ok, let me fire off the question (so that if you don't want to read through the rest, you can still give me some feed back about my Q).

Question:
i can't really remember this from my test drive of s2k almost a year ago. but when you tried to shift from 4 -> 5, will you ever hit a *dead spot*?

let me explain the *dead spot*: this *dead spot* happened to me when i test drove the se-r spec v w/ 6-speed. when i tried to shift from 4 -> 5, i *pushed* the shifter to the far right hand side of the H shape, then tried to *push* up ... right there, i will hit the *dead spot* where it won't go up and you can't go into 5th. you have to *carefully* place the shifter into 5th when going from 4 -> 5. this is what happened when i test drove the se-r spec v. please tell me s2k won't do this ...


se-r spec v transmission impression:
when i was test driving the se-r spec v, the 6 speed feels kind of weird. i never really know for sure what gear i was in (except for 1st and reverse ). the travel and engagement (you will know that you are in any 1 of the 6 gears) was ok. but it's like the shifter doesn't really *know* how to get into the next gear

e.g. when i am driving a 5 speed manual, shifting 1 -> 2, i simply pull the shifter down and it will go from 1 -> 2. but on the spec v, when i do try to *pull down* from 1 -> 2, it will become 1 -> 4 . it happened to me twice. and i have to *actively put* the gear from 1 -> 2. and you have to go through the 6 gears in that exact fashion.

what bugged me most is that there is a *dead spot* right at the top right corner of the H shape of the transmission. you read this above already.

besides the transmission, i won't mind own a se-r spec v. of course, i will be a happier man if:
1) the price is as close to invoice as possible (the sticker price at the dealer got $2k mark up!)
(side note: in the other dealer, i was offered a regular se-r, NOT spec v, for $400 over invoice. but it was the only one there and it also serves as a test drive car, and it lacks a lot of option that i want, so i didn't take it)
2) an independent rear suspension (not that i feel any difference on the short test drive, but i thought it would be nice if it has it)
3) all the back seat can be folded down (true for regular se-r, spec v only folds down 60% of it)
4) foldable side mirror! (heard horror story of banging the side mirror into post or garage side wall! didn't happen to me but it won't be a pretty picture if the mirror is not foldable.)

i also test drove the regular se-r. i also don't like the 5-speed. the travel was too long. you know better about which gear you are in, but still, there are better ones.

just let you know, i drive a 5 speed toyota (corolla gts) for 5 years and almost never had a mis-shift. oh well, maybe once of twice, when my mind is somewhere else (i know, this is not safe )

only if nissan can do a better tranmission ...

 

I have never noticed a "dead spot" in my S2K's transmission.

This shifter (especially with my Voodoo knob) is telepathic .

I don't even have to think and I end up in the right gear.

 

My wife and I have both driven SER Spec V's. We had no problems with the shifter on either of the cars we drove. Maybe the problem was with the car you drove.

We found the cars to be very nice overall and handled well. If you can buy one within $500 to $1000 over dealer invoice it would be a performance bargin.

 

its a nissan, you would be making a mistake if you buy it over sticker. just wait a lil while, and do some shopping, you should be able to find what you are looking for without having to be gouged for it. some dealers still dont get it, but some do. i just bought my 2002 yellow s2k for msrp. so be patient.
as for your question regardig the trans. well, i think everyone here will agree that the s2000's tranny is one of the most accurate and precise units available today. maybe nissan doesnt know how to make 6 speeds, this is their first no?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by docofmind
[B]maybe nissan doesnt know how to make 6 speeds,

 

It sounds like you had a bad gearbox in that S2000 you drove. I've never had that problem and the S2000 gearbox is acknowledged even by the cars detractors, to be just about the best anywhere!

 

I've driven the s2000 a few times and the only thing I noticed is that the action is almost too good. The throw is so short that if you aren't paying attention and forget what gear it is in you can't really tell by looking at the knob. I don't know if you can really call that a disadvantage, more of a side effect of an awesome gearbox. Most people spend money on short shift kits to try to get a throw like the s2000 gearbox, and end up with a longer throw and a really stiff action. If you're worried about the gearbox, let it slide. The s2000 is the best in the business.