RS

If Nissan is going with the 3.5L for 2002, then it is likely they will axe the 5-speed as well. As far as I can remember, I've never seen a FWD manual tranny behind a Japanese engine putting out that much torque. I doubt Nissan would bother further beefing up the current 5-speed for the measly <10% it sells. Any thoughts?

RS

Well, I need to speculate, because I'm about to buy a 2001 5-speed. Besides, this is more like common sense than speculation.

Lordrandall

iTrader: (4)

Lets hope not. Auto's only? *shudder*

Kenneth

iTrader: (8)

yeah but manuals are like 15% of new vette sells
i hope not, wouldn't mind owning a 3.5l manual one day.

speednsound007

haha, what does the Vette sales have to do with anything? And I doubt they will drop the manual tranny. Since it's suppose to be a sports sedan they will lose those 10% (or watever the number is) to another car where people can get their manual. After this many years I don't see them just dropping it, car makers ADD opptions, not drop them. And they'll see how Lexus lost a lot of IS 300 buyers for that reason and think twice.

PJ

Kenneth

iTrader: (8)

hmmm good question.
i believe they will keep the 5-spd also.

RS

Vette and IS300 are RWD. High torque handling RWD manual trannies are relatively easy, FWD are not, hence there rarity and rapid disappearance.

La Jolla Max

Common sense?!

Hmm...the current Pathfinder has a VQ35, the same engine Nissan plans to put in the 2002 Maxima (let's assume we're sure of it). And the Pathfinder is available with -lo and behold- a 5 speed manual transmission! Seems like Nissan DID find a manual transmission to handle all that torque So, having said that, wouldn't it be only common sense that the 2002 Maxima--with a 3.5 liter V6--would be offered with a manual transmission?


Sorry bud...the 5-speed manual transmission will be alive and well for the 2002 model year.

La Jolla Max

Err..who told you that?!

OzMaToz

Yes they do have a 5-speed for the pathfinder, but that is also a rear wheel drive sport ute.

RS

I've talked to several mechanics about it...don't remember the specifics, but they also said that shift quality in front drive vs. rear drive transmissions (FWD tranny meaning transaxle) is compromised which is why most V-6 manuals are rubbery and lack a positive feel (read Maxima, 626, Camry). They agreed that manuafacturing/engineering a FWD manual transaxle with a high torque capacity is very costly. Combine that with the less than 10% sales of sticks for the Maxima and it seems obvious about the 2002.

Do you think anybody would buy a V-6 Accord with a manual? I bet you a larger percentage would than the Camry or Maxima 5-speeds. Why do you think Honda decided against one?

BEJAY1

iTrader: (19)

This thread is a tear jerker

It was hard enough finding a 5-speed sedan in the first place.

Nissan - DON'T LISTEN TO THEM. Move some R&D "Z" cash over here

maxrules

Better idea: let's start rumoring that the 3.5L will be in RWD layout. Now we're talking! How about a small block multi-valve V8 in a RWD Maxima.... guess I just really want a 5-series beemer for around $30g off the assembly line. Wow.

-kev

PS - Hope the 5 speed death ain't so - us "auto's" need something to dream about for the next car...

Kenneth

iTrader: (8)

i know, 3.0+ with rwd, independent rear. "poor mans bmw."

Lordrandall

iTrader: (4)

You can say the same about the LS V6 as well.....

justinmc

iTrader: (8)

but I've got some info that that is indeed the direction the max is heading.. more to take the true flagship role.. a nice RWD car.. possibly a v-8 increasing in size and becoming more Q45'ish... then the sentra and altima will step up to the maxima roll.. sentra more likely.. The new sentras are already as big as a 3rd gen.. .. (yes this is a reputable source... and no I won't say who/where/how...)

MaxRX7

This will kill the IS300.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Manual transmissions have always been a rarity in FWD cars in the USA. Especially in the larger sedans etc.. Reason? Lotsa of lazy assed people in the USA. Don't give me the trafic jam reason. In Europe, most drive manuals and they have worse traffic then here. Now for having too much power for manual in a FWD. Well that would be the case in automatics too. The reason is torque steer. When there is too much power to put down in a FWD w/ the stupid open differential, you gonna get massive torque steer. Just ask those turbo SAAB guys(muahahha). ALOT of the problems could be solved by using a limited slip differential that had more than 20-25% measly lock that Nissan uses for the vlsd units(that's if they even decide to put ANY lsd in their cars)

The reason any maker chooses to keep offering manuals for their cars in the USA is probably more for image/marketing. I'd say most makers LOSE $$ when having to tool up another tranny for the usa markets. But then again, Nissan uses aggresive marketing to sell their Maximas. If they market their Maximas in a sporting way, they had at least offer the manual to back it up.

Shingles

For exactly that reason and that reason alone, Nissan will continue to offer 5-speeds. nissan is one of the VERY few car makers that offer 5-speeds in a V6 family sedan. They know this... they will build it wiht a 5-speed. UNLESS they really do make the Maxima more Avalon like... in which case... forget about it.

-Shing

Albertt

nm

Ants97SE

Or a 6-speed Manual