I've been reading some threads here dealing with dynos and 1/4 mile times of the 6th gens. It 'seems' that there isn't a great difference at all really in the wheel hp/tq and the 1/4 mile times of 5spd autos and 6spd manuals. I'd like some input by some of you 6th gen guys on here. I know that its a general consensus that in the 5th gen, the 5spd manual is more efficient than the 6spd manual in the 5.5 gen. Thanks in advance.

 

Wow, this has been viewed 94 times in the past two days and not a single response.........

 

cardsfan - The reason nobody has responded may be that we each own only one type of '04 Maxima; either a 4 speed auto or a 5 speed auto or a 6 speed manny.

We are all interested in a comparison between the auto and the manny, but don't personally have the two available for test driving.

In theory (technically), the 6 speed manny should have a very slight edge over the 5 speed auto. But I am inclined to feel that a five speed auto, if in perfect shape (shift points correct for the acceleration involved, with no 'lag' when changing gears), might slightly outpreform a six speed manny, unless the manny driver was very skilled.

But I can't prove that.

 

Thanks for the reply. In my reading it seems that the 5th gen 5spd is actually a more efficient unit than the 6spd (i.e. putting down more whp with less drivetrain loss), so I'm curious if the 6th gen 5spd auto would be very similar in efficiency to the 6th gen 6spd.

 

The simple math is that the power loss with autos is ~23%, with manuals it is inherently less. For 5th gen. Maximas, there is about .5s difference in the 0-60 times of manuals vs autos, both 3.0 and 3.5. If this difference between 5AT and 6MT is not present in the 6th gen, I would really like to know why too.

Oh, cardsfan what happened to your '02 Max?

 

I would expect that manuals are always going to be faster than autos if driven by skilled drivers... the benefit of being able to power shift makes a slight but noticible difference.

Of course.. I haven't actually driven the auto, so this is only conjecture.

-Nate

 

I sold it last summer for the 540i. Great car, I was just ready to upgrade.

 

Oooooh 540i, I love that car! 6-speed/auto? Good luck w/ it!

 

I own an 04 SE Auto that's in the shop getting serviced. They gave me an 04 SE 6 speed as a loaner and it's fun to play with, but I'll stay with the auto. Unless the driver is VERY good with the stick, I think the auto will pull him just a little. The race will be won or lost from the light and after first gear it feels about the same to me.

Besides, If I had the stick I'd be putting new shoes on every year...haha.

 

6spd adds about 12hp

 

Are there any dynos out there proving that?

 

Ha, just put it this way...the member 96sleeper came to Atlanta from somewhere in TN, dynoed while he was automatic.....made ~183whp or so......swapped to 5spd and got a JWT ecu, came back and made ~202whp.

 

Was 96sleeper in an '04? If not, I'm trying to understand how this is relevant to the 6th gen discussion. As we all know, we're not only speaking of different vehicles, but completely different trannies than those in the '96

 

Usually a 5/6sp tranny is more efficient than an autotragic. There are fewer losses of HP in the manual transmissions. It's a general rule of thumb that applies to nearly every vehicle I've heard of.

So it doesn't really matter wether its a 96 or an 04...the same rule of thumb applies.

CM.

 

I fully understand the rule. However, I was questioning why Soul Fly made the statement "6spd adds about 12hp". If it was made based upon a vehicle other than an '04, it's pretty much irrelevant.

 

Oh.... I was jokin about LITERALLY "12 hp"

 

I second that....all about the skilled driver. Auto will always get you with some drivetrain loss, but unless you can drive the stick.....again, up to the driver. Manuals do have a edge. Remember this though, the automatics of today are pretty good though. Actually, with the 04, and having a auto, it is nice some times leaving it in shift mode so I can do it.....keeps it in the powerband when I want it, but the auto seems to do pretty well. Now.....in my Z28, there was a nice thing called a Yank 3000 high stall torque converter....that is a wonderful piece of equipment if you have over 300HP and a nice LS1. Really showed the M6 guys a few things in the 1/4.

 

Gotcha man

 

BUT......to find out....you gotta look for a stock auto and stock manual dyno...