I'm a fan of the manual transmission. I like to shift, I like the feeling of discretionary power. So every time I drive a car with an automatic, I spend at least a little time doing the manual-shift boogie.
Some transmissions have the reflexes of a snail on Vicodin, upshifting about 20 seconds after you move the lever...
The wonderful six-cylinder engine is a big part of that also. The Nissan Rogue tries to use a CVT with a four-cylinder, with considerably less success. Engineering Editor Jason Kavanagh uses the manual-shift function for engine braking. In fact, he says that if you put two Altimas on a drag strip, one in auto mode and one in manual-shift, the car left in auto would probably win. Regardless, it's silky-smooth, and you at least get the impression that you're taking advantage of high-rpm torque. And that engine note.
Doug Lloyd, Senior Copy Editor @ 19,874 miles
tackepj says:
02:16 PM, 11/28/07
Engine braking using the manual-shift function on CVTs is a very good benefit. I recently had the (mis)fortune of driving a Dodge Caliber equipped with the CVT on a trip in central PA. When descending a long, steep grade, I did what I would have in a traditional manual or automatic--dropped it down a gear to assist the brakes. However, in the Caliber, your only choice is "L". That forced the poor 2.0 L 4-banger under the hood to about 4500 rpm and held it there the whole way down the hill. I had two choices--ride the brakes while feeling like it was in neutral, or wind the poor thing out in "L". Being a rental, I just abused the brakes so I didn't have the hear the screaming engine.
Having a manual mode, even if it consists of "phantom gears", would have solved this problem.
langjie says:
03:14 PM, 11/28/07
No manumatic mode in the hybrid, =( it just has an extra "B" shift mode for engine braking.
tackepj, very sorry that you had to drive a dodge, and especially a caliber! anyone else read that article about the top 10 worst cars? the top 5 were all from chrysler!
jaeger1 says:
03:16 PM, 11/28/07
In manual mode it not only "shifts" very smoothly, but very quickly as well. I am a pretty devoted three-pedals-on-the-floor kind of guy, but this is an auto I could actually live with.
Jaeger
orangutan says:
06:08 PM, 11/28/07
Give me a real automatic transmission or, better yet, a DSG any day of the week over these damned CVTs. (I won't even speak of Nissan's manual transmissions.) Blunted performance, impaired fuel economy, and incessant droning? Brilliant decision there, Nissan et al.
rick8365 says:
04:42 AM, 11/29/07
I think DSGs are going to be the ticket when it comes to autos in the future.
langjie says:
07:42 AM, 11/29/07
orangutan...have you actually driven the nissan CVT? it's great! it feels just like a traditional auto w/o the shift shock. fuel economy is improved. seriously, anybody who has driven the Altima CVT doesn't have many gripes about it
kenchanr says:
09:59 AM, 11/29/07
A recall has just been announced by Nissan for the 2005~2007 2.5 Altima on November 24th. The engine can shut down unexpectedly. The 3.5 engine is not affected.
orangutan says:
10:21 AM, 11/29/07
Langjie, fuel economy is marginally improved in the city compared to the previous five-speed automatic, while highway mileage is significantly decreased. Under the 2008 fuel economy figures, the new V6 + CVT achieves 19 | 26 while the old V6 + 5auto achieves 18 | 28. Meanwhile the Camry's V6 + 6auto achieves 19 | 28 and the Accord's V6 + 5auto achieves 19 | 29. The Camry also beats the Altima to 60. Hence, the CVT offers no advantage over traditional automatics. In fact, it actually hinders fuel economy and acceleration. Nissan claims that it "tuned the transmission" to make the Altima seem more powerful and faster than it really is. That is, Nissan needed to come up with an excuse for the worse performance of its new, "advanced" transmission so they in essence tell you that they want the car to lie to you. It's all about illusion: the car is more powerful, but slower; the car has more gear ratios from which to choose, but is less efficient.
I don't want a car that lies to me. Why would I want to give up fuel economy and acceleration for the illusion of both? Have you heard good things about the CVTs in any other vehicle, Nissan or not, besides the V6 Altima? Even the editors of Edmunds find the CVT + I4 in the Altima, Rogue, and Sentra disappointing. The same can be said of the V6 + CVT in the Murano. (Do we even need to talk about the Caliber, Patriot, Compass, Five Hundred, and Freestyle?) But they seem to be taken in by the illusory capabilities of the V6 Altima + CVT application, I would imagine in no small part because of how terrible the manual transmission is. As Doug even says, it's the "impression" of power the CVT gives that he likes. I'll take real power over imagined, thank you very much.
altimadude00 says:
05:43 PM, 11/29/07
As promised, here's a list of gripes I have with the Altima (4cyl. S).
-- Option packages: You can only get alloy wheels if you get a sunroof.
-- Can't sit behind myself: sunroof impedes on headroom in back.
-- Third brake light: It take up a sizable chunk of the view out the back window.
-- Non-foldable side mirrors: Yikes at auto-washes and tight parking spots.
-- Two-part exit strategy: Unlatch first, then push door out; Latch is too far forward on the door to push door out with your elbow.
-- Trunk is too high and narrow: Hefting heavy luggage into the trunk is a chore because the bumper is too big (and scratching the bumper too).
-- Seat releases inside trunk: Placed too far back inside trunk.
-- Stupid steering wheel controls: Rocker switches too small for big fingers (are they illuminated?)
-- Cabin cubby spaces: '05 generation was better with # of cubbies.