A&Q about 350Z
Q:
I personally think that getting an auto on a sports car is one of the seven deadly sins.
But if you HAVE to have the simplicity of the automatic, newer cars like the 350z come equipped with the "tip-tronic" (I think that's the name) auto transmission. The way it works is you flip the gear shifter into a notch to the left (or it might be the right) side of "D" and you can then push back or forth on the shifter itself to tell the car whether you want to upshift or downshift.
It's like choosing your gear but not really doing the shifting using the clutch and traditional stick. Push up on it, it shifts into a higher gear. Push down, and it downshifts.
Nothing too terribly impressive, but a nice little perk if you're going 75 in overdrive and you want to quickly downshift in order to pass a big truck.
Go for the manual though! It's like dancing with the car.
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guns and guitars, bikinis and fast cars - slide behind the wheel and GO!!
A:
Thastankanator, you are a wealth of information! Thank you! I had not really considered the auto transmission
but was curious about what that feature was all about. I am sure you have mentioned it in many other posts but what are the particulars on your Z, and color? I really appreciate the feedback you have given to my questions in this forum.
A:
For 15 years I've driven manual and loved it, but when my left knee went south I had to get an automatic. I love to shift, so I always drive my Z in "manual mode". It's not quite as good as driving a manual transmission but it's not a bad compromise. Shifting up is not to much different except that you can't skip gears. Downshifting has about a one second delay. When I want to downshift coming out of a corner, I have to anticipate and downshift a second early. This takes some getting used to. The only situation I can think of where the automatic is better is in stop and go traffic. My knee hurts just thinking about it.
If I could have gotten the manual transmission I would have. Hope this helps you.
Zanioed 05 Redline Enthusiast Coupe AT
A:
Yeah, I think Unique Name has it pegged. I test drove a auto just to see. You have to bip the thottle and plan ahead for the downshift.
At the track, I see the factory auto doing 14.2-3. The factory manual does 13.8 easily and after it is broken in right around 13.5 in the 1/4. HOWEVER, the auto is more consistant. If you are bracket racing that is what you want to win.
I am glad I bought the manual. ;)
"Racing is life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting"
Quote - Steve McQueen
'04 350Z Silverstone 6spd
Previous owner of 240, 280, and 300 Z's
A:
mecinoid wrote:
"At the track, I see the factory auto doing 14.2-3. The factory manual does 13.8 easily and after it is broken in right around 13.5 in the 1/4."
Thats funny, where I come from it's just the other way around. My 5AT runs high 13's all day long. Don't get me wrong. I like and respect the manual trannys. All my Z's except this one have been manuals. I just beg to differ @ the above statement ;0)
A:
I would also beg to differ, quite frankly ive never seen any stock Z's ripping off 13.5's. The auto and manual are within a few tenths depending on the quality of the driver.
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03 CS Touring
VIN #189