Do the paddle shifters make it feel like its a true 6 speed? Im having a hard time wrapping my head around the CVT transmission because I have never driven a car with one. I have to get out and drive one. How does the CVT feel in everyday driving? Is it a strange feeling not hearing it change gears?

Where do the rpms usually stay just driving around town and so forth?

 

Lightonthehill,

I should also add my 96 Sonoma had the AC compressor go out and that was expensive!!!!! I dont know how good the newer Gm cars and trucks are but the older ones will nickle and dime you to death and in this case it got into my pocket big time. The truck has fallen apart around the engine. I have to ask why. You know good and well that GM knew this and cut some corners and now they are bankrupt. Personally, I can live with that but I refuse to buy another one because I feel like I will be supporting socialism. That is just my personal feeling and opinion.

Sorry to get off topic again.

 

Posted some pics of my 2010 here:

http://forums.maxima.org/album.php?albumid=1564

 

I love the color and the car looks good. I have only owned one black car in my life and it didnt have AC so it about killed me. But, I still think they look great when they are clean.

 

Black Lab! Only breed my wife and i have ever owned.

Our '92 Ranger has the 4 litre engine, and our '04 has the 3 liter engine. We maintain a rather large piece of property, so are always hauling something. I mowed today and tonight until it was so dark I couldn't see where I was going.

In case your folks ask, since January, 2003 (when production first began on the '04), ALL Maximas have been made in Smyrna TN by American workers using over 80% parts made in America by Americans. These hard-working Americans have to make a living just as their counterparts working for the big American companies do. Those that complain that the 'profits' on 'foreign' cars go overseas seem to forget that when we buy a GM or Chrysler product, those companies actually LOSE money, which must be covered by the American taxpayer. So we can help GM and Chrysler cut their losses by buying Nissan products.

 

lightonthehill,

OUr black lab who is Casey is 10 years old now. He is the smartest dog we have ever had bare none.

 

Chocolate labs for us. Off topic, I know! Our male was the smartest dog I've ever known. We'd line up a dozen or so different objects, name one and he'd go and get it. He was so smart, that for one Super Bowl, my wife trained him to open the refrigerator and retrieve beers so that we could watch the action! Almost took him on Letterman!

 

This is actually a very deep blue, but I would love to black out the head and tail lights.

 

not really. the CVT is nice but dangerous, i was driving it the other morning, looked down was was doing 85... Its a smooth ride and handles really well, its a kick in the pants to when you smash the gas pedal especially in sport mode.

B

 

I totally agree. Once this car is moving, the speed continues to creep up, but the CVT keeps the RPMs down at the same low level, so I don't have the audible sounds I have always associated with a car picking up speed. Unless I keep an eye on the speedometer, or am driving on a road where I can see how fast fences and trees are flying by me, I find I am doing speeds that the mods would not want me to post here. And that is not good.

A car this powerful and smooth, with the CVT disguising how fast the car is actually moving, should have a speed warning system like I had on my Oldsmobiles back in the mid-1960s, where I could set the device to a specific speed, and if I exceeded that speed, the device would buzz to alert me.

 

Would a Nissan-paid testimonial include a jibe at a perceived inadequacy in an Infinity product?

"The Infinity Coup was awesome, but where's the trunk? The sedan felt small and cramped." && "It seems much bigger than the Infinity (although the numbers do not show that)."

Now about 'Nissan bribing people to talk up the Maxima;' I'll take direct-from-factory cost on a 2010 Maxima for my pro-Max trolling services.

 

Think of what a power-curve on a given engine looks like. There is a peak, and the RPMs before and after this are less power.

What the CVT does is gives the car the ability to maintain maximum power by keeping the engine in that sweet spot and adjusting the gear ratios as needed. What it comes down to is this CVT is faster than a given auto-enthusiast could possibly ever be - even if the car was given a 6-speed MT. Its been measured anywhere from 5.2 to 5.6, from what I've been reading. It does however seem to downplay the need to downshift/engine break and would promote the use of brakes where they may not be needed where engine breaking would have been just fine. Seems that accelerating would be superior to an MT, but the use of engine as a control mechanism though deliberate gearing would be greatly downplayed. Perhaps that is what the paddles have been put in for, to better control this.

You'll notice that certain train engines always run loud/at a certain power level, even if stopped at a station. There are examples of diesel electric trains where the primer movers must supply power for both moving the locomotive/train as well as provide power to a head end generator. In order to do this, they must set the prime mover to 900 rpm, its peak power level. (EMD F40PH, first built 1976).

What has been found over time is that engines that operate this way last forever. The stresses of changing RPMs are generally understated, and keeping an engine at a fixed RPM will greatly increase reliability.

CVTs have a bit more power loss than a manual transmission, but the trip to 60 or whatever terminal velocity you need will get done better by a CVT vs. an auto enthusiast with a manual, and your engine will last a lot longer if you let it do its job. It will get the driver to speed faster while wearing less on the engine.

I would have liked a true sequential/SMG (like the SMG in the M3) rather than a CVT, but its quite good and its now second generation for Nissan, and I'm getting the sense that its not going back.

If you would like to read about SMG (drivelogic) , see here:

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring...drivelogic.htm

Computers have outclassed us for driving ...

The question is no longer "automatic" or "manual"

Its CVT vs. SMG.

 

I wouldn't wish for an MT, maybe a sequential/SMG rather than the CVT. Manual is obsolete. I've failed to understand this obsession with MT for a long time now, seeing as most fastest race cars at this point being raced have sequentials.

Interestingly, in Formula 1, CVTs have long been banned (because they are "too good") and the dual-clutch SMG was invented to eliminate the interruption of power during a computer controlled shift. This occurs in 0.05 seconds. Data from Star Trek would be hard pressed to beat that time, even with a positronic brain. Humans can't even pretend to go there.

Manual, hydraulic-automatic or fake semi-automatic hydraulics like "tiptronic" are decades obsolete.

 

Rewrite:
"CVT keeps the RPMs down at the same low level"
as:
"CVT keeps the RPMs down at the same optimal level"
or:
"CVT keeps the RPMs down at the same peak-power level"

 

i dont know what SMG is?

I dont care about how fast or whatever I just like the feel of a manual. i dont have to look at the speedo to know my speed, if i know what gear Im in I know how fast im going. I just like driving with the stick, turning on the car and putting it in gear and letting the computer do the rest is no fun

B

 

Yes, if you are driving just for the fun of driving, a manual is hard to beat. Just as long as you understand the manual is now probably the LEAST EFFICIENT of modern trannies, and is (or soon will be) also the SLOWEST in acceleration.

 

Of course you wording is more accurate. I have grown sloppy with my wording in my feeble efforts at convincing doubters here that the CVT is not the end of the automobile. My RPMs were kept at the 'same low level' only because I happened to not be demanding more power or acceleration. Had I done so, the CVT would have given me that power while positioning the RPMs at (as you said) 'optimal level.'

I love my newly redesigned CVT, and appreciate your understanding of CVTs and SMGs, and for your posting your good knowledge here.

 

I would encourage anyone who has any interest in trannies to read the link mickrussom gave us. It is an easy and very interesting read. By the use of TWO clutches, the jerks, slips and pauses associated with shift points are eliminated. The SMG Sequential DriveLogic trannie being discussed is very impressive, and could eventually be the basis for trannies in many cars.

 

They ruined this car - and its not a performance problem. I wish they would re-make the 2001 20th again with the VQ35DE; this car's rear seat is so cramped its a 4-person tin-can. (5 person with small kids.). This is really a cramped Altima with a lot better lines.

I wish I had my 2001 Max/20th back, but it was wrecked.

The car itself; the engine and the CVT are wonderful - fast, efficient, fast, a lot of fun to drive in either sport or premium. I suspect most people buying this car will be the younger crowd, because anyone who has to move kids and things around and grandparents and co-workers are not going to like this.

The options are a huge waste of money. The car is a bargain at the base model and quickly becomes a shameful rip-off loaded.

I actually prefer the 2010 Subaru Legacy Sedan. Need to mull it over for a while. Maxima is no longer in my options.

The wife thought the car had a "cheap plastic" feel, and that was after driving the premium+tech. (I didn't notice, I was driving not futzing with the tech-junk).

Nissan should pull its head out of its ***, it has like a bunch of race cars (Nismo, 370, 350, GT-R), and then leaves the rest of us with actual friends and family out in the cold with cramped cars like the Altima and Maxima.

2010 Maxima, best one yet for the driver, worst one for the passengers. 4DSC my rump. Its a big 2DSC with vestigial wings. The windows' sill is too high (kids in car seats can't see out) and the door is an odd shape making rear seat entry difficult.

 

Sounds like the Maxima just doesn't fit the bill for you anymore due to the redesign. I care very little about the comfort of the people sitting in the back seat. So, my priorities are different. I care about the performance and technology in the car. These are areas where I believe the Maxima does quite well. It can also haul three more adults around, this is kind of an afterthought for me. I'm sure the right car is out there for you. Good luck with your search.

 

I just picked up a Crimson Black 2010 SV Sport with the Tech package. This car will definitely keep me busy learning about all of the bells and whistles over the next day or two. I had a little time to get used to the way it drives and I did notice a couple of things. The brakes require a little more pressure to get the same stopping distance as my 6th gen did. The A/C seems to cycle between cold air and cool air more often than I noticed in my previous car. These are by no means complaints. I love the car and am looking forward to many miles behind its wheel. I am going to miss the power folding mirrors though.

 

Our friend picked up a 2010 Maxima today. SV with premium/tech package. Looks gorgeous in the Tuscan Sun with the Cafe Latte interior. Had a chance to drive it through the hill country this evening. The drive is very similar to my 2006 Maxima, but a bit crisper handling. CVT worked just fine--easy to get used to, and she has no need for a manual, like I do. Mileage on the loop where I took mine a couple of months ago was less though, 26 MG vs. 30 MPG on mine with a manual, and we actually drove slower in the 2010--she's still getting used to the car. The nav system/info screen is great, and logical to follow. Curious omission was the set light for the cruise control, like I have on my 2006. Like the cockpit view, with the aggressive fenders on each side of the front. Wife wants to get the same car in white--but she'll have to wait, since we just bought the 2006.
Our friend test drove the Avalon, Camry, G-35, Fusion hybrid, Lexus HS and ES, but she liked the Maxima the best. In comparison, in my opinion, the Maxima is every bit the luxury car the Lexus ES is, and it has features lacking on the Lexus, like the heated wheel and rear audio/AC controls.
She is very happy with her choice.

 

these are nice i drove one before...these cars have some big cojones, although the pick up speed could be a lot better....other than that the only models i like for the maxima are the 96' 03' and 09' these cars have a mean look

 

I wish I had the option for Caffe Latte with the '09 max tuscan sun.

 

I need a speed warning system too...I often go between the 02 and 09 max. 09 max feels slower than the 02 max. I have to keep telling myself to slow down and have constant watch on my speed. Cruise control helps too.

Manoj

 

If it's the least efficient, why does it get better mileage than the CVT? As far as slow, it matters only if you are racing, or bragging! I'm way past the stage of racing, and perhaps you are too? Any minor difference in speed is irrelevant to my use of the car.

 

The '09 with CVT gets BETTER fuel efficiency than it would with a manual. Nissan did computerized studies showing this. Are you talking about manuals in older, lighter Maximas with less horsepower? Or government ratings, which were rather drastically changed in '07? For instance, under the current government mileage rating system, the '06 manual Maxima would be rated at several miles per gallon LESS than it was when it was sold in 2006.

 

Well, we now know you have the Sport package. That is the only version of the '09 Tuscan Sun Maxima with which Cafe Latte is not available.

 

I'm comparing my 2006 Maxima with a manual, which is insignificantly lighter than an 2010, to a 2010 my friend just bought. And I'm talking driving on actual roads. I know the manner in which EPA ratings were evaluated were changed in 2007, but this is real mileage. On the same roads I'm getting 28-30 MPG in my Maxima, the 2010 is getting 26-28 MPG. Same roads, same driver, same driving. One issue I noticed is that the CVT will increase RPMs going up Texas hill country roads, the 6-speed will just torque up the hill. More RPMs, more gas, less mileage.

 

oh yea purely for fun. plus i hate driving autos cause i cant figure out want to do with my other hand...no shifting....

B

 

Probably a poor comparison. I drive a 6th gen with 6-MT by the way.

You are comparing a well broken in four year old car with a brand new car. There are so many variables affecting mileage that a direct comparison is VERY difficult. Among the variables are: Temperature, wind, speed, flow of traffic, humidity, octane, AC use, etc. I can drive the road to the next town one day and get 34mpg, and drive it again the next and get 27.

I love my MT, but it is geared much more for performance than mileage. My RPMs run about 2700 at 70 in 6th gear - and would be surprised if the CVT isn't at 2000 or below much of the time. I have no problem believing that the CVT may indeed be more efficient than my MT in most circumstances.

 

My experience with new cars is that there is no significant increase in mileage once they wear in. While there are variables, with experience, you can account for those. I keep a detailed gas log for all our cars, so I'm well aware of variables' impact on mileage. The 2010 showed 65 MPH at 2000 RPM, but on climbing hills it quickly went up to 3000 RPM. It of course was running on premium, I run my 2006 mostly on regular.
The bottom line is, if you rely on the EPA rating to get better mileage on a 2010 than yours, you will be disappointed.

P.S. You must have a different model Maxima. Mine shows 2500 RPMs at 70 MPH.

 

I think roadway, terrain, engine power, and the way we drive all enter into this. I usually got around 23 MPG around town, and 26 MPG on trips with my 6th gen 5 speed auto. I never got higher than 28 on any extended trip on which I measured the mileage. I considered those to be good numbers for that size car. I would not expect to better those numbers by any significant margin via a manual.

By contrast, with my '09, I am getting 24 around town, 27 to 28 on trips, measured 29.5 MPG on one 800+ mile trip and 29.9 on a 400+ mile trip. These trips were in rolling terrain. I have no doubt I can exceed 30 MPG whenever I take a trip on flat land. The CVT easily beats the manual on flat land, but, without interjection by the driver, will not beat a manual in hilly country. Several here have already gotten between 30 and 32 MPG on extended flatland trips in their '09.

AND The '09 has 35 MORE HP, which is a BIG step up in power (which requires more gas).

Like you, I noticed the CVT will rev up on hills, UNLESS I ease back on the gas. Of course, that means the car will slow down, but we can use the manual override to prevent that slowdown from happening. It will take some time to master all the options and situations with this CVT, which effectively has four ways we can use it. But I absolutely will never go back to an antiquated manual tranny. Life is too short to require both hands for driving. I need one hand to give a 'thumbs-up' to other '09 Maxima drivers I encounter.

 

Wow! I just got mine two weeks ago and put on 1000 mile already. this car is the is rocket. I was looking at five cars and the max was the best of the bunch. the car has crazy lines, it's got everything plus it's fun to drive. the next step is to make it AWD..You can't beat the car for the price. IF you haven't got yours now is the time.

 

Weight is the main factor in mileage. After that it would be tires (rolling resistance) and C(d) (coefficient of drag).

As they weigh differently, they are difficult to compare. The new high-hoods (pedestrian strike safety) and weight (safety structures) are statutory per federal law, so all cars are gaining weight and have more of an air dam in this front.

If someone is a true sports car enthusiast or hyper miler, these new cars are way too overweight due to regulations and the manufacturers need to stick to cheaper materials to get the required strength.

I noticed the 2010 Maxima has become so overweight they even used an aluminum hood to try and reduce it.

3600+ lb. car with a worse back seat (poor access, poor legroom, poor middle seat comfort, poor visibility, surface too hard in either leather or cloth) than my now wrecked 2001 Maxima that weighed 350 lbs less. I really miss the car. Most of the extra horsepower is used defeating the extra weight.

 

AWD kills mileage and increases cost of repairs. If they do AWD, I would prefer that it would be able to unlock the fronts and run in RWD 99.999% of the time and lock up to make the fronts available. This is a big redesign as I doubt the engine would remain in a transverse mount for an AWD system.

First, they need to fix the rear seat. The Maxima should, like every other competitor, offer a family sedan at the top of the range. Having two Altimas only differentiated by 30HP and looks is not smart. This will hurt Maxima sales, and from I've seen, they are already hurt. Maxima used to be the guy with kids intelligent but super fun car choice. Now I should get a regular car (e.g. a Camry or Accord) and get a dedicated RWD "fun car" because the Maxima has recently lose the ability to be both at the same time.

The next step would be to come up with a performance diesel. Carbon Motors is making an E7 diesel with a 0-60 time in the 6.5 second range and built to a duty spec of 250,000 miles:

http://www.carbonmotors.com/machine/specifications

The carmakers are alseep at the wheel. I've never been so bored of the current crop of cars. Anything affordable is loaded with compromises. Prices for everything easily hit the mid 30's (35K for just about everything).

 

I agree AWD is probably not the best way to go with a FWD such as the Maxima. It will lower MPG, and will be more costly to repair. As you said, it also would probably require a major power train redesign. And adding AWD to a FWD car does not improve bad weather mobility and handling as much as it does in a RWD vehicle.

Nissan announced a diesel version of the 2010 Maxima in February 2008, but deferred it last December, when auto sales dropped out of sight. I suspect (and hope) it will still be produced at some point. Next summer (Intro of the 7 1/2 generation 2011 Maxima) or late spring of 2012 or 2013 (whichever year Nissan chooses to release the 8th generation Maxima) would be the most likely times.

 

Ok, back on topic here...

I have had my '09 SV/Tech for a little over a week now, logged a bit over 1100 miles and here are some of my observations:

First the negatives:

1. The car had 26 miles on it when I got it. It already pulls noticeably to the right. (I haven't hit any pot-holes, speedbumps or debris). This is hopefully a non-factor after I get my Eibach's / 19" wheels / alignment taken care of this coming weekend.

2. The wheel gap. Having it resolved this weekend.

3. I hear various and random popping sounds coming from the front suspension that I can only assume will be addressed by the impending strut recall.

4. After having a "Premium Bose" sound-system in my '06 G35 Coupe, I have to say I am a bit disappointed in the "Premium Bose" sound-system in the Maxima. I'll probably end up getting aftermarket speakers (wired into existing head-unit and capped-off) and a subwoofer.

The positives:

1. The car has plenty of power, particularly at highway speeds. In auto-sport mode it jumps nicely off the line without feeling out of control.

2. The tech package was initially something I didn't consider, I am very glad I decided to get the tech. It's great to have the built-in-voice-actuated nav, and the iPod interface. I am also glad that I finally can USE the Bluetooth feature in my vehicle! My G35 had the feature, but the cabin was so noisy no one could hear me on the phone!

3. The car looks great. I catch people craning their heads around backwards to try and get a better look. I hope that people don't see the value that I do in this vehicle, and go bargain shop for something in the price-range they *think* is more on par with what a Maxima "should" be. I love not passing 1,000 of my same vehicle on the commute to work.

4. Spacious.


Those are the things that stand out most to me right now. It took me a bit to get used to driving a front wheel drive sedan again (I had a Saab several years back) after having a G35 coupe for almost four years. Overall I am quite satisfied with my purchase.

 

WEight difference between the 6th gen and 7th gen is minimal. The aluminum hood is a carry-over from the 6th gen, but the 6th gen also had an aluminum trunk lid which the 2010 does not have, so the 2010 is a step backwards (read cost savings) from the previous model in this regard.

 

Nobody wants to take the slushbox away from you--it would be nice if people who like to have more direct control would get a choice. You may be right, manual gear boxes may become antiquated, along with steering wheels, gas and brake pedals. Wouldn't it be lovely to get into your car, program your destination, and enjoy the ride? Future looks bright indeed!
On mileage, you can't compare city mileages--everyone's city driving is different. On the highway, you get a better comparison, and I've had the luxury of driving the 2006 manual and the 2010 back-to-back over the same roads, and the 2006 consistently gets 2-4 MPG better. Anyone can hypermile any car, and there's much bragging unsubstantiated by actual results--kind of like fish stories. I can only report actual observations.
Besides, if you think Nissan went to the CVT for any other reason other than to save money, you're deluding yourself. Of course their advertising department would say the CVT is more efficient--that's the only thing they sell!