It seems there have been some bad press for the 6-speed in a few threads...
I'm on the hunt for a 6-Speed SL (I don't mind driving stick and I really need to save money so the $1,000 saved over the CVT is huge).
I just wanted to get some more impressions. But so far I've heard it feels a little clunky while shifting and it's got slow accelleration; true?
6-Speed SL impressions, good or bad?
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motoguy128
- Posts: 403
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:57 pm
- Car: 2007 Nissan Versa S - 6 Speed
Re: 6-Speed SL impressions, good or bad? (MDWeezer)
Most opinons are just that, opinions and based on your previous experiences. I test drove a Honda Civic wiht 5 speed manual and automatic, the Honda Fit with a 5 speed manual and a Toyota Yaris with a 4 speed automatic. I previously owned a Toyota Corolla with a 5 speed manual.
Here's what I think:
Remember most positives about this car also have negatives... os here's some of the god with the bad.
Close gear ratiosGood - Great when loaded with passengers or cargo, stuck in slow moving traffic, or towing a trailer (it can easily tow a 1000lb trailer. The short 1st gear means you have to shoft early, but it means you can drive near 5mph wihtout the clutch (you can't do this with a Civic or Corolla). 2nd gear is short enough to be used to accelerate from a rolling stop. 6th gear is short enough that you don't need to downshift as much once cruising, and allwos you to use 6th gear at 40mph. The Civic felt much slower in 5th gear at 70mph than the Versa.Bad - 6th gear is a little short for long flat stretches of freeway and makes it a little buzzy... but not any worse than the Yaris or Fit. They actually have even shorter top gears to make up for their smaller motors.
Remember this same gearbox is used wiht the same final drive ratio worldwide with this same 1.8L motor. In the rest of the world, they have twisty roads and less freeways with tight turns and lots of stop and go traffic. Having driven in Europe, I think the gear ratios are perfect for this purpose. Also keep in mind that if 6th was taller, everyone would complain that you have to constantly shift into 5th up hills. The engineers at Nissan know what their doing.
Try riding a modern motorcycle and you'll realize the Versa gerbox has very wide ratios. On a 600cc sportbike, you can get into 6th gear at 40mph, yet 1st gear redlines at 70mph.
The gearbox is a little notchy, but still precise and easy to find the gears. 6th can be an awkward reach. I love having reverse next ot first. This is hte best place for quick shifts back and forth fmro 1st to reverse when making quick 3 point turns (think tight European roads) The clutch and gearbox are still easy ot use... better than my Corolla were.
I also don't mind the hanging throttle after a shift. I think this has to do with emissions controls and may be related ot a heavy flywheel. The flywheel is heeavy because this motor and gearbox are used in some heavier vehicles in europe, and it makes the car much MUCH easier to drive at low speeds.
As a bonus... most people are reporting better mileage with the 6 speed.
Here's what I think:
Remember most positives about this car also have negatives... os here's some of the god with the bad.
Close gear ratiosGood - Great when loaded with passengers or cargo, stuck in slow moving traffic, or towing a trailer (it can easily tow a 1000lb trailer. The short 1st gear means you have to shoft early, but it means you can drive near 5mph wihtout the clutch (you can't do this with a Civic or Corolla). 2nd gear is short enough to be used to accelerate from a rolling stop. 6th gear is short enough that you don't need to downshift as much once cruising, and allwos you to use 6th gear at 40mph. The Civic felt much slower in 5th gear at 70mph than the Versa.Bad - 6th gear is a little short for long flat stretches of freeway and makes it a little buzzy... but not any worse than the Yaris or Fit. They actually have even shorter top gears to make up for their smaller motors.
Remember this same gearbox is used wiht the same final drive ratio worldwide with this same 1.8L motor. In the rest of the world, they have twisty roads and less freeways with tight turns and lots of stop and go traffic. Having driven in Europe, I think the gear ratios are perfect for this purpose. Also keep in mind that if 6th was taller, everyone would complain that you have to constantly shift into 5th up hills. The engineers at Nissan know what their doing.
Try riding a modern motorcycle and you'll realize the Versa gerbox has very wide ratios. On a 600cc sportbike, you can get into 6th gear at 40mph, yet 1st gear redlines at 70mph.
The gearbox is a little notchy, but still precise and easy to find the gears. 6th can be an awkward reach. I love having reverse next ot first. This is hte best place for quick shifts back and forth fmro 1st to reverse when making quick 3 point turns (think tight European roads) The clutch and gearbox are still easy ot use... better than my Corolla were.
I also don't mind the hanging throttle after a shift. I think this has to do with emissions controls and may be related ot a heavy flywheel. The flywheel is heeavy because this motor and gearbox are used in some heavier vehicles in europe, and it makes the car much MUCH easier to drive at low speeds.
As a bonus... most people are reporting better mileage with the 6 speed.
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Ever Victorious
- Posts: 4008
- Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:03 am
- Car: '08 Kia Spectra 5
'73 AMC Hornet
Re: 6-Speed SL impressions, good or bad? (MDWeezer)
The "notchiness" that some people would describe, I would describe as a "positive engagement feel"... you KNOW you are in gear. I've driven many a 5-speed, some 4-speeds to, and this is one of only a couple that you're sure what gear you're in at all times, and you know you're in the gear and not half-out.
The "reach" for 6th is intentional, you have to move the shifter father right from 5th before moving down, it's not a straight shift. This is intentionally designed to keep you from accidentally downshifting to 4th. Other than the first couple hundred miles while I figured this out, I have not had a single problem with this.
I agree that having R next to 1, with the shift interlock ring, is the way to go. It rocks. You can have your car out of reverse and in 1st in less than a second.
The car is NOT slow with the 6-speed... in fact, test times show the 6-speed being a little faster in the 1/4 than the CVT. I think the figure was about .2 seconds (not a HUGE amount when you consider the car has roughly a 17 second quarter to begin with...)
1st feels sluggish because it's a granny gear. 2nd feels kind of like MOST car's 1st. But 3-4-5 is an absolute blast, particularly on the topside of 3k RPM. The car FLIES in this range.
6-speed =
And let's not forget your fiscal reasons.
The "reach" for 6th is intentional, you have to move the shifter father right from 5th before moving down, it's not a straight shift. This is intentionally designed to keep you from accidentally downshifting to 4th. Other than the first couple hundred miles while I figured this out, I have not had a single problem with this.
I agree that having R next to 1, with the shift interlock ring, is the way to go. It rocks. You can have your car out of reverse and in 1st in less than a second.
The car is NOT slow with the 6-speed... in fact, test times show the 6-speed being a little faster in the 1/4 than the CVT. I think the figure was about .2 seconds (not a HUGE amount when you consider the car has roughly a 17 second quarter to begin with...)
1st feels sluggish because it's a granny gear. 2nd feels kind of like MOST car's 1st. But 3-4-5 is an absolute blast, particularly on the topside of 3k RPM. The car FLIES in this range.
6-speed =
And let's not forget your fiscal reasons.
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proxim2020
- Posts: 1120
- Joined: Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:51 am
Re: 6-Speed SL impressions, good or bad? (MDWeezer)
I test drove the 6 speed and I loved it. I was a little bit nervous because I hadn't drove a stick in over 3 years. I thought I would be pretty rusty and would have problems with first. Guess what? Not one problem at all. First is such a small gear in the V, it's very hard to get the thing to stall out on you. I didn't find first to be a granny gear. But I guess if you're a granny driver, then this would apply It was a lot quicker and easier to slip into than my old school Honda with the deuce and a half transmission.
I don't really mind 6th gear, although it may cause me to get slightly less in fuel economy since I will be running at higher RPMs. I don't mind the buzzinest, I enjoy the noise. I also love R with the lock ring. My last stick didn't have the lock ring and if you went into R by accident or too quickly, you would get that nice little buzz in your hand (ouch).
I don't like how there's not quick shifts. According to another user, billstrong, the V has a heavy flywheel that causes the rpms to hang for long than they should. Which makes it hard to do quick shift in the proper range.
I agree with Motoguy when it comes to the motorcycles. Back when I had my bike, when going down the highway in 6th you can accelerate like you can in the V. But to be fair for the otherside, bikes (the sport bikes) aren't built to be highway cruisers, but more of a racing bike than anything else. I've seen a dash mounted video of a guy who started a wheelie in 1st and ended it in 2nd at 102mph. He maxed out at about 189mph.
All and all, I wouldn't choose another auto over a man, especially the V. Even my wife, who the car is "supposed" to be for, said she wanted the man because it looks like so much more fun to drive than the auto. Plus her mom, who's a standard driving lady, told her that she'll never go back to an auto because the mans are so much fun. My wife's a girl who's never driven a standard before, but really wants to learn. So this will get interesting.
I don't really mind 6th gear, although it may cause me to get slightly less in fuel economy since I will be running at higher RPMs. I don't mind the buzzinest, I enjoy the noise. I also love R with the lock ring. My last stick didn't have the lock ring and if you went into R by accident or too quickly, you would get that nice little buzz in your hand (ouch).
I don't like how there's not quick shifts. According to another user, billstrong, the V has a heavy flywheel that causes the rpms to hang for long than they should. Which makes it hard to do quick shift in the proper range.
I agree with Motoguy when it comes to the motorcycles. Back when I had my bike, when going down the highway in 6th you can accelerate like you can in the V. But to be fair for the otherside, bikes (the sport bikes) aren't built to be highway cruisers, but more of a racing bike than anything else. I've seen a dash mounted video of a guy who started a wheelie in 1st and ended it in 2nd at 102mph. He maxed out at about 189mph.
All and all, I wouldn't choose another auto over a man, especially the V. Even my wife, who the car is "supposed" to be for, said she wanted the man because it looks like so much more fun to drive than the auto. Plus her mom, who's a standard driving lady, told her that she'll never go back to an auto because the mans are so much fun. My wife's a girl who's never driven a standard before, but really wants to learn. So this will get interesting.
Re: 6-Speed SL impressions, good or bad? (MDWeezer)
If you like stick, get the stick and save money. Mine shifts well, although feels a little clunky and actually seems to make a bit of noise (I think that's from the reverse gear hardware on the shifter). Otherwise, it's very easy to shift and drive I haven't found any problems with it that some people seem to be having. It's not a sports car so I don't expect it to feel like one when shifting.