Alright, I was told by our Nissan corporate guy that we would see a new Max late next year as a '14 model along with the Murano, he could be wrong though. It made sense considering Nissan's general life cycle. As far as the engine, that will be interesting, and we could see a smaller F/I engine, but a lot of Nissan's smaller line-up is already meeting the CAFE standards (PureDrive designation). I would imagine it would stay the same or get a slight bump in HP and just get the more efficient CVT like the altima did (although the V6 Altima didn't change drastically). It'll be interesting to see what they do. I have 36 months left on my lease so either way I'll probably have a new Max when they come out. Also, a tad off topic but it seems we are getting closer to getting a mini Z and/or Altima or Sentra couple in the next couple of years.

 

No problem. You are far from the first poster here who has been told by Nissan cooperate that the 2014 Maxima will be the 8th gen. I can assure it it will not be. Nissan always plays new Maxima generations close to the vest, and sometimes I get the feeling they intentionally drop misleading hints to confuse us.

The 2015 Maxima will be the 8th gen, and by this time next year, we will begin hearing the first details, as the assembly line test run should begin in either December 2013 or Jan 2014, with public release in spring of 2014.

Like you, I will be very interested in where Nissan goes with the drive train with the 8th gen. New government fuel requirements beginning in 2015 will definitely enter the equation. I will be surprised if we see more than 300 HP, unless it is via a supercharged or turbocharged four banger that uses around 250 HP to get around 35 MPG highway in normal driving, but can pull up over 300 HP when pushed hard for maximum acceleration.

 

I'd bet on a turbo version of the Altima's 2.5L being in the running.

There would definitely be some re-mapping of CVT strategy involved, but the end result might even be a better match.


Norm

 

Personally, I would be very surprised if Nissan got away from the VQ (maybe that is just me being hopeful since it is a legend). The one thing that has me feeling fairly confident they will stick with it is the new Pathfinder. The new Pathfinder uses the new CVT and the VQ is getting 20/26 in the 2WD variant. Being a heavier vehicle I would be surprised if they can't get about 4mpg on each side of that fuel economy in the Maxima. Again, maybe just wishful thinking since the V6 Altima is only getting 22/31 (which still isn't bad). Only time will tell I guess.

 

There are rumors of turbo-4's in Mustangs and Camaros and discussions of same going on currently. If there's even talk about this sort of powerplant in a US domestic ponycar, just about everything else under $50k or so is fair game.



light - it's good to see you back on the .org


Norm

 

Thanks, Norm. I have made quite a few out-of-town trips recently, and when I do get on maxima.org between trips, I spend my time trying to catch up rather than posting.

I think the rumors of which you speak will come true at some point. Six and eight cylinder gasoline combustion engines are limited in the top end fuel efficiency they can reach. The answers might include hybrids, diesels, electric, supercharging and turbocharging, among other things.

I'm not sure things such as having part of the cylinders put in standby except when needed (GM has experimented with this) are the answer. But that would be nice if it proves practical and reliable.

I'm thinking a turbo four banger, or maybe even a turbo diesel four banger might be the way many vehicles go. 300 HP for the very brief instances maximum power is needed, while cruising along getting 36 to 40 MPG on 220 HP 95% of the time. For cars slightly lighter than the Maxima, those number might be 40 to 45 MPG on 180 HP 95% of the time. Compacts might get 45 to 55 MPG on 140 HP 95% of the time.

I think I would prefer such a setup to these hybrids with huge, heavy, expensive batteries, or all-electric vehicles with limited range. Most of my out-of-town trips rack up well over 500 miles in a few days, and no current all-electric vehicle is designed to go over 100 miles between time-consuming charges.

We are going to see major changes in automobiles in the next dozen years, and some could be very interesting, especially for us old-timers who knew nothing but gasoline and diesel engines for over half a century.

 

No problems at all with mine. Love it. As far as discontinuing? Hahaha, not likely. More and more car manu's are putting them in their cars today and I suspect it'll be one day soon it'll be rare to find a non CVT car. The future is being shoved down your throats whether you like it or not.

 

You might want to be a little careful about playing that "future" ↑↑↑ card, especially on your first day here. Sooner or later it'll come back to haunt you when "the future" steps all over something you happen to like just the way it is (or was). Somebody with a long memory might just remind you . . .

Take a little time to read a little more in this lengthy thread to find out a little more about who stands where, and maybe why they do.

As a matter of history, this thread was actually the result of merging two or more threads on the same general topic.


Along with noticing your join date being barely hour(s?) ago, I looked at your other thread.

FWIW, light and I and several others have been on the .org for quite a while, as our join dates, post count, and other bits of information you'll see under our usernames indicate.

Let me suggest you first look at a sampling of posts from all of the generations of Maxima and generate some specific questions. Or find other posts by various individuals to see what was discussed.


Norm

 

Even the higher priced cars are not immune to the switch from 6 cylinder to turbo 4. 2013 BMW 328's are now 4 cyclinder turbo's and they can easily run over $50K. To add a further annoyance when you stop the engine switches off and restarts automatically when you release the brakes. However, there is an overide switch to prevent it. I am thankfull that the Maxima's don't have this feature.

 

So true and its very very annoying....Even the higher priced 528 has that turbo4 engine and let me tell you it sounds like a 4 when you push it, my wife had one as a loaner when she took her 335is in last time.

 

The 3.7L would be nice but aren't all 3.7s in use now mated for RWD? Not that a Maxima with RWD and a 3.7L/330something HP would ruin my day!

 

You aren't thinking outside the box. There's an AWD G37x which I find to be rather awesome. I'd love to see an AWD 3.7liter Maxima

You're probably right, it's RWD and the FWD component is likely a bolt on addition. Unlike Subaru (Symmetrical AWD), most AWD out there is either primarily FWD or RWD with some alteration to deliver power to all 4 wheels.

There's a video about this on their website; it should be 51 seconds long called Transfer of Power.

http://www.subaru.com/engineering/all-wheel-drive.html

 

Just picked up an 09 Maxima and seems like it is in sixth gear or torque converter lockup way to early. Good for gas but not sure its right. Engine rpm is real low and almost sounds like engine is lugging. Shifts fine otherwise. Dealer replaced TCM and the D mode is somewhat improved. I prefer Ds mode around town

However on several occassions in Ds mode the damn thing wouldnt shift. RPMs kept climbing with medium throttle. Finally had to release the throttle and it figured it out. Those seven hundred algorithms cant decide who should do what. Maybe this vehicle needs a new brain. Doesnt get confused when manually shifted.

I have been looking at the wiring diagrams and it seems throttle position is not fed directly to the TCM. It comes via the ECM. That ECM also controls the throttle plate. Whose bright idea was it to eliminate the throttle cable.

My impression is the software programming of this transmission is not good

 

If it's one or the other, I'd prefer RWD... but since you threw AWD onto the table then hellz yah. The crappy 2.5L Rogue has it for crying out loud and it's needed less there than a flagship sedan.

 

All this has been covered many times here, even in this thread. But I will be the first to admit it is no longer practical for newcomers to try to read through this entire thread. So, in a nutshell:

Never forget Marketing 101. Car companies are in business to turn a profit, not soothe our whims.

Nissan has RWD available in their Infiniti sedan line, and FWD in their Nissan sedan line. Nissan knows there are fans of both FWD and RWD, and although the Maxima is indeed Nissan's flagship sedan, it is not a true sports car. It is Nissan's affordable near-luxury family sedan, and FWD is preferable for a family sedan.

AWD makes vehicles more complex, gives more things to go wrong, increases the purchase price on a vehicle where the price is already getting out of hand, lowers the fuel economy, and results in a change in driving dynamics. Some folks here have been wanting AWD on Maximas for many generations, and don't seem to understand that AWD is not at all in keeping with what Nissan offers us with the Maxima.

AWD has additional implications in that, with some AWD vehicles, all tire treads need to have approximately the same depth, so losing one tire can mean replacing all four, or risk doing damage to the AWD system.

The Rogue has AWD available because it is a vehicle that, in some cases, will be taken offroad. With a 4 1/2" ground clearance, the Maxima should never be taken offroad.

With eight exterior colors and several interior colors, and 'S' and 'VS' options, as well as Sports, Premium, Technology and 'Cold' packages available, all in what Nissan intends to keep as a low-volume production vehicle (only 58K sold in 2012?), adding AWD as an option would make it impossible for many dealers to have even one of each variation of the Maxima on their lot.

An AWD Maxima option would result in the same situation Nissan encountered with the manual tranny. With less than 5% of buyers wanting manual, dealers refused to stock them. Only a small percentage of Maxima buyers would opt for the extra thousands for the AWD, so dealers would not stock them. This would result in a situation where Nissan would be producing vehicles that dealers would not accept. Makes very poor business sense. And Nissan is a business.

 

+1
TL;DR we will never see a manual, RWD or AWD maxima, ever.

 

wow, i havent been on here in a bit. but the Girlfriend just picked up a 10 max and figured id get on here and do some lurking. lol. i currently have a rb25sawapped 240 and a 2010 STI hatch that i love both are manual but i have to say her max with the cvt is surprisingly quick. lol. i have read a couple posts with people whining about the cvt but hers isnt sluggish at all. anyways just thought id reintroduce myself.

 

I believe this would apply to me ... forgive me for not reading the entire thread.



While I do agree with most of what was written here ... I'm curious as to how the AWD Acura TLs came to be. I don't follow those vehicles as closely as the Max but it seems to me that a similar scenario was played out with those cars. Perhaps someone could shed some light on this?

One of the unique things that I've always perceived about the Maxima, which may not be accurate, is that there is no true competitor. The Maxima sort of straggles the line between affordable mid-size and luxury mid-size, though the Gen 7s are closer to the latter. That said, I've always thought of the TL as being the most worthy.

My point though is that the trend with the Maxima is that Nissan is pushing this car closer and closer to a true luxury brand (attempting to keep pace with the TL). With sales nearly double what the TL is doing for the last several years I don't see the harm with introducing an AWD platform on the Maxima.

Now ... WRT the CVT. I must say that I was initially disappointed with the performance of this transmission, as it felt very sluggish from the go. My 2003 Maxima firmly planted my @ss in the leather seats nicely when prompted. My 2010 Max seems like it needs a bit more coaxing. I must admit this is my first real consistent experience with a CVT (my father has a 2010 Altima SR) but I'm still a little weary in terms of sportiness. Perhaps I should make better use of the paddle shifters???

And to show that I'm not all negative about the CVT, my girlfriend can reliably apply makeup in the passenger seat while I drive down the road, which I appreciate very much.

 

Just a guess, but Acura is the 'upmarket' Honda brand while Nissan hands that positioning over to the Infiniti line.

I don't see an AWD Accord or whatever making any more sense than an AWD Max. Less, if anything.


Norm

 

I will give a sort of rambling response, from which you may find some things informative, while hopefully ignoring the rest of my drivel.

First, forget the paddle thing. By the simple laws of physics, a non-shifting tranny is faster and more efficient than a shifting one, and the paddles simply turn this CVT into a shifting tranny. Track tests done by mags and by posters here when the 7th gen first came out proved beyond all doubt that the fastest tranny setting in this car is the simple 'D' (drive).

Many folks tend to put the TL and Maxima in the same bucket, but that sort of changed around the time the 6th gen 2004 Maxima arrived. The TL, especially the TL Type 'S', is a rather sporty vehicle, while the 2004 Maxima tended to combine a little 'sporty' with a lot of 'upscale, practical, roomy family sedan.' That is why so many 6th gens are seen being used as somewhat sporty upscale, practical, roomy family sedans.

But there were long-time Maxima drivers who were not totally pleased with the direction Nissan took with the 6th gen, and told Nissan of their disappointment. So Ghosn listened, and Nissan made the decision to take the 7th gen Maxima back toward the traditional 'sporty' side. And they did.

My son drives a Type 'S', and so he and I have been able to switch between the Maxima and the TL and compare them. The TL seems crisper off the line, but the Maxima can move from say 35 or 45 MPH to 80 MPH faster than any car I have ever owned (and I have owned cars since 1949, including the last six Maxima generations).

Your '03 will be very quick off the line, but the 7th gen Maxima, although a heavier vehicle, will be quicker from 40 MPH to 80 MPH. And the truth is that I personally never need very quick acceleration off the line, but absolutely DO need very quick acceleration when passing slower vehicles on two-lane roads. So the CVT is the better tranny for my real-world type of driving.

As to the AWD thing, AWD is overrated. The few times I have driven an AWD vehicle, I thought it would be great for areas of the country where ice and snow are a threat. But totally worthless for where I live and my type of driving.

AWD sounds like a really nice option, but it comes with a price tag. The initial MSRP of a vehicle takes a big bump up when AWD is added. And money talks. Fuel efficiency takes a drop when AWD is added. Depending on the vehicle, adding AWD reduces the MPG between 1 MPG and 4 MPG. Over the life of the vehicle, that is too big a difference in MPG to justify, unless one drives in inclimate weather regularly (I don't).

Additionally, AWD is a more complicated system than FWD or RWD, offering more chance for mechanical problems, and requiring a more technically skilled mechanic for service work. If under warranty, this means longer service hours when maintenance is required. If not under warranty, this means more bucks for service work.

An AWD problem most folks are not aware of is that AWD systems require not only that all tires on the vehicle be exactly the same size, but, with many AWD systems, the tread depth on all tires on the vehicle be essentially the same depth, else premature wear and damage can be done to the AWD system. I have had acquaintences that replaced all four tires when only one had been damaged, and the other three still had most of the tread left. To me, with the price of tires today, that is absolutely unthinkable.

And then we come to what may be the most important factor: Nissan has more vehicle types than most manufacturers. They have around 17 or so completely different vehicles. Most Nissan dealer lots are overflowing with vehicles, and still they can't even keep one of each variation of each model available. Adding an AWD option would mean many dealers would handle the AWD option as they did the manual tranny option - there would be ONE or TWO AWD Maximas on the lot along with thirty to fifty non-AWD Maximas.

That lot-space/logistics problem was a major factor in the demise of the manual Maxima, and would be the primary reason an AWD Maxima would not work for Nissan. Those saying the AWD could be 'special order' need to remember the manual Maxima. Once dealers refused to keep manuals on their lots, and the manual was 'special order', it had no chance. There just aren't enough 'special order' folks out there to make it work. Sad, but that is reality.

Hope some of this diatribe helps in some way.

 

The problem (or not) with the Maxima is that it falls in between an Accord and a TL ... so it's like comparing oranges, apples, and tangerines. And I think the major issue is that people (inlcuding Nissan) can't quite figure out exactly what the Maxima is.


Not drivel, in fact quite the opposite. Very good insight all around.

Since this thread is dedicated to the CVT I will 'try' to keep to the topic ...

You're definitely right about the CVT, on my way home from work tonight I noticed the exact 'phenotype' (excuse the science dork in me) that you describe. I absolutely love how the engine growls to life when I apply a little throttle at 40 - 60mph and shoot to 75mph. Perhaps the youth in me just really wants this car to pin me to the seat when a red light turns green ... I'm not talking about smoking the tires (which seems highly unlikely with this car anyways) or racing anyone off the line, but a little chirp (without the torque steer) would be nice. Don't get me wrong, the car has plenty of power but I just expected a bit more from the low end and I think this is directly related to the CVT.

Now to go briefly off topic and discuss AWD ...

I tend to agree that the 8th Gen Maxima's will not have AWD, however I would not be shocked in the least if they did. To play devil's advocate ...

1. If you are looking for fuel economy on a Nissan you are not buying a Maxima. The Maxima is one of the only Nissan models that has not improved overall fuel efficiency over the last decade. Even 3.5 Altima's get more than 30mpg. The simple fact that AWD will decrease MPG is not a major point for the Maxima.

2. I wouldn't be so concerned about the MSRP of an AWD Maxima ... a >$40k Maxima is already quite absurd, what's a couple thousand more?
Sadly Nissan is not concerned with making the Maxima financially friendly; that ship sailed in 2009.

3. If AWD requires more maintenance then some would say Nissan would make even more money.

4. Even with ~17 different models the Maxima is one of the best selling Nissans (behind I believe Altima's, Sentra's and Rogue's). That's not going to change anytime soon. You do not need to have AWD available in every color with every package ... it would be crazy if they did.

5. The demise of the manual transmission in Maxima's is not completely due to lack of demand. In fact, 6 spd Gen 5's are currently going for as much as 1.5x the price of auto's in private sales and auctions, rare beasts indeed. Nissan and many other manufacturers are presumably favoring other transmissions for non sports cars. It would seem that the opposite trend is being seen with AWD.

6. More than half the country will be driving in inclement weather this winter ... or so my inner skier hopes

7. Nissan already has the technology in place. The 2nd Gen Murano, which shares the same platform as the Maxima, has trims with AWD.

Sorry if I strayed too far off topic.

Thanks again for your input!

 

The future is being shoved down your throats whether you like it or not.

 

Agreed.


CVT vs manual transmission . . . close enough.


Probably indirectly, as a consequence of torque management at small drive pulley diameters.


Eventually, once whatever remaining low fruit for the fleet as a whole is picked, it will matter. More to Nissan than to Nissan's Maxima customers taken individually.


Short term anyway. But should a poor-ish reputation develop for either frequncy of repair or the cost of same even if very infrequently encountered, people will stay away in droves.


It's easy to agree on this as long as it isn't your own preferred combination that they'd be refusing to build.


Perhaps the strong relation between demand and supply in today's used car market is a reflection of the much weaker relation in the new car market back during the 5th gen's production run. Those who bought 6MT 5th gens are likely more apt to be still keeping their Max two generations later than those who bought the AT versions. Never mind that some will have been lost to accidents or other causes.



Including the driveshaft tunnel dimensions? Which might have to at least be taller in a Maxima simply because there isn't the same amount of ground clearance room to steal space for like there is in the taller Murano.


Norm

 

All fair points ... we could go back and forth for a very long time on this.

The simple fact is that however small or unlikely a chance it is ... AWD is a possibility on the 'new' Maxima.

Thanks to Norm and Lightonthehill for the insight and patience in dealing with a neophyte.

Think I'll stick around this place for a while and soak up some knowledge.

 

We just replaced my wife's 1999 Maxima with a 2012. We were really concerned about the CVT, it's performance and durability after hearing many whine about it. The first time we drove the CVT we were sold. Love it! With 290hp and a 5.8sec 0-60 I don't see the problem others have with it. No, it's not a sports vehicle, does not handle or sound like one. IMHO no four door says sporty. The Maxima suits our need as a great comfortable touring car with power and poise to handle any mountain road. Now I'm 67yrs. old but have always owned sports cars since the 1960's. I currently also have a BMW 330ci coupe, and two Ducati motorcycles, so I have my opinions.

 

M5 is not sporty?

 

Compared to a TVR, most likely not.

A 4-door can be fairly sporty, but I'm not sure I'd put any OE 4-door car into a hardcore sporty category.

The current Boss Mustang and 1LE Camaros are at best just barely hardcore sporty.


Norm

 

I am 66 and owned Corvettes, BMW's and Saab's in the past. The CVT is one of the features that I like about the Maxima. You need to put your concerns about the CVT at ease. Consumer Reports rating for the 2012 Maxima is above average and indicates no issues with the CVT for the past few years.

 

Why would Nissan add an AWD option to the Maxima? It would take sales directly away from the Inifiniti G37x. Simple as that in my eyes.

Acura is the luxury brand of Honda.
The TL is an upscale Accord the same way that the G37 is an upscale Maxima.

If you want AWD you'll have to get a G37x. And if you want RWD get a regular G37.
Of course honda has the Accord Crosstour that has AWD but that is sort of a different machine than the Accord sedan or coupe.


Now if Nissan thought of making a manual transmission for the Maxima it would probably only make good business sense if they also produced a Maxima coupe. I'm sure a manual transmission would sell well in a Max coupe as long as it could keep up or pass the CVT Max at some point in a 1/4 mile.

But again. They may worry about affecting sales of the Infiniti G37 coupe...If only Nissan was as big a company as Honda. Start buying more Nissans people!

If you want a manual Nissan don't forget the 350z and 370z. Or maybe the ol' 300zx. What a cool car. Good ol' fairladys. Any gen but the 3rd. It looked too generic for it's 3rd gen IMO.

I like Hondas but Nissan has more sporty options through the years and more cool looking cars.

 

I see where people would say this is for "old people" as I sold nissans and the CVT's were very popular with the older crowd. However, I sold more altimas and maximas to the younger crowd than anything. I own a 2011 Maxima SV and LOVE the CVT in it. It definitely takes some getting used to, as I myself prefer manuals. But now that I have been in it for 3 months I love the fact that I can have it in sport mode and use the paddles to shift manually when I feel like having fun, but also have the mpg and smoothness of the ride from the CVT when I want to just kick back in the car and cruise. If I were to own a muscle car like a GT500 or a Vette I would go with a manual ALL DAY LONG. I just dont believe it really has a place as many have mentioned in the fwd family sedan. The traffic where I live would drive me up a wall. Btw, I'm 27, so I am absolutely speaking from a younger crowd.

 

Local traffic and physical disability/limitation reasons aside, why not?

Where is it carved in stone that the moment you start putting practicality and responsibility toward the top of your car-buying priorities must be the same moment where you should give up the same kinds of fun associated with less practical cars? If there was any memo out to this effect, I'm sure glad I never got it because I've never seen any requirement that fun and practicality be mutually exclusive. Quite the contrary, actually, and there is benefit in having a few bright spots in the otherwise mundane parts of your daily routine.


I am sure that because you grew up in a different era than I did, you have a different image about what constitutes "practical, responsible transportation". When I was growing up (about a generation and a half before you, so yes, I'm getting to be an OG), all of the adults I knew, knew how to "drive stick", and most had at least one vehicle with a manual transmission. When we were starting to get our own driver's licenses, it was understood and expected that we would be able to do so as well If anybody bothered to think about the topic of manual vs automatic transmissions at all, it was simply to realize that some cars worked one way and some worked the other. Us kids were more concerned about differences such as 4-speeds vs 3 and floor shifter conversions. Twenty years ago, that was no longer the case.


Norm

 

I freakin love it. Always see fascination on passengers' faces when I rip from 0-70 with no bucking. And let's talk acceleration in the 30-90mph range... ridiculous. Not sure if that's attributed to CVT.

Z

 

At least some of it is, the rest being a matter of having a pretty decent engine to work with. All that has to happen is for the powertrain control module to keep engine rpm and CVT ratio optimized for acceleration - somewhere near the rpm for peak HP with only the CVT ratio being allowed to vary with road speed being what I'd expect.


Norm

 

A correction is in order. Many people confuse HP with acceleration. Acceleration is a function of torque not HP. HP is related to the top speed that the car can reach.

 

Nope. Not quite that simple, and yes I did think it through before hitting the 'submit' button.

First off, the formula for car acceleration can be simplified to the following. There are other terms - rotational inertias, acceleration limited by tire grip, powertrain efficiencies that aren't necessarily the same for all rear ratios, torque momentarily added by rapidly converting flywheel deceleration, torque lost to driving hydraulic pumps, etc., etc.

{ [EngineTorque] x [TransmissionGearReduction] x [FinalDriveRatio] - [TotalDrag] } / { [CarWeight] x [DriveTireRadius] }

Note that because there are gear ratios involved, engine rpm does get to play a part, and since HP = torque x RPM / 5252, torque is related to HP via rpm (and that 5252 constant). It's not wrong to use a HP curve to compute acceleration, just that it's easier to measure torque and compute acceleration using the torque curve.

1. With a gearbox having only a very few discrete ratios, it holds essentially true that being at peak torque will provide the best acceleration within each of those gears (I think it can be shown that due to aero drag the maximum acceleration actually occurs at an rpm fractionally below peak torque RPM).

2. But if any two of those specific gear ratios are closely spaced enough to each other that you could choose either the gear that puts you at peak torque rpm or the next lower gear that doesn't put you too far past peak HP rpm, you will still get better acceleration at a given road speed by being at peak HP with the larger rear reduction working for you. IOW, you gain more from the numerically higher gear reduction than you lose by operating above peak torque rpm where torque is dropping off. You don't have to take my word for it, just verify the numbers below which specifically use Nissan's own numbers for the current Maxima (red bold text mine)

VQ35DE – 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine
290 hp @ 6,400 rpm . . . which corresponds to about 238 ft-lbs . . . or 91.2% of max torque (0.912 x Tmax)
261 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
6400 / 4400 allows for about 45.5% greater gear reduction, so 1.455 x 0.912 = 1.326 times the acceleration potential at peak HP than at peak torque


3. The ultimate situation is of course with the CVT, where there is an infinite number of gear ratios in the tranny that are spaced infinitesimally apart. IOW here, you get to use the greatest product of torque and overall gear ratio . . . ALL of the time.


FWIW, I do agree with you that HP does define the ultimate top speed, although that to compute it via a stepwise solution so that you can consider all of those other variables it's still easier to work with the torque curve solving for acceleration. When acceleration = zero, that's your top speed for that gearing. If it occurs when the engine is at its peak HP rpm, that is the maximum top speed you'll get out of that car until you modify the aero, power, or rolling drag.


Just so you know, I've been tinkering off and on with this exact mathematical acceleration sim for a good 45 years now. I think I know what's going on.


Norm

 

My poor son will likely hate me . . . he's 8 now and will for certain be learning to drive a stick. I may still have my impractical 5spd Maxima in the garage . . .

 

I think that if the unstated expectation all around is simply that he'll learn it, he'll step right into it. Not negatively anticipating it to even the slightest extent starts with you.

Our daughter and her hubby are seriously shopping for a new car. She turns 38 this summer, and after several years of driving a Honda Pilot she's genuinely excited about getting away from the automatic and into a car with a 6-speed manual. Occasionally driving any of our cars except the Mustang (all four being manual tranny) has kept her MT skills reasonably current, so I expect her transition to all-MT driving to come easily.


Norm

 

It definitely took some getting used to when I picked up my 2012 Premium back in July. Not bad, just different. After driving her for a few weeks I have to say that I really enjoy it. I'm having fun playing with the sport mode and the paddle shifters. Amazing what they can do with software these days...

 

Is the CVT that is the Altima also in the later 2013 Maximas? Wondering if it will be in the 2014 short model year run or saved for the 8th gen.

 

http://www.jatco.co.jp/ENGLISH/products/vehicle.html

here are the list of CVTs per the car they are in. Nor sure what the Maxima's European/Japanese counterpart is called. But it doesn't appear that anything else is using the Altima's CVT. I'm so glad I have a manual