Would you settle for an automatic Maxima?

[Unir3]

I really want a Maxima that has a munual transmission, but I can't find any at all where I live. I have heard from a review that 1 in 10 maximas are manual. Those aren't very good odds. Do you think settling for an automatic would be wise or should I try to wait for a while to get a manual? I have $8900 right now and I don't know what to do.

[bk2kmax]

Originally Posted by Unir3

I really want a Maxima that has a munual transmission, but I can't find any at all where I live. I have heard from a review that 1 in 10 maximas are manual. Those aren't very good odds. Do you think settling for an automatic would be wise or should I try to wait for a while to get a manual? I have $8900 right now and I don't know what to do.

It all depends on what you're looking for, if you're looking for speed and the need to feel as though you are actually doing the driving and maybe 1 more mpg fuel then the manual is for you.

If you live in the big city and don't want to do the shifting and need your other hand for other conveniences and aren't really big into racing or going fast then an auto is for you.

I got mines as an auto because from time to time my wife drive my car and she can't drive stick.

[lordrashmi]

I drive an auto and while I do miss the "fun" of a manual, unless you are going to be racing it, or just want to drive agressively all the time, an automatic should be fine. The Max doesn't have the best automatic in the world, but it has enough power in the engine that the auto doesn't feel too sluggish.

I would say go find a nice automatic, drive it and see what you think. If you like it, go for it!

[EPVQ30]

if you really want a manual wait it out until you find one.. you don't want to spend your hard earned money and then not be happy on the long run.. manual and auto are two different realms.
auto was out of the question for me, otherwise i would have not have gotten it.

[97wvmax]

man, you can go with auto and get the VB mod and would probably be happy with that. i had an auto and loved the car cuz it still blew pretty much any other car outta the water. 5 speed is nice and sporty, but it can get old after a while too. jus my

[Spaz]

I'd say hold out for the manual transmission, or even find a dealer to help find one for you. The automatic transmission can be problematic. Trust me, I've dropped a few bills already just to keep the car running. There's a swap that can be done, which I may be doing in october, so there's always that option for you...

but again, it's a pretty big investment, you should get what you want.

[97wvmax]

yea the swap is an expensive mod. if u want a 5 speed, wait and get it. ultimately its up to you tho man, its ur car!!

[98se5speed]

For me there was no settling. I had a Lumina before (obviously auto) and a Caravan (still have that). I spent some time in CA with my buddy's RSX-s, came home and said "I need sporty stick car." Decided on the Maxima (always liked 4th gens, GF's dad is a Nissan mechanic) then did some looking on Autotrader (set myself up with a saved advanced search link which only looked for 97-99 Maximas within 100 miles of me with manual trans for under $11k... see it here)


I think there's 2 on there now (one of which is close to my house, but is probably gone... drove by the dealer for fun) but it took me a few months til the perfect one showed up. I was clicking that link once a day every day. For the longest time, there were 3 on there that I didnt like, then one morning mine showed up. Bought the car the same day the car was listed. Once I got there, dealer said they were getting calls on it all day. When I was in there finishing the deal, they got 2 calls on it. So yes, these are hard to find and in demand.

Keep searching and hold out for exactly what you want. GF's dad kept telling me "you won't want a stick... you'll get sick of shifting gears." Eff dat. Stopped at another local dealer. Had some nice autos. Wanted to just get a feel for the 4th gen (had never been in one before). It was a nice car, but not what I was looking for at all. Asked that dealer to gimme a call if they got a stick in... never got one in, but he sure kept calling trying to get me to buy an auto. My fav was "so what do we gotta do to get you into one of these autos?" Sheister... didn't I tell you EXACTLY what I wanted?

A month later, my GF got a 95 GLE auto. Nice car, but every time I drive it... I think about how it doesn't really compare to mine. Unless you currently have no car and need something ASAP, hold out for a manual. Just be ready to scoop it up when you find it!

[bk2kmax]

Originally Posted by 98se5speed

For me there was no settling. I had a Lumina before (obviously auto) and a Caravan (still have that). I spent some time in CA with my buddy's RSX-s, came home and said "I need sporty stick car." Decided on the Maxima (always liked 4th gens, GF's dad is a Nissan mechanic) then did some looking on Autotrader (set myself up with a saved advanced search link which only looked for 97-99 Maximas within 100 miles of me with manual trans for under $11k... see it here)


I think there's 2 on there now (one of which is close to my house, but is probably gone... drove by the dealer for fun) but it took me a few months til the perfect one showed up. I was clicking that link once a day every day. For the longest time, there were 3 on there that I didnt like, then one morning mine showed up. Bought the car the same day the car was listed. Once I got there, dealer said they were getting calls on it all day. When I was in there finishing the deal, they got 2 calls on it. So yes, these are hard to find and in demand.

Keep searching and hold out for exactly what you want. GF's dad kept telling me "you won't want a stick... you'll get sick of shifting gears." Eff dat. Stopped at another local dealer. Had some nice autos. Wanted to just get a feel for the 4th gen (had never been in one before). It was a nice car, but not what I was looking for at all. Asked that dealer to gimme a call if they got a stick in... never got one in, but he sure kept calling trying to get me to buy an auto. My fav was "so what do we gotta do to get you into one of these autos?" Sheister... didn't I tell you EXACTLY what I wanted?

A month later, my GF got a 95 GLE auto. Nice car, but every time I drive it... I think about how it doesn't really compare to mine. Unless you currently have no car and need something ASAP, hold out for a manual. Just be ready to scoop it up when you find it!

As I stated earlier that it is your choice and it depends on what you're looking for, if all you are looking for is speed (like 98 is) then you definitely need a stick but if you're looking for convenience and going fast isn't the only reason you got the car (cause to be honestly frank there are really faster cars than the Max, if speed is all you're looking for) then an auto may be in line for your taste.

Don't get too hung up on going fast all the time, tickets add up fast and if you're going fast, as you will be in a 5 speed then you'll be a candidate for speeding tickets.

Eventually you'll make a decision based on your own personal taste but unlike some people here I tried to remain totally unbiased and not say get the 5 speed stick because you'll regret it or get the auto because you'll get tired of shifting.

Both auto and stick have their functions, whichever you choose is totally up to you regardless of how the taste of others here try to sway you, me included.

[thrasher]

Originally Posted by 97wvmax

but it can get old after a while too

choosing gears for yourself never gets old...fuck letting a computer decide when to shift, it takes ALL the fun out of driving. i used to like auto's, until i actually drove a stick. i will never get an auto again

[maximaseefu]

do not settle for auto. get a stick and you will forever be thankful that you did.

[Swonder67]

My car is auto, and all I can say is I REGRET not getting manual... I Still kick my ass about it every day

[lordrashmi]

the only time I regret having an auto is when I line up against some ricer or I am in a bad mood and wanting to drive recklessly. The rest of the time I enjoy my auto. Makes everything a lot easier...

[bk2kmax]

Originally Posted by lordrashmi

the only time I regret having an auto is when I line up against some ricer or I am in a bad mood and wanting to drive recklessly. The rest of the time I enjoy my auto. Makes everything a lot easier...

Seems to me everyone here is only concerned with going fast, while the Maxima is a quick car it isn't the fastest thing on wheels, everyone with a stick need to consider buying something else if you really want true speed.

I like manuals but they're not for my whole family so therefore I didn't get one, not that I couldn't afford it, besides autos cost more than manuals anyone but manuals are known to be more reliable than autos at least when it comes to Nissan trannys.

Get off the speed kick everyone, you're not that fast, try to be unbiased and not think of just the speed. The conveniences of the auto in the big city or city traffic far outweighs the inconvenience of having to shift constantly and you'll have your hands free to do other things, like cell phone or fondle a honey or two.

The stick does have maybe a 1 more mpg rating over the auto on the highway and maybe a 2 more mpg in the city so the only thing you are really trading off on getting a auto vs a manual is the pleasure of rowing through the gears and maybe a little faster and 1 mpg.
That is being said unbiasedly by a person who has owned both manuals and autos.

[98se5speed]

Originally Posted by bk2kmax

As I stated earlier that it is your choice and it depends on what you're looking for, if all you are looking for is speed
...
Both auto and stick have their functions, whichever you choose is totally up to you regardless of how the taste of others here try to sway you, me included.

bk2kmax, you are certainly doing a great job of being unbiased, and I totally agree with what you're saying... definately find a car that fits your needs best. I will admit, despite loving every minute of my time behind the wheel of my 5-speed Max, there are some occasional tired Monday mornings where my Caravan (obviously auto) is my ride of choice, cause I'm feeling lazy. I'm just spoiling myself though, since my commute to work is 20 minutes and 3 stop lights.

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. Many people may disagree, but going from a 2002 Grand Prix to an automatic Maxima... not a huge upgrade. This is, of course, my opinion, but I think that's what he was looking for. When I got Maxima feaver back in December and I was just about pulling my hair out trying to find a stick... I considered auto. I even found a really nice 97 SE for $7000. But after the test drive, I just realized something was missing... it wasn't different enough from my Lumina or Caravan to justify buying it (since both cars were running just fine).

I agree there's plenty of faster cars out there, and speed is not my #1 reason for getting my stick Max. It's enjoyably fast and does everything I hoped it would. Like I said, I drive my GF's auto Max semi-regularly, and it's about as enjoyable as my Caravan. The enjoyment of a stick car is not purely in speed... but I don't think I need to tell anyone this.