Those of you that have auto's, did you now wish you got the 6 speed?

 

I drive an 02 SE 6 spd and my wife drives and 03 GLE auto. Honestly I enjoy driving both. At the end of the day, I would take the 6spd just for the sheer joy and ability to control the car. But there are days when I simply enjoy the effortless cruising of the auto. And I'm real pleased with the shift points on the auto. Even the auto has serious spunk.

It's really down to what you want to live with every day. An auto obviously doesn't allow you to feel as connected, obviously. That's the point after all. If you are even remotely an enthusiast driver...go for the manual.

srm

 

i have a 2k2 se auto and i love it. when theirs traffic, who wants to drive stick? unless your racing at the track, or racing a 2k2+ 6 speed then you shouldnt notice the difference. but this thread could get nasty soon.

 

I have the auto SE '03.... it's true.. it's got some ballz... I also have a stock TL-S .. and frankly, I think they are the same as far as 1/4-mile... My buddy has the 6-spd, and it really is a lotta fun to drive, but ya gotta go w/ what is more practical for you. I live in the city so stick sux....

 

I have a 2002 se 6speed, and my wife has the gxe auto.
I enjoy the auto when the kids are in the back seat. but
when i am on my own. It's the stick. i have racing in my
blood.

 

I was up in the air on this when I bought mine last weekend. I ALWAYS buy manual transmissions. I test drove and auto Max and it was pretty nice. Then as I sat in the dealership I started to worry I might regret buying auto, but it was unlikely I'd regret having a stick. So I went with the 6-speed. My only complaint is that the gas and brake are too close together, and my size 12 shoes tend to get hung up between the two. I'm still getting used to it though.

 

not the same year, but i wish i had a 5-speed manual on my 2000se
holla

 

I have a long traffic filled commute here in DC so I chose the Auto. During traffic I'm glad I bought the auto. During the evening and weekends, I wish I had a 6 speed. You know how the saying goes,"the grass is always greener on the other side". I'm sure if I had bought the 6 speed I'd be screaming during my commute.

 

I have an auto its fast enough for now. I am lookin towards a STi when they are readily available without a waiting list.

 

Her 2KSE (and 99SE) is an auto. Very nice car to drive and I am happy with the auto when we are in the car together but if it were my car to drive every day I would rather have a stick....


Why not have the best of both worlds and buy a used 2k/2k1 with a 5 speed and a used 2k/2k1 auto! Since they are selling so cheap you could get both for about the same money as a new one.......




T

 

I bought the 6 speed for the connection and involvement with the car. I don't think it's faster. Even if it was, that would have just been an added benefit. When I'm in traffic and I want to accelerate I choose the gear, not a computer. It's just more fun.

 

I drive through downtown Boston traffic every morning and evening from and to work, and I have a 6 speed. This is also my first manual car, and all I can say is get the 6 speed if you have at least an ounce of car enthusiasm in you.

Personally, I prefer the MANUAL in traffic over an auto simply because it's not as boring. Realistically, being stuck in traffic in either auto or manual is a pain in the ***, but having a manual at least gives me something to do, and makes the time go by a little quicker. Also, the gears are so short and the car has so much torque, that driving around the city doesn't even require a lot of shifting. You can pretty much cruise in a few gears comfortably.

What it comes down to is your preference. What kind of cars have you driven in the past? The Max is my second car (only 21 yrs old), and my first car was auto cause my parents helped me buy it and didn't want me to learn to drive in a stick.

The 6 speed is a LOT of fun, and I'm sure the auto is less than noticeably slower unless you're going WOT.

To sum it up, I LOVE the manual, and even though I was a little frustrated when I first learned on it, I still didn't regret buying it.

My vote--get the stick!

 

I kept my modded-up 3rd gen as my day-to-day car. I wanted a 6 speed on the new one. It's my first car with a stick. It's great! Love it. When I just want to run errands around town I'll take my 3rd gen auto. Best of both worlds.

 

I've never quite understood the argument that driving a manual in traffic is a pain. The VQs make plenty of lowend torque that low rpm rolling is cake. I don't know about you 5th gen guys, but my 96 will roll at 2-3mph in 1st without showing signs of wanting to bog out and die. It's all about how you modulate the throttle. Hills in bumper to bumper traffic are the only pain I encoounter and that's a rare situation. I can pretty much leave my car in 3nd in rush hour and happily accelerate from 1500rpms on.

Sometimes autos are more annoying in traffic because of their tendency to want to roll at idle. With some cars are worse than others. Also some auto cars are tuned to have very crisp throttle response which means your head is jerking every time you touch the throttle.


Dave

 

I live in Chicago and I have to travel through very dense traffic during the rush hours. I previously owned a 97 SE auto and now I have an 02 SE 6M and ...I LOVE IT!!!! It's true, a stick can get frustrating in dense traffic, but if I had to do it all over again, I'd definitely go with the 6M. The shifts are smooth ( at least compared to older sticks I have driven in the past) and it is a blast to drive. I have driven the 02 SE auto that I rented from Hertz on long trips (CHI to N'awlens for Mardi Gras 02 & CHI to Detroit). To me, the auto still has as much juice as the stick, but the stick is funner to drive, IMO.

 

I'm sure this doesn't apply to the 5th gen autos but I just can't stand the way autos down shift when you floor it. I hate rental cars because you typically can only get autos (unless your traveling abroad). The car just seems to squat and the lack of control over this drives me nuts. I read many posts where people install valve body modifications to solve some of this problem. And I know people who "shift" their autos but that just never got me past this problem. I've never tried any of the hybrid autos now so that problem may have been eliminated.

Now I can also say that if I sat in traffic for hours on end (I typically am in traffic for 15 mins in the morning and 25 mins in the evening) I might feel otherwise.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=179968

Bottom line:
If you drive in traffic regularly (like I do), then 'auto' may be worth a look. It's still plenty fast, contrary to what some would say. If you don't drive in traffic regularly, then get the 6-spd. Nothing like "rowin' thru the gears" Just my .02

 

I had this dilemma too when I was buying my 2K1 SE. I was wanting an AUTO so my wife can drive it too if she needs it (she has a CR-V). Eventually I thought about it harder and opted for the 5 speed. I also found it quicker, snappier and more responsive than the autos.

I commute 20 miles/day in traffic and it really doesn't bother me, maybe because as soon as I see a clearing in the traffic I can just drop the hammer and instantaneously pass these poor saps and go 70 in Dallas 635East traffic. With the 5 speed, it's a good point & shoot car in traffic.

Another factor to think about is the instant throttle response. I've been addicted to instant gratifications for everything, and the VQ's responsiveness clearly satisfies.

 

studman's post in this thread should be put on a sticky for future ref for everyone who comes with this question.

(Nice search chaz, Search is our friend, but I somehow missed it when I looked for the post...)

 

It's simple!

You go with the 6-speed for one main reason. The 6-speed is the same close ratio transmission that is in the 350Z. It's a performance transmission. This tranny mated with the 3.5 will give you the best drivetrain available for the Max. The new 2004 Max will have the same 6 speed as the 2002/2003. However, the 2004 Auto tranny will be a 5 speed and the same one found in the G35.

I rented a Auto 2002 Max with the 4 speed auto and I can tell you first hand that there is a pretty big difference in performance. You go 6 speed. You won't regret it.

 

Well stated!!

 

Exactly my sentiment. I do wish I dad the 6 Speed on weekends but my commute would suck with manual (It has before). Plus Auto shift points are really very good (could use that VB mod though - donations???)

 

I 1) don't understand your parents' mentality, 2) I feel sorry for you and 3) How's your clutch holding up and that steep driveway of yours?

(By the way, my car is finally running well now with the clutch having been replaced a second time and the slave and master clutch cylinders havnig been replaced as well (they caused the clutch to get stuck instead of releasing) but the last dealership broke my door. I'll be picking it up from the body shop this afternoon. Sigh...)

 

Axel,
1) They were "worried" that learning how to drive is hard enough, but if I would have to worry about shifting gears at the same time, that I would end up in an accident--go figure. They had the $$$, so I was not in a position to negotiate!

2) Sheeit, I feel sorry for myself!

3) It's holding up fine, I've got it down more or less, so there's no more clutch burn! Haha

Sorry to hear about your door, but I'm sure you're thrilled they fixed the clutch alright. Good luck with the door.

By the way, it's snowing like a **** here in Boston!

 

6speed. hands down. i have an auto..wanted a manual so bad...but none were available. regret it.

 

Hmm...no comment on 1), at least you have your very own manual car now for 2) and glad to hear you're doing ok with your clutch for 3)

As for the door, the body shop guy just told me Nissan just sent them the hinge for the wrong side. It's the driver door the dealership broke so he ordered a left side hinge and they sent him a right side hinge. Will Nissan incompetence ever end. It's amazing really.
(And the dealership that broke my door is in Worcester, MA, about an hour away from Boston...don't go there )

 

Same here, wish I had the 6 speed. Once you are use to stick it will be second nature, just part of action like pressing the gas to make it go and brake to stop.

Don't get me wrong you have more than enough get-up in an auto 02-03 Max, but I just love manual so this is my first and last Automatic. Not unless I get a truck.

 

In the NY area having a 6 spd sucks sometimes. At the end of the day its way too much fun when you find those on-ramps where you can just punch it and hear the engine sream and watch your tach go to 5,000 rpm....and then do it all over again. I sit in traffic half of my commute but when all said an done, the 6spd was by far the whole reason i bought the car. You won't be disappointed with it.....when i get out of the car each night i wish i could drive just a little longer.

 

Well I got the auto because I once had a mustang GT 5.O Five speed
The stick made me drive like a mad man ,3 speeding tickets
The max is faster .
I drive a little more normal now ,zero speeding tickets

I like it

 

I stated the best way to answer this in that thread listed
here which was previously mentioned by CHAZMAX.

As for the stick... I drive in Orlando, FL traffic. There's not much slower moving traffic available anywhere (without coming to a complete-stop gridlock situation like DC or NY). That being said... I can stay in 2nd gear in traffic, even at a dead stop (with clutch pressed in, obviously). Then when I want to go, I give it just a little extra gas and I can go in 2nd from a dead stop. Since you're also in Orlando, and near the UCF area, take my advice.... go for the manual. There's a boatload of places to "enjoy" driving the car over on that side of town. Kinda sucks because I'm over in Alt. Springs area.

The 2nd thing to note about the manual vs. auto is the fact that the manual removes alot of the electronic BS that Nissan uses to make the auto work. The manual is easier to work on (as far as engine work) because you don't have to bypass 1908723984 different systems to get the engine to turn over if there's a problem.

And a side note (as if you may/may not care), the manual tranny is significantly smaller in size than the auto tranny. This is important to keep in mind if you plan on any major engine upgrade/modification. SC's/Turbos are typically designed only for manuals, so if you plan to keep the car for the long run (and you're gonna mod the crap out of the car), then you may want to consider going for the manual.

One last thing... if you need a contact at a dealership, I can set you up with my sales rep. She's cool and has sold me (and my friends) 3 cars total, and I'm working on making it 4. PM me if you need her info.

My replies to other replies in this thread:

dsager: Well said. The thrill of 5000 rpms without auto-shifting to the next gear is the best part.

JJL: I got the 6 for the exact same reason that you got the auto. The auto Max was too smooth, and I caught myself doing 60 in a 40 too often. And I've gotten 14 tickets under my belt to prove it.

MarcusJY: You are correct. The 6 speed is definitely second nature after getting adjusted to it. My girlfriend has an auto Altima. I still press the invisible, non-essential clutch pedal (aka the extra portion of the brake pedal) from time to time (almost causing accidents at certain points), and I still to this day pull the parking brake on it when I park it somewhere. It really is 2nd nature.

Axel: Join the club. I'm on the 2nd clutch. I just went to the dealer on Friday to have them order another one. It appears that the throw-out bearing is going bad (again). Hopefully everything will be ok this time around, as I went to a more reputable dealer this time... (and may I add that they are mod-friendly).

 

6spd please =]

 

I bought the 6 sp because:

1) It's fun to drive

2) Has available LSD which shifts power (instead of traction control which cuts power)

3) Better gas mileage, at least in theory

4) 0 to 60 in about 6 seconds

5) Higher top speed (higher limiter I believe)

 

The 02-03 Auto Max isn't bad at all and gives you plenty of power, but you won't have the fun that a 6-speed offers. It could be a tough decision because you have to factor in what you're really going to be happy with in the end.

If you can have 2 cars, one auto for daily commuting, and one manual for taking it out on the weekends, that's the way to go! Now then, lemme get back to looking for my 4th Gen 5-speed........

Good Luck!