Are Automatic SE really worthy of the SE badge?

(This is going to be a hot one! But it will show that we all love our Maxs)

 

Assuming that SE stands for Sports Edition, mine is definately an SE. When you can smoke 80-90% of the cars on the road, I would say that's an SE.

Got LSD?

 

We know the higher models only comes in autos, so maybe the manuals that aren't real SE's.

 

Of course it is. Why do you ask.

Option #2 all the way!

 

not trying to flame but please give me one REAL sports car thats an auto. no bmw's im talking about ferraris, porches and that new 911 automatic doesnt count!

 

the suspension is what makes the SE an SE.. both cars have the ability to drift around corners... in a straight line we've got an advantage... but if they leave it in 2nd or 3rd they can have as much fun as we don on curvy roads...


...no I'm not trying to wuss out of a fight

 

But the Maxima isn't a real sports car now is it (although some people here think of it as one)?

 

MB CLK 55 AMG

 

ONLY 5 SPDS ARE SE's

 

true... true...

 

That's why they're standard while the auto is an option, right?

 

cmon Kev you know what I'm trying to say...How often do you see real nascar racers with automagics??!?!?!

 

You're trying to make excuses now..... tisk tisk.

You fear automagics.

 

OOooooo Puuuuulleeeeezzz!

 

Actually, most real race cars don't have an actual gear box. Most have a sem-automatic slushbox...

And besides, who wants an SE anyway, Much GXE love!!!

 

Pulleys? 3.25

You're going to start too?

 

I give up you automagic folks are impossable!!! But truly it is a question of prefrence. I mean it's a fact that 5-Speeds are faster and have better times. It's also a fact that with a 5-Speed you have better gas usage +2-5 mpg I hear. But I wouldn't wanna drive an automagic, it's too damn boring...

 

Actually, you're not quite right. Yes, they have semiautomatic transmissions, but they arent slushboxes. Slushbox implies torque converter. The semi auto gearboxes in race cars are manual transmissions that have the clutch mechanically actuated by the computer instead of the drivers foot.

So far, Ferarri's "F1" transmission is the only street application of this technology. All the rest are creatively shifted slushboxes.

 

Faster if you know how to drive it... better times if you can race. Manual owners are deceived... *shakes head*

 

well we all know the keyword is "if" but I still like my 5 speed...the honnies in school digg it I mean barely anyone in my gay a$$ school can drive a stick...

 

too much emphasis is placed on stick vs automatic. Several contributing factors lead to a decision in getting one or the other. If I didn't have to commute every day in sucky DC area traffic I would have gotten a stick no doubt. But that is besides the point. Both stick and auto can be made to go pretty fast.

 

Ferrari 456GTA. Believe it or not, more than 80% of the 456GT owners chose the automatic transmission vs. the 456GTM manual transmission. Corvettes are sold more with automatics. All mercedes AMG models that are sold in the US come with an automatic, E55, C43, C32, C36, S55, CLK55, CL55, ect... I would call them sports cars.

The only automatic type transmission that belongs in a sports car IMO would be a sequential type manual transmission like on the Ferrari 360 Modena or the European-spec BMW M3SMT.

 

i give up you automagic folks are too damn proud j/k I don't like auto's too boring IMO

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by unferth33
[B]the suspension is what makes the SE an SE.. both cars have the ability to drift around corners... in a straight line we've got an advantage... but if they leave it in 2nd or 3rd they can have as much fun as we don on curvy roads...


I have to agree with the above statement...it is the handling that makes a SE an SE. Personally I have a fully loaded SE with 5 speed trans and I love it.

 

At this point I guess I'm in the minority.

Wish there were more voting options though - my wife still expects the cars that have permanent residence in our driveway to be sticks, so I'm not forced into automatic by that issue.

Are auto SE's real SE's, yes. Are they completely in the spirit of "sport", no. Part of the definition of "sport" as it applies to cars is "involvement" and "fun to drive", which is where the automatic falls a little short. Sorry guys, but the idea of needing only to move the shifter just once during the whole trip from A to B (whether it's 1 mile or 200) just doesn't quite cut it for "sport". And if it shifts at inappropriate times it's being fought against (mentally, at least) instead of worked with in harmony. And that's just not sporty or fun.

Norm

 

Hmmm,

when Nissan shows of its Maxima SE in commercials, which tranny are they showing?? I seem to recall one commercial where a gen 5 is just standing there, watching the sunset. The sun starts to go away and the SE blasts off after it. A quick change of view into the cabin just in time to see the driver shoving the gearbox from 1 to 2. He stops, having caught the sunset once again. Victory for the SE

If the Nissan commercail is showing the GXE or GLE, what tranny do you see?? (The GXE DOEs have a choice, you know)

When the motoring press test the SE, which tranny do they ALWAYS choose??

Whenever you see the BEST 0-60 time for the Maxima, which tranny did it??

For those who say that you can make the auto faster with mods, if we apply those same mods to the 5 speed (except things like the VB mod, of course), what happens to the 5 speed?


For those who bring up the numbers and say more autos sell than Manuals, is more always better? More popular, yes, but better?

In 2002, the new Maxima SE buyer will have a choice between a 6 SPEED manual, or a 4 speed auto. The 6 speed is going to be available ONLY on the SE. Why?

Will the real SEs please stand up!

DW

 

uh-oh~~~

kinda makes you wonder what i voted for this poll, eh?

 

I personally think the SE or SE-R versions should be stick-only. I mean, why get the sportiest variant of a car when you can't really drive it sportingly. Sure, you can handle curves like the other SE's, but Nissan's sludge-o-matic takes away its sport-driver image by making it much slower.

 

well, Maximas are not really 'sport' cars...and without automatic tranny, they can't sell as many cars as they would with auto....

 

Ouch I think some one laid down the details on the SE's, hmm 6 spd only in SE's I wonder why, yeah I remember that commercial it was a 5 spd. So I think this case is closed. Thanks for all oyur input Automajics
Don't worry we still love ya

 

... bunch of haters... we still own jOO!

 

Yah I guess you lost it's ok like Climax said we still luv ya...

 

Canadian Max!

 

Canadian Max, SE with a stick!

 

Lost? No...

5 speeds

 

I din't read this hole post but what does auto vs manual mean anyway. Look at the benz clk 55 amg...it's auto and smokes most of whats out there.

 

A guy named Don in Texas has an automagic 4th gen. Maxima. His car is real slowwwwww. Maybe you 5spd. guys would like to make a few runs with Don?

 

hehehehe. you SE boys are funnie.

 

I have a question for all of you manual people? Which transmission is the more expensive option? Which transmission can be made to be quicker than the human reflexes?(Does the F1 gearbox come into mind of the 911 turbo?) Which transmission on the Maxima has the highest miles per gallon? Which transmission on the maxima with a vb mod and a level 10 torque converter can give another transmission a run for its money?

For all of those who drive sticks,I guess I'll give you the answer to these questions. Automatics!!!!!!(GXE Rules, SE drules)

 

Actually, an automatic with a few simple mods can be made much faster than a manual. With just a couple small things ti increase shift pressure and make them firmer, and then a higher stall torque converter and a similarly modded auto will always beat a stick. The TC is what makes all the difference however, without it the auto can't really hang...

Look at the LS1 guys, the ones who have manuals always wish they had autos when the others with autos and higher stalls beat them...