Hey,
Im about to buy a 97 or 98 Max. I dont know what i should get!!! Should i go with a SE 5 Speed with all the goodies or a GLE Auto?? I just dont know! I know how to drive a 5 speed bc thats what i been driving with. What do you think? Also, what would be your alls first mods? (Besides rims) CAI? Exhaust? HELP



Sean

 

if you have been driving manual, then you know the answer to your question

 

I just bought a 97 SE 5 speed with leather today. It took me 5 weeks of searching daily within 200 miles of my house to find a nice one.I used every possible means I had to search and i almost gave up and bought an automatic but once I test drove this 5 speed, man I was glad I was patient.

 

if u dont get the 5 speed u will be kicking urself for years! lol

 

^^^agreed. I was lucky and got my SE 5spd. I look forward to it every time i drive and i've had it a couple years now...you won't regret waiting for a 5spd.

 

get the 5 speed, you'll get a lot more power out of your VQ that way too.

 

i have an auto, but ive driven my friends 5 speed (both 98s) and his is just more fun to drive... its like mine WITH mods, but its stock. lol, why not get the 5 speed?

 

I just got a '96 5-pds SE and am very glad I did. Deffinietely go with the 5-spd

 

5speed is fun, then again when I had auto it was more relaxing to drive around town.

 

an auto with all the bolt on mods...is still a bit slower than a stock 5spd to put the difference in power in perspective

5spd is more fun to drive...but traffic jams are very annoying
you obviously know all this cause you drive 5spd

i don't see why you'd go back to auto now? haha
get that 5spd

 

i drove a friends 2000 328 ci and the clutch and shifter feel is 9743293294 times different our's is so much easier to just pick up and drive, the bimmer takes some getting used to, point is, dont get an auto, u'll regret it in the end cuz even the 328 in auto is no fun, just feels like you have no control over it, and the fact that the max trans n clutch is pretty smooth as long as when u replace things you do it right, its well worth it!

 

Depends on your needs.

Most guys here are car guys and love 5spd. HOwever I have an AUTO and will never turn back to a 5spd for the max. Driving in rush hour is relaxing, cruise control is nice for long distances, I can eat and use my cell phone etc...it is all personal.

The best solution is to have both.

 

I have an auto and hate it.

 

I drive an automatic, but for the past few months I've been searching for a manual to switch with. I've just finally found one in good condition over 300 miles away and I pick it up on monday. Get the manual or YOU WILL REGRET IT!

 

If you've ever driven any manual car = G E T A 5 - S P E E D !!!

If you cave and get an auto don't come back here a-postin' "how can I make my auto faster" and you're going to want to make it more responsive after driving a 5-speed even if that 5-speed was a Yugo. But know that nothing is going to make it quicker than a 5-speed conversion.

 

i sold my auto 95 specifically to get a stick. please get the stick. too bad our 5 speed trannies are some POS.

 

Auto's work fairly well. The best part is that you can have a fast track car and let the wife get groceries in it too.

The only thing my wife notices is that its a bit louder with the exhaust but not much.

 

So basically I'm bout to waste space by saying what has been said 100 times already. Get the 5-speed. I have one and use the cruise control for long distances hell even short distances cause I'm lazy and I've never had it before and I can still use a cell phone and drive with no problem. No eating in the car however.

 

I agree with the rest of the bunch... 5 speed all the way, BUT if you live in the city, and are going to daily drive with it... maybe the auto is better for you. But for me, the manual is great... I can use the cruise control on the highway too... and eat and talk.. =] straight alignment and quick shifting helps, hehe

 

Yea, thats something i appreciate about my automatic... my girl friend can drive it. If im tired (or...otherly occupied *cough* drunk) its nice to know that she can drive it confidently, so can my mom

 

I've got a 96 automatic that I bought new. I LOVE this car. 6 years later it is still one of the quickest family sedans on the road. The choice was easy for me, the wife can't drive a stick. If I were single, or could afford both, the 5-speed would be my choice. But I have no complaints about the automatic. Again, I LOVE THIS CAR!!

 

You guys gotta teach your ladies how to drive stick...

This is a question that can't really be answered by anyone but you. If you like autos, get an auto. If you like 5spds, get the 5spd. If you don't care either way, get the 5spd.

There is a price to pay for all of that speed/responsiveness of the 5spd. That's reliability. The tranny has it's flaws (diffy bearings, notchy to name a couple), but IMO it's worth it.

 

my lady does drive a stick...not...well

 

....WEll maybe not the biggest but defly big enough to really suck! I bought a 96 auto because i gave up on the manual hunt about 9 months ago and i have never stopped hunting for that manual. My g/f has a 90 stick and i beg her to let me drive it everywhere even though i have a 96 at home. Manual is so much better in everyway: Speed, sport, and spiffyness (ran out of s words). Do yourself a big favor and find yourself a manual. If you don't, send me your leads.hehe