New user - 1st post 2010 Maxima SV

[Sam Austin]

Hello ... new user here Sam from Austin, Quebec CANADA

After 5 years and 63,000 miles driven myself on a used 2004 Max SE 6 speed manual with 69k miles when I purchased it in 2004, I have just traded it in for a "used" 2010 Maxima SV (no sport or tech toys).

This is the first time in 12 car purchases (so far in my life) that I have bought the same make-model, basically because I was so pleased with the experience I had with my '04 Max and the great service I had from my local Nissan dealer. That '04 had to be the best car I ever owned and had a few: Toyota Rav4 '01 (junk), Toyota Avalon '99 (OK), Ford Explorer '96 (junk), Acura Vigor '92 (great), etc, etc.

There was nothing really that wrong with my '04 Max that I couldn't live with for another year or two of service but I just had the bug in me to drive something newer. And so I saw the 2010 Max SV listed at my dealer (I live in the Eastern Townships part of Quebec, very near the Vermont border) and saw a pristine 2010 SV with 30k miles on it at the average list price. I picked it up just last week and haven't put 350 miles on it yet.

But so far I love it .... everything about it, but I DO MISS that 6 speed stick ..... I'll have to get used to the change .. I suppose I will ... I never really liked it in the traffic, but out here in the country, I rarely saw any....lots of hills and twisty roads.

The CVT does take some getting used to. For example, its been really cold here last few weeks -25C (-15F) and my first mile of driving when I leave home is straight up a long hill (10% grade). She growls like she hasn't woken up yet and doesn't seem to like the cold. But after 5-10 minutes and flatter terrain all is well and at 50mph the tach barely shows 15-20k. On the highway at 65mph it feesl like the engine isn't turned on and I'm running an electric on steroids.

My only problem so far is in my head .... could someone please help? I was told straight out by my dealer about the extended CVT warrantee to 10 years-200,000 km that was transferable to me. Sounds great, but it kept me up all night the day before I laid down the money. Why did Nissan offer the extension in the first place? Am I buying a load of transmission trouble? Just my first week of driving doesn't show any problem at all, except for the weird intrinsic feel of a CVT. Its all in my head...right? And when I read the Max's user manual and saw the "Limp Mode" section .... I sort of went limp myself. I don't have money to throw away and its just killing me that there is even the possibility of transmission problems that I could have avoided by steering clear of a CVT vehicle.

I've looked at all the posts and boards I could find and tried to rationalize the good and bad comments I've read so far. It seems that there are always problems and people will complain, but probably fewer will voice their opinions when it ain't broke. And there just has to be about a million CVT's running around word-wide since '03 or '04? I haven't heard about a million CVT repairs or even a recall. Edmunds and JD Power only give an average mechanical rating - high design rating.

So here goes and because its my nature to worry about things, I'm holding my breath for the next 5-6 years waiting for the shoe (or transmission) to drop.

Sam Austin

[MTZI30]

I wouldn't worry if I were you. Believe me you would know if that car was in limp mode. Try not to be too picky on this car, yes its the same model car but your just not used to it yet. I know the feeling though, you feel something your not used to and your brain brings up memories of that transmission that cost you 2k in 2003.

Do you let the car warm up at all in the morning? I know people say it is a waste for modern cars, but I swear ive driven some modern cars and they just dont seem to like running cold. Maybe just give it a minute in the morning? As for the growling, just sounds like the cvt is keeping the motor in its optimal power band. When you had your 6 speed, you may have actually been lugging the motor a little keeping the rpms down goin up that hill. I hate autos, but would make an exception for a cvt. They are so cool, they keep the motor right where it needs to be and doesn't shift. However, I do think it cost more to maintain.

[Sam Austin]

Thanks for the +ve thoughts. Yep my brain was a little foggy.. I guess a normal reaction for me ..not real buyer's remorse but just the gut wrenching feeling I'm into bank loan payments again for another 5 years and this car better last the ride.

Last few days we had a good dump of snow up here, not as bad as Boston, RI, etc., but on our Quebec-Vermont border maybe 6-7 inches. With brand new aggressive Hankook winters, I managed to ride hilly, twisty, snow covered roads vey well. I live near a ski hill. Traction/VDC light lit up a few times, but I was doing 45-50 mph on some of those turns.

Winter in Quebec/VT is the real deal. Last 2 weeks we've had constant nighttime temps of -25f/-35C. I'll always let her warm up a minute or two ... my feelings (before CVT) was the crankcase oil had to be thick as molasses and would take a while before it actually started coating the moving things... there have been mornings that were so cold, my '04 clutch would stay down to floor and refuse to come up and play! So with the CVT my new thoughts are that it has to be doubly important to let that steel belt slide the way it was meant to. Anything over 5 minutes is a waste of gas. Never bothered to warm up in summer...

My 1st scheduled maintenance is for oil change/inspection at 32k miles (54k km). Fixed price at my dealer: $100. Damn expensive oil change.... But until that 160,000 miles extended warrantee runs out I'm going to make sure the dealer has every bit of evidence that I've done my job and that its on their computer records. Yeah, I changed my oil and stuff on the '04 and I'll just treat myself the luxury of having someone else do it for me ... will try to cut out needless expenses like feeing the cat...

Thanks again for your thoughts! Sam from Austin, Quebec CANADA