What tricks can a manual car do that auto can't?

[darkfact]

I really have no back-ground about manual cars. And when I ask this question... I have the 350z in my mind :)

[Paco]

Well, that party depends on what kind of automatic you have.
If you have a conventional auto then the differences are quite big. The difference becomes a bit smaller when it is a sequential/paddle-shift/DSG auto.

Basically you have more choice over the shift moments with a manual, which you'd find more useful if you are a sportive driver. You can get higher in the revs for a longer period and shifting back 2-3 gears goes quicker. If you know your way with techniques like rev-matching, heel-toe, clutch dumping, short-shifting and shift-locking, then you can get much more out of your manually operated car than any auto could ever give. Track racing and drifting are easier with a manual. If you don't look for this kind of advanced driving and you like to cruise along or have an occassional drag race, an auto could very well be your thing.

In general there are some things to bear in mind: auto's are usually a bit slower (although the difference is much smaller than before) in the 0-60 and top speed. Cars equiped with auto's tend to be a bit more heavy and consume more petrol. Also, overhauls/repairs on auto boxes tend to be more expensive than on manual boxes. But all depends on what kind of auto you're getting.

Oh, and if your car would ever stall: you cannot tow or push an auto :mrgreen:

[23790554]

y is it that you can't push or tow an auto if it stall? don't you just shift to N?

[darkfact]

If you know your way with techniques like rev-matching, heel-toe, clutch dumping, short-shifting and shift-locking,


tell me... tell me more please...
I only know the heel-toe. Actually i just googled it this morning, looks awsom. Btw I'm thinking about getting a 350z... I want it for fun and do all the stuff I used to see other people do >_<
things that wont damage the car of course.

[stracing]

if you don't want damage, don't do light racing and drifting!

[darkfact]

if you don't want damage, don't do light racing and drifting!

I'm sure I wont be doing drifts... but racing? I'll be racing everything I see... from scotters to ferraris :P

[Paco]

Well, just for 'straight burning' you could do with an auto perhaps. The more powerful a car gets, the more proficient you'd have to be to put in a fast sprint time. You can lose a LOT of time with bad shifting. Personally, I think a manual is much more fun and since you're buying this car for fun...

Just a quick out-of-my-head pop-quiz on some of the things I named (people, feel free to elaborate):
rev-matching: when going back a gear or 2, you hit the accellerator when you have the clutch pedal in (thus increasing the revs) and then you release the clutch in the lower gear. By doing this, you prevent rev-loss so that your engine doesn't find itself below the 'rev-sweet-spot' (where you have the most torque available to you). In other words: you compensate for the low revs by revving it while applying the clutch pedal.
It also prevents your drive train having to take a beating from the sudden rev difference.

Also, it can prevent the aforementionned shift-lock, where the drive train locks up because the engine cannot handle the sudden high revs. This means you are too high in revs and the limiter or differential could protest, or worse a blown engine/gear box.

Short shifting is nothing more than shifting up well before the ideal shifting point (high revs) when you encounter a long corner. If you would enter the corner in the highest torque-area (the sweet spot) you could get into trouble when aplying the accellerator too violently. The sudden burst of torque could cause dangerous over- or understeer or a waggling tale end. Experienced drivers prefer a more gradual feed of torque over a longer stretch and will therefor use a higher gear (and lower revs) so that they can keep accellerating throughout the long curve.

Clutch dumping is something you see a lot in those Japanese drift movies: in a (tight) corner they slightly dump their clutch pedal to increase the revs while staying in the same gear. Not the best thing for your car and you can easily cook your clutch like that. Again, high revs are the sought-after thing.


Don't forget, that shifting technique in cars with N/A engines is a bit different from cars with turbo engines. The latter have a much narrower powerband than the usually higher revving N/A engined cars.

[DeMoN]

I just got my G35 (Luxury version of the 350Z) and you wont be able to race for the first 1,200 miles. Thats the break-in time. It says that it isnt adviced to drive fro long periods of time, do fast takeoffs, brake fast, or drive at one same speed for long time. Yep, I read the whole manual.

[mindgam3]

I just got my G35 (Luxury version of the 350Z) and you wont be able to race for the first 1,200 miles. Thats the break-in time. It says that it isnt adviced to drive fro long periods of time, do fast takeoffs, brake fast, or drive at one same speed for long time. Yep, I read the whole manual.

lol, it says that in just about all performance car manuals tho :P

[Sir_GT]

Just like to point out that the G35 is not the luxury version of the 350Z.

It is actually called the V35 Skyline GT in Japan. As oppossed to the 350Z which is the Fairlady Z over there (yes its true), and the R34 Skyline GT-R. The G35 is its own thing.

[Mopsdrops]

going IN the redline, not that you mostly do it but hell: normally it changes at 4000 RPM in D, but when you push it to the max it does about 500 for the redline. my mothers Beretta does it, so i think it is also with another auto. you probably won't go into the redline normally but sometimes it's fun. also acceleration: a Prelude 2.0i from '92 with manuel does 9.2 sec's to 100 standard and 10.8 sec's with an auto. and a NSX with manuel does 5.7 sec's to 100 and 7.5 sec's with auto. just to give you some examples. i've also found that some car's speed is a bit lower with auto then manuel not all but some. :wink:

[5vz-fe]

Just like to point out that the G35 is not the luxury version of the 350Z.

It is actually called the V35 Skyline GT in Japan. As oppossed to the 350Z which is the Fairlady Z over there (yes its true), and the R34 Skyline GT-R. The G35 is its own thing.

u are kidding right?
It's the same FM plaform, same VQ35 engine, same suspension bits.....

[darkfact]

Just like to point out that the G35 is not the luxury version of the 350Z.

It is actually called the V35 Skyline GT in Japan. As oppossed to the 350Z which is the Fairlady Z over there (yes its true), and the R34 Skyline GT-R. The G35 is its own thing.

u are kidding right?
It's the same FM plaform, same VQ35 engine, same suspension bits.....

But different enginen

[MercedeSChink]

i believe its the same engine...the g35 is actually called the 350 GT 'Skyline' in Japan and also keep in mind its straight from nissan also...btw, did you guys know the g35 or 350 GT has the highest resale value out of all cars so far!?

[BADMIHAI]

If you've never drivin a manual before, and you'll take a car like that to learn, then i really pitty the car!
First buy a dirt cheap used manual that you can wreck and abuse.

Don't look for a spicy engine, good looks or anything. The only thing thats manners is that it's a manual!

Judging from the car you drive, we can say you're still at stage one (learning how to drive manual). :lol:

[oldsnail]

Just like to point out that the G35 is not the luxury version of the 350Z.

It is actually called the V35 Skyline GT in Japan. As oppossed to the 350Z which is the Fairlady Z over there (yes its true), and the R34 Skyline GT-R. The G35 is its own thing.

u are kidding right?
It's the same FM plaform, same VQ35 engine, same suspension bits.....

But different enginen

the 350z has the same VQ engine for over 1/2 of nissan/infiniti lineup.

this includes the Altima V6, Mazima, Pathfinder, FX35, G35 coupe/sedan.

i think the only statement that the G35coupe and 350z is the differant body style, 2 extra seats and differant power at the crank..

[Paco]

A pity that a lot of people go off-topic like that...

[Sir_GT]

It's fun when people do.

Point is, the G35 and the 350Z are not the same car. The 350Z was developed separately from the G35, and is supposed to handle better.

[Driftzwerg]

I`m just mentioning one point.
if you`re not an experienced driver, your usually faster in the auto car, than shifting. (I`m not talking about the many pistonheads on JW, they love cars and therefore spend more time learning about it - see the guy with the manual)
There are not too much skilled drivers around, that can outpace the automatic version of the their car.
Auto is better if you go for a daily driver. Because its much more comfy in traffic jams or city traffic.
But the fuel consumptioon is higher.

[Driftzwerg]

Jupp, its about the same as some guys (Age 17- 20 from the states) state that if they had the Ferraris Porsches etc... they would be better drivers than the ones who can afford them....

A 300 hp car or more doesn't move like you're used to from the playstation.

[RC45]

Jupp, its about the same as some guys (Age 17- 20 from the states) state that if they had the Ferraris Porsches etc... they would be better drivers than the ones who can afford them....

A 300 hp car or more doesn't move like you're used to from the playstation.

Good observation... :P :lol:

[Apac102]

Learning to drive a manual on a sports car is even harder then on a normal manual car. The clutch is going to be heavier, itll be harder going 1st to 2nd and you will need to hit the gears a little better. So...if your friend has a manual you should practic with him first and get used to it because when you get the 350Z, you will tell that shifting will be a little more graspy. Don't just jump in the deep end ..... take your time and learn, then you can move up to the fast sonofabitch cars! :wink:

[Pokiou]

i also must add that manual cars also are lot better on fuel consumption then auto cars

[paquito540]

you are going to buy a 350z and you dont konw how to drive a manual transmission ? damn

[fubo.x]

with new cars, auto is more expensive than manual. but i've noticed with used sports cars, manual is more valuable than auto.