I just recently test drove a 97 max se with 5 speed, drove very sweet, my question is the shifter and shifting action felt a little vague and a little lose is this normal? I'm comparing the shifting action to my 85 crx si.

 

Not normal.

 

If you compare with a Honda's 5-speed, the Nissan's does feel a little more vague and loose--not too much more though. I had an older 88 Accord, and the 5-speed was much more precise than my current 95 Maxima.

 

I think you'll find that this rule generally applies; the more powerful you make a car, the harder (hence more costly) it is to make a manual tranny for that engine with very good shifting feel. Hondas are genrally 4 bangers with not too much torque, so the tranny for them doesn't have to be that robust. Our VQ, with 205 lb ft of torque, needs a way more robust tranny. As an extreme example, ask an M5 owner with the 6 speed. The clutch on that car feels like it weighs a ton, you can tell an M5 6 speed driver b/c one of his calf muscles is much bigger than the other With 370 ft-lbs of torque to deal with, that tranny has REALLY got to be built tough!

DW

 

I have a 90 Accord 5-speed also and the shifter clicks into each gear. My Mazda 5-speed also has a nice feel. The maxima's shifter sucks. For the price you pay for the car, I'd expect the shifter to be shorter, more precise, and at least not vibrate with the engine. I'm getting a Pacesetter short throw shifter and will change out the shifter bushing. Hopefully this will help with the shifting precision.

 

I don't think that the max has a bushing between the tranny and the engine. Hondas 4 bangers had the bushing to suppress the 4 banger vibration, but the Max with its V-6, doesn't generate so much vibration as to need a bushing between the tranny and the engine. There's still vibration, but its not out of control. Its good to have some vibration, keeps you in touch with your vehicle

Anyway, what I said is a genralization, don't take it as fact. There will always be exceptions. If you're going to build a $30K car, costs will have to be kept low, so things like the tranny will be built with not as much "put into it" as would be done in, say, a Ferrari. There's no doubt that when the Maxima was built, Nissan had to compromise, especially when they went from Gen 3 to Gen 4. I like the way they did it, b/c they kept their eyes on the prize: the great engine and the sporty ride.

DW