I have been looking at buying a new Maxima and drove the 6 speed (I owned a 2001 with auto and didn't like the power delivery so I sold it). Obviously the 6 speed and the 3.5 liter motor are incredible with immediate and serious power. The 6 speed is also very smooth and accurate which I liked. My problem is that with the 2k4 on the way buying a new Maxima is a bad financial decision. So I have started looking for used. I have never driven the 5 speed 3.0.

Does anyone have some input as to how the 5 speed feels and operates?
I also drove the Altima with the 5 speed transmission. It was the worst stick I have every driven. Rubbery, notchy you know all the bad stuff.

thanks for your help.

 

If I were you I would get Altima 5-speedor wait for new Maxima if you want 6-speed.

Altima has better suspension and other things. Interior is kinda strange looking but you can get used to it.

 

I have 6-speed, but the 5-speed is just as fun, nearly as fast (as fast or faster with a few hundred $$$), you'll hear people talk about the 6-speed being more notchy than the 5-speed. I've read over and over here that the 3.0 5-speed was the "last good maxima made." Of course I disagree, but I guess my point is you can't go wrong with either. Both are fun.

Now let the "2k2 has quality issues" post war begin.

 

Love my 5 sp. 2k1 se. It lays down the power fast, no hesitation. Even at highway speeds (70-75 mph) all I have to do is give it some gas (read: don't have to floor it) and its into the triple digits without hesitation. My only gripe is about the high 5th gear ratio/final drive. At 70 mph the engine runs at a little over 3000 rpm (hell, my wife's minivan runs 75 mph at around 2000 rpm!). I haven't checked this for myself, but I hear the 6th gear takes care of that.

 

Over 3000 at 70? Whoa.. Half of the driving I do is on freeways where the speed run 80 mph. That seems really high to me.

 

sixth gear in a 6 speed @ 70 mph is a little under 3k rpm

 

I was looking for a used Max 5SP (1999) before I eneded up getting my new one (2003 - 6sp). The 5sp had nice power and the clutch did not feel notchy at all. However, when I drove the 6SP the power was like night and day. The 6SP was also a lot smoother.

If you are not going to get a 6SP, I think you will be happy with the 5SP. But you WILL miss the power.

 

Of course you felt a power difference. You were comparing a 4th gen, 190 hp engine with the (reported) 255 HP VQ35... There won't be that much diff between the 222 and 255 HP or wherever they are actually rated.

 

As a side note to this thread. What started me on the 6 speed was that I found a brand new 2k2 on a dealers lot. Sticker was $30,200 with every option. Needless to say they've had it a while. I tried to buy the car for $22k but they weren't interested. I mean it is a year old and essentially should take the same depreciation hit a used car takes at this time. 2k2 autos are all over the place for $17 to $19.

 

My previous 5 speed (89SE) was less notchy and very reliable (150k+ before I needed a new clutch and replaced syncro). My 6 speed (02SE) is a lot of fun (10k+ so far with the clutch recall which did not affect the driving of the car, just a noise) and the notchiness is something you get used to quickly.

My 6 throw is better than my 5 but still longer than I would like. If you driven any german cars you'd know what I mean. A STS would solve this problem in either car.

The other point I would make is that I've found the number of gears almost meaningless anymore. I hardly ever shifted into 4th (on my 5) and now hardly ever shift into 5th (on my 6). Ironically on my 5th I was occasionally looking for a non-existent 6th, and now I find myself looking for a 7th.

Reverse is a little easier with the 6 as you now have a lock out. I hope this helps.

 

I thought the 6th gear would help the car relax on the highway. 3000 RPM at 70 mph?? What's the point, then? That motor's spinning. My 98 5-speed is just over 3000 rpm at 80, so yours should really be lower than that.

DW

 

The 5 speeds automatically lock you out of reverse. If you downshift from 5 to 4, just pull the gearshift back. The gearbox will just naturally go into 4th gear.

DW

 

60 in 6th onmine is like 2000rpm's so i guess 70 is like 22-2300 not ANYWHERE close to 3000. I can try it tonight but rest assured the 6th gear is a cruising highway gear.

 

I don't think so. 2500 rpm =125 kmh = 77.5 mph.

 

Please check that out on the 6 sp. I have heard both ways. Are we missing something? My 5 sp is definetely over 3000 rpm at 70 mph and I keep on looking for 6th.

 

3000 RPMs in 5th which basically equates to a THEORETICAL to speed of over 170 MPH in top gear whereas the 6-speed 3.5 liter cars are geared with a theoretical top speed of over 200 MPH.

The point of this message is that the 2001 5-speed is already geared a little high (meaning you'll never reach redline in top gear) so why go with a car that's geared even higher?

I would love to do a top gear acceleration test from 50 to 80 (where we do 95% of our highway driving) between a 3 liter 5-speed and a 3.5 liter 6-speed. Given the ultra-high gearing on the 3.5 liter cars, the smaller 3 liter cars will likely walk all over them. Of course, one downshift from the 6-speed cars and the 3 liter car is history but....with no downshifts, it will be an interesting run-off.

I've driven both and DEFINITELT the 5-speed is a much smoother shifting tranny and the rod linkage MUCH better than the 6-speed's cable linkage.

 

The point is that rpms equate to engine wear and tear, thus if cruising at highway speeds, one would prefer lower revs. Having to downshift from a higher gear would be a small nuisance compared to an engine overhaul down the road, IMO.

 

>revs also equal greater fuel consumption and noise. The 6 speed max has a greater highway fuel economy rating than the 3.5 Alty with 5 speed because cruising revs are lower.

 

No, not really. Continous operation at a STEADY rpm is VERY easy on the motor. This is about the easiest thing for your motor to do, whether it's at 2500 rpm or 3500 rpm - the difference in wear is, for all practical purposes, zero.

 

engine wear & fuel consumption but want to relate this back to the question of a five-speed (3 liter) Maxima versus a six-speed (3.5 liter)Maxima.....the comparison to 3.5 liter Altima bears no relevance in this thread.

On the issue of 3 liter Max versus 3.5 liter Max, the 3 liter will overall provide better gas mileage than the 3.5 liter -unless u use the car for 80% highway driving -which would be unusual.

As to egine wear, yes but..since a well-cared for Maxima VQ will last for >150k miles...should this be a concern? To some yes, to many -no

 

Hmmm, I don't know but my 6-speed Max, around 85mph and it is still under 3000 rpms.
80mph is around 2500rpm.

 

I don't have to downshift at all, punch it in 6th gear and car pulls and pulls.

I love the 6-speed, revs so low on the highway. My old 2000 5-speed was really annoying on the highway.

 

So excluding all other factors and just looking at rpms, which would you prefer, your engine running at 2500 or 3000 rpm at the same speed?

Galo, you make several good points, especially the linkage differences. I wasn't aware the 6 sp was cable. Knowing that and the fact that the top gearing is about the same for both, I'm sticking with the 5 sp.

 

different in top gear between the 6-speed and the 5-speed with the 6-speed geared much taller than the five-speed...if a 5-speed is going at roughly 3000 RPMs in top gear, a 6-speed car would be around 2400 RPMs.

My point was that the taller gearing in the 6-speed basically negates the advantage of 3.5 liter engine to pull hard(er) in top gear because the much taller gearing offsets the greater power/torque of the the additional half-liter.

In other words, from a performance standpoint, the 5-speeds and 6-speeds are evenly matched in any top gear acceleration situation below 80 mph -as long as the 6-speed does not downshift.

Better now?

 

Good point, i've seen 2k2 automatic's for around 17 to 19, what i dont get is, why would they nearly double the price for sticks ? I could be wrond, just my opinion.

Has anyone ever thought of buying a 2k se and throwing in a 2k3 engine along with the 6 spd tranny ? If so, post it

-Rey

 

i was about to say 70mph in 6th is nowhere near 3000 rpms, not to mention how slow the rpms go up in 6th.. when i downshift at about 80 it puts me at like 4000 rpms, maybe a little more 4500 tops... so 2 gears higher is not 3000 rpms

 

Yes and No. I am still confused about the 6 sp. gearing. Some say about 3000 rpm at 70 in 6th, some say much less rpms than that. Which is it? I understand the performance differences. My point is highway cruising. I rather save the engine, fuel and noise with lower cruising rpms (isn't that the purpose of overdrive anyway?) than "cruising" at 2/3-3/4 to redline. In this regard, the 5 speed is not realy a highway cruiser (unless I were to stick to the speed limit).

And regarding overdrive, if you look at performance figures of many non electronically speed limited cars, the don't reach top speed in the tallest gear (whichever that is), they reach it in the direct drive gear. What I mean by this is that if I really wanted performance, I'd put my 5 sp. in 4th gear, not 5th. The way my max is geared, I have no choice, do I?

 

I have a 2003 6 speed. The rpms at 80 are nowhere near 3K. It's somewhere around 2400-2500. If you want to see for yourself, take a test drive, and ask the dealer if you can take it on a highway, and then just bring it up to 80 in 6th and see what it does.

 

If it were me, I'd get a late used 2k2 or wait a couple more months and jump in a used 2k3. The 6sp in 6th gear turns slower than the 5sp. However, you have a larger engine so I don't know about fuel econ. When you consider the hp advantage, I'd go for the 3.5 anyway.

If this thread goes on much longer about what RPMs are turned at what speed, I'm gonna have to go for a spin around the block!

Another reason to get a 2k2 or 2k3 is you'll have a longer warranty still available for the most part.

 

I believe you vito. What I find hard to believe is the fact that some guys don't seem to know what rpms their cars run. They must be the same guys that seem to miss those pesky SES lights...

 

Here's another thing...My 95 Accord V6 with a 4 speed auto spun at about 3200-3300 at 80, and it was a 2.7L engine. So how can someone say that the 3.5 VQ will spin at 3000 when you're in 6th gear (not 4th)? I don't get it!

As 2002Maxxxima said, I'm about to go and test it again myself just to double check, but with all the snow out here, this may be the last time I get up to 80, and won't live to come back and post the results!

 

I realize the 5speed has a lock out. With the 5 though you could still go to reverse for other gears. With the 6 you have to pull up on the collar to get into reverse (from any gear).

 

During break-in period, the dealer told me not to exceed 3,000 rpm before 1,000 miles. I followed the rules, and if I remember correctly, 3,000 rpm in 6th gear is exactly 93mph.

Since I'm predicting there will be more than a few 6-speed maximas looking for some open road on the way home tonight, I'm going to ask that you make sure to keep your eyes on the road and not on the tach/speedo/pencil/paper while recording your speed/rpm

 

I'm with 2002Maxxxima, I'm ready to go for a spin and at least go to the carwash. Damn Chicagoland salt.

 

I found this in another thread from way back when...

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ght=gear+ratio

This is for 225-50-17

1 2 3 4 5 6
Ratio 3.153 1.944 1.392 1.055 0.809 0.63

2000 12.44 20.18 28.18 37.19 48.49 62.27
2100 13.06 21.19 29.59 39.04 50.92 65.38
2200 13.69 22.20 31.00 40.90 53.34 68.50
2300 14.31 23.21 32.41 42.76 55.77 71.61
2400 14.93 24.22 33.82 44.62 58.19 74.73
2500 15.55 25.23 35.23 46.48 60.62 77.84
2600 16.18 26.23 36.64 48.34 63.04 80.95
2700 16.80 27.24 38.05 50.20 65.47 84.07
2800 17.42 28.25 39.46 52.06 67.89 87.18
2900 18.04 29.26 40.87 53.92 70.31 90.29
3000 18.66 30.27 42.27 55.78 72.74 93.41
3100 19.29 31.28 43.68 57.64 75.16 96.52
3200 19.91 32.29 45.09 59.50 77.59 99.63
3300 20.53 33.30 46.50 61.36 80.01 102.75
3400 21.15 34.31 47.91 63.22 82.44 105.86
3500 21.77 35.32 49.32 65.07 84.86 108.97
3600 22.40 36.32 50.73 66.93 87.29 112.09
3700 23.02 37.33 52.14 68.79 89.71 115.20
3800 23.64 38.34 53.55 70.65 92.14 118.32
3900 24.26 39.35 54.96 72.51 94.56 121.43
4000 24.88 40.36 56.37 74.37 96.99 124.54
4100 25.51 41.37 57.78 76.23 99.41 127.66
4200 26.13 42.38 59.18 78.09 101.84 130.77
4300 26.75 43.39 60.59 79.95 104.26 133.88
4400 27.37 44.40 62.00 81.81 106.68 137.00
4500 28.00 45.41 63.41 83.67 109.11 140.11
4600 28.62 46.42 64.82 85.53 111.53 143.22
4700 29.24 47.42 66.23 87.39 113.96 146.34
4800 29.86 48.43 67.64 89.25 116.38 149.45
4900 30.48 49.44 69.05 91.10 118.81 152.56
5000 31.11 50.45 70.46 92.96 121.23 155.68
5100 31.73 51.46 71.87 94.82 123.66 158.79
5200 32.35 52.47 73.28 96.68 126.08 161.91
5300 32.97 53.48 74.69 98.54 128.51 165.02
5400 33.59 54.49 76.09 100.40 130.93 168.13
5500 34.22 55.50 77.50 102.26 133.36 171.25
5600 34.84 56.51 78.91 104.12 135.78 174.36
5700 35.46 57.51 80.32 105.98 138.21 177.47
5800 36.08 58.52 81.73 107.84 140.63 180.59
5900 36.71 59.53 83.14 109.70 143.05 183.70
6000 37.33 60.54 84.55 111.56 145.48 186.81
6100 37.95 61.55 85.96 113.42 147.90 189.93
6200 38.57 62.56 87.37 115.28 150.33 193.04
6300 39.19 63.57 88.78 117.13 152.75 196.15
6400 39.82 64.58 90.19 118.99 155.18 199.27
6500 40.44 65.59 91.60 120.85 157.60 202.38
6600 41.06 66.60 93.00 122.71 160.03 205.50
6700 41.68 67.60 94.41 124.57 162.45 208.61
6800 42.30 68.61 95.82 126.43 164.88 211.72
6900 42.93 69.62 97.23 128.29 167.30 214.84
7000 43.55 70.63 98.64 130.15 169.73 217.95

 

I can attest to the 217.95mph in 6th @7000rpms!!!

 

I question your accuracy to two decimal places...

 

 

Well, I personally have experienced 5th @ 5700 going ~ 138, shifting to 6th and getting to 4600 ~ before getting a little nervous.

 

my 6spd max runs at about 2300 rpm at 70 mph.... which is "way" under 3000 rpm...