A&Q about 350Z
Q:
So when looking at the results for the 0 to 60, most sites say between 5.5 and 5.7 seconds. I know this is for a manual transmission.
What do you think the 0 to 60 time would be for an automatic?
A:
depends how fast you can push on the gas pedal. :o
A:
Everything in this post is considering a 287 hp 350Z with a manual vs. auto tranny and not considering the differences the 300 hp but less torqy 350Zs make to the discussion.
0 t 60 is about the same. 0 to 60 has more to do with traction/launch technique coming off the line and how well you shift the manaul tranny of course. Stock 350Zs with manuals run 2or 3 mph faster top end in the qtr. though.
Mine is auto tranny and when my tranny was pure stock, the best I ran (and it was a warm, not hot, summer day) was one 14.1 sec. qtr. I had a 2.0 sixty ft time and that is on the stock 17" wheels and tires. Mostly in warm to hot weather my auto tranny 350Z ran 14.2s and 14.3s depending on temperature.
To directly anwswer your question, my (auto tranny) 2.0 sec. 60 ft times are about as good as I have seen on any manual tranny 350Z with stock wheels and tires. I have seen a lot of 2.2 sec. sixty ft. times for manual tranny 350Zs as a reference. So I don't see much if any difference 0 to 60. If you power shift a manual tranny you can probably beat the auto tranny to 60 if you have real good launch as well, but I do not recommend power shifting. That is hard on the manual tranny and if you miss a gear doing that...bye bye tranny.
On dynos, 350Zs vary depending on a lot of factors (temp. humidity, type and make of dyno, etc.), but it seems in general a stock 350Z is putting down about 8 to 10 more hp to the wheels with a manual tranny than an auto tranny. With slightly more power to the wheels, the manual tranny should catch and pass the stock auto tranny, but that would probably be AFTER 0 to 60, IMO. (The auto tranny has a torque multiplication effect coming off the line if you powerbrake correctly that offsets the manual tranny's slightly more power to the wheels. After 0 to 60 the manual tranny's slightly better power to the wheels would be an advantage from then on.)
Problem is the engine power varies from one 350Z engine to another and sometimes by 10 hp to the wheels. So that makes this discussion even more splitting hairs complicated and a drivers race (0 to 60 that is). i.e. an auto tranny 350Z that just has a little stronger engine will then put down about the same power to the wheels as a manual tranny 350Z whose engine is slightly weaker.
I like a manual tranny much better, but not because of 0 to 60. Rather I like the manual tranny better because it is more fun to me in curves because it allows me to more precisely apply the power at the apex and coming out of cruves. The autotranny is a little slow also downshifting in general. I have an auto tranny now because of an injury to my left ankle.
I now have my auto tranny modified to a racing auto tranny and that gets back most of the small loss in the qtr. mile vs. the best times I've seen for a manual tranny 350Z. I was able to go to the drag strip one time after my tranny upgrade and I was running 13.9s I think i knew how to launch it better at the end of the day and I think I might run a 13.8 if I had another crack at it. Note again that my car has the stock 17" wheels and tires. (Better tires would be an advantage off the line regardless of tranny) My modified auto tranny downs shifts faster than stock as well.
I am pure stock in power right down to the factory air filter.
Post Edited (Jan 28, 10:21pm)
A:
Having said all that, I like justinhenry's post on this better than mine, ha. Yeah, it is really how fast you can push the gas pedal down. I like that....
A:
I just read in a magazine for the 2006 model, it was 5.8 seconds. The 06' model comes standard 300hp with 18inch rims. It is 3400lbs though.