Why won't 2002 use a 5spd auto?
 

If their offering a six speed manual, why not a 5 speed auto? If they did, it would be nice to frankenstein one onto an earlier model.

That's what Nissan is saving for the future Maxima. Have to save something to entice you guys to buy it in the near future. :)

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Fact or fanciful fiction?

it's still an auto :)

Nissan is cheap and is more interested in smoke and mirror tactics rather than acutal revolutionary change.

True, but I'm looking for hope for my now outdated auto 4th gen. If we could match up a 5spd auto tranny, then I would be all the happier. I know that the 3.5 VQ is different internally, but is it different enough to changed the transmition? Anybody know any solid info about the new 2002 tranny and possible 5sp auto?

Nisan is Sooooo Lazy.... :(

Almost as lazy as spelling Nissan with one S? If they did make a 5spd auto I think everyone would just complain about the even higher price, you can't have it both ways... At least it doesn't come with a 3spd like the Neon.

PJ

lets assume that Nissan won't make one. Anybody try to make one for their 4sp auto? I have no idea what the cost would be, but I'm sure fast auto drag guys like Don would benifit from it.

Little hint: look for the new G35 by Infiniti 2002 ;)

different engine.

4th gen isn't outdated, the 3rd gen is :)

It's still a 3.5L V6 in typical VQ form. It might have some tweaks, but it will be the same engine. Transmission will be different though, since it will be RWD. I would not be surprised if both the G35 and 2003 Z-car share transmission choices (5-spd auto and 6-spd manual).

Nah, a little more lazy than that! :D

If nissan makes a 5spd auto, it'll probably be like the TL's auto with a some high a$$ 5th gear that is pretty much nonusable.

I agree....

f&f voice: "it doesn't matter if you put in 4 gears or 5 - an automagic is an automagic"

not if its a CVT automatic :D = unlimited gears!

Brings back memories of what Nissan did with the 92 MAX and the VE before the 4th gen's came out.

yup that's what the problem will be. i would sacrifice gas mileage for some smaller gears on the auto. like instead of third ending at 120 have 4th end at 130 and work down from there. then just plop a 5th that would go to 160 to get good mileage. other than real thought and racing going into the design 5-spd auto are a ploy. look at a TL. 5-spd auto's but they aren't really FAST. 4th and 5th are garbage.

Like some are saying, it's still an automatic. If you bought a max to own the tracks/streets with speed alone....well, one, I think you bought a max for the wrong reason, and two, what are you doing with an auto? If someone swapped out their 4th-gen 4-speed auto for a 5-speed auto to gain speed...heh...what a bunch of work/money for something rather insignificant.

I've just assumed it would be the same engine in the G35. But because its RWD, I question the orientation of the engine under the hood when compared to the fwd 3.5 VQs, and as such, different locations for things and different hose routings, etc. But I dunno.

It would just be nice to have 5 gears stepped different than the 4 gears to get a better output of power to the wheels, that's all. My thinking may be off, but that's what I'm guessing.

you'd still have that same parasitic loss to the wheels with any auto. it would have to be geared for straight up acceleration to do anything at all.

Yeah, but would a modded VB and torque converter give it enough integrity to overcome "most" automatic transmition power loss and thus allow 5 gears to better distribute the power?

no, a vb makes your shift faster, and a torque converter might help it distribute the power a little better but it would make daily "normal" driving very weird. a high stall TQ is not for a daily driver car. the most you will see is a few hp shift in the cure and no more peak at the wheels. auto's suck.