Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Nissan, Rumormill
Correction: Diesel Maxima coming with automatic and maybe a stick
Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2009 Nissan Maxima
You know how it goes with the rumormill. Sometimes it tends to be spot-on in its predictions; sometimes... not so much. Such is the case with recent reports that the upcoming clean diesel engine in the Nissan Maxima would be equipped with a manual transmission only. As we reported at the time, a move like that would surely limit the new diesel's appeal to the stick-averse American buying population, and therefore hurt sales. Fear not, slushbox fans, Motive has confirmation from an engineer at Nissan that the Maxima, even in diesel form, will in fact be offered with an automatic transmission as standard. Moreover, it's the shift-it-yourself gearbox that now seems a bit unlikely. As much as we enjoy the thought of rowing our own gears with tons of diesel-supplied torque on hand, delivering the Maxima with an automatic is surely the right choice to make.
Gallery: 2009 Nissan Maxima
[Source: Motive]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Torrent 1:38PM (6/18/2008)
thank god.
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Torrent 2:46PM (6/18/2008)
Thank God because when Nissan says 'maybe', they are basically saying 'will'.
Now available as an Automatic or Manual, it'll appeal to more customers.
Pacman 1:44PM (6/18/2008)
now you will see all the complaints the other direction. "What only MAYBE a stick? Nissan is so lame" People love to complain
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BigMcLargeHuge 1:44PM (6/18/2008)
LOL. Though the controversy was fun, this makes more sense from a marketing standpoint.
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Kotse 1:44PM (6/18/2008)
Slushbox drivers are sissies!!! ;P
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BigMcLargeHuge 2:00PM (6/18/2008)
Autmatics don't make anyone a sissy on a FWD family sedan.
Stop pretending this is a sports car. 6-speeds aren't 'correct' for every car.
Kotse 2:09PM (6/18/2008)
Oh, I didn't mean to offend you mister "Big"...
I didn't say this is a sportscar either...
I just find drivers (read as Autoblog car "enthusiasts") who can't drive a manual car...wimps!(pardon the term).
Amber 2:18PM (6/18/2008)
Your name is Big Mac Large Huge?
anywonder you dont like manual front drivers?
BigMcLargeHuge 3:28PM (6/18/2008)
I drive 2 manual vehicles. So I'm not offended. It takes no special talent.
Its childish to remind people you can do something so trivial. Getting on here to brag about an ability that everyone here knows how to do.
Its a big, family sedan, I see no point to even having a manual with it. But to each their own.
Kotse 3:42PM (6/18/2008)
OKEY mister..."Big". Ain't bragging on anything...
No need to be "defensive" now. Your..."point", taken. (Yikes!!)
;)
Big Rocket 5:28PM (6/18/2008)
"Playing with a little stick never turned any boy into a man. Only a woman can do that." -Big Rocket
Dustin 3:23AM (6/19/2008)
Kotse, if it makes you feel good about yourself, say anything you want
Kotse 11:46AM (6/19/2008)
Dustin, let me just say this for brevity sake...
"The Truth Hurts!"
Big Rocket 12:18PM (6/19/2008)
Kotse: And here is the truth. Of all the different yardsticks by which to measure a man's manliness, if you go by his choice of transmission and forum screen name, then you don't know what it means to be a real man.
Kunikos 11:53PM (6/19/2008)
Kotse, why are you such a douchebag?
Kotse 11:21AM (6/20/2008)
Ah! Stop whining like crybabies..
Johnny 1:46PM (6/18/2008)
Well when the story was it only came with stick, 99% of Autobloggers cried and yelled that they had knee problems, had to eat while they drove, feed the kid, talk on the phone, dont know how to drive stick, there is traffic, they live on a mountain, it snows, and every other excuse and lambasted Nissan for not offering an Auto.
Now that it is Auto only and "maybe" a stick will be offered, 99% of Autobloggers will now come out of the woodwork demanding there be a stick, how sticks are more fun, sticks are more efficient, stick is more powerful and on and on.
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Pacman 1:51PM (6/18/2008)
+1 - you said it better than I did.
tuna 1:58PM (6/18/2008)
To quote a line in Gladiator...
"The mob is fickle, brother..."
Amber 2:10PM (6/18/2008)
Johnny,
These are also the same autobloggers that want Euro vehicles to come to North America but once they arrive they dont buy them. Use the Autoblog search engine at the top and put in the Astra. You will get numerous comments from two years ago that if GM brought this car 100% in tact it would sell like hotcakes. GM did and its a flop. Only 1312 sold in May.
Now the same people say GM should have tweeked the styling, added MP3 player, put in a different engine, changed the suspension, updated the bland interior while certifying the car for North America.
Grass is always, always, always greener on the other side.