1) When the shifter is put into manual mode, how many gears do you have to play with? I think it's six, but I'm not sure.
2) When the shifter is in manual mode, how fast does it get into gear compared to a regular sportronic, torque converter-based transmission? Just wondering if the shift times are quicker or slower.

I thank you for anyone's help in advance, I'm a prospective owner of a CVT tranny Nissan!

 

6 pre-programmed gear ratios.

I don't know, haven't really played with it all that much.

Love the CVT

 

1 - Six it is.

2 - Definitely MUCH quicker - manual ratio changes are both instantaneous AND smooth. Pretty slick if you just want to play, but for max performance at anything below 75 or 80 mph, leaving it in auto and taking advantage of all those ratios yields the fastest acceleration. Some others have played with their '07s at the track and I believe the best acceleration times were posted keeping it in auto until 75 or 80 then dropping it into manual... Nissan's programming is apparently a little conservative at or above that speed. Check around... there are a few threads out there about it. Again, just to play or to hold a gear for a curve or a hill it works great.

BTW - Unlike some other CVTs (i.e., Audi), Nissan's CVT still has a torque converter just like a conventional automatic, which makes it feel very much like a conventional auto off the line. The TC does lock up much earlier and unlocks later than a conventional automatic... sometimes feels like your driving a manual because of the solid hookup at lower speeds than you are used to in an auto box.

I've got 12k miles on mine now and have been very happy with the tranny. Nobody wanted to see the 6MT go away, but CVT really had nothing to do with that. Its a good auto trans - a little "different" to be sure - but very flexible and adaptable to whatever driving mode/mood you might be in.

 

Thanks a lot for the info guys!
I'm just getting more and more and more excited about my '08 Altima!!! C'mon Nissan, let's see it in showrooms soon!!

 

Lookin' for the coupe? 'Cause I doubt the '08 sedan will be any different than the all new '07.

 

YES, I am looking for the coupe!
I don't drive sedans...I'm a single guy, and of course no kids
No need for the 4 doors

 

Ah, yes... I remember those days... Corvette, Challenger, Capri Turbo RS, Supra... but two baby seats were a pain in the Supra, which prompted the first Max (but it still was a 5-speed!).

Enjoy it while you can! (Although I do remember certain times when borrowing dad's Oldsmobile with the big back seat or even the Dodge station wagon led to some memorable times!)

As I said, I have nothing bad to say about the CVT, but is there any reason you are not considering the 6-speed? An Altima coupe with a VQ/6MT combo would undoubtedly be a sweetheart.

 

I haven't really thought much about the 6-speed cuz I don't have much experience driving a manual. I've done parking lot driving and that's it. Actually, I also took my friend's 5spd Eclipse down a back road for about a mile...I guess I'm just concerned that it may take me a lil while to master the 6-speed. I really should consider it though!!

BTW those are some sweet cars you've owned. Props for becoming a good parent and still being able to keep your toys.

 

My son is 23 and just finished his first full year of work in the real world. He's still driving my '96 Max that was his college car. He's got the urge to get himself his first new car, but I think an Altima coupe equipped the way he would want it might be a bit steep for him. I think he's thinking about a Scion tC. He has about the same experience with a manual as you (I've let him down as a father!), but he definitely is leaning that way.

 

Yeah, his situation sounds a lot like mine. I'm currently driving a 2001 Eclipse GT, but I didn't take it with me to college cuz I don't truely need it here, don't trust it being parked in Phoenix/Tempe, and the costs would be outrageous. So it's stored for now. I have a big chunk of change saved up from my summer jobs and no loans or overhead to worry about so it's all going towards a car I will be graduating in spring '09, but I'm 95% positive that I am going on to grad school. So, it may sound like I should be waiting a tad longer to get a new toy, but that new Altima coupe is TEMPTING!