Suddenly I don't know how to drive stick. At least that's what it feels like in our 2007 Nissan Versa. I stall the car, lurch forward in 1st EVERY time and even lurch upshifting from 2nd to 3rd. What's the deal?..
I don't have this problem in our other manual-shift cars. Fortunately, I'm not the only one on staff who has a hate-hate relationship with the Versa's clutch.
Apparently this car is low on the list of vehicles our editors would take on a long road trip and now I know why. I was supposed to take it up to Northern California this weekend but just couldn't fathom getting through stop-and-go traffic on the 405 and the Grapevine (both involving hills). On the positive side, at least the Nissan has an auxiliary input for iPods so you can listen to your road trip playlists.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 13,421 miles
Apparently this car is low on the list of vehicles our editors would take on a long road trip and now I know why. I was supposed to take it up to Northern California this weekend but just couldn't fathom getting through stop-and-go traffic on the 405 and the Grapevine (both involving hills). On the positive side, at least the Nissan has an auxiliary input for iPods so you can listen to your road trip playlists.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor @ 13,421 miles
hondacura4 says:
02:17 PM, 10/23/07
It seems like you guys are having issues with all manual Nissan/Infiniti products in your garage.
daytona_500 says:
03:10 PM, 10/23/07
Why didn't you guys just get an automatic? Im sure it would make driving in stop and go traffic a lot easier.
caroscuro says:
03:24 PM, 10/23/07
I don't mind driving in stop-and-go traffic with a stick. It's just a pain when the car has a not-so-great clutch.
carlisimo says:
05:25 PM, 10/23/07
I've said it before in G35 threads, but my family's had a couple of manual Nissans and the transmissions (especially the clutch pedals) were terrible. It's just not something they're good at, so it's a good thing they can do CVTs like no one else.
daytona_500 says:
07:02 PM, 10/23/07
Nice picture of the shifter by the way, it really brings out the detail!
siblur says:
06:32 AM, 10/24/07
I have had the same issue with my '07 Civic EX manual. Coming from a '99 Civic Si with a rifle bolt shifter and a light, effortless clutch, driving this car can be a chore (absolutely LOVE it in every other way). In my case, however, I blame the drive-by-wire throttle, too. Response from the engine lags behind the throttle input much like a shuggish automatic (nothing...nothing...jerk!). Trying to coordinate this on/off power delivery with the clutch pedal is the complete opposite of smooth. Reminds me of when I was a newbie, really.
In the Si, shifting was like going from a brisk walk to a trot, to a jog, to a run, but here, the mental and physical workload is distracting from safe driving and from driving enjoyment in general.
Makes me wonder if there is new cost-cutting technology out there that results in clunkier shifters - bushing material, etc. At any rate, my long-standing notion that a manual transmission can make any car a sporty car is being laid to rest.
stovt001 says:
08:28 AM, 10/24/07
I wonder if they're making manual trannies suck to make us stop buying them. And I blame drive-by-wire throttles for poorer throttle responses now too. With my 1970 Olds, you hit the gas and, although it took a couple eons to downshift, the throttle would respond immediately to wake up the engine itself. Sometimes technology is not the solution.
carlisimo says:
10:48 AM, 10/24/07
Siblur, I hate to say this, but that's not a bug it's a feature. Something about improving emissions. It would drive me absolutely crazy.
Aftermarket ECUs may solve it.
siblur says:
11:32 AM, 10/24/07
I have no doubt that the throttle behavior is by design (or, more literally, by program). The effect is very annoying though, even though it probably does help my emissions and maybe boosts mpg.
I asked my dealer about a re-flash of the ECU to improve it and the hanging revs during shifts, where the tach actually jumps and hangs on to revs while between gears, and he claimed there was no such fix.
My fix is to adjust the seat to literally get better leverage on the pedal. Believe it or not, it helps smooth things out.