Nissan have a service for this, they detune it so the trans variates later and also the TC locks at a bit higher rpm. It smooths out power and also noise, its easy on the dog bone mounts too but you sacrifice about 1 or 2 mpg.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

I think the Fit is a good suggestion as well.

If you can swing the extra cost, it's definitely worthy of a hard look.

We have a fit now that she does not like.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

She ain't having a fit about it is she Tom?

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Jim

no.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

We're buying the Mazda. So we have a very clean 2012 Fit for sale with Michelin tires instead of the rocklike dunlops it came with and katzkin leather seat covers. Red with grey interior.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tom,
Are paddle shifters on the steering wheel important to her?

If so, consider a Veloster. That is what my son got to replace the Versa. Its a 3 door. He really likes it, and it gets great mileage, and it will hold 2 tubas and a passenger. But since he has recently become a fan of F1 racing, I think the paddle shifter may be more important to him than other things.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Isn't the Veloster available with a real gearbox?
The "F1 paddles" on the Veloster are to a real F1 gearbox as Barry Manilow is to Mozart.

Well, of course. The cost of a Veloster would pay for a rear view mirror on an Fi racer. neither would the cost of an S class cover that rear view mirror. Or probably a lug wrench.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

I didn't see that you'd mentioned a Mazda. Which one did you decide on?

Mazda 5. Its a small minivan. It has a nice quality feel to it all around, leather seats 6 of them! dark red with ivory seats with red piping. It has all the bells and whistles except nav. Its a 2012 and we got 3000 or so off the purchase price for a new vehicle. If it has paddle shifters we did not notice yet.

Thanks for all the comments. (we needed five doors). the rear sliding doors have windows that roll all the way down.

I see why its so much better in the wind than the fit.....longer wheelbase, and about 1000# more weight! It gets 21 28 mpg vs 27 34 for the Fit so its no econobox.

It does steer drive and brake nicely and it has great turn in.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.