general n00b question about MT vs. AT

Please bare with me on this incredibly n00b question.


So I'm 21 and have had an AT Taco for the last 5 years. Well now the truck is being sold because i want a G35 (i wont get into reasons why, thats a different discussion). It's going to be a daily driver, so driving to work (in heavy traffic on the freeway almost every day). I also would like to drive a little faster every once in a while too. But I'm not buying it for racing.
The only MT I've ever driven (only for like 2 weeks) is a slammed 72 Toyota Hilux with the OEM MT, lol, so its safe to say i don't a lot/any MT experience.

So my real dilemma is, i want the 5AT with Tiptronic (manumatic, what-have-you), obviously because of the daily driving aspect with traffic and stuff, being an easier car to drive, more luxurious if you will. But i feel like if i get the 5AT and i get a taste of what potential the G has as far as performance, i don't want to regret buying the AT. In the same token, i would love a 6MT for the performance aspect of it, but i dont want to regret it in the long run because of the pain in the azz-ness it is in traffic, i mean i live in San Diego, so there can be pretty bad rush hour at times.

Thanks for the info in advanced guise

 

If your driving in heavy traffic daily, you'll appreciate the AT.

Borrow a friends manual vehicle and go drive it during rush hour, it'll change your mind on wanting an MT.

 

X2... IF most of your driving will be in heavy traffic.

 

i mean not MOST of it, but i would say a good 2-4 days a week maybe 30-45 minutes each day, thats at MOST and maybe even on the high end

 

Not sure about a G35 but most new high end sports cars on the market have a AT system that is better performing than most common drivers are capable of with MT. Looking at the stats for a 911 for instance show that an AT out performs the MT (on paper).

Of course there is always the 'feel' aspect of driving an MT which I understand. Have fun either way!

 

*Blunders in*

MT if you do any sort of off roading. If you're doing mostly street then go AT for better ride and tire longevity.

*Blunders out*

 

i probably wont be doing much foo roading in my G35

 

Before this Tacoma, I drove manual for almost 20 years. My left knee now cracks and gets worn out faster than my right - no joke. So happy to have an automatic. Manual in traffic becomes hell on earth, and you know how the 405/101 get.

 

I loved my MT. Super fun to drive and I felt like it transformed my driving habits. Now I have an AT and it's nice for every day traffic driving.

If I were getting a G35, I'd still get the MT.

 

Pussy.

 

AT - you will be glad, even if it is just once a week rush hour traffic. I have had many MT's in my life, and the only reason is because those vehicles were not available in AT.
Cars like the G35 is sporty enough with the AT, and you can even drive the tiptronic like a MT if you really want.

(Heavy off-roading like crawling in a truck or jeep would be an exception where MT might be nicer, but even then AT gives you the opportunity to concentrate on what you are doing instead of playing with the clutch and stick - which is not applicable to your question...just saying)

 

If that's all the 'heavy traffic' you're going to deal with, I say get the MT and enjoy the ride!

 

Decided on the MT

 

Good for you. A GT car like the G35 should be driven with a MT. Just know that the G35 will be terrible on gas no matter if you got MT or AT though. lol

 

Actually, for crawling and heavy off roading you would want an AT. There is nothing fun about trying to climb an incline in MT on loose surfaces, or trying to crawl over boulders. You'd beat the shit out of your clutch by trying to keep the rig from rolling backwards on every obstacle.

 

Sure there is. To each their own I guess.

 

It's fun to drive a manual once in a while but on a regular basis an auto is the way to go.