Hello members,

I was wondering if someone can tell me if there is a big difference in the 2008 5AT vs the 2009+ 7 AT. Aside from the 2 difference in gears and fuel efficiency, does it come with the downshift rev match on the 2008 models ?

Aside from that, is there a big difference in driving dynamics? Your feedback is very much appreciated =)

 

I have driven both and own the 5. The 7 speed is "smoother" and your RPM's are not as high on freeway cruising speed. With the 5 your RPMs are pretty high cruising at 65+. City driving you will be switching through gears much more as well but this is not such a big deal at least to me, as you mentioned you do get a slight fuel efficiency boost.

If you are asking because you can get a good price on an 08 but the 7at is a deciding factor for you I would say go with the 08.

 

thanks for the super fast reply !

well if the RPM's are going to be high, i can always put it in DS mode and drive from there as I intended to in the first place. I found this nice deal on a 08 that I might go for but i'm not sure if thats a good thing considering the 09 has a 7at gearbox.

too bad I can't find a 08 manual or I would have taken it hands down. Does the 2008 come with the downshift rev match ?

 

Yes the 08 blips the throttle and has downshift revmatching

 

I have owened both an 08 5 at and a current 09 7 at.. I want to say hands down that the 7 AT is the better tranny. way better on gas and way smoother. I would not want to go back to a 5 AT after have had the 7 AT now.

 

I use to have 2007 G35x sedan with 5AT and now 2009 G37x coupe with 7AT, difference is noticeable in fuel economy even G35 engine is smaller. Rev works perfectly, but it takes time to get use of it. I wish I have pedal shifters and manual shifts are faster, I tried them on Audi A3 and they are much faster than G.

 

Test drive both. You will be able to decide for yourself. I didn't like the 7sp at all. She said it felt so much less sporty, I agree.

 

I actually felt opposite of what the other guys felt here. I have an 08, and I love my 5AT. Whenever I take my car in for service, they give me an 09 7AT, and I can't stand it. The shifts seem so much harsher than my car, and overall less refined. That's just my two cents though...

 

I have a 2010 sedan with the 7AT. My mother actually has a 2010 M35 with the 5AT. I can't stand it. Compared to the 7AT, it upshifts way too easily.

But that's just me.

 

The solution is to get the 6mt

 

ha ha yeah get the 6spd... you DO NOT want the coupe in a auto... lol

 

depends on what you want.
I like to drive softly most of the time, keeping RPM low, so I would prefer 7at.
Some people who like to keep there RPM high (feels faster b/c of more noise), so they like 5at. (more sporty)
I driven both at the dealership. I don't really care about the fuel efficiency. And there is not much difference anyways. but
I like 5at when I was pressing hard on gas, keeping RPMs higher, felt I was driving super fast car. When I drove 7AT, I felt it was more smooth and quieter.
I thought that, If I want to drive fast, I always can use my paddle shifter or DS mode, so I choose 7AT.

 

i have a 7at and whenever I get a loaner its a 5at. 5at feels jerky and def. not as refined as the 7at. people say the 5at feels faster cause of the gearing but you can just put your car in sport mode and shift the gears yourself

 

LOL, so in conclusion.. it's a user choice, only real way to answer that is test drive each yourself. Personally though based on what you said, I wouldn't settle for less then the 6MT.

 

Thought it would be interesting to put a $ tag on the best case using EPA for 5 vs 7 over 100,000 miles. Figuring 08 at 24epa and 09+ at 27epa. Using $3 a gallon for gas, savings was $1,500. Now granted nobody's going to be getting full epa over 100,000 miles and at worst case both cars are only 1 Mpg different.

$1000+ is nothing to snease at altough for me I'm sure I'd be looking at the 1MPG difference most of the time... driving economically just hasn't been in my flight plan. I'd be lucky to get a couple free oil changes.