I was at the dealer doing a reprogram of my 03 5ATS to the 04ATS program and I did it.....I walked the lot. There it sat a 03.5 6MT same color, same options but 1/2 the miles. Well then I really did it to myself and test drove it. Fell in love. Then we negotiated price and it didn't seem to bad. $3990.00 out the door, BUT I had to give up my 2 month old NISMO Aero kit even though it's the same color they would not swap body parts. My exhaust, intake, 19" rims, clear lamps could all be swapped at a cost to me. It's very tempting but is trading your car in for a different tranny really a smart thing to do? I'm torn....I need some advice from owners who have experience with both trannys. I plan on modifiing this car heavily in the future (FI, coil overs, big brakes) so I'm wondering what will satisfy me in a year from now when I can only add so much power because of tranny limits.

The 6MT linkage is soooo sweet though....so stiff and precise.

03 Sedan ~ 5AT ~ aero ~ 19x8" Axis wheels ~ Garnet ~ premium ~ NISMO body kit ~ clear front corners ~ Stillen Cat-back ~ Injen CAI ~ Crawford plenum soon (hurry Doug)

 

If you don't do it, would you be regretting it everytime you go for a ride?

For me, the purchase had to be perfect or else I'd be asking the "What if..." question all the time. That would kill me.


2003.5 Sedan 6MT Silver on Graphite
Premium | Aero | Sport | Tints

 

What do you mean the purchase had to be perfect?

03 Sedan ~ 5AT ~ aero ~ 19x8" Axis wheels ~ Garnet ~ premium ~ NISMO body kit ~ clear front corners ~ Stillen Cat-back ~ Injen CAI ~ Crawford plenum soon (hurry Doug)

 

Perfect, meaning the car was exactly like I had dreamed it: Silver, 6MT, Aero, etc.


2003.5 Sedan 6MT Silver on Graphite
Premium | Aero | Sport | Tints

 

mrjimmy55:

I know exactly what you mean, mrjimmy55 - I even ORDERED a 5AT Sedan because I needed it to be a business use car, and thought a 6MT may not give the right "image" to clients who ride with me. I tossed and turned at night for over 2 months while waiting for the 5AT (fully loaded Sedans with Navi were hard to come by, then), mumbling in my sleep about a 6 speed (no BS, per my wife). Then, "image" be damned - I saw my 6MT on the Infiniti dealer website at 2:00 AM (wasn't there at 10:00 PM night before), and was driving it home at 10:00 AM same morning, unable to wipe the grin off my face, and fondling that shifter all the (long) way home. The other dealer whom I'd ordered the 5AT from was understanding, and able to sell that one without problem, once it arrived a couple of weeks later.

As for me, I still haven't been able to wipe the grin off my face for the 3500 miles I've had her since.

POINT IS: Get the 6MT if you really want it - if you don't, you''ll keep comparing your 5AT in every respect. Everytime you do something to your car, you'll wonder how it would have been with the 6MT. You already KNOW how the 5AT is, so, to be extra sure, drive the 6MT one more time, for the whole day if possible, and if it's LOVE - pull the trigger!

Sport Sedan Fan - 2004 6MT Sedan
Sport/Navigation/Premium/Aero
Obsidian Black/Graphite & "Titanium"
SHE'S SILVER & BLACK - GO RAIDERS!

 

Yes definetly get it only if you want to shift, if you even remotely feel it will be an incovenience don't do it.

From the sounds of it, I would trade it since with all those performance mods, they would match better with the 6MT over the AT car just due to inherent involvedness of shifting yourself.

 

You guy are pushing me over the edge...I've broken it down, and to pay $3500 for a 03AT w/ 38,000 miles vs. an 03.5 6MT w/ 19,000 miles, the difference in mileage is bout $3000. Not to mention the car is almost a year newer and better shape than mine. Has anyone done this before, traded their AT for an MT. I've seen guys trading the S for a C and vice versa. My girlfried is beating me up with "it's the same car" I keep saying same on the outside, different car to drive. I need ammo, what's up?

03 Sedan ~ 5AT ~ aero ~ 19x8" Axis wheels ~ Garnet ~ premium ~ NISMO body kit ~ clear front corners ~ Stillen Cat-back ~ Injen CAI ~ Crawford plenum soon (hurry Doug)

 

I was about to do the exact same thing about a month ago. I found a 03 sedan silver 6mt with only 6500 miles on it. perfect condition. Mine was the same except i didn't have an aero kit and I had 16k miles at the time. I figured i could sell mine for 27-28k and he wanted 30k for his. Eventually he came down to about 28500. I would still need to eat the tax on it so add about another 3k.

Don't get me wrong, the 6mt was fun to druve, but the auto is also very fun in different ways. Its a toss up. The other thing was that i would not be the original owner anymore. Thats something lots of people value. it would have cost me about 4k total to do it. Instead of that, i got wheels and some other stuff. I'm happy now.

If you are going to go FI, then get the 6spd, much more fun in my opinion.

good luck...

--
2003.5 G35 Sedan
5AT

 

Forget what the G/F says. Show her who's boss
If you want the 6 speed that much $3000 isn't that much pain for your mental well being. I took 4 weeks shopping for mine and it was consuming my normal everyday living.

2003.5~AT~S~Carribean Blue~Graphite Leather~Premium Pkg.~Winter Pkg.~Wood Trim~Xpel Clear Bra "You can't win if you don't play the game"

 

You guys sure do think a lot...I took one day off from work and ended up trading my Z for a G sedan and have never looked back. If you can afford to take the hit and it's something you really want, I say do it. BTW what color is yours? I'll trade you bumpers!

 

I would keep your 5AT. while the 6mt is fun, with the 5at all you have to do is stomp and go. your not giving up much performance either.



Jim
'03.5 Sedan
Brilliant Silver/Graphite
6MT/ Premium package
Sport tuned suspension
Aerodynamic Body Kit
Navigation and Satellite Radio

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

What did you have done to your car to reprogram it? Was it the change in manumatic mode from '03 to '04? Did the dealer do this for free?


The reporgram made the auto shifter shift a little crisper, and shift at rpm's a little more aggressive. It cost $80 for a Consult II hookup from the dealer. I'd recommend it to anyone with an 03S 5AT. PM me if you want more details.

03 Sedan ~ 5AT ~ aero ~ 19x8" Axis wheels ~ Garnet ~ premium ~ NISMO body kit ~ clear front corners ~ Stillen Cat-back ~ Injen CAI ~ Crawford plenum soon (shipped!)