Nissan Maxima

monte4

Ok Bowke28 but horsepower goes to Max by 10hp.

ccermak

Lots of talk lately on this board about the target demographics of the 6th gen Max. Am I that far off to say that this iteration of the Max is inadvertantly targeting an older almost boomer demographic? I've talked with several older fellas (in the casinos while playing blackjack and poker) that have recently purchased an 04 Maxima SL with 4sp auto. One dumped his Caddy for the Max, of which he said is 10x the car the Caddy ever was. My theory on this is the sheer size and roominess of the new Max. It's like a sporty Avalon big cruiserish type car now with tons of motor thrown in. It just doesn't cater to the sporty side as much, too big, too heavy now. Now it's a lux/powercruiser. G35 is sports/lux for same or close to same $. Is the new Max another Japanese Buick, just sportier? I don't really think so, just throwing it out there after hearing multiple oldtimers talk about their new SL's.

stickguy

Did you check to see if they put the 4 lug nuts that came off in a bag loose in the trunk? You would be surprised how much one weighs, so you may be hearing them bounce around.

lichtronimo

I'm 32 and a Maxima is my likely purchase next year to replace my '97 Accord.

I was going to buy an '04 Accord EX-L 5-speed until I got a rental '04 Maxima while having an accident to my car repaired. My experience with the Maxima changed my mind. I found it to be much sportier than the Accord, as well as more comfortable, more substantial feeling and better looking. Its funny, but I found an old post I wrote back in March after going to an Auto show saying how I liked the Max, but thought the Accord was the better value and worth "settling" for. Beyond the Maxima and Accord, the Camry is too boring, G35 too small and the TL too expensive.

So, I'll take mine as an SE with 6spd. manual and only a sunroof, please.

bowke28

the thing people are missing is that the altima 3.5SE has pretty much taken the place of the last maxima, at least in a target market way. this left nissan free to make the maxima something a little different than before. not better or worse, just different.

aristotle

Very well put bowke28. I agree 100% with what you say there.

I have seen postings about the poor quality of material used in the interior of the Altima. The 3.5SE Altima definitely rides well. If only they can improve the Altima interior they may not even need the Maxima anymore. I am a great enthusiast of the Maxima mainly because of its engine but there is almost no difference between the V6 Altima and the Maxima these days.

In all the above comparisons I don't see Mazda6 V6 even being mentioned at all even though everyone claims it is a very spirited car. Is it because of its puny size?

bowke28

is VERY small inside.

kennyg5

Do you have the sales stats for the 04 Max since its introduction through Nov. 30th? How does it compare with the Altima and G35 during the same period? What about comparing with the 03 Max for the same period last year. Inquiring minds want to know? Thank you in advance.

kennyg5

Just got off another website for Maxima fans and was concerned about the complaints launched against the 6th Gen Max. Quite a few 04 Max owners complained about the car's excessive vibtations at speeds above 60 mph. One owner, who professed he was very lucky, was able to return the car to the dealer and suffered only a loss of $1,000. He elaborated that the dealer is a friend who used to play ball with him when they were teenagers and they also see each often in church. I wonder whether this could be one of the first year bugs which the 04 Max has to shed over the next few years.

aristotle

After the French auto maker Renault got control of Nissan corporation they sure have turned around Nissan's finances. Nobody can deny that Nissan is in a much better shape financially now than they were 4 years ago.

But did Renault have a say in the design of the 2004 Maxima? It is such a pity that a winning car like the Maxima has been reduced to this state in the 2004 model year. Cars being sold in America must be designed by people who understand the tastes and requirements of the people here.

kyleknicks

they should take the current altima, leave the front end the way it is, take the rear end of the current maxima, put it on the altima, somehow make it seem wider, put better quality materials in it, and rebadge it Maxima.

create and keep a maxima the way it was meant to be, an affordable sports sedan that's very good bang for the buck and keep the hertiage the way it's always been.. lets quit trying to be what we're not.. and we're (nissan) not in the same class as acura's, lexus, infinities, etc. it's like having someone who's been great at his job for the last 20 years, but now, having him do something he's completely incapable of doing.. would you run your business like that? i sure wouldnt

brymil

Can anyone provide instructions on how to adjust the parking brake on a 2002 Maxima? The dealer wants $45 to adjust it and that seems expensive unless of course, it is difficult to do. I can't imagine it is that hard.

Thanks!

kenm8

Ccermak in post 7613 may be on to something regarding a Japanese Buick. The 04 Max grille looks suspiciously similar to a 1958 Buick Roadmaster grille. If a future Max (05,06,..) has portholes on the side fenders, we will surely confirm Nissan/Renault's target audience for the Maxima.

bowke28

no. renault has no design or engineering say in the partnership, and they also dont have controlling interest. they only have 30%. basically, if nissan is a woman, then renault is simply a sugar daddy.

kennyg...

maxima sales are about equal from june to november 2003 as they were from june to november 2002. the problem is that the numbers arent seperated by model year.

ramped1

I beg to disagree about your statement concerning the interior space of the Mazda 6.

The MZ6 is not very small inside, but it is smaller than the current Maxima. I have test driven the MZ6 on one occasion and sat in the backseat of another at an auto show, and the space is roughly comparable to my '92 SE (MZ 6 has slightly smaller interior but much larger trunk). In my opinion, the MZ6 is the closest sedan out there that is comparable to my '92, which I consider the best generation of Maxima ever produced. I just wish the MZ6 had that sweet VQ engine.

bowke28

i sold honda before nissan. the interior (mainly backseat room) of the 6 is significantly smaller than the accord, altima, AND maxima.

kyleknicks

i always liked the 97-99 maxima's... to me the previous maxima were okay..just not as nice..

ramped1

I guess everyone believes the car they drive is better in comparison to others. I admit I haven't spent much time in 97-99 series Maximas except for brief test drives, but I believe that the quality of the interior materials in the 89-94 series is the best that Nissan ever put into a Maxima. I prefer the interior of my '92 SE to that of a 2003 Max that I test drove last year. The seats in my car show no sign of wear after 11 years of use with two small children.

Also, the styling of the 89-94 series, even today, is distinctive. And, those cars had independent suspensions that makes highway cruising a pleasure while retaining excellent handling characteristics. Mine has 118K and still rides like it was new. I will be sorry when the day comes, probably soon, that I have to give it up.

But, I would never take anything away from any series of Maxima. It has always been the best all-around family sedan in my opinion. In fact, I will probably try to get a used 02 or 03 for my next car.

aristotle

Is it safe to buy a used 2003 Maxima SE from Hertz Car Sales? The cars typically have about 25 to 30K miles on them. The prices are really good.

The only question that remains is this:

Could crazy ( prior ) rental drivers have screwed up the car so bad to affect its engine/transmission that the damage is not noticeable to the untrained eye?

kennyg5

I agree with you that the 3rd gen (89-94) Max is a solidly built car with a graceful exterior. I had a 92 GXE and I sold it last year with about 70k miles. The buyer, who I occasionally run into because he lives near me, thanks me for the car every time he sees me.

The 92 Max was (and still is) a very reliable car and it never gave me trouble. Of course, it does not have the powerful VQ engine, nor does it have the modern day goodies such as ABS, TCS, 6-disc CD, heated seats and steering wheel, HIDs etc. But it has the 4 wheel independent suspension and computer keyless entry system, plus the bullet-proof reliability to boot. It is a true 4DSD (4 door sports sedan) that is fun to drive.

The 4th and 5th gen Maxs are not bad (I have the 97 and 03 GLE), but they don't have the rear independent suspension and their reliability seemed to have slipped a bit. Also, the materials used are of lesser quality, since they seem to wear out sooner. But overall speaking, they are very good cars and are comparatively inexpensive to own and maintain.

I have not driven the 04 Max, but from what I've heard, they have quite a few "first year" bugs that need to be fixed. Hopefully, they will be as reliability as their predecessors. I also agree that they are becoming more like Japanese Buicks with a souped up engine. That is ok if you like big cars and enjoy a somewhat dispassionate ride.

habitat1

I bought a 1995 Maxima SE (4th gen) based primarily on the positive comments and experiences of a couple of friends who owned 3rd generation Maxima's. One, an attorney who could easily afford a fleet of Mercedes, kept his 1989 Maxima SE (5-speed) until last year. His only complaint had been a transmission problem requiring replacement under warranty when the car was relatively new. Interestingly, he admires my 1995 for it's improved performance (lack of IRS notwithstanding) and I admired his 1989 for how well it aged over 13 years.

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for my 1995 SE led a couuple of friends to buy 5th generation 2000-2003 Maximas. Their experience has still been generally favorable, but certainly not to the extent of mine. Brakes, rotors and automatic transmission issues have arisen.

At one point, my desire to upgrade led me to believe my 1995 Maxima would not make it to 2004 and I'd be driving a 530i by now. But the combination of BMW fixing what wasn't broken in the 5-series redesign, and me not wanting to do the same by selling the Maxima has me thinking that my 1995 will make it to its 10th anniversary or beyond.

lichtronimo

According to autosite.com 2003 YTD sales are as follows:

Altima = 154,860 (-1%)
Maxima = 69,856 (-14%)
G35 = 27,724 (+29%)

Maxima sales are down compared to 2002, but they've met their stated sales goals for the new more expensive 6th generation.

aristotle

I bought a 1999 Maxima GXE new in January 1999. Have had to change a few parts like the battery, pump, alternator and the ill-fitting rear middle seat belt - all under manufacturer's warranty and at different times. Minor irritations, but didn't cost me anything. After the manufacturer's warranty expired I got the ignition coils changed at 40K.

But the car looks new and runs extremely well now. I have not had any problems recently. I have about 50K miles on it. If this car can run another 50K miles may be I don't need to get another car now.

I have never owned any car for more than 4 years. This is the first. Will this car last 100K miles?

monte4

2000-2003 have a lot of changes for one Nissan Upgraded the brakes for 02 and they have larger rotors etc and arent as problematic as the 00/01's. The tranny issue was for 00 that Nissan had and with the 02/03 their hasnt been now where near the problems, the 95-99 isnt known for the best trannies out their lots of issues with them mainly the auto. Like I said many messages ago none of the gens can touch the 3rd gen in build quality an materials used, it was really the car that put the Maxima on the map. 2nd gen sort of started it but the 3rd really upped the anty, in 94 the cost cutting started an dit was apparent if you compared some 95 parts to 94 parts..

suydam

The person who called the Maxima a "Japanese Buick" obviously hasn't driven a Buick lately! I did as a rental this summer. It's a nice car inside but I had no sense of its relationship with the road -- to call it numb would be an understatement. That is not at all the case with my '01 Maxima.

And oddly, my younger son, who is 21, loves Buicks because of their interior size (he's 6'3") and me, the 52-year old, love the Max because of its handling. When we were car-shopping our comparison car wasn't the Accord or the Camry, but the Passat. Reliability concerns led me to the Maxima and I haven't been disappointed yet.

ramped1

Actually, the SE series Maximas in 1992 had the VQ engines with timing chains and made 190 hp. Your GXE had the smaller V6 with a timing belt which made, I believe, about 160 hp.

The downside of the third gen Maximas were bad window regulators, substandard paint jobs and brake issues. I'll be going on my third set of rotors soon, and actually I probably should have had them replaced some time ago. I'm trying to decide whether to put a couple of thousand more into my car or just let it go. The paint job is really shot.

Bowke ... the people on the Altima board are wondering when the redesigned 05 Altima is coming out. They are guessing next spring. You may want to lend a hand if you know anything.

ccermak

I was referring to the 6th gen max = 2004. It's quite large on the inside and that attracts old fogeys away from their Buicks/Caddy's. It has amenities like a Buick as well with many non sporting gadgets/doo hickeys. The older gen Maxis were more nimble, light, and sporty. The new one is a heavy power cruiser. The G35 is the Max of old. Just my .02 of course.

kenm8

Aristotle – 99 Max seems to be basically the same design as the 97. I have previously read that there were some improvements from 97 to 98 to 99 such as in crash protection. Don’t know if the Nissan bean counters forced engineers to redesign parts and components - that are not visible to the naked eye - in order to lower costs on the 98 and 99. We have been pleased with reliability on the 97 SE – perhaps your 99 will be as good, although you have had some issues covered under warranty.

Reliability of our 97 SE - Just turned 154K miles. It has been a very reliable and enjoyable car to drive. Acceleration is still brisk (always enjoy hearing the growl from the engine) and the transmission still shifts very smoothly and positively. Only troubles thus far: Cassette deck replaced at 67K under extended warranty, driver’s heated seat switch and heater blower motor were replaced at 77K under extended warranty; Oil pressure sending unit replaced at 122K. We generally follow owner’s manual guidance for regular maintenance items such as engine/transmission oil, air filter, plugs, etc. Brake pads: front were good to 141K, rears to 148K (miles driven mainly interstate and rural highway). Rotors were good (no warpage, pulsating) to these mile amounts but I replaced with new anyway rather than having them resurfaced. Put Beck-Arnley rebuilt calipers on front and back.

Two of our Hondas (86 and 84) were driven to 227K and 195K with very decent reliability. With the quality of engineering I have seen/experienced on the 97 Max, I am hopeful that it will also be good to the 200K range. Our driving patterns, mostly interstate and rural, no doubt play a part in achieving high mileage.

perna

Grand Rapids, Michigan.. bought my Max at Gezon Motors.

kennyg5

Thanks for your figures. Hm ... a minus 14% in sales of the Max when compared with 02 figures. That looks quite bad and sad for a flagship that used to be the leader and money maker for Nissan.

Of the approx. 70,000 Max sold, I suspect 70% or more were 03s, since I rarely see the 04s on the road. As you may recall, from Feb. to June, Nissan slashed the price of the 03 Max to move them out so that it could welcome in the 04. I heard dealers were selling them at $2k BELOW INVOICE. Those were incredible deals, and by June or July, it was difficult to find a new 03 Max in the dealers' lots.

The 04 Max debuted in or around May. Even when new, very few were sold at or above MSRP (unlike the TL). Six months later, I heard they are being sold at or around invoice. Clearly, something is amiss with the 04 Max because the car does not get much attention from family sedan shoppers.

First, the price is a bit high; second, what used to be standard equipment is now optional; third, the car grew in size and weight, which undercut its sportiness; fourth, the materials used are of lesser quality, which will affect durability; fifth, the Max is no longer a pure Japanese-bred, which gives the impression that quality may suffer (true or false). You may think of more.

IMHO, Nissan has committed a big blunder this time, and it must carefully rethink its market and design strategies for the "flagship" Max before it becomes a dinosaur. Survival of the fittest, that is the rule of the jungle and the marketplace.

p100

I have not seen any rebates on these vehicles yet. Nissan Maximas have had rebates of about $ 2k for years. There was a $2k rebate on my 98 Maxima and I bought it for $ 500 over invoice minus the 2k rebate. Nissan increased the prices on the 04 model so much that a $ 4K rebate and $ 500 over invoice would not look out of line to me at all.

kennyg5

Ramped, you are right, my GXE only came with 160 hp, but I did not have paint problem (I garage my cars most of the time) or any other problems (other than the water pump and timing belt which I spent $350 total replacing at year 8). Honestly, I love my 92 GXE and would not have sold it if my wife didn't urge me to get the 03 Max. Before the sale, I spent $80 on wash, wax and minor detailing, and the car sparkled and gleamed. My neighbor wanted me to sell the car to his college-bound son after he saw it, but he was too late because I had promised the buyer.
I sold the car in 2 days after I put an ad in the local pennysaver.

P100, if sales of the 04 Max remains stagnant, it is highly likely that you will see a $3k to 4k rebate in the future. Wait 6 months and you may get "lucky", if the 04 is your cup of tea. I will pass though, because I don't like first year cars, as they are usually full of bugs. I bought my fully-loaded 03 Max at $500 below invoice. If I had waited 6 months, I could have saved myself $1,500 more ;-( Well, I still like my 03 regardless ;-)

dklanecky

"IMHO, Nissan has committed a big blunder this time, and it must carefully rethink its market and design strategies for the "flagship" Max before it becomes a dinosaur. Survival of the fittest, that is the rule of the jungle and the marketplace."

Your analysis of the contemporary auto market is flawed because your trying to only look at Maxima vs. Maxima sales results. The auto market in 2004 and forward doesn't work that way any longer.

 Sales Units % to Total

Nov-03 5,875 6.3%
Oct-03 5,708 6.1%
Sep-03 6,895 7.4%
Aug-03 8,456 9.0%
Jul-03 7,356 7.8%
Jun-03 8,388 8.9%
May-03 9,262 9.9%
Apr-03 11,584 12.4%
Mar-03 8,370 8.9%
Feb-03 4,336 4.6%
Jan-03 5,209 5.6%
Dec-02 6,092 6.5%
Nov-02 6,212 6.6%
93,743

Sales Units % to Total

Nov-02 6,212 5.8%
Oct-02 5,087 4.7%
Sep-02 6,813 6.3%
Aug-02 9,195 8.5%
Jul-02 7,472 6.9%
Jun-02 7,657 7.1%
May-02 7,310 6.8%
Apr-02 7,904 7.3%
Mar-02 15,162 14.1%
Feb-02 10,356 9.6%
Jan-02 9,242 8.6%
Dec-01 8,656 8.0%
Nov-01 6,602 6.1%
107,668

Important Dates to consider:

03 Maxima announced 06/10/02

04 Maxima on sale 03/05/03

It's pretty clear that the 2003's drove sales as they were liquidated at well below invoice (from your own comments).

Since the MSRP (as well as the actual selling price overall on the Maxima has increased for 2004) I don't know how you can say this is a such a disaster for Nissan.

To me it looks like a pretty smart market segmentation strategy.

When you analyze all the Nissan/Infiniti product offerings and their sales, you'll find an economic success. Some former Maxima Owners (like me) now have a Murano because it fits my current needs better. Some moved to the G35 platform offering (including the FX), while others moved down to the Altima and quite a few stayed with the Maxima.

To simply compare one model years sales from one year to another, without taking into consideration the segmentation that Nissan clearly INTENDED is ignorant.

I'm sure your shooting from the hip with your comments rather than carefully analyzing ALL the facts.

If you'd like to try some some facts for a change, try NissanNews.com.

bowke28

good points. the thing that formar maxima "afficionados" have trouble understanding is the fact that nissan has 'reset' the maxima's position in the lineup. the altima 3.5SE is now in the position that the maxima was in before. thats by design. the new maxima isnt designed to be the "4-door sports car" that the MSRP sticker said last year. this year's model says "nissan's flagship".

im sorry to all maxima owners from before for their car being different from the current model. its really sad that some people cant accept that reality.

kennyg5

Dklanecky -- I was quite clear in my post (demise of the 04 Max?) that my comments are strictly directed at the Max, particularly the 04 Max, rather than the entire Nissan/Infiniti line up as a whole. If you read my post again carefully, you will note that was the only point I was making.

As an owner of 3 Maxes, 3rd, 4th and 5th gens, I think I know the Max quite well, and I believe my sentiments are shared by many pre-04 Max owners, i.e. we know what we want and the 04 Max does not seem to deliver. As Bowke concedes: "im sorry to all maxima owners from before for their car being different from the current model" Yes, the 04 Max is different and that is indisputable. The REAL bottom line for Nissan is - AS FAR AS THE MAX "FLAGSHIP" IS CONCERNED - will the former Max fans shop the 6th gen when it comes time for them to replace their Max. You can draw your own conclusion, but as I noted in my post, I believe the Max may become a dinosaur if Nissan does not take note of what former Max owners want. Even Bowke acknowledges that former Max owners are the best customers because they are repeat buyers. Yes, we are repeat buyers, but only if Nissan knows and delivers what we want.
 
It may very well be true that Nissan/Infiniti is making a very smart move for the entire line-up, as is evident from the fact that its profit has risen substantially over the past few years. However, as a Max owner, my views are more narrow (or myopic) because my focus is on the Max alone, and nothing more. Indeed, this thread is supposed to be dedicated to the Max, but we are free to diverge, of course, within reasonable limits. As noted, Max is the flagship car for Nissan for many years, and as a Max fan, I hate to see the flagship become a dinosur.

bowke28

along with my point about past maxima buyers/owners, i would also point out that the altima 3.5SE is a perfect replacement for the previous maxima. many previous maxima owners are very closed minded about trying an altima on for size. you all might be pleasantly surprised.

kennyg5

That may very well be true. However, I do not believe many Maxima owners want an Altima whose interior materials are inferior and whose name lacks panache. You may also be right that Maxima owners can be closed minded -- indeed, we don't want a dressed up Altima even if its interior materials are better.

I think Nissan is trying to squeeze more profit out of the Maxima. That's ok because a moderate amount of greed is not bad. However, if someone spends $35k on an 04 Max, don't tell him that he gets the same showroom and dealer service as someone who buys a $12k Sentra. That is why I said Nissan has failed to properly place the 04 Max in its market segment.

The price of my 03 Max was slightly over $30k MSRP. To get a comparably equipped 04 Max, it will be $34k MSRP. The only way Nissan can get someone to buy the 04 Max is to cut the price, possibly by $3k to $4k or even more. Such a significant price cut for a brand new redesigned car, however, may be embarrassing for Nissan. Well, I will let Nissan figure this out!!

bowke28

you said: "The price of my 03 Max was slightly over $30k MSRP. To get a comparably equipped 04 Max, it will be $34k MSRP."

no. the price of a loaded SL is $31400. the same SE is $32300. you are pricing the elite package with rear buckets and navi, which wasnt offered on your $30k 2003.

dont debate price points with me, my friend. ;-)

fact is, a loaded 2003 GLE is only about $800 less than a 2004 SL with the driver preferred package and sunroof.

cheerioboy26

I own a 2000 Maxima SE (my wife's) and a G35 for me. According to my wife, she either wants another Maxima (2005 by the time we buy it) or a Murano.

FWIW.

suydam

I wouldn't want an Altima because the interior is not nearly as nice as the Maxima. Speaking of which, I don't care as much for the looks of the 04 Max interior as I do my '01 GLE. I do like the look of the exterior. But then I'm not in the market and haven't driven one or even sat inside. When we were shopping, we wanted a very nice interior with rear seat room, in addition to power, handling and reliability. My comparison car was the Passat, which I loved but couldn't get at the time for under $30k. We thought the Max was every bit as nice as the Passat (ok, so the rear is "distinctive"!) for 4 grand less. I imagine that's a pretty typical first-time Maxima buyer experience. After that, my thought is, "I love this car; this is what I always want to drive!" Which I guess is the repeat-buyer experience. But I don't think either group would be happy with the Altima, which is why they are keeping the Max. -- Mary

kennyg5

I was comparing the MSRPs of the fully loaded 03 GLE and the fully loaded 04 SL. I paid $26.5k for my 03. Would I get a comparably equiped 04 SL for about the same price? If yes, then Nissan must be giving very SIZEABLE discounts for a newly redesigned car.

I am not knocking the 04 Max, trust me. I am a Max fan and the last thing I want to see is for the flagship to disappear from the lineup. I can also understand why the 04 Max is built on the Altima platform. It is cheaper to produce, particularly when they are both now built in the same U.S. plant. However, the Max may be construed, by some, as a dressed up Altima, like the I35 has been invariably been criticized as a dressed up Maxima. In the later case, however, the Infiniti nameplate gives you a longer warranty and better service, which to some, is worth the extra $$.

bowke28

also had a $2k rebate. the '03s had them from day 1. that makes your price $28.5k. the SL is $31400. if you bought at invoice, you are at $28.7k. the fully loaded '04 isnt comparable to a fully loaded '03. comparing apples to apples, the car isnt much more than before. they just offer more now on top of that.

kennyg5

Apology, I should not have said a fully loaded 04 SL, because that implies having the elite package, which includes rear bucket seats, Nav and a few niceties that are not on my 03 GLE.

I just got off a website which gives the MSRP and invoice for the 04 Max SL. The base MSRP is $29.5k (including destination), if you add on driver preferred package, sunroof, full mats, mud guards and TCS, the total MSRP comes to approx. $33.2k, which is $3k more than a comparably equipped 03 GLE if you compare MSRP, not actual sale price. There, I just did an apple to apple comparison.

My point is Nissan is heavily discounting the brand new redesigned 04 Max to entice buyers, which does not bode well for the Max (it is only good when you are a Max buyer now, if the new Max is your cup of tea) when you look at how Acura is selling its brand new redesigned TL, Max's perceived competitor.

kennyg5

The MSRP difference is $2,200 not $3k. Inadvertent computation error ... sorry.

bowke28

is actually $1400, since the GLE is equivalent to the SL, and not the SE. the SL with the same equipment is $31400, and adds quite a few extras over '03.

and nissan isnt discounting the maximas a penny. dealers are.

habitat1

Consider me among confused previous generation Maxima owners.

I don't have immediate plans to sell my 1995 Maxima, but if I did, it would be quite a dilemma. I actually like the exterior look of the 2004 Maxima (other than front grill). But the interior is dissapointing and it's build quality is slightly suspect. The performance side appears to be more advertising than actuality.

Forget the Altima. I stretched in 1995 to get the Maxima V6 when all they offered was the Altima 4-banger. I don't have to stretch anymore, so "downgrading" to an Altima and get an even less attractive interior is absurd.

Acura went in the right direction with the new TL, making the exterior dimensions somewhat smaller and sportier and offering a 6-speed and suspension improvements. It appears to have beat the Maxima at it's own game, and now probably qualiifies as the class leading "FWD 4-door sports car." Combined with an interior that is leaps and bounds above the Maxima, I believe the $3k +/- MSRP premium is well worth it.

And, if I really want sport, the 330i ZHP (performance package) can be had for around $38k using European Delivery.

I could be persuaded to re-consider the new Maxima if Nissan significantly upgraded the interior and fixed a few quirks. But I seriously doubt many previous generation Maxima owners want to hear that they now should consider the Altima. That suggests we can't afford to maintain our own status within the Nissan line-up. Fortunately, I can.

kelly523

I agree that suggesting that previous Maxima owners should now look to the V6 Altima is way off base. It seems to me the logical replacement is now the G35 - price is in the ballpark with TL/Maxima/325/etc., acceptable (if bland) interior, gobs of performance, longer warranty (particularly since it now covers the brake wear issue), improved dealer service, and (for what it's worth) more prestige with the Infiniti name. Doesn't hurt that the Infiniti's build quality (according to the most recent JD Power's survey) is tops.

p100

I agree that Infinity G35 appears to be the logical replacement for the Maxima. Altima is not in the same category as Maxima and addition of a 3.5 liter V6 to this car was a mistake in my opinion. A 3.5 SE Altima equipped with a sunroof, 5 speed, and few basic options will retail for about $ 25K which is not such a bargain, considering that a base Maxima SE 6 speed retails for about 28K. Infinity definitely offers much better warranty coverage and probably better customer service. And the price difference between the G35 and Maxima is very slight. And G35 is built in Japan so I have more confidence in the vehicle quality compared to US built Maxima. I have owned a number of US made and Japanese made Japanese vehicles. Without exception, US made vehicles had more initial problems than Japanese made cars. Every US made Japanese vehicle I owned had its wheels misaligned from the factory. A coincidence? I think not: lack of quality control is more like it.

ramped1

previous generation Maxima owners for many reasons, most already discussed here.

It's too expensive and too ponderous to be the 4-door sports car it used to be against the many excellent alternatives mentioned previously.

As far as maintaining a place in the Nissan "pecking order," I have no problem considering an Altima when my current Max is gone. Maxima, Altima, who cares? They both come out of the same (usually) lowbrow dealerships and have the same (usually) overbooked and overpriced service departments.

If I was concerned about maintaining "status" in cars, I wouldn't want to drop from, say, Lexus or BMW to an Altima. But Maxima to Altima? The same thing. That's why the new Maxima, to me, is irrelevant. If I want to spend the coin a new Maxima costs, I'll go for a TL or G-35. If I want to go easy on the pocketbook (this is a second car), I'll look at the Altima. I just wish they'd do something about that gawdawful Altima interior.

kyleknicks

I totally agree with every point that ramped1 made... if i was in the market right now, i would probably look towards the altima if i was looking for something around the 23 to 25k range.. but if i were spending the 29 to 33k range, then it would be the TL.. and not the max..