looking at maxima's... auto or 5 speed?

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Z

zixxer

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2001
7,326
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I currently have a 5 speed, perfect for a smallish car.. but is a maxima too big for a 5 speed?
 
G

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
1
0
Autos are more expensive, more costly to fix, seem (at least in my experience) to die sooner, and get worse gas mileage. No car is 'too big' for a stick, dunno where that came from.
 
C

Cal166

Diamond Member
May 6, 2000
5,081
8
81
Join Maxima.org and find out! Everyone pretty much prefer the manual version.
 
C

caboob

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2000
2,214
0
76
after test-driving both, i prefer the auto. I felt that the car's too big for a manual. However, the Altima with the V6 and the manual is an absolute kick to drive.
 
M

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Too big for a manual? WTF? Crack smoking is ever popular as the days go by.
 
C

Cooljt1

Golden Member
Jan 11, 2002
1,466
0
76
the maxima 5 speed is pretty quick. the 4th gens do 0-60 in 6.9 secs which is faster an integras, preludes, rsx and other smilar cars. with a maxima you have the room to seat 5 and the power to go against other sporty cars.
 
Don Vito Corleone

Don Vito Corleone

Elite
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
91
Originally posted by: caboob
after test-driving both, i prefer the auto. I felt that the car's too big for a manual. However, the Altima with the V6 and the manual is an absolute kick to drive.
Click to expand...

The Altima and the Max are on the same platform, and the current Altima is actually larger than the 2000-2003 Maxima. I don't really see any car as too big for a stick - the M5 is a big car too, but I know I wouldn't mind driving one! (No, I am not implying a Maxima is comparable to an M5, except in size.)

FWIW, I have a 2001 Max SE, with 5-speed, and wouldn't have it any other way, mostly because I really, really dislike automatics. Try before you buy, because the shifter/clutch combo is not exactly world class. The clutch, in particular, is a little tricky, because it has a lot of pedal travel and a very small zone of engagement (though they may have improved that on the newer cars). Obviously it will hurt resale as well.

That said, with a bit of practice the shifting experience is fine, and I would definitely not trade it for an automatic. The car's engine produces such smooth power, and a fairly flat torque curve, that the car is a lot of fun to drive for its size.
 
C

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Depends on where you live. Unless you live in a place like San Francisco go stick.
 
Kaido

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,707
7,295
136
also depends on if you have a wife/girlfriend who prefers auto ;)
 
C

caboob

Platinum Member
Mar 31, 2000
2,214
0
76
Originally posted by: Don_Vito
Originally posted by: caboob
after test-driving both, i prefer the auto. I felt that the car's too big for a manual. However, the Altima with the V6 and the manual is an absolute kick to drive.
Click to expand...

The Altima and the Max are on the same platform, and the current Altima is actually larger than the 2000-2003 Maxima. I don't really see any car as too big for a stick - the M5 is a big car too, but I know I wouldn't mind driving one! (No, I am not implying a Maxima is comparable to an M5, except in size.)

FWIW, I have a 2001 Max SE, with 5-speed, and wouldn't have it any other way, mostly because I really, really dislike automatics. Try before you buy, because the shifter/clutch combo is not exactly world class. The clutch, in particular, is a little tricky, because it has a lot of pedal travel and a very small zone of engagement (though they may have improved that on the newer cars). Obviously it will hurt resale as well.

That said, with a bit of practice the shifting experience is fine, and I would definitely not trade it for an automatic. The car's engine produces such smooth power, and a fairly flat torque curve, that the car is a lot of fun to drive for its size.
Click to expand...

Now that you mention it, I just could not get comfortable with the shift/clutch combo but to be fair and given it was a limited test-drive, I'm sure I could get accustomed to it but it sure didnt get me all hard up to buy the car right at that moment. But that's just me. Please dont take my man card.
 
M

mAdD INDIAN

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
7,804
1
0
Originally posted by: armatron
I currently have a 5 speed, perfect for a smallish car.. but is a maxima too big for a 5 speed?
Click to expand...

5 - SPEEED!!!!


IF YOU HAVEN"T DRIVEN A 5-SPEED MAXIMA, DO SO NOW!!!

then drive an automatic and look at the difference. It's like driving two different cars.

The 5-spd is just FAR more fun to drive.

I've driven both a 99 Maxima 5-spd and a 99 Maxima auto. The 5-spd is just 10000x better. The entire experience is much better. The tire spin into 2nd and the chirp into 3rd as you neck snaps back...its just insane. The 5-spd makes the Maxima feel much more powerful than it really is.

Then you get on the highway, say your cruising at about 65mph on the highway..and you need to pass someone...just downshift into 3rd and feel God just slap you forward.
 
Twista

Twista

Diamond Member
Jun 19, 2003
9,646
1
0
5 SPEED!!!! MANUAL!

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Skiguy411
auto! I wanna eat my burger without having to worry about shifting

U can still do that.
 
B

BatmanNate

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
12,444
2
81
Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
Originally posted by: armatron
I currently have a 5 speed, perfect for a smallish car.. but is a maxima too big for a 5 speed?
Click to expand...

5 - SPEEED!!!!


IF YOU HAVEN"T DRIVEN A 5-SPEED MAXIMA, DO SO NOW!!!

then drive an automatic and look at the difference. It's like driving two different cars.

The 5-spd is just FAR more fun to drive.

I've driven both a 99 Maxima 5-spd and a 99 Maxima auto. The 5-spd is just 10000x better. The entire experience is much better. The tire spin into 2nd and the chirp into 3rd as you neck snaps back...its just insane. The 5-spd makes the Maxima feel much more powerful than it really is.

Then you get on the highway, say your cruising at about 65mph on the highway..and you need to pass someone...just downshift into 3rd and feel God just slap you forward.
Click to expand...



Wow, somebody's never ridden in a fast car before. :D
 
B

BatmanNate

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
12,444
2
81
Originally posted by: TrueBlueLS
5 speed... who'd want an auto?
Click to expand...


Probably someone who lives in Seattle or San Fransisco.

And your sig should probably read "when a Chevy Cavalier isn't fast enough to drag race..."
 
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