Hey guys,
Ive had my is250 for a couple of months and I love everything about the car but the performance. I just got a bonus from work and Im thinking about trading in my IS250 and getting a used is350 for a couple grand more.
The problem is the is350 doesnt have an manual transmission option and Ive swore by M/T cars since I was old enough to drive. I drive my gf's g35 and it seems boring but I could probably get used to it. Have any of you diehard manual transmission guys went to an automatic and do you miss changing your own gears?

 

Yeah I kinda miss it. All of my cars have been manual, until i got the IS. But its not all that bad having the auto. You still have the sport mode when you want to hold a gear. You'll get use to it. And you never have to worry about missing a shift.

 

Yeah, been there.

I owned an R33 GT-R before the IS, and I think some cars are better suited as manuals and some are not. I suppose the ISx50 is kind of a luxury car and therefore designed to be an automatic. Driving an automatic is definitely more comfortable and that was the main reason why I bought my Lexus.

Then again I'd never want an automatic R33 GT-R. (Nissan agrees with me since such car doesn't even exist)

 

when i first learned manual i couldn't get enough of it! these days, i just want to get in my car and drive off with a cup of coffee in my hand.
if i were to trade my 2IS for a stickshift, i'd get a evo 10. =).
Autos aren't all that bad ^^. i do miss manual though.

aaannnndddd you will get +100HP from a 350

 

Manual has its pros and cons, but most of my daily driving habits don't result in me missing it, when I'm not driving it. Also, not all manual cars are created equal, meaning some just don't deliver, be it in one area or another. Rather than missing a clutch and shifter, I prefer to enjoy what the IS has to offer.

So far as engaging the driver goes, I think most will realize they can still work/perfect their driving skill, even with the car doing the shifting for them. As a driver, there is lots of fun and experience to be had. Take a test drive with an open mind and see for yourself.

 

i miss the 6 speed on my Evo.

 

it will be def more comfortable for auto.. but def less boring if you drive manual...
Living it traffic for my DD i would drive auto only cuz i'm less tired from driving...
but if i get a 2nd car i would def get manual...

 

I don't miss driving stick with my is350... because I still have my previous car with 5-speed and I can drive it whenever I feel the need to shift. The automatic makes for smooth commuting though...

 

i agree.

i would get manual as a weekend car/tracking day car. but i just like auto for DD.

 

my back hurts less now after driving auto DD for stop-and-go traffic. BUT, still miss shiftin gears regardless. its a whole man and machine thing .

 

I'm still mixed on this one. Partly because I do miss the manual, but when I test drove the 250, I felt the manual gearbox wasn't all that great... felt sluggish and not as crisp as my previous cars. Now that's not to say I wouldn't get a manual had it come for the 350, but the auto seems to suit the car better.

 

The 350's auto is very nice, but it's an auto for sure. Only the F's gearbox is a full and fair substitute for a good manual because it truly does both. Plus if I get bored, I just drive the Supra. But the F never misses a shift and doesn't let me do anything bad (like downshift into 2 when I wanted 4th).

As soon as you step on the gas in the 350, you'll stop missing the stick. I did when I got mine.

 

Manual to auto = painful.

Unless you have another manual car to drive


but in your case, an IS350 auto is very, very nice. I don't think I would choose a manual for the 350 if I had one, I just wished you could truly manually select your gears with the auto transmission like the IS-F.

 

Yeah I think I couldnt go through with it, I love my manual. I think maybe in a year or so Ill go out and get a BMW 3 series so that way I can keep my manual and get more power. The ISF is out of the question lol, I dont like to spend over 25 grand for a car.

 

Like lobux said, as soon as you hit the gas in the 350, you won't care about the car shifting gears for you... just enjoy the ride. =)