 5A
A:
I was at infinion raceway in California. There were two manual 350's and one auto 350. the manual 350's had no mods and the auto had a Jim Wolf intake. the auto 350 smoked both the manual 350's, but still. come on, a sports car with an auto tranny.... lame.
A:
the automatic 350Z never makes u shift in manual mode. The only thing it does it automatically DOWNshift when its to a really low RPM.
acceleration wise it does depend on the driver. If your really good at driving a manual (like a PRO) the manual should be slightly faster. But at my local track the manuals and autos run the same speed.
Thats the 1/4 tho. at speeds of 100MPH + the manual should have a advantage. 15WHP more helps :)
A:
Thanks for the encouragement, I still love my auto.
2004 Pike Peak Touring AT
A:
This is a post from another forum i found it should help answer your questions
"A manual will be better on the street because you can always choose what gear that you want to be in, letting the top end power more useful, however, they cant handle a lot of power and tend to break down faster. they also will not be good if you bracket race, as your times will not be consistent.
An automatic is better for track use, as you will get consitent times each run, great when racing in bracket. they also can acheive insanely fast launches. they can also handle a whole hell of alot more power running and torque through because they are fluid driven. Plus everyday cruising is just easier. Although street racing is harder, since you cant really downshift to get going faster, like in a manual.
automatics can get better launches because they are always in gear, whereas a manual, you need to first shift, before you start moving. there are many products on the market that allow automatics all the fun of driving a stick. www.levelten.com offers many of them. torque convertors can only affect an engine which cant support them, it wont damage anything though."
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Road & Track Executive Editor, Richard Homan 1994
"Give me a 300ZX Twin Turbo and a three-day
weekend in the Sierra Nevadas, and i'll come back
with the meaning of life."
A:
all you guys with autos, when you guys stomp on it on dry pavement do you burnout at all or just take off. im not talking any power braking or anything. just good dry pavement with good tires.
04 roadster silver
A:
You stick guys need to get educated on "triptronic" tansmissions. I can upshift and downshift at will. Triptronic is insanely fun! As far as burnouts go, I'm happy to say that as I've matured, I would rather not burnout, I would rather just GO! NOW! The auto does just that, NOW. (I can power-brake it and smoke the hell out of the tires though). Also, the more I use the triptronic, I've been able to "train" the tranny. I actually got a squak from the tires "tripping" to second gear at 5K RPMs. I can also get the car to "bite and squate" slightly when forward tripping the gears at around 4.5K RPMs. In heavy traffic I just slip it back into auto. When I get a chance to accelerate out of heavy traffic, I just go back into triptronic and haul ass around a corner and I am gone! I actuall test drove both the manual and the auto. I drove the stick first. I'm thinking "Yup, nice strong pull with the usual high RPM shifts. Nice, but not zippy." Then I drove the auto, I thought "Holy crap! Now this is zippy!" I immediately bought the auto and have never regretted it!
Post Edited (Aug 8, 7:59pm)
A:
AUTO BABY!!! PICK AUTO!!! i love it, and im so glad i didnt buy the stick. holding my gf's hand or turning the radio up and drinkin some soda...thats the way to go. Especially in busy cities. Even if it isnt busy, so much more easier, and pleasant. The difference (which ive tested) is close to nothing, automatic in fact does pop off the line QUICKER than the stick, but it does depend on ur driving. DOnt get me wrong, the only way ud REALLY keep up with the auto if u were to drive a stick, is Mario Andretti style.. and i say good luck to that, Have Fun!
2004 SuperBlack Touring AT
A:
Now that i think about it, Auto Z32 TTs had 20 less HP and were slower?
And when magazines do road test on cars they never use an automatic when testing 0-60 and 1/4 mile times? automatics may have good general launches but in the hands of a good driver I think manuals are the best.
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Road & Track Executive Editor, Richard Homan 1994
"Give me a 300ZX Twin Turbo and a three-day
weekend in the Sierra Nevadas, and i'll come back
with the meaning of life."