Okay here is the story: I just bought an 02 SE AT over a month ago. I love the car to death, best vehicle that I have ever owned. But I really wish I had the 6spd... I have done some research on doing a swap for manual but it seems I may be better off to just sell my AT and buy a MT.

The dilemma is I dont know if I can find an MT that is in comparable condition/ mileage to the great deal I got on my AT.

My car has 115,xxx KMS which is about 72,xxx Miles and is in very good condition minus a few minor scratches and tiny rust spots. It is sterling mist with black leather. I believe I could sell this for $10-12,000 CDN

The car I have found locally in the best mileage and condition is 2002 SE 6MT with 154,xxx KMS which is 96,xxx Miles. The condition looks good, I havent seen it in person yet. It is dark blue with beige or whitish leather (not sure exactly, didnt realize they had anything besides black). This car is $7,900 CDN obo
link for the car im looking at http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ143074252

I think I should take the car for an inspection before I make any decisions but I wanted to see what the seasoned maxima owners think if this is a good idea. I also thought I should take it for a spin and see how I like the feel of a 6MT in the max.(I love MT so I think I will like it way better than my AT).

I know this is long, sry... Opinions?

 

do it up. u wont regret a nice MT under ur control.

just check the car thoroughly as it looks like it may have been driven hard. (looks somewhat modded).

oh and its not dark blue, its gray haha. (gray lustre)

 

The interior is probably frost, which is a light greyish color. You'll love the 6 speed, it puts the power to the road better because of the HLSD.

Just read the ad, it doesn't put out 255hp though. LOL Definitely worth taking a look.

 

boi them tires look like babies behinds. LOL. I agree could have been driven hard or the alignment could be off or they are have been rotated to hell. If it runs and drives good do it as stated earlier you will not regret it.

 

It looks like the car needs some new tires. If everything under the hood is in good shape. Bargain it down to low $6000 then its worth it?? MT>AT
I would keep searching until you find a better deal with lower mileage.

 

Not to make the search for a 6MT harder but....not all of them have HLSD. Mine doesn't. There are times I wish it did, but it does great without it. Silver pedals and the "H" transmission code (instead of "A") on the firewall are the signs of a HLSD.

 

Since you're in Canada the 6-speed will be HLSD as long as the car was sold there originaly. All the Canadian 6-speeds got the HLSD.

The HLSD alone makes it worth it, as long as the car checks out. THe HLSD makes a big difference in performance and safety. I say go for it. You may as well have a car you enjoy.

 

Personally yes, I would trade the Auto in for a 6spd any day. More control, quicker car, better mileage, HLSD, your woman will probably never want to drive it...no real downside unless you live in a conjested area.

But since you have a max you already like, you don't really NEED to trade in just yet. If you're not sure about this one, hold off and wait for "the one" to come along.

And the VQ 3.5 does produce a manufacturer claimed 255hp (at the crank)

 

 

Personally, it would be nice to have HLSD on my 6MT... and leather, and heated seats, etc. Even more so, I'm solid on buying a new G37S Sedan 6MT, but until a giant space robot crushes my car, I'm feeling pretty lucky to have the quality ride I have. So here's some advice:

Advice #1Advice #2

 

Agreed

 

i am thinking of the same thing too. i would love to trade someone my auto for manual.

 

TransGo shift kit will make your AT shift just as fast as any MT and it'll never miss a shift. No manual driver can say he's never ground the gears by premature clutch engagement Best mod I ever did on my 03 TE

 

It is an EXTREMELY time consuming job. It's the little things that will kill you . If you figure your time at .02 cents per hour and steal as many parts as possible it's still a losing deal. I've been in the transmission business over 20 years and have only done a few swap overs on very special occasions. The last one I did I had the identical year donor vehicle in the shop with EVERY last little nut ,bolt ,bracket and widget I needed, and it still took two weeks.Now granted you can do it faster and cheaper if you want to hack it together but I'm a stickler for the details that make it look like the trans belongs there.(re. back to first line in this post). I've owned and driven both A/T and M/T Maximas and generally like the stick car better, just not enough to undertake this kind of a job, even if some was paying me.
If you really like "this" car that much try the Transgo SK, I've used them before and they really improve the shifting. If you "must" have a stick then I'll tell you exactly what I tell everyone comes into my shop and wants to do this, sell the automatic car and buy the one you really want. They aren't that rare, just may take you a little while to find the "right" one for your budget/ location etc. Good luck whichever way you decide.