I actually knew Peter, having been a Porsche racer during that era. While I never heard him make any such comments, Brumos, the dealership he owned, also owned a MBZ dealership. When Peter was not driving Porsches on the street (all 5 speeds by the way), he was driving a SL MBZ, which only came with an automatic. His partner, Hurley Haywood, liked the SLs so much, they were pretty much the only cars Hurley drove on the street.

As a salesman, it is easy to understand Peter making such a comment if he was at the MBZ store. If he was at the Porsche/Audi store, it is really unlikely he would have made such a comment, especially because the only automatic tranny Porsche had at the time was the Sportomatic.

Also, the dealerships were in Jacksonville FL, not known for traffic problems in the 70's.

 

I will be getting the 6MT.
Although it will be my daily driver, my work schedule isn't 9-5 so I'm not worried with traffic.

 

I didn't get mine yet, but I chose the 6mt. I drive in traffic most days with my Z and at first it drove me nuts. After the first few times I guess I just got used to it. I was actually considering an Automatic before becoming accustomed to driving in bumper to bumper traffic.

To me, I'd feel disconnected from the road in an automatic car, but I'd probably get used to it just like anything else. So...to each their own.

I'll take the 6sp though.

 

I have never tried paddle shifters and the first few times during break-in has been amazing. I can't wait till the 1200 miles mark to let loose with those magnesium shifters. A lot of fun.

 

I feel your enthusiasm man. The paddles are a lot more fun that I ever would of thought they'd be. I'd still rather have a 6MT since I've driven manuals all my life, however my wife doesn't drive a manual tranny. Needless to say though, the paddles are a crap load of fun in the twisties.

 

I had driven MTs for 13 years while I lived in DE and I wouldn't have even considered an AT. I really enjoyed it. It all ended when I moved to Central/North Jersey, 20 miles away from NYC. Sitting for 1-2 hours in traffic with start-stop start-stop was a torture. It got so bad I didn't want to go places because I hated the commute. Then a got a G35C with 5AT and I felt like a new-born, so pampered. It was such a relief. I could still use the manual mode for fun when I get a chance but at the same time I wasn't stuck with an MT in traffic. In both choices there is a compromise. If you live in a quite area deffinitely go for the 6MT. You will enjoy every second of it. If you live in a densely populated area you have to determine whether the fun outweighs the pain of shifting in traffic. Sometimes, I really miss the feel of an MT but with NJ traffic there is no room for action. As soon as you start having fun there will be either a slow moving car ahead of you or a cop

 

I think the real issue they choose to get AT is because they can't drive MT. Traffic is the weakest excuse ever. I'm in the OC and get stuck in traffic all the time. No problems at all.

And if driving the MT is soo bad in traffic, why aren't the UPS drivers, FedEX drivers and USPS driver complaining? Why aren't they protesting? Aren't they unionize?

I see more AT people who don't drive MT complaining more about driving MT in Traffic then these delivery driver.

 

6M/T FTMFW. You can't truly enjoy a G Coupe unless it has an M/T IMO. Even the 5A/T Sedan Sport with its paddle shifters gets boring after about 10 min. The only Infiniti's which still put a smile on my face despite being saddled with an A/T are the FX and the M, especially the 45s. And even then I wish the M was available with a 6M/T.

I say to each his own, but in my eyes, why get a slushbox if you're already giving up some practicality by going with a 2 door and a smaller trunk? Verbal Assassin is right, even most A/T buyers are ashamed of the fact that they're buying an A/T. That's why they're always ready with the "traffic is a b**ch" excuse. Whenever you ask someone with an A/T if their G is a stick, they'll start whining about traffic before you even finish your sentence. Different priorities I suppose. Hell I don't mind pulling up to red lights so that I can run my car up through it's gears before having to slow down and match revs on each downshift for the next red light. I'd rather granny shift at 2k between red lights for a half an hour than let my car do the shifting for me. I guess that's what being a 3 pedal enthusiast is all about, being willing or actually taking pleasure in dealing with a clutch in traffic in exchange for those few moments of bliss when the roads in front of you are clear. Cheeeeeee-hoooooooo.

Either that or you A/T guys are just pu**ies. Nah nah. j/k.

 

For this particular car I would go with the 5AT.

a.) The paddles shifters are fantastic. Even though it is still a "slushbox"...it's a very good one the paddles are quick and responsive.
b.) I already have a 5MT car that, even though it has 165k on it, it still a blast to drive
c.) I do a lot, ALOT of long distance driving. The automatic is just easy in every way for me.

There is still nothing like a manual trans, though.

 

Wow, you are opinionated aren't you? How old are you? I don't mean it offensively at all, but you sound like a 20-something year old kid who hasn't driven a manual transmission for a very long time or long enough to realize that it's a pain in the *** year after year driving in traffic. To suggest that someone is choosing the AT because they can't drive a manual is just idiotic and your argument about UPS/USPS/FedEx drivers is ridiculous. Why not include all 18 wheelers then? These people get paid to drive... I don't get paid during my commute and having it be an aggravating ordeal driving into Jersey City off the NJ Turnpike with a manual just isn't worth it.

Same thing with you, bruddahmanmatt, your arguments make you sound like you're in your early 20's and haven't been driving long enough to realize that some people just really start to dislike driving a stick when they have to drive in traffic year after year. When I was 20-something, I had similar opinions about AT drivers with sports cars, but not any more having been around long enough to "feel their pain". Again, I don't mean any offense, but you're making a blanket statement about 5AT drivers and how we can't possibly enjoy driving our cars because of the transmissions we've chosen. I would argue that I'm able to enjoy it MORE because it's an AT and the type of driving I have to do.

 

Traffic in Chicago is my issue as well. The paddle shifters so far are fun, but there is a lag and I'm hoping to train this thing a little better to up shift quicker over some open roads this week and see if it helps. The rev-matching downshifts so far are pretty good and at higher rpms it's an awesome sound with the windows open If I didn't have to deal with grid lock and there wasn't a paddle setup I would be driving the 6mt, no doubt. The trans on the auto is silky smooth so far and I'm not sure it needs another gear.

 

Please don't lump *all* of us in with these fools While I'm only interested in the 6MT, I'm sure as hell not going to knock or put down anyone for choosing a 5AT.

 

No.. I didn't mean it like that and certainly don't think that everyone in their early 20's thinks that way (hell, look at Yimbie--he's not even 20 yet). They just sound like a couple of kids who haven't had enough life experience to realize that things affect people differently... hell, I'm only 34, but I can tell you that I know a heck of a lot more than I did when I was 20-something, and certainly would wish I could take back a few of my "opinions"

 

live in the bronx=lazy

 

Now i have 06 5at before I have 03.5 6mt so my wife can drive it. What the hell did i thinking about that was the badddddddddd move. I miss my 6mt blk/on blk .