Dodge Nitro Forum banner
Cancel

Would You Buy a 6-Speed Stick R/T If Offered?

Jump to Latest Follow

If Your R/T Were Offered in a 6-speed Stick, Would You Have Opted for Stick?

  • Yes - I love to shift for myself

    Votes: 22 56.4%

  • No - I want a manual shift, but others in my family don't want it

    Votes: 5 12.8%

  • No - I prefer automatic transmissions

    Votes: 10 25.6%

  • No - because I don't know how to drive a stick

    Votes: 2 5.1%
  • Total voters
    39
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
K

· Registered
Joined
·
2,606 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Dodge likes to make decisions based on mass consumption. Somehow they figured that few people would want a 6-speed in the R/T Nitro, yet they offer one in the Caliber SRT.

If Dodge offered a 6-Speed when you were purchasing your R/T, would you have purchased it?

Ken
 
BearlyNitro

· Nitro Addict!
Joined
·
541 Posts
#2 ·
H*LL Yes!!! (warning L O N G post)

I liked my wife's Nitro so much I wanted one of my own. I had purchased her a black SLT earlier this year, but I was less than impressed with it's get up and go, specially from a stand still. I told her that it really needed a manual transmission for it to perform well with the amount of horsepower it had and the weight it was pulling around. Her previous car was a 1998 Honda CRV w/4wheel drive. It was a toy compared to the Nitro and she often commented on how she felt so much safer in the Nitro and how it felt like it was so much bigger than her CRV and almost felt the same to her as my Toyota Sequoia Limited 4x4. To me it felt like a sports car compared to my Sequoia.

We went on a short trip to Solvang one weekend and I made a point of finding a Dodge dealer that had a SXT Nitro with the 6 speed transmission and 4wheel drive so I could test drive it and see for myself if my assumption was correct about the Nitro's performance, and I was right. It felt like a different truck completely to me with the manual transmission and I really enjoyed the extra performance it provided.

When we got back from that trip, I had my dealer order me a Sunburst Orange SXT w/6speed manual transmission with the MyGig radio, but the MyGig radio and it was on hold everywhere, and he was also having a hard time finding or getting the computer to accept an order for the SXT with a manual transmission, so I waited, and waited, and waited. Then about 8 weeks later while visiting the dealer and asking if any progress had been made with getting my Nitro, I saw a Sunburst Orange R/T on his lot, so I asked if I could test drive it to see what the 4.0L engine felt like. It was quite a surprise to me that the 0.3 liters and higher compression ratio could make such a big difference in performance. I also liked the all black leather interior with the Red stitching and the 20" wheels with the wider tires. He tried to sell me that Nitro on the spot, but I told him that I could not because it was only 2 wheel drive. He got on his computer and found the exact same Nitro R/T with the 4 wheel drive at another dealership near by and said he could have it there the next morning. I said "GO GET IT"! And I have been very happy ever since (over 14,000 trouble free miles later).

As I type this I am in Redondo Beach, CA where the traffic in the surrounding cities and in Los Angeles is absolutely horrendous and it is not a nice place to own a manual transmission. Driving long distances on the freeways around here with a manual transmission is like rowing a boat with one arm, you have to change gears so often. So in this location, my R/T with the 5speed automatic is KING. However, I live in a resort town in the mountains 100 miles East of here where there are no freeways and bumper to bumper traffic jams at 5:00pm and where a manual transmission makes much more sense, specially with the snow each Winter and the availability of many dirt roads and trails. So, I voted "Yes" for the R/T, or SRT Nitro with an available, or optional manual transmission.

Love my R/T Nitro with the Automatic Transmission, but for where I live, I would love an R/T, or SRT Nitro 4x4 with a Manual Transmission even more. :Racing:
 
v8demon

· Registered
Joined
·
149 Posts
#6 ·
The auto is helpful for my family hauler/grocery graber/trip vehicle. I enjoy driving a stick, but with the triptronic feature I can gain some satisfaction of banging my own gears. My hot rods are both auto. Consistency is a concern for me and my wife sometimes needs to drive them and the Nitro is used by her about 1/2 the time.
 
Save Share
Reply Quote
N

· Registered
Joined
·
53 Posts
#8 ·
I test drove the automatic before buying the one I have with a 6 speed, The difference is night and day IMHO. the stick is way more responsive and off the line is great. 4wd with how low first gear is is almost like having a low range for the 4wd.
 
K

· Registered
Joined
·
2,606 Posts
Discussion Starter · #17 ·
The autostick may be fun, but it is not the real thing. There is still a torque converter between you and the tires.

Until you drive a real stick, you will not understand the level of control it gives you as well as the fun factor and feel of the drivetrain.

It is not just the shifting itself, it is also the ability to manage torque at low speed via the clutch.

I also like the sensation of feeling the motor through the shift lever. In a vehicle like the Nitro with a direct linkage to the tranny, the shift lever is conneted to the engine tranny comination. I is the same as putting your hand on the engine as it is revving.

In my Vette, I can actually feel when the plugs are loading up and the engine needs to be blown out to run smoothly again just by the feel on the shifter. (you don't get this feel on a FWD stick car as it shifts via a cable.

Ken

If ever you get a chance to learn to to drive a stick--- take it. Someday you may need to drive home a buddy that has had too much to drink.

I had my daughter driving a 5 speed by the time she was 15.
 
C

· Registered
Joined
·
424 Posts
#18 ·
KenCary said:
The autostick may be fun, but it is not the real thing. There is still a torque converter between you and the tires.

Until you drive a real stick, you will not understand the level of control it gives you as well as the fun factor and feel of the drivetrain.

It is not just the shifting itself, it is also the ability to manage torque at low speed via the clutch.

I also like the sensation of feeling the motor through the shift lever. In a vehicle like the Nitro with a direct linkage to the tranny, the shift lever is conneted to the engine tranny comination. I is the same as putting your hand on the engine as it is revving.

In my Vette, I can actually feel when the plugs are loading up and the engine needs to be blown out to run smoothly again just by the feel on the shifter. (you don't get this feel on a FWD stick car as it shifts via a cable.

Ken

If ever you get a chance to learn to to drive a stick--- take it. Someday you may need to drive home a buddy that has had too much to drink.

I had my daughter driving a 5 speed by the time she was 15.
Click to expand...
Good point about the autostick. In my mom's Maxima, it is not even CLOSE to the real thing. The maxmia has a CVT transmission, meaning it doesnt even have gears. So the "shift points" are all simulated:i_rolleyes:. I do know how to ride a dirt bick with clutch, so I am assuming that a car is pretty similar.
 
dk1677

· Join!Resistance is futile
Joined
·
15,667 Posts
#19 ·
not to get off topic but What year is your vette? I know you must have posted on it at some point but you know how its is getting old ;) I have a friend that bought an 86 late last fall I didn't get a chance to drive it yet ,this spring for sure!
 
K

· Registered
Joined
·
2,606 Posts
Discussion Starter · #20 ·
DK,

As long as we are off topic:

I have a 68 t-top with a 427 with the factory 3X2 BBL carb setup. The block numbers match but it is bored .030 over with a Crower 510 lift hydraulic flat tappet cam and 10.5:1 Domed TRW forged pistons. Trasmission is a Muncie close ratio 4-speed with a Hayes clutch and 3.70 Posi rear end.

The body is a little rough but not bad.

I've owned it since 1977, but as of late Ihave had not had the time to keep her in tune. That's why I am turning to Dan Goodwin, the guy who does our Nitro duals.

Ken
 
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
About this Discussion
26 Replies
17 Participants
Last post:
JerseyNitro
Dodge Nitro Forum
A forum community dedicated to Dodge Nitro owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, suspension, reviews, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Newbie Check in! Dodge Nitro General Discussion Dodge Nitro Mechanical Problems and Questions Dodge Nitro Electrical Problems and Questions Dodge Nitro Interior Modifications
Top