sake-bito Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 OK, i'm trying to get a zed. My last RWD car was a 200 SX with 350+ BHP and i really didn't enjoy it too much as it was a handfull in the wet etc. Now i want to return to to a RWD but purely for looks and the noise of the V6. The car i have the now is a DC5 so i'm not getting the 350 for the speed etc Idealy i want a manual but there is a lot of auto triptronics out there. Whats peoples opinion on the auto box?? if it rubbish? My dads FTO was pretty crap. Just a little info to help me choose the best car. Also, i was pretty crap at trying to drift so i won't be doing that with the 350! LOL STOO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 The Zed is very managable in the wet with the right tyres. The auto box is apparently very good. It's tiptronic as you know so you can have a bit of involvement. It is meant to be smooth on the changes. I haven't driven one (I wouldn't consider one personally) so can't compare to the manual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 The Zed is very managable in the wet with the right tyres. The auto box is apparently very good. It's tiptronic as you know so you can have a bit of involvement. It is meant to be smooth on the changes. I haven't driven one (I wouldn't consider one personally) so can't compare to the manual. +1. I find that I have to be pushing really hard in the wet to get any sort of kick from the rear, but I am a wimp and keep the tcs on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Ian, good reason for that bud. http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12677&highlight=binned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIXXERUK Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 never had an auto so i wont offer an opinion if you leave the traction control on then you'll have no problems in the wet, turn it off and you'll be facing where you just came from ! i've done it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Ian, good reason for that bud. http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12677&highlight=binned Exact reason why I wont turn it off I owned a tiptronic car a few years back, its great when stuck in traffic but I never found it that fun to drive. The novelty of paddleshift wore off in about 6months & i craved a manual car again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sake-bito Posted August 31, 2008 Author Share Posted August 31, 2008 Its the kind of replys i thought i was gonna get. I do love a country road blast and can't see me getting a auto, was just tempted by the cheap prices and low milage! STOO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15UL T Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 hi, i also came from DC5 territory and the zed is a totally different beast and just as fast, i did however top my DC5 out at 160mph and the zed hasnt managed that yet...oh well i'll keep trying Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sake-bito Posted September 1, 2008 Author Share Posted September 1, 2008 hi, i also came from DC5 territory and the zed is a totally different beast and just as fast, i did however top my DC5 out at 160mph and the zed hasnt managed that yet...oh well i'll keep trying Paul NICE!! i still don't think on a twisty road that a 350 will keep anywhere near a teg! you just need to check out all of the videos on you tube STOO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordan3054 Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 Driven both the auto and manual. Personally, I'd never get the auto, this is a sports car and it needs to be a proper manual. You can feel the torque more, juyst feels 10x better IMO. Even tho I dont like the auso on the Z, I actually like the SMG on the E46 M3, so not completely against anything non manual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 The auto box is tiptronic - you can use it just like a manual to obtain full control over engine speed and gear choice. I have driven a umber of autos and this one is very good compared to others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordan3054 Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 The auto box is tiptronic - you can use it just like a manual to obtain full control over engine speed and gear choice. I have driven a umber of autos and this one is very good compared to others. Reason I didnt like it was because of the torque converter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanS16 Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 I think the tiptronic in the Zed is brilliant. Especially when using it as an every day car, far better than a manual in traffic etc. The only time I wish it was manual is when i'm giving it large on country lanes, is nice to tap the clutch and drop a gear! Also I was at the wales Zed run this year and IMHO my tiptronic was no slower than the manuals! But true, with the torque converter it will never feel as engaged as a manual! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarnie Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 uNLESS ITS A MODERN PADDLESHIFT, MANUAL ALL THE WAY Edit: Oooops caps lock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Digsy Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 if you leave the traction control on then you'll have no problems in the wet, Not true, I'm afraid. The TCS is a driver aid not a failsafe. It will save you from most indiscretions in the wet but it can't change the laws of physics and several people have lost the rear with it on. It particularly seems to be a problem with people joining fast sliproads and getting the power on too early or hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgomez1978 Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 i lost the back end this morning with the TCS on i wasnt going fast it just went sideways going around a roundabout in the wet as long as your not going fast it will come back in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronzee Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 Hi sake-bito, I've driven 16 350z's, and been a passenger in more. Both manual and auto. Honestly you don't sacrifice much having an auto. I'll normally blitz the manual guys off the line in either manual or auto mode, and my braking points are similar to manuals, that's purely driving style, being reasonably aggressive, and driver experience. In terms of drivetrain loss, only marginally more than a manual. The transmission is very smooth, and responsive, everyone comments on it. In extremely heavy traffic being able to switch it into auto mode is a leg saver. If you drive mostly in auto mode of course you'll use a bit more brake pad, but not hugely so. When I first got my Zed 4.4 years ago, I was driving in extremely heavy rush hour traffic and traversing the city all day in heavy traffic, it saved my sanity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 Hi sake-bito, I've driven 16 350z's, and been a passenger in more. Both manual and auto. Honestly you don't sacrifice much having an auto. I'll normally blitz the manual guys off the line in either manual or auto mode, and my braking points are similar to manuals, that's purely driving style, being reasonably aggressive, and driver experience. In terms of drivetrain loss, only marginally more than a manual. The transmission is very smooth, and responsive, everyone comments on it. In extremely heavy traffic being able to switch it into auto mode is a leg saver. If you drive mostly in auto mode of course you'll use a bit more brake pad, but not hugely so. When I first got my Zed 4.4 years ago, I was driving in extremely heavy rush hour traffic and traversing the city all day in heavy traffic, it saved my sanity. +1 on all counts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sake-bito Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 I'm confused more now! I think my next question will help me though! Can you get the car sidways with an auto?? i.e not high speed but pulling out from junctions etc?? STOO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev-the-Rev Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 Oh yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sake-bito Posted September 6, 2008 Author Share Posted September 6, 2008 so the car will still step out but i take it not as easy as the manual as you can build your revs then dump the clutch etc STOO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev-the-Rev Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 That's about it, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev-the-Rev Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 That's about it, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev-the-Rev Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 That's about it, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daaave Posted September 6, 2008 Share Posted September 6, 2008 OK, i'm trying to get a zed. My last RWD car was a 200 SX with 350+ BHP and i really didn't enjoy it too much as it was a handfull in the wet etc. Now i want to return to to a RWD but purely for looks and the noise of the V6. The car i have the now is a DC5 so i'm not getting the 350 for the speed etc You want RWD for the looks and the V6? I take it you mean that you want a nice looking car and engine and that forces you to have a RWD car? Also, i was pretty crap at trying to drift so i won't be doing that with the 350! LOL My advice would be to spend £1k less on the car (whatever it is) and £1k on driver training. A two day course on limit handling would give you much more confidence in a RWD chassis. Not extra confidence to drive everywhere flat out on the road, but to understand how to best balance the car in the wet so that you don't get caught out with momentum oversteer. The 350z is quite a heavy car so if you're not careful all that weight can easily push you off the road when you've lifted off on a bend for example. A limit handling course would teach you how to brake in a straight line before the corner to get the correct speed before turning the wheel, then using a small amount of throttle to balance the car though the corner and then gently squeezing it on on the way out. Anyway, I'm jabbering now - get a RWD because it's RWD and enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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