I did some searching, and couldn't find an answer, so I was wondering if you guys could help. My friend is looking to buy a 6th gen. I'm trying to convince her to get a 6 speed! But she's still thinking about an automatic with the manu-matic mode. My question is: Does the manu-matic come in all automatic maximas 2004 and up? Also, what years do the 4 speed autos come in vs. the 5 speeds? Thanx
-Chris

 

The "manu-matic" does not come in all 6th gens. I have an '04 se that does have it, but I think it depends on if you buy an se vs. an sl. Mine is a 4 speed auto, which if I'm not mistaken, was the first transmission put in the 6th gen. The 5 speed came later in the year. There was a poll on here a while ago on which 6th gens had problems with their transmissions going out. The 4 speed had the most votes. I have had mine since '04 and have not had any transmission problems so far.

 

The first 04 6th gens that went into production that were auto came with the 4 speed auto tranny. The 04's that were late production models in that year that were auto came with the 5 speed with maun-matic. All auto Maximas after that have the 5 speed aswell.

 

to be honest tell her to buy a 2006 or up model. Not as many problems, however not as much time spent driving them for the most part. might have the same amount of problems in a year never know right. I would tell her if she buys one to get the best extended warrenty available. This way her transmission is covered for a long time. Not sure but I think there is a 5speed CVT transmission available for 07 and 08 models. If I had to do it over again that would be the way I would go. I have a 5speed 2004. I am on my second transmission with 70k on the car and 18k on this transmission. I give this tranny about 10k miles at the most before it will need replacing again. Good luck and make sure you read the forums for all the problems, so you aren't blindsided.

 

Well, I know about the oil burning in the early 3.5's, but that problem isn't a huge issue in the 6th gens right?

 

Ok. Do all the 5 speeds have manu-matic?

 

Early 04 SL = 4speed

ALL SE 04-06 Autos = 5 speed tiptronic

once 04 SL went 5 speed ALL 04-06 were tiptronic
(except for SE with manual 6 speed option which was available right away)

 

wrong. the 1st SE 04 was 5 speed tiptronic. (also SE 6 speed manual option)


only early SL had 4 speed.

 

I have an '04 se with the 4 speed transmission.

 

anybody?

 

Havent seen really any issues with oil burning in the 6th gen 3.5's in any of my time spent on here reading.

 

Do you have the manu-matic or tiptronic or whatever everyone wants to call it? If you do then you have a 5 speed tranny. I dont believe they made a 4 speed with it and i think i recall you saying that you had it.

 

that's not possible. if you have a 4 speed then you have wood grain then you have an SL.

I would love to see pics of your silver interior with a 4 speed stick and SE badge plus possible 04 spoiler.

If your stick has a +/- then you have a 5 speed.

 

My car must have problems then, because when I put it in manual mode aka +/- it only goes up to 4th gear. Do they all do this?

 

once you get to about 45 mph and higher you should have 5th gear available. it won't let us go past redline, or below 1000 RPM. when you're on the highway going over 45 and you switch it over, i hope it's in 5th for you. otherwise something is wrong.

 

so how far up on the rpm band can you go on manu-matic mode... 6,000... 6,500 rpms?

 

Ok. Yeah I haven't done over 45 with the manual yet so it's probably good. Thanks for the info. All this time I thought it was only a 4 speed.

 

it depends on a lot of factors. your driving style for one is studied by the car and tries to predict how you want it to respond. but if you have it in manual mode it will rev higher than in auto. it typically up shifts just before the redline. BUT if you feel like trying it, you can hold the stick down and it will stay in that gear. There is a rev limiter that will cut the engine once you pass that redline. i do not recommend it since it was kinda scary when i found out about it.

 

I have an 04 SL and it has the 4speed but not the tiptronic, and i have 120,000 miles on that tranny and still haven't had any problems, and have never had any problems with oil burning. the only thing that i have had a problem with was at about 118,000 miles my rear wheel bearings went out.