wow thanks for all the great responses guys!! I'm glad to hear there are nissans out there with no probs... I just threw some new BFG's in the rear, and they feel much better all around than the potenzas... I'm getting the oil leak situation checked tomorrow morning, hopefully it is just the seal.. (fingers crossed)

I guess the tranny thing is pretty normal then..? I have to practically granny shift from 1-2 or else it scratches as it goes in...the rest of the gears are butter...

BTW- I've been to 3 different nissan dealers so far, and the one I like best is the one that claims the tranny is fine.. the other dealers practically told me they didn't want to look at it

 

Hey, The drivetrain warranty is 5 years, 60k miles from the in service date. Its more than the standard warranty. Someone pointed this out to me on the forum because I was getting nervous about replacing the tranny after warranty runs out.

 

nissan's transimission are not smooth like say a Honda is. I have a 6MT in both my 350z Roadster and G35 Sedan. Both transmissions are a little scratchy. Does not bother me at all. I wouldn't worry about your tranny, hell if its going to fail you will want it to fail under warrenty.

 

then die die is a wife beater, for sure.

 

I have owned

82 280ZX
86 300ZX
93 maxima (wifes car)

and I now own

91 300ZX Twin Turbo
2005 350Z
1999 toyota 4Runner (wifes car)

Overall I have been extremely pleased with the Z's, all four of them. The Maxima ran well, but every little thing in the car broke. power windows, power locks, power seats, clock, headlights, taillights, E-v-E-r-Y-t-H-i-N-g it seemed, etc. I eventually sold it and bought a 1999 toyota 4Runner for my wife and that thing hasn't had a single issue in 6 years.

 

The history of my dealings with Nissan:
1993 SE Pathfinder - 320,000.00 transmission is slipping, it still has original timing belt
1999 Maxima SE - 100,000.00 it had a hard time starting it up, grinding in 3rd
2001 Maxima AE - 60,000.00 awesome car with factory body kit (wife uses it)
2002 Spec V - no problems fun to drive (traded in for 03 350Z DB)
2003 350Z DB Touring edition - tire feathering, clicking in the back, clunk noise in neutral. (traded in for 04 350ZR SB)
2004 - 350ZR SB Enthusiast - still new, awesome when top is down, hate the paint chips

 

Seems like the tranny problems are with manuals. How good are the auto trannys in the Z?

 

D@mn near bulletproof, the autos are very reliable.

 

Statistically speaking, both Nissan and the 350Z have below average reliability.

 

I've seen that too... but I can't say as though that has been even close to my experience with the 12 I've had.

 

Would it help to use lighter tranny fluid? Of course, you don't want something so light your gears start grinding... but I think if you use a lighter fluid it will help with the notchiness problem

 

Hey Die Die

when i take my foot off the clutch i have a really loud noise too..

someone said it may be the thrust bearings??
not too sure on that though, and yeah my 6MT sometimes will shift perfect and other days it bearly goes into gear