Versa Standard Transmission

[scout]

Am curious as to those of you out there that have the standard transmission. Any comments on the operation, shifting, repairs etc.?

[Ever Victorious]

With respect to repairs, the transmission hasn't been around long enough in the US and Canada to make any sort of determination. Even the highest mileage V's on the board haven't yet hit 60k miles, and the current mileage leader is a CVT.

With respect to operation, you're going to get different answers from different people. Some people say it's clunky. I say it's got a very positive engagement feel.

Most people who say it's clunky say so because you can feel where every single gear is on the gear shifter (not saying that shifting itself is harsh or noticeable, that's more of a function of the driver's ability to manipulate the clutch)... but the kinds of shifters that those people love, drive me absolutely nuts because I can never figure out what gear I'm about to hit. Not so with the Versa... I know exactly what gear I'm in and about to shift into at all times.

[scout]

Thanks for the quick response and addressing some of my concerns. I guess it's the noise I hear rather than the feel that seems a little frustrating and annoying.

[NewToVersa]

Kinda sound crunchy or need to be grease. Got that noise too. Hard to describe it...

Mostly in when the shifther in put in rev, 1st, 2nd.

[KKaWing]

The 6 spd. needs to be shifted like you mean it. The gates are really well defined. I do have a problem with 1-2 shifts where I have to hold it at the lump just before it goes into second rather than just go straight through. If I don't do that *scrrrunch*. Gonna check it out at the dealer when the 1st oil change comes up.

[my_new_v]

I dont see any of the problems you guys are having. I too have the 6 speed but im not hearing any noises or having any problems. My V is the first car ive ever drove/owned that was a standard. So I thought myself to drive a stick in my V and the transmission still hasnt fallen out or blown up . But I havent had any problems so far, and hopefully none come up.

[Frahman]

IIRC, on most standards, reverse is not a gear that is synchronised, so if you throw it in to reverse at anything over idle, you might get a crunch.

Also, especially for the lower gears, if your engine speed is way different then the transmission speed, then even with a synchromesh, it can grind. Just part of driving a standard.

As the saying goes, 'If ya can't find it, grind it'.

Also, as EV says, some gearboxes have the positive feel (usually the sportier ones), some feel more like stirring a bowl of batter. Once you are used to a box, it's second nature and the positive feel is much more preferable.

However, going from 1st to second, as KaKaWing was reporting, i would not expect to see any grinding. Especially in a close ratio box like the versa.

[Elmojo]

As much as I love manual transmissions, I'd say go with the CVT if you get a V.I have around 20k miles on my 6MT and have just now gotten used to the shifting. I've only owned one car in the past 15 years that wasn't a manual, so I'm familiar with shifting dynamics, to say the least.This gearbox is one of the worst I've ever felt."Positive" is not a word I'd use to describe this box. More like positively crap.Search around for some of my other posts about this issue.Especially the latest one about the synthetic MT fluid.

[my_new_v]

Wow, either I have a good transmission or you guys got stuck with a bad one lol. But I do remember last time I took mine in for service, they commented on how good the transmission was. I dunno what I did to make it good.

[kcourtad]

mines is working out fine... they grind when i run it hard because i dont alwas use the pedel to put it in gear i just slam it in there... gotta put your forearm into it...

[Kolk1]

I still dont trust CVTs, and with no M6 in the area, I bought the A4. I have 31,500 miles on my car, and havent had an issue. And I run the piss out of my car.

[motoguy128]

The 6 speed definitely has a positive engagement. When the RPM's match just right, it's very very smooth. But is a little nothcy when the sychros aren't perfectly matched. I prefer a little notchiness, over a rubbery shifter with no feel.

The gearing a closely spaced, great for maximum accleration at high RPM's, but you can skip gear when driving more causally. The final drive is pretty short. I've started out in 2nd a couple times accidentally, and never stalled it.

For an extreme comparison. Try driving a half ton early 80's for pick-up with a 4 speed manual. Yikes! It's a great left leg workout, and the shifter is all guesswork. I got back into my Versa and about put my foot through the floorboard when I pushed the clutch in.

[Beginningsend87]

As much as I love manual transmissions, I'd say go with the CVT if you get a V.I have around 20k miles on my 6MT and have just now gotten used to the shifting. I've only owned one car in the past 15 years that wasn't a manual, so I'm familiar with shifting dynamics, to say the least.This gearbox is one of the worst I've ever felt."Positive" is not a word I'd use to describe this box. More like positively crap.Search around for some of my other posts about this issue.Especially the latest one about the synthetic MT fluid.

i have to totally agree with you there. Ive drivin countless manual cars, this one just SUCKS!!!! the clutch feel is terrible, the gas responce is garbage when rev matching. Ive slipped it into the wrong gear more than any other transmission. Ive put almost 13k miles on this thing and im still not use to it. Cant wait to get rid of it next march and get back into a honda. This car overal shouldnt of been produced. I granny shifted for a whole tank and only got 28 MPG out of it . I should have just kept my honda and floored it everywhere because I got better than that on a bad tank...

[XFreeRollerX]

Ive driven 3 Different manual cars in the past 3 years, only one Ive owned - my V.

2003 Sentra SER SpecV - Puts my versa to shame in EVERY aspect of shifting

Some Camry I drove for a freind a while back on road trip... had a softer clutch, but at least the gears were synced, I had no hint of grinding even on a stumble

mazda3 - same deal with the the Sentra... flawless shifting - gears were alot more spaced out tho

i would say the versa needs a revision on the gearbox... or get the engine RPM to drop more accordingly... going 75MPH on a freeway does not warrant my engine needing to run at 3500RPM in 6th gear!

[gotak]

As much as I love manual transmissions, I'd say go with the CVT if you get a V.I have around 20k miles on my 6MT and have just now gotten used to the shifting. I've only owned one car in the past 15 years that wasn't a manual, so I'm familiar with shifting dynamics, to say the least.This gearbox is one of the worst I've ever felt."Positive" is not a word I'd use to describe this box. More like positively crap.Search around for some of my other posts about this issue.Especially the latest one about the synthetic MT fluid.

I tried all the manual nissans at the Toronto car show. And I read a review a while back after the Sentra Spec V's manual and the description was "felt like you were dislocating the leg of a small animal". At the time I didn't know why they'd write that but since the show I agree.

[Elmojo]

I tried all the manual nissans at the Toronto car show. And I read a review a while back after the Sentra Spec V's manual and the description was "felt like you were dislocating the leg of a small animal". At the time I didn't know why they'd write that but since the show I agree.

Oh man, that's the funniest thing I've heard in a while!I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that hates the 6MT.The sad part is that with the synthetic fluid, about 30% of the problem is fixed.A simple ECU revision would fix the throttle hang and make rpm matching sooo much easier.The poor spacing and short top gear are unfixable without major mods, but 2 outta 3 ain't bad, right?!Let's hope/pray/lobby for that ECU update, eh?If you haven't already, call Nissan North America (your dealer can give you the number) and lodge a formal complaint like I did.Maybe if enough of us gripe, we'll get a solution.

[Kokanee]

I bought my M6 V in Feb, and although I know how to drive standard, I hadn't touched a manual in about five years since we got rid of our manual army jeeps (I'm in the Cdn army).

When it came time to buy a new car, I really took my time and shopped around, did alot of test driving... Compared to other cars like the Toyota Yaris I absolutely love the V's shifter.

The Yaris was an absolute PITA to drive, there was no feedback from the shifter, could never tell when I was in gear, or what gear, just like I was stirring a big bowl of cookie dough with a spoon.

The V on the other hand, it's shifter lets you know where you are, what gear you're in... and more importantly if you aren't in gear!

[boxcarbill]

The gearing a closely spaced, great for maximum accleration at high RPM's, but you can skip gear when driving more causally. The final drive is pretty short.

there needs to be government regulation against this crap. Their goal is to sell more ATs by offering the inadequate manual.