I'm getting the sense from reading other posts (and responses to mine) that the automatics on 5th and 6th Gen's are "worse" than the autos on 4th Gen's.

If you were to compare one versus the other on things such as longevity, shift smoothness, operation problems, etc., which comes out on top?

Related to this question is the issue of having a manual mode on the later models. Is this feature a weak spot from a mechanical and/or operational standpoint?

Please, no "Get a 5-speed manual" replies. OK? I would like info on automatics, only.

Thanks.

 

I dont think so. Some new auto's shift slow.

The auto in the G35 is very responsive unlike the 4th gen auto. It shifts faster too.
Most new auto's are more efficient too.

Sorry for my half *** post, I can't think right now.

 

I have no experience with the 4th gen tranny, but I don't think the 5th is any worse. There have been a couple posts on here about failures but that really isn't enough data to say our trannies are weak.

 

G35 auto good? LOL I drove one it was so bad. Tremendous lag, late shifts etc

 

Of course, now we are facing a major push of the XTRONIC CVT by Nissan in the upcoming model year. I test drove a Murano, I really like how smooth the CVT shifts. You can hardly sense it.

Nissan plans on hooking their CVT up to a six-speed manual override, so you'll get the best of both worlds (of course, some might argue that all autotragics stink).

Anyway, I do like being able to shift an automatic manually, and if I had an auto G35 (dreams do come true), I'd be shifting manually most of the time.

The thing that I dislike about my auto is how and when it shifts. If it had a select shifter, it would be great. My main problem with it is its tendency to downshift into 2nd when I only wanted 3rd, and vice-versa.

I do like the autoshifter in the G35, but believe it or not, I like the ones they put in Acuras a lot better.

The auto in my 3rd Gen Max was a real workhorse! I put 300K on it before 2nd gear started slipping and had to have it rebuilt. I mean, 300K on an auto is sick!

What is it about 2nd gear on these Nissan slushboxes??

The other bug-a-boo on my 4th Gen auto is the shift shock going from 1st to 2nd -- it was there on the day that I bought the car (w/ 118K) and is still there (albeit a little worse) now that I have 131K on it.

Taking it off O/D helps. In fact, the O/D button has become my "poor man's manumatic."

For example: if I want to shift from 4th to 3rd without having to push down on the gas pedal, I simply turn off the O/D. It gives me enough of a passing surge at 35 mph to do a gradual lane change.

If I want to get a quick shot of acceleration, turning it off and pushing the pedal down 1/3 of the way (or less) kicks it into 2nd.

One other semi-strange thing that my automatic does is when i'm making a stop at a stop sign, and then starting off again, it sometimes stays in 2nd gear (as if I never came to a complete stop). Turning off the O/D forces it to start in 1st gear.

So, you see, there are more uses for that obscure O/D button than merely keeping the tranny from going into 4th.

 

Autos were the same from 1995-2003. They're less friendly in 2002 and 03 because they were poorly matched for the VQ35 and continued to be poorly matched when they were slightly revised for the 6th gen's VQ35.

 

That's because they don't shift. They continuously adjust themselves. That's why they're called "continuously variable transmissions."

And yes, I'll still take the stick shift, thanks. I've driven a CVT and I can't stand how they feel. The 6-gear premap will help it to the standing of a regular auto, but IMO neither one compares in even the slightest bit. If anyone thinks that an auto can be funner than a stick, they haven't driven a stick.

 

Well, duh, I know that. I was referring to the lack of any shift shudder...which is what drives me crazy.

After all the caveats I posted, I knew there had to be at least one person who could not resist beating me over the head with a stick shift and gushing how absolutely wonderful they are and the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I drove my first stick 40 years ago, and had a stick in most of the cars I've owned. I would drive one today, but due to a left leg injury sustained in an auto accident, I cannot.

So, do you actually have a genuine suggestion about
something other than a funner, and more macho manual?

 

i miss my manual transmission but at the time the 2001 auto gxe was the only thing available ill try using the overdrive button for some driving thanks for the tips

 

how can the Auto get worse when it is as close to the manual in the 6th gen as ever possible?? you don't know about the 5speed manual mode??? clutchless shifting is nice. I pick the gear, can redline every gear and never stall or over-rev.

though for the enthusiasts, i know not the same as a manny...

 

not true... ever looked inside of those?