I'm excited to say I can finally post here as a Maxima owner. I just bought an 05 SE 6spd MT and I love it. I'm 22, out of college, and my first car ever that is not my parents'. Anway, I'm a noob when it comes to driving stick. I mean, I can drive it, but I'm not the best. My commute this week involves driving in stop n go traffic. Is there any special technique I should use to drive through this?

 

Would have loved to get the 6 speed.. congrats. Since the max is the wife's daily driver.. in Dallas traffic, the auto was required Don't know what the problem is, no problems driving the 540 in Chicago traffic everyday, of course my left leg was much larger than my right after several months

 

Can't help you with that, but welcome, I hope you enjoy your new max.

 

If I am in stop and go, I stay out of first unless Im totally stopped. I dont think its bad for the car to keep it in second gear at slow speeds, since its strong enough to pull from second in a "rolling stop"

 

I always say screw everyone, meaning don't do bumper to bumper. Leave larger spaces, because that entails less frequent clutching. Also if on a hill leave the space and accelerate slowly, because you know in time you'll have to stop again. basically the idea is to clutch as infrequently as possible.

 

Welcome to the club! Quick suggestion: get a short throw shifter!

 

yea leave some space in between cars and just take it easy..dont gas up too much and dont drop the clutch..just stay at 1st and 2nd..you can even start from 2nd if you would really like..i do but thats just me..good luck

 

When you are stopped, like at a traffic light, put it in neutral and TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH. Never sit there with the clutch pedal depressed. The clutch is a friction wear item just like your brakes.

If you get good enough and learn the rpms where the gears naturally synch, you can even shift without the clutch at all (but you better get it right)...

 

Uh...don't shift without clutch no matter what the RPMs! You will ruin your new car. I drove stick all the way from 14 (i started early) to 23 and have been stuck with an auto for the past three years. I HATE IT!

I agree with shifting to neutral and releasing clutch while stopped.

It is always a good idea to not to rev even a little before dropping the clutch. You will lurch too violently. If you work at it, you will get the rhythm of releasing clutch until the car begins to move and then hitting gas before it stalls. That is the best, smoothest way to shift to begin moving. In motion, of course it is quite easy.

 

Congrats on the new max! Suggestions on the traffic is to take Metra (train, for all you non-chicagoans). When i worked downtown i my car stayed at the train lot.

Make sure to visit the upper midwest area threads area. We need a 6th gen in our Chicago crew. Upper Midwest

 

Thanks for the tips! Hopefully I'll get it, it's only been 5 days since I drove it off the dealer lot. Aliti19, I'd definately take the train if I was going downtown, but my commute this week is in the southside, near midway and 55 is a *****.

 

I lived in the Chicago area for almost 35 years. All expressways and the toll road are tough at or near rush-hour.

I will not repeat the good advice about stick that is in this thread above. But do not shift without the clutch unless it is the only way you can shift (the clutch is shot).

My experience with the Max 6-speed that is not covered above:

- When rounding most corners on city streets, use 3rd gear and not second once you have rounded the corner. The Max VQ engine has ample torque to pull you in this situation (accelerating from 20 to 25 mph after the corner).

- In snow, consider starting in 2nd gear. This minimizes the torque at the driving wheels and reduces the chance of them spinning.

- Unlike an auto-trannie, you should plan to coast in neutral when you don't need the engine for slowing the car down. I've learned to try and anticipate stops on freeways and coast into them. Saves gas and wear on your engine.

- Going down long hills (not anything like that near Chicago) you should use your engine for braking rather than the brakes. Here in Colorado and in town, I use 3rd for most hills and 2nd for the steeper hills.

- I like to cruise with the engine speed around 2K RPM because it reduces the lugging wear on the engine (and compensates for the few times you do lug the engine, like rounding corners). So where I'm driving 30 to 40 MPH, I'm in 4th gear; 40 to 50 MPH, I'm in 5th gear; and above 50 I'm in 6th gear. This only applies on flat roads. In the hills, I'll drive somewhat differently.

 

A lot of good tips from Silvermax. In addition, in heavy traffic stay a couple car lengths back in 2nd or 3rd and gage the traffice ahead. If you practice this right you will shift a lot less and save your brakes.

I would not gear down to slow down unless neccessary, it might be fun but you will wear your clutch. Do not ride your clutch by partially pressing it.

Finally there is nothing wrong with going into 5th gear at 40mph or 6th at 50mph. Since your engine is reving lower you will save gas.

The less you use the clutch the better.

Good luck!

 

Good advice. What WinterC means by "gearing down to slow down" is to downshift coming into a corner or sharp curve. If you are racing, this makes sense because you will be in the proper gear to take off after rounding the curve. With street driving, it is not so smart. You are not trying to cut seconds off of your time, and the VQ engine will work fine by downshifting to 3rd gear (if necessary) after the curve.

The quickest way to wear out a clutch is to ride your clutch by partially depressing it.

A rule I like to follow is to keep the clutch engaged (pedal all the way out) unless you are shifting gears. At a stop light you should be in neutral. When the light changes, then push in the clutch and engage 1st gear. Don't sit at the light in 1st gear with the clutch depressed (unless you are racing the car next to you).

 

And when you are stopped on an uphill incline, use your parking brake. When you are ready to move, slowly release the brake as your clutch engages. This sound like a lot of work but it will prevent you from rolling backwards.