Shift Wars


Not 100% true, but thought you guys might like it!

 

I kinda agree on that sticks are not as cracked up as they used to be back in the day. With extensive modding, you can make an auto shift quicker than a stick.

 

personally, autotragics are just outright boring to drive. I hate that lag when downshifting in slushboxes. Also, the cheapest, free mod with the most HP gain is a stick.

 

Also doesn't the auto tranny eat up more HP off the flywheel rating? It's pretty much a matter of choice. I've had an auto, and drive the 6 speed now, and absolutely LOVE it. I don't mind doing the rowing, and I've been stuck in Boston traffic, and rowed through the gears, and actually enjoyed it!

I'm not into talking on the cell or eating while driving, so that "inconvenience" of a stick is absent. I just feel more in control of the car, and it definitely makes me pay closer attention to what I'm doing behind the wheel.

I'm not sure about the resale value being hurt by a stick. I know a lot of people on this board were looking for a 5 speed or 6 speed Max, and they couldn't find them. So the demand is there, and some people prefer to drive only stick shifts, in which case you wouldn't lose out on the resale value.

The fun factor is definitely there, and no mechanical explanation can compensate for that. All I know is that I won't be driving an auto for a VERY long time.

 

I drove my last car, an automatic, like a bat outta hell. My mileage sucked. I drive my Maxima like a bat outta hell too. My mileage is better.

They may have increased efficiency today, but they're still less efficient than a manual.

Point taken.

Proper rev-matching will put no extra wear on the clutch. And the engine is already spinning and lubricated with oil, so no additional engine wear. Had 207,000 miles on the old 90 Camry 5spd. Engine braking all the time, still ran strong at 207,000 miles, and minimal brake work the entire life of the car. Done properly (at best), you *WILL* save brake wear with no harmful effects otherwise. At worst (you don't know how to drive a manual properly), you can end up killing your clutch, although I never really rev-matched the Camry and had no problems. Max's are a lot tougher on clutches, though.

You should be paying attention all the time.

My manual tranny prevents me from talking on the cellular while driving. But you shouldn't be talking on your mobile while driving to begin with. It's actually illegal to do so in a lot of areas, yet people can still do it because they're not busy shifting. And there are a LOT of accidents caused by inattention due to cellular use.

A manual tranny FORCES you to pay more attention to your driving.



A manual puts you more in tune with the car, and allows you to enjoy it more. Even though my 2001 Accord V6 (auto) would blow away my old 90 Camry 5spd (115HP), the Camry was still more fun to drive. If you drive because you *have* to and want it to be as non-intrusive as possible, automagic baby. I drive because I have to as well, but I also enjoy driving, enjoy cars, and enjoy the added response of a manual vs a slushbox, and also enjoy the added control and confidence that a manual gives you. You're never left guessing what the auto tranny is (or isn't) going to do.

I hated that about my last automatic. It never downshifted when you wanted it to. It lagged in higher gears at lower speeds, and still wouldn't downshift to the next lower gear even when your foot was flat on the floor and there was 15 mph of headway to be made in the next lower gear. The auto in that car sucked, though.



Sorry. Didn't mean to rain on any automagic parades, but I just gotta keep the manual spirit alive. Consumer choice is always a good thing

 

i believe manual transmissions may be sligtly better for fuel mileage but if you drive it slightly faster because you enjoy the car then that could make up the difference for driving an auto a touch slower. however any1 with an intake probably drives faster so it can go either ways. and the demand for sticks is down because autos are alot more efficient now than back in the 70's. just because a few maxima enthusiats are looking for a manual and can't find it doesnt mean the demand is high. i saw 2 6 speeds at one dealer and its because more older people drive maxes are do not want sticks. imo sticks are only needed to optimize a real high performance engine such as a viper.

 

If it's a choice, then let that choice be made. It's like arguing over what is the better color for you to choose as your favorite.

I have my reasons for the auto, but I like it just fine. I care little for the super speeds or the thrill of shifting, I like rollin laid back without having to think every second about shifting. Just my thoughts, minus all the stats and other bull.

 

auto has torque convertor and the power is transferred thru ATF. unlike manual, power is transferred mechanically, 15% of bhp is missin in auto tranny.

I am driving an auto and I am from Bay Area, CA. The traffic here is really bad and I am glad that I dont have to shift myself. Now, I really want a manual tranny for my supercharger because auto is too weak and too unreliable. Well, it is weak and unreliable without the supercharger anyway

manual tranny = simple = more reliable

 

I think I am going to have to blow about 2500 on my tranny to make it how I want it.

Level 10!

 

To each his own....but the manual transmission is the main reason i chose the Maxima. Not many cars on the market with 5/6speed in its class. Nissan should say " Cars with a manual transmission like it?" 0.

 

Ditto

That is the main reason why I bought the Maxima. With the excption of an SUV, I would not buy an automatic ever again.

Driving stick for me is so much fun, I love it. As far as the resale value I don't think it hurts it that much. I could not find a decent 1999 5-sp anywhere in LI..the autos were a dime a dozen. That's why I ended up getting new!

 

I usually don't argue with someone's opinion, because it's probably at least as valid as mine. But in this case - what the hell:


Don't know what car you drove - is it conceivable that modern technology or car design has something to do with the better gas mileage now?


At the shift point, and assuming that everyone always matches revs perfectly (sure...), I'll buy it. But then there IS additional strain on the drivetrain as the clutch / gearbox addresses the competition between momentum (i.e. wheels turning) and decelerating engine.

Sure - I would expect a car with 115 HP to last for a long time. At 0-60 in 9 seconds, how much stress can there be? ;-)


A manual transmission *can* put you more in control of the car. For example, in a RWD downshifting in a corner lets you bring the back end around for controlled oversteer. And you do get to choose what gear you're going to stay in (although you can theoretically choose what gear your automatic stays in). It can also impact control; downshifting a FWD in a corner can break the front wheels loose (which may be more entertainment than you're looking for)


Agree that manuals can be more fun to drive, if just because there's more to do, and you can add some control (see above)


My '95 SE auto tranny was a HUGE pain in the *** when it came to downshifting. As one article said "are you sure you want to downshift? Are you REALLY sure?". I finally started leaving traffic lights in first, in case I needed to punch it to take a lane (or risk waiting for what seemed like minutes for the tranny to shift back down...)


Me either - like I said, your perspective is as valid as mine. I like driving a stick, but would only do it if I bought a Porsche, or something dedicated to full time WFO!

 

I test drove the new mazda 6 in sport trim while picking up air and oil filter for my max....

It handled like it was on rails.... but the tires didn't seem up to the challenge cause they were starting to look like someone took a 50 grit sandpaper and placed it on the outside corner treads... it had that sportshift you find in the tls and cls....but was placed closer to the passenger seat than the driver... go figure....

It did not shift as well as I would want and was no where near the rev matching capabilities of a standard 5/6 spd manual... plus it was a weak 220 hp motor... sorry forgot the size... didn't feel like it had much torque either... could not feel it pull at all...

Revved it up to 6k plus rpm in first and then upshifted, the tach needle slowly dropping down to 3 or 4k rpm while, even while it was pedal to the medal in 2nd... the tranny felt frustrating slow to react to driver input... The rest of the gears were the same...Plus I had to keep squinting my eye at the gear indicator while taking attention away from the road just to see what gear I was in.

With the max's stick I know what gear I'm in based on just the feel of the "STICK", like it was second nature. It was pedal to the medal just to pass at 75+ mph (near 5k and 6k) and it seem to take an eternity to see the slower car being passed. It was not "zoom, zoom, zomm"... It was more like "Snooze...Snooze...Snooze"...

Test driving the mazda 6 made me appreciate my max and its 6spd a whole lot more.... and guess what? The msrp was like 29k plus for inferior door trim (real thin, like lack content or volume), small sunroof/moonroof (3/4 the open space area of maximas), seats not very well bolstered (lacking volumetric plush contents), 17's not standard (offered as optional sport equipment, it was either a $600 or $800 upgrade, I forget which), no HID available or offered, cheesy bulging alteza tailights... the list goes on and on...

The salesman and his manager even had the audacity to sell me the dang car even after I told them that if it ain't the 5spd standard stick with a clutch pedal then I won't even consider thinking about it... I do thank them for the test drive but initially I was interested in testing a "stick"... I hate it when the salesguys tell me what they consider I should want....

Anyhow, just my $.02....

 

I originally lookes for a manual 2k2, but could not find one with the options I wanted and the color I wanted. I went to 4 different dealers and checked probably over 300 max's. Finally I said enough. I got a great deal on a gray lusture auto with dark interior and all the options I wanted. My other option was the Sand color with light interior, the outside looked good, but when i looked at the light interior of the car I could not stand it. Also they had couple more manuals but all with light interior. I figured the price was the samee for 6speed or auto, the 1/4 mile times are not that much different, and my resale value on the 6 speed would be at least 1.5K less then I would get for my auto and its a lot harder to sell 6speed also. So im driving an auto and Im very happy with it

 

Yep, an example: on the 'new', (00-03) Eclipse's, Mitsubishi rated the cars at 200hp/205tq, (crank) on Cali specs.

The sport-tronic version, (read, fancy automatic) puts down 150WHP, while the exact same car with a manual tranny puts down 170WHP. Thats horrendous drivetrain loss if you ask me.

Oh well, I am glad I had a stick in my 00' Eclipse GT, (dynojet verified 185.xx WHP & 187.xx WTQ with only a CAI and a 14.81 @ 95.23 in the 1320) and now a stick in the Maxima.

I have read that there is a big discussion about what amount of CHP the Maxima actually has, well, from my personal experience-dependent on weather and pull conditions, you can get great variences in readings.