Stupid Question for People Who've Driven 6-speeds

"Vimto" (smudgey) 08/19/2014 at 22:16 • Filed to: None

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Hi guys, I'm going to be test driving a 2014 Nissan Sentra 1.8 S 6MT tomorrow. I've only ever driven 5-speeds before, where the reverse was the bottom right where this car's 6th gear now is. Do you have to pull up on the ring to get it into reverse, top left? As in you can't accidentally put the car in reverse going for 1st gear.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:18

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ny six speed I have driven has some weird lock out system, whether its the VW push down, or the pull up on the collar, or BMW's system which is just force.

But I think Nissan uses a collar

Ike > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:18

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when the 1st & R are like that there is normally a look out function

BJ > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:19

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On some cars you pull up on the ring at the top of the boot, on some you push the stick down, on others I've seen buttons to deactivate the lock. Ask the dealer/seller to be sure.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:21

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Depends on the car. For the Porsche 997, it's push to the left and up; on my FoST, it's pull up, to the left and up to put it in reverse. It all depends on the car. Most modern cars seem to have the pull up ring feature. Here's an '08 Sentra for example.

thebigbossyboss > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:22

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Let me know how it goes. When I went a test drove a 6 speed I kept missing gears (I have a 5 speed also).

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:22

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I think you should ask the dealer - different cars differ, some you have to pull the ring up, some you just have to push harder.

BJ > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:23

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Page 5-20 of the Owner's Manual says:

To back up, lift up on the shift lever ring (1) and then move it to the R (Reverse) position after stopping the vehicle completely.

Vimto > BJ 08/19/2014 at 22:24

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I should have looked there first. Thanks.

BJ > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:24

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You're welcome!

Jayhawk Jake > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:26

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Depends on the car. If it has a ring you lift it up. Some cars you push in on the stick, others you just shove it over (the Corvettes I've driven is just a shove)

Jayhawk Jake > thebigbossyboss 08/19/2014 at 22:27

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In what way?

I've only owned the one car, and it's a 6 speed. When I drive 5 speeds I just get confused as to why it won't go into 6th.

I'd be freaking out in a 4 speed. That said, the two corvettes I've driven I've treated like a 4 speed, my brain doesn't understand how a car could have more gears when it's doing 50 in 3rd at 2000 rpm.

thebigbossyboss > Jayhawk Jake 08/19/2014 at 22:32

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I think I was struggling because all my gears are on gear position over compared to a shift pattern like this one. My 1 is where R is, my 4 is where 2 is and so forth. So I kept mispositioning the shifter. One memorable moment was meaning to shift from 5 to 4 and putting it in 2.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:38

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Most of them have some sort of mechanism to prevent you from doing this. To put my Jetta in reverse I have to push down on the shifter and move it over to reach reverse. As BJ posted you have to lift up on yours. Its a manufacturer decision and theoretically the sales person should tell you which it is anyway.

samssun > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 22:44

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Even without the lockout, it's hard to mistake Reverse as it's way over there. Just naturally going for 1st will put you in 1st, and you have to intentionally push further out to hit Reverse.

Vimto > samssun 08/19/2014 at 22:55

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That's good to know. I appreciate your insight

It's a "Porch-uh" > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 23:21

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Very annoyingly, my E39 M5 does not have a reverse lockout. I've accidentally put it in reverse a few times now. Luckily, it's never resulted in me backing into anything, but very embarrassing.

thebigbossyboss > It's a "Porch-uh" 08/19/2014 at 23:35

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My car's reverse lockout was broken when bought the car. However, since it is a 5 speed I can't very well miss the gear.

thebigbossyboss > samssun 08/19/2014 at 23:36

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However, when you are down shifting into 4, you will hit 2. #5 speed driver cannot into 6 speeds.

JGrabowMSt > Vimto 08/19/2014 at 23:42

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I hate these "pull up" or "push down" for reverse things. First car I drove, you had to push the shifter down and mash it over somewhere sort of near first gear to get reverse, but you had to do it a couple times before it would actually stay in gear. Probably didn't help that the shift bushings were totally shot.

Mini managed to get reverse next to first, why can't other people work that out? Granted, in the mini, you have to basically mash the shifter into the drivers seat cushion and shove it up into the nether regions somewhere next to first gear....

Or just be a man like GM with the Corvette and add another gear so reverse can be in a "normal" location.

Have car, will drive (now has a motorcycle too) > Vimto 08/20/2014 at 01:04

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Most 6-speeds seem to have a ring pull like that, though I have seen ones where you push the whole gear lever down to get into reverse instead. Either way, they are usually well designed to make it hard to accidentally put it into reverse

willconltd > Vimto 08/20/2014 at 01:06

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I know a couple BMW guys who have jammed their 5 speeds into reverse by accident when going for 1st gear. It isn't good for the car. Something usually breaks.

willconltd > samssun 08/20/2014 at 01:08

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...or if you are doing an autocross and your shift bushings are really worn...

samssun > Vimto 08/20/2014 at 01:09

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I also drive 5 speed, and while I've driven other 6 speeds, the idea of having Reverse in the top left position seems like it would be awkward doing things like parallel parking when you're flipping back and forth from 1st. I'd rather have it at the bottom left, or even far bottom right past 6.

samssun > thebigbossyboss 08/20/2014 at 01:11

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Before I owned my current 5 speed, I remember driving a friend's and stalling several times in a row pulling the last few feet into a slightly inclined spot. I somehow put it in 3rd and didn't notice, even after restarting the car (which also means I left it in gear to restart, vs. the neutral shake I do without thinking now).

samssun > willconltd 08/20/2014 at 05:57

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First change I made to my car was to swap out the shifter and replace the crumbling nylon bushings with brass ones. Bushings in the freezer, shifter in the oven, then a few hammer swings with wood protecting them. Tightened things up considerably, and now the shifter will outlast the car.

sellphones2493 > Vimto 08/20/2014 at 08:55

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Mine is a 6-Speed and the reverse is next to 6th Gear. It can sometimes be scary when driving as I think I put it in reverse.

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a505/se…

SheriffTruman > JGrabowMSt 08/20/2014 at 14:08

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I drive a MINI with 6MT and it is pretty hard to accidentally get into Reverse. It isn't quite as bad s you describe in my car (I do have a short shift kit so that could be why) but there is definitely a goodly powerful spring in there.