Well... While my Maxima SE 2002 Auto is in the shop (actually my garage) I test drove a Maxima SE 2002 Manual and I have to say it was quite nice... Pulled harder.

And for the people who complained about missing gears... I've only driven a manual tranny car 4 times and I went through all gears from a stop without missing one once... I did this repetedly with no problem.

If I can do it then anyone SHOULD be able to... The shifting wasn't "hazy" at all.

 

I think it's more a problem with power shifting. The 6spd just doesn't like it. In everyday driving, it's fine, but if you want to powershift 2-3 at/near redline, you're going to have a 80-90 percent chance of getting it right, even with Redline in the tranny. I put Redline in mine about 5,000 km ago and when MaxRPM took my car down the track a few weeks ago, I asked him how it compared to his (stock 2k2 with 1/2 the mileage of mine) He said he couldn't tell the difference. I can only notice a difference in everyday driving, hard shifting still sucks.

That's my opinion and I've had my 2k2 for 6+ months, ~25,000 kms. This is also my 4th standard car in the last 5 vehicles, albeit the first one with a cable shifter.

Albert

 

I loved the manual... Wish I got one instead of my auto. Trade in for my loaded auto is $19k (2k2).

 

I agree that it's a great -touring- car. It's just not a dragster or IMSA car, nor does it pretend to be. I took a 1200 km drive with a friend of mine yesterday to look at some old cars in his father-in-law's barn (father-in-law passed away 1.5 month ago). My friend drove Max back from there and he fell in love with it. We tried to think of another car, for the money, that provided the feel, power, luxury, efficiency, etc. that the 2k2 6spd Max does. The only knocks we could make were subjective ones about styling, particularly rear end styling. It's just not the best designed tail Nissan could have come up with, in our opinions - but like Art said, 'It's only a problem for those that I choose to pass'

Albert

 

my feelings exactly....the rear end is the only thing i dont like. Wish the max had the I35 rear.