Manual transmission Fan Club and BS thread (All Generations Welcome)

I didn't even realize Nissan made them last gen. My brother has a 18 PRO4-X and i like it quite a bit. Sad Nissan ruined it (IMO) with the new DI v6 and 9 speed, which i haven't read good things about.

 

It is a bummer for sure. Had the 3.8 been dual injected and they kept the same 6 speed, I probably would have gone that route. That 9 speed has a lot of not-so-good reviews. Granted only the bad ones are the ones getting publicity, but I’ve seen quite a few need to be replaced in only a few thousand miles. I haven’t seen any motors be replaced but I did test drive one and that 3.8 is not very peppy. It’s about the same as the 3.5 honestly. They both work okay if you rev them but naturally that 9 speed is always wanting to be in the next gear and never above 2k rpm so it just feels gutless like anything else. Pretty disappointing. The 05-19 4.0 6-speed manual was a blast to drive, I’d honestly like another one of them.

 

It would have been on my radar for sure, but it was clear what they had in mind. I suspect Toyota will follow suit with gen 4 Tacoma, but we'll see. I've been burned by the last few vehicles i've had with shitty acting autos, so i was adamant about a manual this go around. The new gen 8 speed Camry is the exception to the rule though; that cars drives a shifts like a dream. It kind of reminds me of an old-school Accord AT (which i was very fond of).

 

My 17 Pro4X was basically a race care with tight gear spacing, short clutch and short throw, all from factory. Thing could scoot and was comfortable.

Plenty of good things about it. Lots of power, and if you drive it like a grandpa, it'll act like one. Drive it like you stole it.... And it'll act like it lol

Agree with the fuel injected and the 6 speed, but honestly the 9 speed in my 22 blows the Taco autos out of the water (even the tuned ones). Granted, my lottery garage will have a 17 or 18 Pro4X in it for sure.

That Camry is kick ass.

 

Proud to say I’ve been inducted into the clutch pedal groan club at only 15,840 miles! Looks like I’m buying some grease and learning about where to apply it.

 

Interesting:

I am not really interested in having a fake manual for an EV... Why bother if torque is available across RPMs in an electric motor up to 20-some thousand RPMs...
(- The ability to flip the motor(s) into a crawler mode could be interesting - But that is not a "manual transmission' that needs to be continuously managed...)

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a41822047/honda-manual-transmission-ev/

Honda CEO: 'I'm Not Sure If We Can Replace the Manual Transmission'
Unlike rival Toyota, Honda is against the idea of fake, or simulated, manual transmissions for its upcoming EV lineup, even though it will include two sports-car models.


"[Honda's] stance is in direct contrast to Toyota's outlook, as Honda's chief rival is seemingly embracing the idea of a manual-transmission alternative. It recently patented a system for EVs that includes a clutch, a gear shifter, and "virtual" gear ratios, and Lexus president Koji Sato also expressed a desire for the brand's upcoming EV supercar to have some sort of simulated manual. Even prior to this, Toyota's GR HV Sports concept car from 2017 also incorporated a sort of simulated manual: Its hybrid powertrain used an automatic gearbox but featured a shift lever meant to mimic a six-speed manual transmission's H-pattern gate."

 

My local dealer replaced several parts under warranty. Fixed the problem (at least so far), at no cost to me.

 

I’ll have to look into it but I believe the updated parts that yours got are what mine has factory. But thanks, I’ll look into it. Most people fix the later years by greasing the moving parts up there.

 

A little disc brake grease will take care of it, it wont melt away like other lubricants.

 

That is the plan, although I am very interested in the FJ pedal swap. Seems easy and well worth it for not a ton of money.

 

This house is full of vehicles with manual transmissions. My ride is a 2004 Tacoma base model with 2.4 and a 5-speed. My wife's ride is a 2012 Mazda MX-5 (Miata) with power hard top. It is a loaded touring edition with leather, heated seats, every option I could imagine -- but with a 6-speed manual gear box. I don't drive it often because I would collect tickets if I did. In the garage is a 1964 VW, of course it has a 4-speed transaxle.

When I tore up my right shoulder all those manual cars sucked. Oh the pain of getting my Tacoma in 5th gear! I actually ended up driving the old VW a lot more as the floor shifter is close and requires very little effort to move. Otherwise, I've got no use for a slushbox.

 

pretty sure the same 6spd transmission in my frontier is the one they used in the 350z. I really enjoy driving that thing.

 

That trans is just all around better than what we get in the Tacoma. It shifted more smoothly, the ratios are great, and even though everybody loves to hate the dual mass flywheel, I really had no issues. I still really want to grab an Xterra to put in my collection so I can get back into the Nissan 6 speed life. It was more fun to drive than my taco for sure.

 

I would really dig a first gen six speed Xterra. I miss my five-speed 95 Pathfinder. Easiest clutch in the world and all the low gearing you could ever want. And contrary to popular belief. The thing would do 95 mph too if you wanted. Not that that was a good idea... Lol

 

Timm, have you owned a 2nd gen? Curious about your thoughts, specifically the 5 spd. It drives so differently than my 2016 v6. My bro in law prefers it. I find them both interesting, like women I adore but never will understand

 

Different gears but very similar transmission designs.

Here's what I found on gear ratios compared to the Taco's 6 speed


Bold is what, in my opinion, is better... 1.32 I would prefer as 4th not as 3rd.

edit: Table formatting failed...

 

Frontier has a 3.97 reverse ratio. It sounds good but paired with the 3.54 or 3.692 axle ratio, it’s worse than our reverse just slightly. Although it was ridiculously fun to drive when I regeared it to 4.56 on stock tires lol. Definitely would have been nice to have a 0.71 OD so I could have cruised slightly lower rpm while maintaining all the good acceleration of 4.56 in the other gears. Reverse was decent once I was regeared. It sucked beforehand, much like the Tacoma.

 

So the Nissan's 1st through 3rd, 5th and reverse gears paired with the Toyota's 3rd gear (as 4th), 6th gear and final drive is the perfect gearing.

Someone make it so!

 

Lol, yup I wish! Although the Hilux RC60F would be ‘good enough’ for me. If Jowett can confirm it’s all bolt in once he’s done and nothing that actually becomes a roadblock, I’ll probably opt for that route eventually. It has such a tall 6th that you can run 5.29s on virtually any tire size you want (I’d be stock) and can still benefit from ridiculously awesome gearing in the other gears!

 

I have not owned a second gen, however, I have driven a second gen six speed. While I enjoyed it, it was a little clunky and in my experience, the second gen Auto is preferable. The third gen Six speed is a superior manual.

Sadly, I have not driven either of them with the 2.7 l paired to the 5-speed manual.