I seriously don't see why this is such a big deal. I think it makes downshifts a little smoother becase the revs are easier to match. I think most cars don't hang on the throttle enough and make the car jerky as the revs climb when the clutch is released after changing gears. I also don't try to shift really fast. After spliting hte cases once on a motorcycle to replace a coupld of shift forks and 2 gears, I don't shift as fast anymore on my motorcycles and always use the clutch.
I guess some people expect this to be a sports car transmission because it's a 6 speed. This is a economy car, not an MR2, S2000 or Miata.
I guess overall, I've gotten used to it and don't really care. With 2000 miles on it, it seems less pronounced that before.
NISSAN-- Fix this please!!!!!
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motoguy128
- Posts: 403
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:57 pm
- Car: 2007 Nissan Versa S - 6 Speed
Re: NISSAN-- Fix this please!!!!! (motoguy128)
Okay fine, we don't expect it to allow the same level of shifting speed as a sports car. Then don't make it 6 speed! I really don't see the reason for 6 gears in this car, especially since the 6th gear is still so low. A 5 speed transmission with a fairly wide 1st and 2nd gear and a higher 5th gear would be perfect on this vehicle.I am seriously beginning to think that Nissan gears the Versa so they can reach the magical 30 mpg number for city driving. 20-something mpg city is just not as good as 30...motoguy128 wrote:I seriously don't see why this is such a big deal. I think it makes downshifts a little smoother becase the revs are easier to match. I think most cars don't hang on the throttle enough and make the car jerky as the revs climb when the clutch is released after changing gears. I also don't try to shift really fast. After spliting hte cases once on a motorcycle to replace a coupld of shift forks and 2 gears, I don't shift as fast anymore on my motorcycles and always use the clutch.
I guess some people expect this to be a sports car transmission because it's a 6 speed. This is a economy car, not an MR2, S2000 or Miata.
I guess overall, I've gotten used to it and don't really care. With 2000 miles on it, it seems less pronounced that before.
Re: NISSAN-- Fix this please!!!!! (xu_chen)
I wonder if the Tiida has similar issues and if so what there workaround, if any, was.
Re: NISSAN-- Fix this please!!!!! (Juelze)
I
I'd venture to guess that the Tiida isn't plagued as much because their computer isn't optimized for low emissions as other countries emission requirements may not be as stringent. In the US it seems like these car companies want to have bragging rights as to who has the least emission levels. Furthermore, on a fleet basis, meaning all the cars and trucks made by Nissan, it may need to achieve a certain level of low emissions to pass the EPA or some regulatory agency dealing with pollution. I guess Nissan makes a lot of the big trucks like Frontier and Armada, and since those trucks give higher emissions, they need to use cars like the Versa to lower the average fleet emission to a manageable and acceptable level.
So my take is that because Nissan makes a lot of cars that pollute, we Versa owners need to compensate for that. By compensating for that, we had to be the ones to sacrifice our car's performance.
OTOH, Honda doesn't make a lot of trucks and SUV's that pollute a lot, and so maybe Honda Fit owners are spared the trouble of having their computer throttle their engine to lower their emission levels, to satisfy the need to lower the average fleet emission levels.
It's a hunch of mine why we have this state of affairs. And this is not just about emission levels, it's also about average fleet MPG. The same argument applies for why Nissan is like this, and Honda is like that.
It's a bummer. Nissan can't be level with us because it makes them look bad and makes us look like the sacrificial lamb offered to appease the gas-guzzler people out there that Nissan panders to. Those trucks make more money per vehicle and that's where Nissan doesn't want to offend. Us Versa owners, we are just a little better than roadkill.
Juelze wrote:I wonder if the Tiida has similar issues and if so what there workaround, if any, was.
I'd venture to guess that the Tiida isn't plagued as much because their computer isn't optimized for low emissions as other countries emission requirements may not be as stringent. In the US it seems like these car companies want to have bragging rights as to who has the least emission levels. Furthermore, on a fleet basis, meaning all the cars and trucks made by Nissan, it may need to achieve a certain level of low emissions to pass the EPA or some regulatory agency dealing with pollution. I guess Nissan makes a lot of the big trucks like Frontier and Armada, and since those trucks give higher emissions, they need to use cars like the Versa to lower the average fleet emission to a manageable and acceptable level.
So my take is that because Nissan makes a lot of cars that pollute, we Versa owners need to compensate for that. By compensating for that, we had to be the ones to sacrifice our car's performance.
OTOH, Honda doesn't make a lot of trucks and SUV's that pollute a lot, and so maybe Honda Fit owners are spared the trouble of having their computer throttle their engine to lower their emission levels, to satisfy the need to lower the average fleet emission levels.
It's a hunch of mine why we have this state of affairs. And this is not just about emission levels, it's also about average fleet MPG. The same argument applies for why Nissan is like this, and Honda is like that.
It's a bummer. Nissan can't be level with us because it makes them look bad and makes us look like the sacrificial lamb offered to appease the gas-guzzler people out there that Nissan panders to. Those trucks make more money per vehicle and that's where Nissan doesn't want to offend. Us Versa owners, we are just a little better than roadkill.
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motoguy128
- Posts: 403
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:57 pm
- Car: 2007 Nissan Versa S - 6 Speed
Re: NISSAN-- Fix this please!!!!! (xu_chen)
I agree havign a slightly taller 6th gear would be nice, but given the power output and aerynamic drag... you'd find yourself downshifting too frequently. Keep in mind this gerbox is used worldwide with both this 1.8L engine and a 1.6L engine (might have a shirter final drive). The MR18DE is also used in a larger, heavier minivan type vehicle in Europe made by Renault. Given hte requirements and types of roads typical through the rest of th world... the gearing is perfect.xu_chen wrote:Okay fine, we don't expect it to allow the same level of shifting speed as a sports car. Then don't make it 6 speed! I really don't see the reason for 6 gears in this car, especially since the 6th gear is still so low. A 5 speed transmission with a fairly wide 1st and 2nd gear and a higher 5th gear would be perfect on this vehicle.I am seriously beginning to think that Nissan gears the Versa so they can reach the magical 30 mpg number for city driving. 20-something mpg city is just not as good as 30...
I've driven several times in France and the gearing is perfect for the tight, cramped city streets with a short 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. 4th 5th and 6th are closely space for easier passing and cruising on backroads.
My '03 Corolla had a 5 speed. It's 5th gear was taller than hte Versa's 6th, but it's 1st gear was also taller, and you often found yourself caught between 2nd and 3rd when passing or merging for maximm power. On the Versa, 3rd gear is usually just right and the close spacing keeps you in in the meat of the torque curve.
It's still an overdrive transmission. 6th is too tall to reach it's top speed of around 115mph.