We originally were looking for a new 5speed for this. Unfortunately, they go for like $800. Engines are easy to find, transmissions are not, as most people who bought maximas in the US got them with automatics. This car had hard starting issues before the transmission died (we think related to a bad crank position sensor damaged during the clutch install) that we were sorting out. Basically, the car just needed too much to be a daily driver, so my friend bought a nice one with half the mileage that starts right up every time, and is making payments. Its an automatic, but its way nicer.
The manual transmission shit itself because it had the wrong fluid type put in (and because the car had 204k on it). Most of the suspension parts are new, and the brakes were done before it snowed.