View Poll Results: Do you like your AUTO tranny?
Yes, I love it, there is nothing wrong with an Auto.
47
31.97%
No, I hate it, that's why I have a 5 speed.
16
10.88%
Yes, I like it, but I wished I got a 5 speed.
61
41.50%
No, the Auto is horrible.
23
15.65%
Voters: 147. You may not vote on this poll
Do you like your AUTO tranny?
05-10-2004, 08:51 AM
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 511
I wish my auto was a little less sluggish.
It works pretty good on the freeway, you just push more and it feels great pull, but when you drive slowly, lets say 15-25 miles and suddenly wanna go faster, the tranny waits for like a second before it switches.
This thing makes me crasy.
I ve changed the tranny fluid and it became very responsive and smooth on high speeds, but again, the low speed "changing gears" sucks.
DO YOU GUYS have the same problem???
It works pretty good on the freeway, you just push more and it feels great pull, but when you drive slowly, lets say 15-25 miles and suddenly wanna go faster, the tranny waits for like a second before it switches.
This thing makes me crasy.
I ve changed the tranny fluid and it became very responsive and smooth on high speeds, but again, the low speed "changing gears" sucks.
DO YOU GUYS have the same problem???
05-10-2004, 01:03 PM
#44
Quick update. After my accident I was FORCED to rent a Cavalier from ENTERPRISE and boy was I ****ed. This POS 4 banger has a better auto trans than the crap on the max. In this thing when I slow down to 10mph at a light and it turns green, as soon as I put any pressure on the gas pedal it immediately downshifts to 1st. ****ING A.
05-11-2004, 10:05 AM
#45
curiousity
Originally Posted by 97MaximaSE
i like it after my vb mod that i just got done today...otherwise no i hated it
05-11-2004, 12:58 PM
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 511
Originally Posted by Big D
Quick update. After my accident I was FORCED to rent a Cavalier from ENTERPRISE and boy was I ****ed. This POS 4 banger has a better auto trans than the crap on the max. In this thing when I slow down to 10mph at a light and it turns green, as soon as I put any pressure on the gas pedal it immediately downshifts to 1st. ****ING A.
05-11-2004, 03:28 PM
#47
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 17
Originally Posted by Mikesburn
I wish my auto was a little less sluggish.
It works pretty good on the freeway, you just push more and it feels great pull, but when you drive slowly, lets say 15-25 miles and suddenly wanna go faster, the tranny waits for like a second before it switches.
This thing makes me crasy.
I ve changed the tranny fluid and it became very responsive and smooth on high speeds, but again, the low speed "changing gears" sucks.
DO YOU GUYS have the same problem???
It works pretty good on the freeway, you just push more and it feels great pull, but when you drive slowly, lets say 15-25 miles and suddenly wanna go faster, the tranny waits for like a second before it switches.
This thing makes me crasy.
I ve changed the tranny fluid and it became very responsive and smooth on high speeds, but again, the low speed "changing gears" sucks.
DO YOU GUYS have the same problem???
Yes, I noticed this too. I test-drove (two) 97 Max Auto's and they both do what you described. This was the only thing about the entire car that made me feel uneasy about buying it. Seems like it needs time to think before down-shifting. Great car though.
05-11-2004, 05:20 PM
#50
I don't like the auto at all. I'm 17 so my parents handed me down the '95 Max. I LOVE my car, there is no doubt about it. But the tranny is definetly leaving the car.
I'm all about having fun in my car, and since I live in TN, I would like to take advantage of the mountains that are across from my house. So in the summer I will slowly start buying a transmission and all the parts needed to convert.
But probably in a month or so a tranny cooler will go in, with an autometer tranny gauge, and the drop resistor mod will happen too put me over for a little bit.
I'm all about having fun in my car, and since I live in TN, I would like to take advantage of the mountains that are across from my house. So in the summer I will slowly start buying a transmission and all the parts needed to convert.
But probably in a month or so a tranny cooler will go in, with an autometer tranny gauge, and the drop resistor mod will happen too put me over for a little bit.
05-11-2004, 05:28 PM
#51
Leave O/D off if your going under 40mph, it will feel much more responsive. The whole problem with the sluggish feeling in the city is from the Torque Converter Locking up. If you listen to the engine, once it shifts into 4th gear, like a split second later it locks up, almost like a 5th gear. I can noticably hear it with my exhaust, and almost hate it. So im used to driving around in the city (if im under 40) with Overdrive off. It seems much more quicker because its not in 4th gear, so you dont need to downshift as often.
I like my auto, sure stick would be fun and quicker, but it just makes my car more of a sleeper. Once the new tranny is in (courtesy of nissan
) I will throw in the Tranny cooler, and wire the Drop Resistor mod to WOT only.
I like my auto, sure stick would be fun and quicker, but it just makes my car more of a sleeper. Once the new tranny is in (courtesy of nissan
) I will throw in the Tranny cooler, and wire the Drop Resistor mod to WOT only.
05-11-2004, 06:44 PM
#52
Donating Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 96
Originally Posted by Big D
I hate the fact that there's more drive train loss and the fact that the POS doesn't downshift when you need it. You pull up to a light and you start to slow down and the light turns green. There I am in 3rd or 4th going 5mph and it and it takes forever to speed up unless I step on it. It should automatically downshift to 1st whenever you slow down to like 10mph.
again.I've got an automatic, mostly because I got the car when I didn't care about cars or driving and just wanted something that rolled fairly reliably, and it's a nice relaxed drive to or from anywhere. I like being in complete control of whatever I'm doing though, so I'm going stick as soon as it's practical for me to do so.
05-12-2004, 01:22 PM
#57
Originally Posted by bird89sc
valve body mod, there are i think 2 places that do em. they are only 350 for the month of may (normally like 450), look in the group buy section for details. they make your car shift quicker and harder under heavy throttle
good joob man
05-12-2004, 02:54 PM
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 390
Originally Posted by Megaman
Auto vs. 5 speed, I hear it all the time. What's your opinion. I'd like to know because I am planning to buy a 1997 Maxima SE Auto and I want to know if I am making a big mistake. Thanks.
I bought an auto and like it. I drive alot. Traffic, highway i see it all. The 5spd got annoying and i like the fact that anyone can drive my car in an emergency.
Thers also a little overdrive off button that makes the car more responsive. I get some thrills even tho its not 5spd. To be completely honest, i do miss my 5spd and drive it on occasion but as far as a daily driver goes....AUTOMAGIC all the way baby.
If i were to buy a newer manual trans car it would be a coupe.
05-13-2004, 05:01 AM
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 104
Originally Posted by Magikone69
i wish the now trendy sport shifter automatics where available on maximas back in the 4th gen era, or atleast offered it on the 97+ maximas. it would offer best of both worlds. i like my auto but it does seem to be a lil slugish, but if i had a 5 speed id have no hand to keep my beer in.
05-13-2004, 05:06 AM
#61
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 104
Originally Posted by DAN-O
what kind of mods did you get done? what kind of results? and where can you get it done?
05-17-2004, 08:14 PM
#64
Supposedly one of the benifits of hyper grouding system is more response out of the auto for slow speed downshifting. Even if its a myth its worth a try. A grounding system has a lot more benifits than just that. Where did that article and thread go that claimed 11HP out of a max with just grounding? I saw it one day at school and then couldn't find it again.
05-18-2004, 04:27 AM
#66
Originally Posted by Wisky97SE
Although many times I wish I had a 5speed, I must say I am content with my auto. I have to drive pretty far for work sometimes through NYC traffic and a 5spd would just **** me off. But I can't deny the fact that (assuming I could drive) a 5spd Maxima is about a half a second faster in the 1/4.
05-18-2004, 07:36 AM
#67
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 708
everyone disses our tranny's. so their not the best but ive driven much worse. my 2003 silverado will sometimes bang into gear, refuses to downshift when you go wot on the highway. My friends accord used to slam into every gear for no reason(he said it was normal). My other friends camry is about 3 times more boring than the max. My old subaru legacy tranny blew before 100k miles. My max has over 130k and still shifts fine. Plus you cant compare a new tranny(the mazda3 post up above) to a 4-7 year old tranny. Imagine how the mazda will be shifting 5 years from now. Our trannys could be better but they could also be worse. which is why i got my VB mod
05-18-2004, 03:14 PM
#68
I also wonder why everyone hates this tranny. I don't like the fact that I have an auto but it is a good auto IMO. Lets think about this. When your in a relaxed mood the tranny does a very good job of being luxurious and discrete. But when you want it to kick your @ss it will do that with ease if you take the steps to drive it. Downshifting is one of those steps that helps a lot. IMO, it isn't extremely bad for it and it eliminates the lagging that you guys hate but was actually designed to do. So, depending on your mood the tranny can make the max very comfortable or a easy to drive beast.
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