OK here goes opening a huuuge can of worms

 

I'm after a Zed, and have the chance at an Auto that's a steal at the price..

 

I've driven Auto's before - but they were Rover 620, 623 and a Nissan Bluebird 1.8GS (which was a bit dodgy ).. Other than that, it's always been manuals for me..

 

What's peoples opinion in the Auto box in the Zed? (a 1990 Z).. Am I gonna get bored when I go down the twisties? Does it suffer from lag particularily?

 

And one other thing - I have a tendency to mod my cars What kind of HP will the Auto box take before it explodes into a million little pieces?

 

Thanks guys

 

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Az

A real sports-car:

 

>is Red

>has a manual gearbox

>is a 2-seater

 

nuff said !

 

[This message has been edited by lymon (edited 30-07-2001).]

The Auto box is a very good one. The Jap version has 3 modes but not sure if these are on UK spec cars.

The Auto box can handle more power than the manual from what i've heard.

ehrm..correction: the manual gearbox with an upgraded clutch can handle far more power then the automatic gearbox (unless you go for a level10-tranny)

 

-Eric

I have an Auto 90Z Jap import TT and find it fine even when driving spirited/aggressively as you just put it in POWER mode and it holds the gears great. The only thing is that the auto box oil cooler is not really up to it so if you buy it, its definitely worth upgrading to larger auto box oil cooler, as if you cook the transmission it can get expensive (Speaking from experience).

 

Im not sure what the maximum power is that the transmission can transmit on a std box, but Hairsy from memory has about 432BHP at the flywheel on his, but he does have an uprated line pressure on the autobox.

 

As for lag it doesn't really suffer to much a manual supposedly will beat it to 60mph but the auto will beat the manual to 100mph, I have an uprated auto box so the 0-60 times are probably equal between auto/manual in my case (although people will probably disagree).

 

I think its really down to personal preference this is the first auto I have owned and I think its great.

 

Hope this helps

 

Nexus

I also have an uprated autobox, with oil cooler (expensive experience once again!) and it's fine once you get used to it.

To get the best out of it you have to learn to drive an auto, just the same as you have to learn to drive a manual. My first choice would be a manual, but I'm happy with the auto.

 

You will get many opinions, most of them conflicting, on this issue.

Real 300z's only come ,as red, manual and 2+2 lol.

manuals ruel, more responsive, more involving, more more more,

/mark and lard voice/

Huwhoohooowww (five pounds), I asked this question a few months back and i have ONLY just managed to get the lid back on and the worms cleared up!!!,

ill give you my two-penneth when ive finished this can of Strongbow, as i am so much more erudite(!) after a beer or two LOL

 

 

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--

Glen

AUTO

 

That's it!

 

Tim

;-)

 

Auto UK TT2+2 red and with OD off for the twisty bits - also UK Z got engine oil cooler+ separate auto box oil cooler in front plus diff oil cooler and big euro rad as well so there.

thats it i throw down the gauntlet....

i challenge all auto's (to what i dontknow but i throw down the challenge)

I love the auto.

 

With the Jap 'power' option selected the acceleration is 'adequate' but you can equally drive the beast round towns quide sedately... that way everyone can see u, me a show off? never, perish the thought!!

 

... I'm not into loud exhaust though, well not on Zs. Maybe it's just me and I'm wierd. My 70s sports car is loud enough for both and thats down 2 cylinders!

 

Tim

I had a feeling I'd open up a reet can o' worms with this one! Sorry

 

Now I'm used to driving a manual - because that's what I've had most of (7 of 'em so far, and only 3 auto's).. I have a feeling the last auto I drove wasn't a great example (F reg Bluebird... Not a great example of anything! But strangely.. I did have a soft spot for that car)..

 

I find myself driving to/from work, thinking that an auto would be fantastic..

But then caning it down the odd country road and thinking that I love manuals..

 

What I'm really asking is, can I get that enjoyment out of a Zed with an Auto box...

 

Really I'm just gonna have to shut the feck up and go drive one of each aren't I..

Anyone want to give me a test drive?

 

Andy/Nexus - when you say uprated box, do you mean physically uprated, or standard box with an ALC? If you mean uprated box - how many k's are we talking?! (prepares to faint)

 

Cheers me'dears.. I really don't want to end up buying an auto and then thinking 3 years down the line that I really regret not holding out and getting a manual..

 

(sobs) It's all too much!

 

Thanks again - and sorry for the can o' worms..

 

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Az

Im on me 4th can of strongbow and refuse to offer an opinion *just yet*

Az mate,

you are more than welcome to try out my manual if you want tho!

I am in East Midlands for a while, alternatively I can be found hanging around the docks in Portsmouth and Southampton.

Seriously if you are anywhere near NG31 or POanything shoot me a mail and we can go for a spin.

 

 

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Glen

My autobox broke and as part of the rebuild I got the upgrade which includes uprated line pressures. The cooler is required for the 1 year warranty !

From memory the cost is £1200/£1400 ish plus the cost of fluid and taking the thing out and putting it back in. The upgrade is basically a valving change to generate more pressure on the friction plates to give a more aggressive/fast change.

Basic recon is £1200, Fast Road Recon is £1400. Gearbox removal/replacement is £250 and the cooler is £250 +£50 fitting. That's all in (oil VAT etc)

 

As you can see it's not cheap. I'd get the cooler done and leave it at that. The only reason mine was upgraded was because it was only £200 more than the basic fix (and I got a 1 year rather than 6 month warranty)

Az

Auto Japs can lunch themselves due to insufficient cooling as mentioned earlier, an uprated cooler should sort this one out.

No worries if you are cool with 280bhp and rear wheel drive, but myself i use my motor to take out the wife&sprogz and whilst I have no problems with tail out action I just had to consider the combination of massive rear wheel drive power and wife and kidz so it wasnt for me.

Also, the TT Auto is *much* *much* easier to find in pukka condition than the manual. I wanted, originally, to spend around 5/6k on my Zed. I told myself that I would not even look at Autos (personal choice not dissin' the auto boyz), and it got to be a real problem even finding one to view!

So what did i do? bought the first TT manual i found, like the twot that i am!

turned out to be a real minger, horrible clocked fucked peice of shite

Still i stayed away from looking at autos(guess me being a plonk would have bought the first one of those too!).. finally a lovely manual came up (forgot to mention that on the 1st manual i bought the box was shot), and it is a dream. Payed 4 grand more than i budgeted for, but hell it is great.

Try the manual, then try the auto, then try the manual again.

Just watch fourth fear if you do test a manual, it is a bugger for crunching.

God what a waffle

 

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--

Glen

There cant be anything much more alarming than skanking a 'Z' early on a sunday morning.

 

Other than going into 5th with your cheeks clenched at 100+, in comes the boost again, eyes quinting at the clocks, & you see 130-140-150, then heal & toe around a corner that just puts a smile on your face for a week.

 

Whats an auto like then ?

 

Always sound a bit fluffy to me!

 

-on bovingdon airfield of course.

I had my auto Z converted to a manual so i have seen both sides. Ultimately its personal preference and how and where you drive. I think the more you mod the Z with lowered suspension, more BHP etc, the more a manual box suits it better. The driver is more in control and it translates more power to the rear wheels, and is lower gearing also. So it FEELS quicker. Its more direct. But the auto is cool. If the Z you're looking at is a good'un don't be put off by the auto.

Hi,

'263bhp/269lbft 0-60mph 7.5secs auto

278bhp/272lbft 0-60mph 5.9secs man'

UK Nissan official figures

JEZ

 

Im with coogs 100% on this one

Dont let an Automatic Gearbox put you off a pukka Z!

But if your are going for the manual, then cane it (and I mean Cane it!) and try 3rd and 4th.

If it crunches into 4th at real low action then walk away, if its cool going into fourth, but crunches at 7000rpm, buy it and get some Redline MT-90.

The reason I say this is because if you are cruising behind some dopey 49mph twot on a non-dualled a-road. and you let off and change out of 4th, drop it down to 2nd and let the clutch out, it is at this point the engine will talk to you with love and sex, the steering becomes ohhhhsoooo tight, the turbos will bend over and ask you to whip them like they are Bangkok whores and your right foot CONTROLS EVERYTHING.

Oh and the wannabe Celica VVTI behind you becomes a small red dot in your rear view mirror

God I love my car

 

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--

Glen

Nissan made an effort to make the auto perform as well as the manual. The auto has smaller turbos so that they spool up quicker, the cams are different as well I belive.

Performance of my 1990 standard jap auto was 14.3 seconds at the quarter mile, with a speed of approx 98mph at the end of the quarter mile. These times are on par with a standard manual(which are 13.5-14.5). Not bad for an 11 year old with 77,000 miles on the original turbos.

Other thing when you have your foot down and the auto changes gear the turbos stay on boost where as on the manual when you engage the clutch and come of the gas the turbos go off boost.

Manuals will last longer at higher Bhp however, unless you upgrade the autobox.

I got an auto cos I have to drive around london and spend alot of time in queues(not bad on a sunny day with the roof off ),I also go to my parents down in Brighton alot so its good for cruising down the M25/M23 and as its a 4 speed(3 with overdrive) kickdown takes you to 3rd on boost if you need to pull away quickly on the rare occassion some thinks they can overtake you .

Glen, I need what you've been smoking:

becomes ohhhhsoooo tight, the turbos will bend over and ask you to whip them like they are Bangkok whores

later,

Trev

Agh the can of worms gets more complicated all the time doesn't it

 

On my way to work this morning, for the first half of the journey I was thinking "manual.. manual.." as I was bobbing round the 'box keeping her in the right gear..

 

Then later in the journey I was thinking "hmm auto would save all this changing up malarkey" as I was trying to break my speed record between a set of distance markers (private road occifer..)

 

Here's a question - with an auto, do you ever get arse out action? Wheelspin from a standing start? (And I guess donuts are out of the question )..

 

Questions questions.. Sorry!

 

And Glen - I may just take you up on that offer m8 - Southampton is only an hour or so from me (Slough)..

 

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Az

Oh yes, wheelspin happens with autos too !

Can't vouch for donuts though - I value my tyres ! But you have seen Tooley's video - right !!!!!

i recon all the guys defend the autos cause they couldent get hold of manuals, and are in total denial, manuals rule the roost bigtime