Would you settle for an automatic Maxima?

[Paonessa]

i've calculated 39 mpg drving from NJ to NY in my old 95 5 speed maxima. My new 02 6spd has the digital readout for mpg,dte,mph,ambient temp and travel time on the tach. the readout has clocked 46 mpg putting along at 1500-1800 rpm in 6th gear on the highway. i've never seen an auto max go that high or any automatic 6 cylinder for that matter.

not to mention that if you're into racing you won't need to kill your tranny/brakes by torque-braking for light to light racing.also if you get a maxima with vvtc there'll be considerably less donwshifting due to the improved low end acceleration.

i also have a 93 gxe automatic and it's not much fun to drive. nissan auto trannys suck.

[98se5speed]

Originally Posted by Paonessa

i've calculated 39 mpg drving from NJ to NY in my old 95 5 speed maxima. My new 02 6spd has the digital readout for mpg,dte,mph,ambient temp and travel time on the tach. the readout has clocked 46 mpg putting along at 1500-1800 rpm in 6th gear on the highway.
...
i also have a 93 gxe automatic and it's not much fun to drive. nissan auto trannys suck.

39mpg in a 95 5-speed? Good lawrd. Best I've ever got in my 98 5-speed was almost 26mpg, 100% highway tank.

Sounds like I need a 6-speed trans. My #1 complaint about this car is that it buzzes along at 3000+ RPM's when I'm on the highway. I was very used to my Lumina's awesome OD. Just something nice and relaxed about a car at low RPM's on the highway.

For that reason, my Caravan usually wins when it's roadtrip time (well, not to mention the extra room). I'm often amazed at the mileage I get in that thing... 15 years old, 182k miles, 3.0L V6, no OD, as slippery as a brick wall through the air... 24mpg on the highway. I know, this isn't a Caravan forum... that old van just continues to amaze me. What a machine.

I agree about Nissan autos... GF's Max, GF's mom's J30... I think I like my Caravan 3-speed better.

[Paonessa]

i drove 187 miles on 1/4 tank of gas, so multiply it by 4. divide that by an 18.5 gallon gas tank. 40 mpg, i could be off a little especially cuz the first 1/4 tank seems to last longer than the other 3, but for the amount of driving i did, that is an accurate number. it was nice smooth traffic going like 80-90mph. on the way there a fire truck had rolled down the embankment and traffic stopped for like 3 hours. i only got like 22-24 mpg gallon on the way there.

btw is that a turbo dodge van? that would explain the good gas mileage

[98se5speed]

Originally Posted by Paonessa

i drove 187 miles on 1/4 tank of gas, so multiply it by 4. divide that by an 18.5 gallon gas tank. 40 mpg, i could be off a little especially cuz the first 1/4 tank seems to last longer than the other 3,
...
btw is that a turbo dodge van? that would explain the good gas mileage

Well, idunno if that's really an accurate way of calculating mpg. My 25mpg came from filling the tank, driving til I needed gas again, then filling it back up. Take that many miles (it was about 405) and divide it by gallons to fill up (it was about 16). That comes out to 25.3 mpg. Either my car is a hog for some reason, or yours have been quite the mpg machines. What are Maximas listed for EPA mileage?


Naah, my van is a 3.0L V6, the turbo minivans you think of had 2.5L 4-cylinders. I really have no idea why I get such good mileage. Drove her out to VA a month ago, with 4 big dudes, all our stuff, going through the WV mountains, we still got 23 mpg. Motor is getting a little loose these days, burning a little oil... I'm almost afraid to rebuild it though, there's some kinda magic combination going on there to get me that mileage!

[bk2kmax]

To quote Unir3, the thread starter, "I really want a Maxima that has a munual transmission". Since I assume "munual" means "manual", and he currently has a Grand Prix, it sounds like he knows what he wants. <quoted by 98 who has quoted Unir3.

Well then you should read the topic again because when I read it it says "Would you settle for an automatic?" Not, "I already have my mind made up and I want a manual."

I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ or anything like that, he asked a question and I'm simply responding without bias, I love sticks and if my wifey could drive one, I'd probably have one too but not just for the pleasure of speeding/going fast or feeling as though I'm driving but rather for the looks (yeah, I'm into that) and maybe the little difference in gas economy.

I'm staying on topic because obviously he seemed a little unsure which one best served his purpose, otherwise why would he be asking us what would we do. I'm through with this conversation and unlike some here who down the auto I think it serves it's purpose well without loosing the focus on what it (the car and auto itself) was meant for which was to get you from point a to point b.

Unir, if you so desire go with the 5 speed not because everyone here is saying so but because this is what you want, regardless of our opinions, best of luck on what you decide, the Max is a nice car in either form and both will serve their previously stated purpose.

[99maximagxe]

I have an auto max but Its because it was a hand me down. I love my car but having it stick would be ten times as better. Its just not because We wanna go fast type of thing. We wanna actually have more control of the car you and the car as one. And yes theres the thrill of downshifting into third in the highway. Even though I live in a busy congested city like Los Angeles my next car most likely another maxima probably a 5th gen its surely going to be manual. I wanna feel all the 255 or so horses through every shift. Like I said I love my auto maxima but a 5 speed maxima would be so much more satisfying.

[bk2kmax]

Originally Posted by 99maximagxe

I have an auto max but Its because it was a hand me down. I love my car but having it stick would be ten times as better. Its just not because We wanna go fast type of thing. We wanna actually have more control of the car you and the car as one. And yes theres the thrill of downshifting into third in the highway. Even though I live in a busy congested city like Los Angeles my next car most likely another maxima probably a 5th gen its surely going to be manual. I wanna feel all the 255 or so horses through every shift. Like I said I love my auto maxima but a 5 speed maxima would be so much more satisfying.

That's funny that you said "Its just not because We wanna go fast type of thing" quoted by you but some of the things you say afterwards contradicts that very statement such as:

quoted by you>And yes theres the thrill of downshifting into third in the highway

quoted by you>my next car most likely another maxima probably a 5th gen its surely going to be manual. I wanna feel all the 255 or so horses through every shift.

That sounds as if you're talking about going fast & speed to me but I'm not knocking you for that or anything because I'd be a hypocrite because I love going fast just as much as the next person who owns a Max, I was simply making a point as to what taste he was trying to cater to.

Yes, the 255 horse 2k2/2k3 is a beast and with the 6 speed it's a raging monster, so I'm certain that you'll be tempted even more to go fast and faster every chance you get to dump it in 3rd and feel that VQ torque kick your @$$ back into your seat.

Personally I'd tell him from experience to go with the stick but I'm remaining unbiased and saying pick whatever it is that suits your taste because in the end regardless of our opinions he's the one who has to live with it.

[Ceasars Chariot]

NO !

no..no.. and no !

nO

[monoin]

is the AT actually slower the the MT. Is it because u can change grears when u wanto better. Thoes it really make a differens. I am just asking so please dont get in my case for this ? i would just like to know.

[thrasher]

yes, the AT is slower than the MT. first, you can make gear changes quicker. second, you can powershift(rev between gears). Also, usually the computer shifts before redline, with an MT you can run all the way to the rev limiter and slam into the next gear, it's pretty fun, i must say! btw, nobody flame for powershifting, because it is a proven technique to actually get better times, it just isn't that great for your car, but full out luanches aren't either