Manual or automatic?

[DrSupra]

If you took a poll, you would probably find most of us with AT Supras probably have at least one other car with a MT, in the garage. I'm not sure any of us MT guys would give up on them altogether.

I get that. That would make the automatic much more palatable. I suppose that highlights how auto v. manual question can come down to a person's circumstances.

Sponsored

 

[Matter]

This post could have ended the entire thread. That's 100% it. The auto in the Supra is so good, I finally was okay buying an AT car. I was a 100% MT track car guy.... now converted.

Good point.

 

[BMWAF]

When I was looking to buy, I saw these threads get pretty intense like but it's a personal preference thing so I suppose that's not unexpected.

I know it's not this simple and there's more nuance but I bought a manual because if all I cared about it speed and cutting tenths of a second off acceleration and lap times, I'd go for a different car all together. Soon any electric car is going to be as fast or faster to 60 and for lap times something like a C8 or a C7 grandsport would have better. Sure, the argument can be made that if I wanted pure driver engagement I could have bought a BRZ or Miata or GT350 or something that gave out some more driver feedback and was more raw...but I thought the Supra with a manual was the best combination of a manual transmission, acceleration, reliability, and quality that I could get and it was relatively well priced.

Having not owned a MT car in years, I realized this may be one of my last chances to get a new car with a manual and an internal combustion engine that would be fun and relatively engaging but that I could also use to get to work whenever I wanted, not worry about anything, and be relatively comfortable. There probably are cars that could do it all that a little bit better too but I've always wanted a Supra and it being a BMW underneath is actually a plus for me.

Well said. Pretty much sums it up.

 

[nibble]

I don't really care too much about which transmission. as long as it has wheels, engine, and ways to control, I will have fun. However i do have an opinion on thought that AT is faster than MT on track. which is faster is purely on who is driving rather than equipment. However, Automatically shifting on AT is slower than manually shifting on AT. in my opinion, automatically shifting on AT is slower than MT but if you know how to do it properly, manual shifting on AT might be faster than MT.

 

[Gringo1960]

Oh boy. Here we go….

 

[OverRev]

This is my first AT sports car among the 15+ in the past, including Z4, M3, M2. Really hard to convince myself buying an auto Supra last yr, but It completely changed my mind after driving it for couple weeks, and took it to track in the 3rd week. For those who really care about a car that's more engaging, gives more mechanical connections and feedback. It's best to get one thats "purely manuel" - not only just manuel gearbox but also with cable throttle, hydraulic steering and handbrake (guess this is why those older JDM sports cars all went up in value). The manual supra is not gonna give you a pure manual sports car feeling, period. IMO, just stick with the ZF8 which shifts faster, has better fuel economy, quicker acceleration and higher top speed, plus comfy at traffic jam.

 

[mokleen]

I bought an auto because that was what was available at the time...and interest rate was super low (2.29%) and it was at MSRP. MT seems nice, I wouldn't mind it, but I'm not going to pull my pants down and get fucked by a dealer

 

[FLtrackdays]

This is my first AT sports car among the 15+ in the past, including Z4, M3, M2. Really hard to convince myself buying an auto Supra last yr, but It completely changed my mind after driving it for couple weeks, and took it to track in the 3rd week. For those who really care about a car that's more engaging, gives more mechanical connections and feedback. It's best to get one thats "purely manuel" - not only just manuel gearbox but also with cable throttle, hydraulic steering and handbrake (guess this is why those older JDM sports cars all went up in value). The manual supra is not gonna give you a pure manual sports car feeling, period. IMO, just stick with the ZF8 which shifts faster, has better fuel economy, quicker acceleration and higher top speed, plus comfy at traffic jam.

I bought an auto because that was what was available at the time...and interest rate was super low (2.29%) and it was at MSRP. MT seems nice, I wouldn't mind it, but I'm not going to pull my pants down and get fucked by a dealer

Wow! Well said by both of ya & great points
Both apply to me

 

[Rhane]

This is my first AT sports car among the 15+ in the past, including Z4, M3, M2. Really hard to convince myself buying an auto Supra last yr, but It completely changed my mind after driving it for couple weeks, and took it to track in the 3rd week. For those who really care about a car that's more engaging, gives more mechanical connections and feedback. It's best to get one thats "purely manuel" - not only just manuel gearbox but also with cable throttle, hydraulic steering and handbrake (guess this is why those older JDM sports cars all went up in value). The manual supra is not gonna give you a pure manual sports car feeling, period. IMO, just stick with the ZF8 which shifts faster, has better fuel economy, quicker acceleration and higher top speed, plus comfy at traffic jam.

Now that my MT Supra is in the shop getting ppf + tint and I'm driving the FRS again in the snow, I almost wish I went AT because the MT Supra doesn't feel as "raw" as I thought it would be. Definitely an amazing car and feels more engaging than the AT, but I sure wish I had those upshift burps + not have to shift in SE Michigan rush hour traffic (for when I bring it to the office lol)

 

[mokleen]

Now that my MT Supra is in the shop getting ppf + tint and I'm driving the FRS again in the snow, I almost wish I went AT because the MT Supra doesn't feel as "raw" as I thought it would be. Definitely an amazing car and feels more engaging than the AT, but I sure wish I had those upshift burps + not have to shift in SE Michigan rush hour traffic (for when I bring it to the office lol)

YES! I have a friend who let me drive his MT and it still felt numb...it was cool to row gears, but it was still numb. I don't know man.

 

[Rhane]

YES! I have a friend who let me drive his MT and it still felt numb...it was cool to row gears, but it was still numb. I don't know man.

Yeah numb is a better term but I do admit that most of the newer manuals regardless of brand seem to feel that way to me(I'm also just a picky person). I will still enjoy my MT Supra to the max though unless Nissan decides to release a new GTR

 

[Stvee]

I bought an auto because that was what was available at the time...and interest rate was super low (2.29%) and it was at MSRP. MT seems nice, I wouldn't mind it, but I'm not going to pull my pants down and get fucked by a dealer

There are plenty of dealers selling the manuals at MSRP now. Just got an allocation for a manual one at MSRP last week.

As far as the numb feeling goes, I'm sure there will be plenty of aftermarket shifters available before too long. Hopefully AutoSolutions does one. They always had one of the better shifters for the M cars.

 

[Supraluv]

I wanted the manual but the wife wanted me to get the auto because I already had 3 manual cars at home and she wanted an auto in case she wanted to drive it. I relented and was able to get the auto much earlier than I thought and I am not missing the manual at all.. happy with the auto.

 

[BMWAF]

The manual supra is not gonna give you a pure manual sports car feeling, period. IMO, just stick with the ZF8 which shifts faster, has better fuel economy, quicker acceleration and higher top speed, plus comfy at traffic jam.

We call this confirmation bias.

 

[FuzzyRev]

Let's see if ol' RT can help clarify the OP's wonderings..:::cracks knuckles::::

Having owned both versions, they're both amazing cars, but the one thing that nine out of ten people don't mention, is the MT's new 3.46 rear differential (and LSD programming). Unless you've driven both vehicles, either extensively, or simply back-to-back, it's impossible to understand just how different the overall character of the car is. Coupled with the GS6, the B58 delivers its torque in a very unique way compared to the ZF8HP/3.15 combo. Therefore, the two versions aren't nearly as apples-to-apples as you'd think.

Also, unless you're Dhalsim from Street Fighter II, the clutch pedal and shift lever location force you to sit noticeably closer to the dash & steering wheel than in the AT, which makes the overall interactions feel much more purposeful and focused (something you'll appreciate even more on the track). As opposed to the more laid-back ergonomics & driving position you could get away with in the AT, the MT's 'input-personality' seems more high-strung, but in the best kind of way.

Sponsored