I was just about to respond to that message with a little piece of my mind.

awsm66, I LOVE my automatic too. And i agree 100% that our trannies don't have problems. IF you treat them right, they should last easily for 200K+ miles. And I mean EASY. But 95% of the people in this world neglect trannies. They never change fluid, they never check fuild level or condition on a regular basis, they let their trannies overheat in the summertime, no cooler! You get my point.

I have never heard of a 3rd gen auto tranny breaking under 150K miles that hasn't been neglected in it's lifetime. "oh, I just did a couple neutral drops, I didn't think it would hurt anything." "You gotta change the fluid in our trannies?? I thought they were nonservicable." "What's a tranny cooler?" etc... I hear this ALL the time.

Bottom line, our automatics don't have an issue. They are well built. Take care of it and it will take care of you. And I do think that VE Autos are better built than VG autos. But no Nissan auto tranny should be breaking at 100K miles like the stories I've heard.

 

hey ive got a 1993 VE 5spd and a 1998 altima auto. i gave the 98 altima to my wife. i cant live without my 5spd. however i think i need a knock sensor. ive got about 146K and i dont think it has ever been changed.

 

Don't get me wrong, mine had 176K on it before it went out, and although it was family owned (mine)and pretty well taken care of, I can find nothing in the records that show more than maybe 1 or 2 fluid changes. I can also guarantee that it wasn't beat on, since my mom and my sister owned it before I rescued it. (sis got a new car, and she wanted to get rid of it) So, in some ways, that confirms Aaron's post. Guess I'm just still bitter about spending $1800 to get it rebuilt....

 

Well, that is all well and good as it is true; however, there is one important point here: the car is used! Unless you have owned and taken care of the car since day-1, the auto tranny issue would not be an issue. But, if you are buying it used--as is everyone looking at a 3rd gen--the condition of the tranny is questionable. Even people who claim they take care of their cars even tend to neglet the tranny.

If this kid is looking for an automatic, he should be prepared to replace it since the odds are the tranny was not carefully maintained. If is he luckly enough to get on with the tranny already replaced, then he, himself, can now take steps to preserve the "new" one: change fluid, install cooler, etc.

 

Man, think about it. When you initially learned to drive you couldn't relax and take drinks in a automatic either. I have owned both engines in both trim with both trannies and trust me, once you get used to it you will be so much happier with the manual in this car. When I was younger and delivered pizzas I had the 92 SE and I could drink, smoke a cig, talk on my cell, and drive the stick at once although its not recommended. Bottom line is ask anyone here who has a manual anything even a biga$$ toptwo twelve spd dble clutchin rig and they will tell you drivin it becomes second nature. If you have any interest in performance get over it and get the 5 spd. If not or if you have BIG custom turbo plans, which for your budget and VE engine does not sound like you do, than get the auto. Thats MHO.

 

i owned a ve auto and i hated the auto matic to slow in ****ing gears ands it just made me aggrivated driving it while racing other cars . when my first ve was hit i went out and got a another ve 5spd i could of gotten a 4th gen but you see them ****s everywhere and hardly anyone hooks up a 3rd gen bk and only a small few knew of the ve engine. ii love this car . the 5spd let you take advantage of your engine a points you would have shifted on the auto matic. the only time i miss my auto is when its raining and when i am tired other than that i love the five spd it's madd fun to drive. when i first got it i hardly knew how to drive stick but i learned and know can drive in any situation. any way good luck buy the 5spd

 

Hey at least you guys can get a 3rd Gen VE Auto... the most we have down under is a 3rd Gen VG Auto... also forgot... we do have skylines here cheap!!!

 

i find city driving to be just as much fun as any other time. crusin at 4k in 1st gear mine and im sure others VE's have so much torque you just punch it and the tires rip loose and spin to red line then chirp second and take off its so much fun i dont even know how to desrib it i even look forward to being the first to a red light how many autos can do that

 

ME!!! On my old tires before I got my Yokos, which RULE BTW.

I am one automatic that is proud to say I can do that without nitrous.

 

You're right about that... but you are hearing the stories because these trannies are made by borg warner, not nissan.

i have a 5 speed and love it but I wish it was stronger... like a Getrag!

 

I had a 93 VE 5spd and before I got it I swore to my dad that I would NEVER drive a stick shift. I have an automatic Benz now and I HATE the fact that it has no clutch. Drives me up the wall. I can't tell you how many times I hit the parking brake going up into the driveway at my house cause I'm trying to push in the clutch! I used to drink, smoke, talk on the cell, everything when I drove my Max, once you get used to it, you have no problem getting around it.