I always wondered why exactly a manual is better if you are planning on racing? and what are the downs to racing with an auto?

 

different gearing and being able to shift faster and when you want to, taking advantage of the power band better, better launching capabilities. what else am i missing?

 

You're missing the biggest drawback and that is the loss of power through the torque converter...

 

well i was gonna say that but wasn't sure how to exactly describe it. i guess i didn't really need to do that and coulda said what you said, but ah well.

 

auto sucks i hate mine. get a manual. i'm here stuck saving up for a conversion (which will take months on a poor man's salary)

 

exactly how much will the conversion cost?

 

depends on if you are doing the labor, and how much you find the tranny for. i'd estimate between 1500-2000 if you let a shop do it..

 

Auto's are supposed to be really slow, I think.

 

It depends on the type of racing you're talking about. As a rule of thumb, manuals are better all around. You can get a better launch, the gearing could work either for or against you (depending on the application). Driveline loss is a considerable difference...~5% IIRC.

Now, in the twisties, you'll never beat a manual. The ability to match the corner exit speed with the appropriate gear is a must.

 

Im not sure btu ithink that might be a little generous. It cost me a grand to change mine, including a new clutch, and i did all the work myself. It was 850 for the used tranny with 100k and 150 for an oem clutch/pressure plate, oh yeah it was 45 to turn the flywheel too. I didnt have to buy the pedals, hydraulics, shift linkage, etc. Prices are probably way cheeper in cali. though. I live near Boston.

Otherwise, 5 spds. are a lot more fun to drive and definitely faster. Ive seen kids with mildly moded autos time slips (y, intake,etc) running 15.6 w/2.3 and i ran a 15.3 w/2.3 stock with heavy 5th gen wheels and mongo all season tires.

 

5spd people: you don't know the power of automagic...
credit: kevlo

 

you have me now really interested in doing the swap. i didnt know it was that cheap. i was thinkin 2K+ but i guess i was wrong. i have about $650 right now that i was gonna use to buy suspension, but maybe i should save a little more and do a 5 speed swap. can someone tell me exactly all the parts you need to do this. new tranny, clutch and what else? thanks, i appreciate it.

-todd

 

i could really care less about the power stuff......you know why i chose one? cause it is funner( if that is a word).

 

Quick question? Is a Maxima manual better than an auto(4th Gen)? I've been wndering also if you can make an auto better than a manual? Just wondering.
Thanks

 

manuals are alot better, but yea u can make the auto a better tranny with some $$$$$. manuals are just fun.

 

Ok so how much and is it true that stock an auto is better than the manual

 

u can do the valve body mod and the drop resistor mod. and like the dragsters have auto trannies, u can usualy get some custom stuff done to it..autos better then manuals?!?!? no way, i know i can take a auto any day.

 

what are you runnin

 

So you are saying Maunal is much better, because you said you can take any auto any day.

 

o and if i do that you think ill be equal or better

 

ohh well quality wise i donno, but i personaly don't like auto's.

 

im not sure about that, u have to ask some one that has done it, all i know is that it shifts faster and harder with these mods but i heard it bad for ur tranny.

 

You can actually make your auto better by doing a 5spd swap

Shouldnt even be a question...there was something like 2%-3% of Maxima's were 5spd's but its worth it to take the extra time and search for one...

-matt

 

Well with nitrous, autos are better than 5 speed, much better. Jime is running 12s with nitrous and slicks, and hes using the stock automatic transmission. So autos arent quick huh?

 

well if i had the same mods i bet i could do the same or better, manuals have better advantage, like when they want to shift or what not.

 

2%-3%?!?!? Where'd you hear that? Think about that for a second. Why would Nissan only make that many of the Maxima's they produced manual? Why bother for such a small amount?

Oh, and since he didn't mention WHY they were better with nitrous, because I know people will ask why, it's primarily because you can spray between gears...

Probably not Not at the track, anyway...That is, yeah they can shift whenever they want, but it's a proven fact that auto's (esp. those running the DR mod) are much more suited for nitrous than manual's. N/A, however, is another story...

 

Autos are better when you have very high amounts of power (nitrous) because you can control your launch a ton better and more consistently also.

For all-motor, or even lower boost, a manual is still better.

 

well then i guesss im wrong sorry. but still i think manuals are better over maintenace wise like the rebuild and stuff like that......much more simple....u can do it ur self.

 

This is true...personally when I get mine it'll be manual, because I'll be going all-out N/A. But don't hate on the autos, either

 

well im not hating, i give props to anyone that has a max period. but i just like manual better.

 

ive got an auto, and with simple mods such as a hacked air box, a magnaflow muffler, and the DR mod, i've got my numbers down to what a manual stock has...i would prefer a manual, but ill have to wait for that. im just saying an auto can perform too

 

....I garentee Nissan ONLY made 2-3% 5spd for the 4th Generation Maxima...

-matt

 

He proves my point, manuals only fast if you are a good driver. Otherwise, it wont be fast, especially if you're racing a auto with the WOT DR mod.

 

stock manuals will do a lot better than 15.6 Low-15's would be a "good" stock time, but there's about a dozen or so people who have pulled high-14's stock also.

 

At these low power levels, if you can't drive a manual well enough to beat an auto, then you shouldn't be driving the manual in the first place

 

i think im a preaty good driver, i can shift fast and all that and i loose to 5 gen (255hp) by only like a car, maybe the other guy was a sh*tty driver but i was trying my best and i still lost by 1 car, i think he was stock and i had a hai......so yea the driver is the most important thing but in a auto that really don't matter, just as long as u launch good. But then again i donno what u guys consider a good driver. i try to drive fast with out shifting fast and hard cause i don't want to beat on the car.

 

i have an auto and yea in really heavy traffic it can be nice but i am kind of kicking my self for not holding out for a manual... i absolutely love my car dont get me wrong but manuals are some much more fun to drive period

 

exacly.......that's the reason i love manuals and there is others but mainly its just fun to drive.....

 

The ONLY way to know how good of a driver you truly are is to go to a track and see what you can do.

 

yea that's what im planning on doing reall soon.