Can't Decide - Auto or Manual

[Rekt]

I have a particularly tough decision to make. I drive in Columbus, OH, and I have seen the benefits of an auto vs. a stick. Part of me wants to have an auto, but part of me wants the stick.

The deciding factor will probably be my intended track use. I'm a corner carver, and that really calls for a stick.

[GTAHVIT]

^
Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick!
Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick!
Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick! Stick!

[attymf]

STICK.

1st. Definitely more fun. Which is most important overall.

2nd. I can't believe the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. Must have been a moron driving the stick in the test runs.

3rd. The manual is probably easier to add mods to the car because of no active fuel management.

4th. My wife can't drive a stick (***********)

5th. Did I say more fun yet

[BeermanSS]

tough to drive stick and get a hummer at the same time though.

[camaro5]

The age old debate: Auto or Manual? I too, have spent much of my adult life contemplating this question. I have issues that would benefit from auto, for sure. I just read this on AutoBlog about the new 7-speed auto in the Infiniti G37x (all wheel drive).

Here's the bottom line, IMHO:

"First, the product planners have chosen to mate the ATESSA E-TS only to the new 7-speed automatic transmission – sadly, you won't find a G37x S 6MT anywhere in the lineup. Even though the Infiniti team boasts the "Drive Sport" mode and "Downshift Rev Matching" features on the new 7-speed auto, it is still a traditional "slushbox" with characteristic automatic transmission inadequacies."

[Scott@Bjorn3D]

I am getting Auto do to my age and a bad left knee. Also have alot of stop and go traffic to deal with. I am pretty impressed with the 0-60 on the auto. I don't think you will regret the auto if you get one plus you will have paddle shift and auto start with it.

[rayhawk]

We had a 2001 z28 a4, with the 2.73 rear end. I hated the gearing in that car. If you wanted to go fast, it was either first or second gear all the way past 100 mph. Many times you were at the bottom of second and had to climb all the way up. The car had the power band where it was ok, but what a compromise for an otherwise very powerful car. That was my only dislike of the car. I am sure the 3.23 auto car has a much more enjoyable spacing, but that is not what we had. My point is that this new setup will not have the same compromise, as it will have plenty of gears to pick from and still have that ultra-low highway gear. Don't think anyone will be disappointed with the auto on this car.

I am still getting a stick when I get my 2010 SS though, because I love the control.

[SemperFi]

Originally Posted by attymf

STICK.

1st. Definitely more fun. Which is most important overall.

2nd. I can't believe the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. Must have been a moron driving the stick in the test runs.

3rd. The manual is probably easier to add mods to the car because of no active fuel management.

4th. My wife can't drive a stick (***********)

5th. Did I say more fun yet

Number 4 would have sold me alone. 400+ HP and wives oxymorons.
Personally, Id rather not slave through Austins stop and go traffic everyday with a manual. And i think the paddle shifters may still allow a little bit of the fun. But yeah. I sold my supra because i was tired of the traffic with that stick...

[Sterling]

It's a tough decision for me too...
I think I'm going to go with the automatic though for two reasons.

1. Traffic - I work on Cape Cod and traffic in the summer can really suck going to work.
2. Automatic Starter - It's pretty cold here in the winter. I like to be able to just push a button to warm the car up without having to run outside and leave the keys in it.

I would like to put a supercharger in it somewhere down the road, so I hope that the active fuel management system won't interfere with that too much. If it does, I get to change the cam and lifters and will disable that feature.

[camaro5]

Originally Posted by sterlingnotes

It's a tough decision for me too...
I think I'm going to go with the automatic though for two reasons.

1. Traffic - I work on Cape Cod and traffic in the summer can really suck going to work.
2. Automatic Starter - It's pretty cold here in the winter. I like to be able to just push a button to warm the car up without having to run outside and leave the keys in it.

I would like to put a supercharger in it somewhere down the road, so I hope that the active fuel management system won't interfere with that too much. If it does, I get to change the cam and lifters and will disable that feature.

Traffic is a perfect reason for auto. I've clutched through hell and back and will never have a manual again when stop and go is a regular thing.

Auto starter...Yep, priceless. Cold winter, or hot summer day - magical.

I hate this debate, I'm so confused...

Supercharger - You could run it with AFM intact and tune it out (disable). For maximum performance, incl. higher RPM, you will want to change out the cam and lifters.

[10redrocket]

If you will be dealing with traffic, for most as stated its an auto.
If you have open raods or this will not be your daily driver, its the std.

If it's performance your after, at this point flip a coin as niether one
runs away from the other (as stated in forums).
Though some will argue about this.

Keep in mind that the auto has much lower gears 1st thru 3rd than the
std and is tuned for performance. This negates the lower rear gear and weight
difference of the std. cars. This is why I believe the cars run similar times.

Also, I don't know about other GM models but the Cobalts SS's were under rated when GM stated it's horepower.

To each their own, as both will run very well!!

[Lex]

Like alot of people have probably allready stated... its personaly preference. I learned how to drive stick while working for a dealer doing dealer trades. (I feel sorry for whoever bought the 6 speed VW that I first drove lol). Ever since then though I prefer stick. I just seems more fun. You're more involved in the driving and you feel that you're really a part of the machine. That and you could have the biggest POS, but when you speed shift at redline..... its still fun!

[ucla1ove3]

i think ima get manual, im sixteen. and i am currently learning how to drive stick on a friend of mines 350z lol. he is rich as f***(one of those computer kids who makes hundreds of thousands) so he could care less if i mess it up a bit. and i love the feeling of shifting through the gears. so manual here i come (plus its about a thousand dollars less) which is a thousand less dollars i have to save up before i actually buy it

[Belo]

My .02.

If your commute involves stop and go, your manual will get old fast.
if you're buying this car to drive and have fun. stick hands down.
if you live in a cold climate, the remote start that comes with your auto will be huge.
you still get the tap shifts from an auto.
if you can't drive a stick, you'll never get close to the auto 1/4 mile times.

Originally Posted by sterlingnotes

I would like to put a supercharger in it somewhere down the road, so I hope that the active fuel management system won't interfere with that too much. If it does, I get to change the cam and lifters and will disable that feature.

The G8 has a similar active fuel system, and the guys at magnuson were able to put their blower on and maintain the cylinder deactivation. Actually addes some mpg through the maggie. Of course who could drive that car responsibly?