The infamous question of auto or manual transmission.

(Obviously I'm not an experienced driver so you can call me out if I'm wrong)

 

I have only drives the auto of this car, but personally I think later on I will swap it to a manual.

 

Firstly, being from the 90s, the auto box is sluggish. When you accelerate, it will hover at the high revs for a second, and then shift (not particularly quickly). Yes the auto box is very smooth, but not rapid. Also autos are only 4 speed but I don't know how much difference that makes.

 

Secondly, manuals in general (for me) are so much more fun. My experience of driving comes from offloading so it's much more involving to be able to downshift, clutch kick and just shifting with pulls in general.

 

If you are city based, auto would be the obvious choice, for traffic it makes it much more bearable and easy to drive, and for cruising as well. But for me it has to be manual for the enjoyment factor.

 

Let's hear your opinion of what you prefer :)

Edited April 26, 20169 yr by Alic

My first Zed was an auto, but didn't stay that way for long. Whilst it was an automatic though, I didn't hate it - certainly around town, it was far easier (read lazier) than constantly stirring the cogs myself.

 

All said and done though, I prefer a manual box. Maybe the more modern autos are more fun and more responsive but, for a 90s car, I'd be opting for manual all the time. :thumbup1:

I had my first Z converted from auto to manual. For 99% of the time, the car is a better one for being a manual, but dam the 45mph kick down acceleration the auto provided was pretty epic. That made the car feel pretty quick! And very easy.

Both have there advantages and if your Z has a good autobox then keep it that way.

I have auto and its fine. The JDM Auto has three modes, cruising, normal and mental mode, along with overdrive, the kick down in mental mode is great fun. I'm staying with the auto.

Having driven both extensively (an auto in the US and manual over here), without doubt the manual is my own preference; it's more fun, it sounds better on run down and on gear change (especially down-shift), it's more controllable, the residuals are stronger and there's less to go wrong.

Mines an auto, I hated it at first but that was as a result of some electrical gremlins I had..... A trip down to Lee Dents and its ran nice since. I'm keeping it as an auto for now but if anything happened to my auto box I would most likely switch to manual then.

I have auto and its fine. The JDM Auto has three modes, cruising, normal and mental mode, along with overdrive, the kick down in mental mode is great fun. I'm staying with the auto.

 

Is every auto from Japan a JDM auto ?

Is every auto from Japan a JDM auto ?

 

I believe they should all have the switch next to the selector: Hold / A/T / POWER

Edited April 26, 20169 yr by Alic

My current zed is an auto with a very smooth and responsive box, kick down is amazing but all that said

 

i'm still doing a conversion to manual within the next month or so as I've picked up a very nice 98 manual box. :wink:

Wow that 98 manual box must be rarer than rocking horse poo. Enjoy the conversion !

 

 

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Pros and cons IMO;

Auto;

Pro. Very smooth, power delivery is glassy and boost is held constantly through the range. Even in tricky traction situations, snow etc the car will just pull away beautifully. In stop start traffic it's a joy. Tall gearing.

Con. Dim witted and slow, every now and again it does the opposite to what you want, change up or down at the wrong points. Sometimes it has a little hissy and can't quite decide what to do quick enough, I'm talking 100s of seconds but that's annoying enough for me. JDMs have inaquate cooling and cook themselves. Most are poorly maintained and cause problems at some stage. Up the power and the life span drops quite quickly.

Manual;

Pro. More involved and responsive drive. More robust transmission, the clutch is usually the weak point with power upgrades. Far simpler to own, the FSM section for the manual is about a third of the auto, simple is good. You can loose a gear or 4 and still get home, hell you can drive a manual with no clutch.

Con. 2nd and 4th gear synchos are prone to failure. The stock clutch line is a pain to bleed, easily fixed though.

As a side note Ali, you have the worst combination there. NA and auto. TT autos are ok as the boost makes up for it and because of the auto meaning boost is maintained that straight line whoosh is pretty good. NA's are quite fun as manuals because they are responsive, add the auto box and you loose that responsive feel.

As a side note Ali, you have the worst combination there. NA and auto. TT autos are ok as the boost makes up for it and because of the auto meaning boost is maintained that straight line whoosh is pretty good. NA's are quite fun as manuals because they are responsive, add the auto box and you loose that responsive feel.

I have a TT and an na. :wink:

Both automatic? Have you driven them both?

Both automatic? Have you driven them both?

Both auto yes because they are cheaper :(

If I'm being honest I've only parked them so can't really comment personally on the power feel. my opinion is based on being a passenger, IE talking about the holding gears at top end etc.

 

The points about manual were more general points not relative to the Z specifically.

Not that you will listen, but honestly I'd get that NA through an MOT and flog it. Use the money to buy yourself a cheap and most importantly reliable run about. Something that does 35mpg and parts are available on the shelf at Euro car parts kinda car. Leave it stock as hell and get that test passed. You can then concentrate on the TT and by the time it's done you will have some experience driving etc. I've done the zed as a daily thing, it can be done but there's a reason most of us have them as second cars or weekend toys. Just leveling with you mate.

Not that you will listen, but honestly I'd get that NA through an MOT and flog it. Use the money to buy yourself a cheap and most importantly reliable run about. Something that does 35mpg and parts are available on the shelf at Euro car parts kinda car. Leave it stock as hell and get that test passed. You can then concentrate on the TT and by the time it's done you will have some experience driving etc. I've done the zed as a daily thing, it can be done but there's a reason most of us have them as second cars or weekend toys. Just leveling with you mate.

 

That's the plan, I don't have an intention in keeping it. For a new car, unless something really catches my eye I am going to share a family car 1.1l etc.

 

Zed will never be the daily. It's never been the plan to have the Z as a first car.

Both have there advantages and if your Z has a good autobox then keep it that way.

 

That's my view also......

 

...Both have their advantages and disadvantages; the main disadvantage being it's a 25 year old design auto 'box. In a modern car, particularly one of high performance, a stick-shift is an analogue relic in a digital world. Fact! All decent high performance cars are autos nowadays - and, if they do come with a manual 'box, the manual version is without doubt slower. Just check out the big hitters from Audi, BMW and Mercedes!

 

......But back to the Zed, if the auto is working as it should, keep it. I have driven both versions and, whilst I am in no doubt that the manual is best on a track or an empty, twisty road; in real world traffic conditions (assuming you use it for more than the odd Sunday morning blast), then the auto has its benefits as well.

Well said Richard!

My neighbour has a two year old boxter gts auto it sounds really good too!

But my Z gets more interest!

Mines an auto & have commented about auto/manwell before!

Don't get me wrong I'm not anti auto, I'd take a modern auto for a daily any day of the week. Although I did opt out of the DSG and had the standard 6 speed in our new car, it was an unnecessary extra expensive both on the purchase and servicing price. As said though most high performance cars are a form of auto these days with good reason. However the z32 auto box is a dinosaur of a box and having driven the same car auto and manual it's a far better driving experience and less hassle as a manual.