Before I bought my 5th gen max I had a 3rd gen GXE. Both are automatic. It seems like my 5th gen has a slower first gear then my third gen. Once I get into second it just takes off. For example, when i run up against some ppl they beat me through first but after that its over for them. Any solutions or ideas on how to increase my first gear speed cuz it kinda drives me crazy. I know this has been discussed many times but since I'm writing about speed and gears my max seems to have bursts of speed. For example, i could be going about 40 or something and then do WOT and the car will pause for a second then take off. My 3rd gen max did this also but the 3rd gen has even more of a pause. What do you guys think?

 

well, if first gear seemed quicker in your 3rd gen, it sounds like nissan decided to make 1st gear a little taller, making if feel as if its slower....as for going at 40 and then doing wot, its the transmission shifting back...

if you want to make your car shift quicker, get a vb mod.

 

Part of the seemingly slower acceleration is due to the bigger wheels on the 5th gen.

 

I agree that 1st gear is a little tall. Does anyone know if the auto 02 Altima SE has a shorter first gear? My GF has one and it feels much torquier from a standstill.

 

It sounds like it isn't just my car that seems slower in first gear. Thanks alot. I was just making sure.

 

thats because first gear (auto) will run you up to 45 after the shift. That is a really long gear!!, second only lasts about 30 miles per hour. thats why second seems shorter

 

I always felt the biggest problem was the slow shifting from first to second. Even if Im ahead in first as soon as the shift kicks in im done. This is great for luxury but terrible for speed. I would think the best (probally only) alternatives is the VB mod or Drop Resistor mod.

 

drop resistor mod is great, ill jump on em if they are starting to catch up, or if they are infront of me, my shifts are faster than the competition almost always! (i have auto!)

 

Instead of people stating feelings and the like ... why not post technical data.

I looked a bit for the 3rd gen 4A ratios, but couldn't find them, any one look on the firewall for the code? When someone does, we can compare to the A33 4A Maxima.

1st - 2.785
2nd - 1.545
3rd - 1.000
4th - 0.694

F/D 3.789
Any one have for the 3rd gen?

 

VG30E is also alot torquier than a VQ. VG makes ALOT of low end power compared to a VQ. The redline on my 90 SE 5spd was like 6K RPM but it seemed to pull to almost 7K RPM each time- even with 340K miles on the odo. I doubt the gearing is diff on the 3rd gen from a 5th gen auto. My 95 Sentra 1.6L Auto would hit almost 45 in 1st, 70ish in 2nd and like 115MPH in 3rd.

 

SE being the 3.5 engine? No, it just has a torque-monster under the hood. The main diff I find between 3.0 and 3.5 is low-end torque, the difference is major.

 

Yeah that too ... damn I missed that 3.5L = massive tq, and if it had a 5A instead of the 4A, then well, yes, even more of a difference.