How many of you regretted that you got an automatic instead of a stick shift? I know I do! When I got my car in '96, I had no clue about stick shift. Now I do know how to drive a stick shift, well sort of anyway. I know that you could get a VB upgrade, or upgrade your torque converter, but it's no replacement for a stick shift. *sigh* Too bad I just don't have the funds right now to get myself a new stick shift car.

 

No regrets from me! I communite in stop and go traffic, so that's the major reason.

 

mhaha my mom wouldnt let me get a stick shift.. grr... i would have gotten a 3000gt vr4..but noooooo.... and then i was gonna get a 95 SE but it was stickshift...so i couldnt get it.. so i got a 95 GLE automatic... i hate not being able to shift.. i feel so helpless..hehehe..... oh well.. maybe i'll just rent a cool car and make it be a stick shioft,..and go off on it...driving a stick is too fun

 

I've got no complaints about my auto except for the occasional hesitant kickdown on occasion. But with 2 kids, and a job where I drive all day I like the convenience.

 

i hate starting from a standstill at 1000 rpm, i hate the hesitation before a downshift..however i do enjoy driving in atl traffic w/ my auto

 

I have no complaints...accept for the fact that my friends think I am weird because I held the auto stick like a manual....like I am gonna down shift whenever i stop
ahahahahahaah

 

I never would have gotten an auto, but I got a deal I just couldn't refuse (the car used to be my dad's.) Here in UT, I don't mind it as much though because all of the roads are so straight. I have always had sticks before, and my next car will definitely be a stick.

 

i like my auto, it's easier to eat my breakfast on my way to school every morning. But for my next car i would like to get a stick tho, it's fun.

 

i have 95 auto max. my answer to this is yes and no. stick is fun to drive and u can kick more *** with it. no because morning traffic in houston sucks. in my opinion se should be top of the line not gle. se can have all the option gle has and then some. i got gle because was not able to find se at the time i was buying. also i was in a hurry to get my new used max. besides my mom didn't allow me to buy a stick because she was afraid that i didn't know how to drive it and it would be dangerous in traffic. and she was paying for the note at the time so i basically didn't have any say so as far as me getting a stick or auto. and if i could have gotten a stick my first choice was 300zx

 

I live in New Orleans, and traffic does get pretty bad sometimes. So, having an automatic helps a lot. However, I still rather have a stick shift. I wouldn't mind the occasional traffic jam. Holding the auto shifter like a manual? haha...I know what you mean, I do that, and it seem to me that many automatic drivers do that too. Why do we do it? One time I was next to this big truck, and the passenger saw me holding the auto shifter, and just gave me a weird look. He was like "okkkay..." If he was in a regular car, he probably couldn't see it was an auto, but the truck was much higher, so I didn't fool anyone. I think this is called Stick Shift Envy. I'm not going to mod my car anymore. I'm going to wait and see if my financial situation gets better. If it does, bye bye automatic. Maybe I could hold on until the alleged 260hps. Maxima comes out. Not sure if I could wait that long though.

 

First of all .. go away doug....this is for auto's only

NOW:
yes occasionaly i do regret getting an auto..and honestly i can drive a manual so i dunno why i got a slushbox..
whoever said starting from 1000 rpm .. yes it sux...
but also i agree with kev..
I sit in traffic A LOT driving to NYC the lincoln tunnel is a PITA..

The one bad thing is i am scared the tranny is gonna go on me.....dam ..

And yes my next car will be a manual...hopefully a 93 300ZX TT .. muhahahahaha

Ant

 

I like manual transmission cars for aggressive driving on twisty, hilly roads. However, I bought the auto for my wife since we wanted a cruising car, not a race car. And it does just fine in all situations except trying to exit a corner with the RPM's high. But I have my old Protege for that.
The auto in the Maxima is a very smooth transmission. I don't regret getting it.

 

Yep, I think that's the case too

 

Yep, I regret it every day (except when sitting in traffic, but even that's bearable and it means you only have to do leg-lifts with one leg at the gym). I wish Nissan made the GLE with 5-speed. To get an SE with the same options as the GLE comes standard, it would have cost a few thousand more in 94 when I bought mine. That made all the difference (plus, my wife couldn't drive a stick at the time, but the maxima is so sweet that anyone could learn to drive a stick with it).

-kev

PS - Just like Ant, I'm waiting for it to die. 95k miles and I hear the clock ticking... anybody got some mileage numbers on their automatics before they died?

 

The availability of the 5-speed was THE reason I got a Maxima. At the time, there was no new car that I could afford with a manual, well, 6 cylinders or above.

I have heard the argument many times--that the auto is preferred due to heavy traffic. But I have not yet met anyone who complained about the manual in heavy metro traffic. Heck, it can take me 50 minutes to go 12 miles down here on a regular everyday basis--of course auto would be more convenient. But I'm serious, the clutching is just part of the routine, it's not a hassle.

For my everyday car I'll always want to have a manual, even on a premium car. But of course in a family situation I'd have an auto in addition.

 

I got a 1993 with almost 93k now.
Got the car with 84k, at 86k the tranny dies on me completely, 1,300$ later I am still kicking myself. I live in NYC, drive in heavy traffic in Brooklyn a lot, but I would sacrifice it, my auto still feels sluggish like hell, barely switches in hot weather, feels like a 4 cyl. I get constant slippage between 3rd-4th gear shift, it still blows even though I got a rebuilt. I do drive aggressively a lot, I also keep my right hand on the shifter like I got a 5spd. Possibly, by next summer, I will get rid of this car and get a 4th gen 5spd.
Auto is for wussies

 

I've got a 97 SE Auto and I want a stick so bad =) .. Anyone around Toronto got a superblack 97 SE with 100k or so clicks & wanna trade? hehe.

I've heard with the VB upgrade & ECU that the auto really isn't that bad buuuut..... The only good reason for it is stop-go traffic (which I get a lot of around here). I guess being able to drive with a drink-in-hand has it's advantages.

 

Wish I had 5 speed, auto sucks. My old 94 V6 camry at least had a sport button and you could accelerate at like 1/2 throttle and it would hold the gear till like 5500 or till you let off. With the Max unless you punch it it is in 4th by 30 mph. I find myself manually in 1st holding it and then second holding it before putting it in drive. I wish someone would make a better tranny ECU that would hold a gear!!!

 

modified Tranny ECU that has 3 modes, I don't exactely know the 3 modes but I have heard that one mode is that it will hold the gear longer than stock and wont shift till redline. Cost about $500.

 

I'll look into that but ouch!!! 500 bills for some reasonable shifting logic.....rather manually shift it and spend 500 on new engine ECU if they ever, ever, ever...make one for a 99!!!!!!!!! I'm not holding my breath.

 

for the 95-96 Infiniti and Maxima's, but I am not sure why they would be different from the other years. Call Cattman or JWT they would know and they sell it too.

 

i have a auto i h8 it (except when drink coffe and eating) its gay i push on pedal 2 sec later it goes wont downshift when i tell it to, sob. im selling my car just to get a stick!@# neways is it just me or i think there is a big aftermarket for some1 to come out with a stick conversion kit?tht wont cost a arm leg foot and my spleen.