Ok,

So I've been practicing driving in Manual Shift mode, both with the paddle shifters and the shift ****, alike.

For those that have this down to a T, can you specify optimal MPH/RPM to shift from 1 to 2; 2 to 3; 3 to 4;4 to 5; and 5 to 6?

I've gotten it down pretty well, but sometimes I notice a drag if I shift too soon or too late.

Thank you!

 

Wow this is something I've been looking into but no luck. What differences have you noticed good and bad from just staying in auto?

 

if it helps to know, people took the Max to the track and determined D is the fastest mode. not Ds, not manual, but D. so while shifting is fun you wont necessarily make the car any faster

 

^ +1; true story. We, as humans, are not going to out shift or out perform the CVT's ability.

Especially when you hit that top of third gear and go to hit it into fourth and realize it double shifts on you all the way into fifth, LOL. "To err, is to human."

 

Really!????!

I've tried both on the freeway (haha?) and I've seen that Manual has gotten me some serious acceleration improvements (gas consumption increase, as well).

I do 1st gear -- 20mph MAX -- shift to 2nd.
2nd gear -- about 40/45 MAX -- shift to 3rd (here's where it picks up)
3rd gear -- ride to 55/60 MAX -- shift to 4th
4th gear -- ride to 70 -- gear up to 5th -- hit 90 and gear to 6th-- and up and up you go!

By this point you're dangerous, so be careful.



I seem to have it down, but like I said, I've noticed slow pickups when shifting up too early/too late so I wanted to know if anyone had a better method (in M)

 

Ya there's a thread about it if you search the 7th gen forum, hard to believe but 1/4 mile times don't lie..

Personally I find it easiest to get the car going by manually having it in "first" and switching over to drive once I get past 30 or so. It is fun leaving it in manual mode and seeing how different gears pull so much differently, I think if you CAN master it and be better than the CVT it'd be worth the effort. Best of luck to you sir

 

Yup, really. Read up on how a CVT works and you'll see why the Maxima's paddle shifters, "sport" mode, blah blah are basically just marketing B.S. You won't see any acceleration improvements, and the improved fuel economy may be because you're actually going slower than if you just left it in "D".

 

You said it bro. I did 30 passes at MIR last October. Ds and full manual mode were about 3-4 tenths slower than just leaving it in normal "D" mode. All the while clocking almost identical 60ft times in the 3 different modes.

In full manual mode, you gotta make sure you shift no later than 6,250 RPM's or it'll upshift for you. Any later and you'll be going 2 ratios up when you just wanted one.

 

100 with the door open? James bond style son

 

Well I just got schooled....


Good sh*t, fellas.

 

Well I don't plan on racing but if it ever calls for it I know to stay in "D". thanks guys!

 

I was thinking that same thing, LOL. *balla*

 

lol, apologies if my response came off as harsh man; definitely wasn't trying to school ya, only educate the masses

I must say though, having it in M2 coming off a highway ramp around 4500 revs is very addictive!

 

LOL, you can do it too, take a pic of the guages initializing when you first start the car and you too can do 100MPH with the door open.

 

Well that takes all the fun out of it!

 

Yeah, where's the "Party pooper moderator" badge?

 

I did not know the car had a manual mode

 

That should be an additional badge... along with "thread derailer extraordinaire"


Because racecar!

 

No, no, not at all harsh.

I'm glad I learned something new... that's what I meant by "I got schooled" haha!

Soooo.....anyone in Dallas,TX wanna race?

 

 

I think Ive used my paddle shifters all of 5 times lol. I like them though because they make the steering column look so much better. They are fun to use once in a while, m aybe going thorugh tunnels and overpasses

 

The Power-train on my car is warranted for life, the brakes I have to pay for, so slowing down using the paddle shifter makes sense.

 

Me

You have to come to dallas raceway with me and Jeff (Mrerous on the org). We may go next week.

 

Are you running 100% stock?

And hell, I might!

 

Some basic mods. About mid 14 is what I run in the 1/4 mi. I know 7th gens are close to that time so think it would be could competition.

 

Come to MIR in Budds Creek, MD. Only 80ft above sea level = faster times

 

In my humble opinion, manual shift mode is better in a CVT than most standard autos. However, still find that it is too far away from a real manual to be fun or worthwhile. Rarely do it. Just not worth it.

 

Is that where you ran? I was always impressed with your sig

My dad has an 09 so I'm familiar with the drive.

svargas05...actually not this weekend but either the 7th @ennis or 14th @ dallas dragway. I'll pm you my # though. This Saturday we may go to those "other" races, Mrerous has 6spd 5.5 with some mods to try out.

 

I use tip tronic in traffic to go between the cars. The D for straight race and I never use paddle shifters not comfortable.

 

Haha yessir! Been thinking about going back (added intake/exhaust since then) but I'd rather find some twisty sections of road instead

 

Gotta love pushing the Maxima on it's handling capabilities...

I took a rather curvy 90 degree turn at 50 mph.... It felt great. No screeches, no real effort.

 

Oh she got caned down at the Dragon in May

Next trip there is gonna be a totally different setup

 

I had the opportunity to go to the Baltimore Grand Prix. I found it interesting that the race cars use a sequential shift system. The only difference is they have a clutch (however, I'm not sure if they have to use it once the car is moving). Next year the Indy cars are going to a new platform part of which is described as a "two petal system" so it sounds like the manual clutch is gone.

Those that are ho-hum about the slap-shift or pattle shift, just imagine the car without it. While it's not the classic clutch and H pattern manual transmission, it gives the driver nice control over the transmission. It's great for curvy/hilly roads. The auto/CVT transmission is wonderful in traffic and saves gas if you don't rev the engine up. I gave up on a manual transmission driving DC--Baltimore traffic where you get rolling parking lots for miles and miles. The part that I miss is the big downshift where you'd shift from high gear to second or third. I can manage it with our transmission. The way the transmission is programmed you get a downshift going from drive mode to DS then down one to two more and your in the power band. The car roars and bolts and you seize the openning you saw. Throw her back to D and you level off again. I think the CVT a hot item.


If your interested in watching how an Indy car driver uses the transmission check out the race today or the Championship race on Oct 16. I know Verses shows it (Fios 90/590HD). I think those of you with the pattle shift will appreciate them more.

Keep in mind that while the power output of our engine peaks around 6400, the peak torque is around 4400. So it may make more sense to shift the lower gears earlier to get the car moving then try to keep her up in the peak power band. As I recall D mode behaves like this.

 

I had to learn the hard way that D mode was Faster then Ds Mode...IT feels like it pulls quicker in Ds when ur at a roll but it really doesnt....

 

I think Ds starts out in 1st everytime. I think D chooses a more fuel efficient ratio if you don't stomp on it. I use an easy foot starting out most of the time, but D simply feels sluggish if I do that. I can use the same pressure in Ds and get better acceleration off the line.

I use Manual in traffic, so I am not tap dancing on brakes constantly.

 

i must say the so called sport mode in this car is very useless and is indeed slower than just plain drive , i do use the paddles every so often but thats just mostly for fun

 

fast question...

I have a 2011 Maxima, yesterday at a low speed, <25mph, I went from D to Ds mode by accidently bumping the shifter while trying to park in a parking space at the grocery store. Have I potentially harmed the CVT?

The reason I ask is because I had a 2008 Altima that had to have a valve body replaced because of bumping the shifter from D to M and taking a corner at 50mph.

I just wanted to know if my Maxima will be Ok and that I didn't do any harm.

Thanks for your assistance!

 

Fast answer: no. At this speed i cant see it doing any harm. Did you notice an upsurge in rpms? All its doing is engaging the belt to a slightly different position on the CVT cone.

And Dang dude! 25 mph into a grocery spot? I hope something good was on hot special. Relaaaaaaaaaaaax. The Max is fine. I switch sometimes on purpose from d to ds for some instant power. You didnt break amything. We are good here. Check please.