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Nissan Maxima

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Comments

  • maxamillion1maxamillion1 Member Posts: 1,467
    good luck
  • bcokbcok Member Posts: 2
    I am a first time car buyer. I contacted a dealer who gave me a price of $28,000 for the 2005 Maxima SL with the options listed below:

    Driver preferred Package, Traction control system, Vehicle dynamic control, power glass sunroof, colored splash guards, DVD navigation system

    Is this a good price or should I work him down some? Any helpful response would be greatly appreciated. Thanx
  • rzrsedgerzrsedge Member Posts: 1
    Hey everyone,

    I just picked up a 2000 Maxima GXE, and I'm trying to make the decision on whether or not to install a new stereo. I love the curves of the dash, and I'd hate to ruin it with a bulky neon stereo system and a cheap install kit. I'm wondering:
    A) Does the non-BOSE system have amp pre-outs I can connect an amplifier to?
    B) If not, does anyone have any good recommendations for a deck or install kit that fits well into the nicely shaped dash?
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Nope no preouts.

    I found a cheap install kit from Circuit City. Course Crutchfield has one too. Which is better? Not sure but both are cheap and look ok to me. I have a '00 Maxima also.
  • al57al57 Member Posts: 67
    Bought car new just turned 30,000 miles,recently am hearing a sound like the electric fuel pump engaging will driving or some sort of electric sensor..have always heard the pump on ignition and when shutting car down but this electric noise is much more audible (sounds like wiper washer motor) and kicks on intermittenly..car runs fine//any thoughts???
  • walter7walter7 Member Posts: 2
    I am currently looking at the Nissan Maxima, and noticed that they currently are offering the $1500 cash back through September 6. I really would like to wait until around the first part of the holiday season, but don't know if there are any good deals around that time of year. Does anyone know if Nissan offers many deals around the Thanksgiving time frame. Thanks.
  • los2fastlos2fast Member Posts: 9
    The Maxima comes std with solar reducing glass, does this effect the performance of my radar detector?

    Thx,
    Carlos.
  • ctl1ctl1 Member Posts: 18
    I am approaching 30K mi on my 04 Max. I've maintained the car following the owner's manual for level 1 since most of my driving is city stop&go driving. Essentially, this is an oil change every 3750 mi, tire rotation every 7500 mi, air filter every 15K mi. I've notice the premium level recommends a lot more than level 1 such as flushing the radiator every 2 yrs/30K mi, changing transmission fluid at 4 yrs/60K mi. The level 1 doesn't recommend flushing the radiator until 4yrs/60K mi, and only has "inspect" the transmission fluid at the various intervals. Any thoughts on which recommendation to follow would be appreciated.
  • markmj000markmj000 Member Posts: 2
    For the 2005 Maxima, the manual describes the funcion of the steering wheel mode button as follows:

    MODE select switch
    Push the mode select switch to change the mode
    in the following sequence: Preset A, Preset B,
    Preset C, TAPE, CD and SAT (if so equipped).

    Mine doesn't go to SAT (I have Sirius). Is this a misprint?

    Thanks,
    Mark
  • bill1000bill1000 Member Posts: 38
    Sounds like your someone forgot to initiate the SAT radio. My mode select switch works fine with SAT, so I doubt it's the mode switch.
  • wolfgang1wolfgang1 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 6 cy 3.0 92 Nissan maxima. i no longer have the manual but was wondering if I could tow a 1300 small trailer.
    I saw 1989 manual which said 1000 pounds max but maybe a few years made a difference. Any ideas?
  • kennyg8kennyg8 Member Posts: 225
    any slower than this may lead to host deletion of this long venerated discussion :cry: .
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    We don't delete discussions for inactivity, but they will eventually move themselves into the archives if no one posts in a while.

    Why don't you give us something Maxima-related to talk about? ;)
  • kennyg8kennyg8 Member Posts: 225
    It appears (at least to me) that Nissan has lost the game in the design of the 6 gen Maxima. As many of us may recall, Nissan designed the 6 gen Max to distant it from the Accord and Camry and move closer to the TL, Avalon, ES 330 and A4. As we all witnessed, these cars have outpaced the Max, and the Max remains only competitive with the Accord and Camry in terms of technology and class standing. Altima was supposed to do that, and now the Max seems no better than the Altima. Unless Nissan reinvents itself, its flagship Max may die a painful death :sick: Speaking from someone who has owned the 3rd, 4th and 5th gens Max, this is very unsettling :mad:
  • kyleknickskyleknicks Member Posts: 433
    being a person that owns a 5th gen maxima... i would never even consider a 6th gen maxima... maybe its the size, maybe its the looks.. i cant pinpoint it, but all i know is, if i were to look for a car to replace my maxima.. and was looking for something that's in the same size as my maxima, as well as price, i would look at the mazda6 with the sport package..
  • kennyg8kennyg8 Member Posts: 225
    Kyle, for about $2k more, you can get a fully loaded TL, which is just a bit smaller than the Max, but much better in terms of build quality and performance, not to mention gadgets galore! The Mazada6 is not a bad choice, but I keep hearing reliability issues with that car. If you prefer more luxury, the ES 330 will fill the bill, but not for a whole lot more than the Max.

    I dislike the 6th gen Max mainly because of the torque steer, the interior fit and trim, and the overall quality, which seems to be on the decline when compared with previous gens of Max.
  • deminindeminin Member Posts: 214
    We will probably be trading our current car in the next couple of months. Both the Maxima and the Altima are on our "short list". I would like to solicit some opinions on what would be the respective advantage/disadvantage of these two models, especially since the pricing is so close. On paper, a Maxima seems to be only a couple thousand more than an Altima....it would seem that the Maxima would be the better value. Opinions anyone?
  • kyleknickskyleknicks Member Posts: 433
    i too would love to know what consitute the $2k diff btw the maxima and the altima.. esp when the altima actually looks better ..

    now, the new Lexus IS is one good looking sports sedan...
  • suydamsuydam Member Posts: 4,676
    I have an '01 Max and also a Mazda6 wagon. I like the wagon; it's fun and practical, but nowhere in the same league as my Max. If I were looking for a replacement the TL seems the closest match. We're just hoping this Max lasts forever! The new Maximas don't do much for me either, and I also can't say exactly why. I like the interior of my current Maxima much better, that's for sure.
    '14 Buick Encore Convenience
    '17 Chevy Volt Premiere
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    Back in late 1994, I went through the Altima vs. Maxima deliberation. A stripped Maxima SE 5-speed (only option was ABS at $1,000) was about $3,000 more than a well equiped Altima GXE. However, my decision to get the Maxima back then was a smart one, in that the Maxima is still in our household (albeit "retired" to our second home) at 11 years and 155k miles. A friend who went the Altima route at the same time dumped his 6 years ago at a price that is less than our Maxima is still worth today.

    However, times and things have changed. The 1995 Maxima (4th gen) was made in Japan and had the 3.0 liter V6. The 1995 Altima was made in the US and had the 4 cylinder engine. Back then, the build quality on my Maxima was on par or above Honda, Toyota and even Acura. Today, I am sorry to report, that's not the case. In an effort to compete on price, the Maxima has gone downscale in terms of build quality, IMO. We purchased a 2004 TL 6-speed last year and, in spite of my exceptionally good experience with a 1995 Maxima SE, didn't give the 2004/5 Maxima a second look. It seems to have become a big Altima or, worse, a Avalon competitor, and the interior looks like it was designed by committee. Back in 1995, the Maxima was the closest thing you could get to a BMW from Japan. Today, it has a lot more gadgets than in my old 1995 model, but is not as ergonomically or aesthetically attractive, IMO. Nor does the current model invoke the owner "passion" that the 4th and prior generations did. It seems to have morphed into mediocrity.

    Bottom line, I'm not sure whether the Maxima vs. Altima is as clear cut of a decision today as it was for me in 1994.
  • kyleknickskyleknicks Member Posts: 433
    which mazda6 wagon do u have? i or s? and do you have a loaded 6? or somewhere in between?

    i would think a loaded 6s with all the options would be on par with a 2001 maxima se loaded in many aspects
  • deminindeminin Member Posts: 214
    Thanks for the tips. This is the kind of info I like to have before I walk into a dealership and start going thru the "gee-whiz" new car stuff. I want a responsive, comfortable car that I can drive for 700 miles in a day, and not feel like I need to take a week off to recuperate. Stuff like these onboard navigation systems, and satellite radio are of no importance to me.
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    Well, if you want to be able to drive 700 miles in a day, even the TL may not be the right car for you. The seats are better than the Maxima, but 2 rungs down from Volvo, Mercedes or BMW.

    Unfortunately, all of those good seats come in cars that cost a lot more than the Maxima, but if your budget permits it, you might want to try out the new 3 series. For whatever reason, Acura, Honda (except in the S2000), Infiniti, Nissan, Lexus and Toyota have not figured out the ergonomics of good supportive seat design.
  • suydamsuydam Member Posts: 4,676
    I have the s; I don't think you can get the wagon in the 4 cyl. It has some features but not as many as on my Maxima (which is the GLE): leather seats, heaters, but not the power seat controls. Don't get me wrong; I like the Mazda fine, but it's definitely not in the class with the Max. The Maxima has
    -- better gas mileage
    -- more power and a smoother engine and transmission
    -- wider and more comfortable seats
    -- is wider generally inside; leg room about the same
    -- nicer, more ergonomically friendly interior
    -- quieter
    -- definitely more comfortable on long trips
    But the Mazda cost about $5000 less than the Maxima did new, so is a great second car, plus has the cargo room of the wagon. A great dog car also -- I would not allow my dogs in the Maxima!
    '14 Buick Encore Convenience
    '17 Chevy Volt Premiere
  • deminindeminin Member Posts: 214
    I agree that some of the high end European cars have the best seats. I have often considered going to the BMW 5 series, but dealer proximity is also a factor for us. The closest BMW dealer is over 100 miles away. We live way out in the country in Central Missouri, and outside of Detroit iron, the only dealers within 50 miles are Nissan, Toyota and Honda. The people I know who own BMW's have gotten to know their dealers service managers on a first name basis. We drive out to Las Vegas...1475 miles...about 3 times a year, and always make it in two days. Years ago, I could do that in a Ford Escort, but I'm at the age where a bit more comfort behind the wheel is becoming more important. However, the way gas prices are headed, we may just start making our gambling trips to KC, or St. Louis or Tunica, Miss.
  • kennyg8kennyg8 Member Posts: 225
    I can never get into a comfortable position with my 97 Max GLE no matter how I try. However, the ones on the 03 GLE are quite comfortable. Once I drove from New York to Williamburg, Virginia (a 350 mile trip, stopped once) and felt fine. I never owned a European car, but have driven an 02 Passat for several days. I did not find the VW seats much better than my 03 Max seats. Perhaps, the higher end European cars should have better seats, given the price they charge. Since the Swiss are supposed to be quite ergonomically minded, I wonder if the Volvo seats are better.
  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    Nor does the current model invoke the owner "passion" that the 4th and prior generations did.

    Agreed. Also agree with other recent posts about fit/finish, interior, sportiness, handling, etc. about current generation of Max vs 95-99 (gen 4?).

    Have a 97 SE with 171K miles and excellent reliability - it has essentially been bullitt proof. We have always had all service done at either of 2 Nissan dealers so I always wander around the showroom and look at latest offerings from Nissan. In my wanderings and observations, my opinion is that my 97 SE has better quality, fit and finish (including paint) and interior design than the current generation.

    In the autumn of 2000, wife and I test drove an 01 SE from two different dealerships. In the autumn of 2003, we test drove the 04 SE. In all test drives, we got to drive the car ourselves without a salesperson and drove the car on suburban roads as well as the rural twisties that we had very good familiarity. Since each of us had put on many thousands of miles on our 97 SE, we had a very substantial basis for comparison.

    The main thing I recall about the 01 model was that it did not handle as nimbly as our 97 and that it did not shift smoothly. On the 04 SE, the torque steer was noticable, the turning circle was too big and most of all, the car felt "ponderous".

    In both cases, autumn of 00 and 03, we took a pass on buying another Maxima and bought another brand both times. Of course, still have 97 SE.

    I too am wondering what will be the future of Maxima. Recall that Nissan had commercials on TV (early 90's?) where they tried to emphasize the sportiness of the car. Definitely could not do that today with a Max. Really don't know what Nissan is trying to accomplish with this generation.
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    Congratulations on your 171k bullet proof miles on your 97 SE.

    I think you hit the nail on the head with the term "ponderous" to describe where Nissan has taken the Maxima.

    Almost all cars have gotten bigger over the last 10-15 years. A Civic today is substantially larger than an Accord of the late 80's and early 90's. The latest 3 series by BMW offers nearly the same interior size as the pevious generation 5 series. And, to be fair, when I bought our 1995 Maxima, the decision was partly based upon the fact that it could comfortably carry 4-5 passengers.

    But somehow, as the 4th generation Maxima evolved from a 3,010 lb "4 door sports car" to the current 3,450 lb version, it lost a lot of the sportiness, both in nibleness and in looks. Other manufacturers, like BMW and Acura, have done their "upsizing" with more finesse. My 2004 TL 6-speed weighs 3,400+ lbs, but feels much more nimble and sporty than the "ponderous" Maxima. The 3 series of today weighs 600 lbs more than the 1990 version, but is still the classs leader in handling and performance.

    I will continue to defend my 1995 Maxima SE as the best balance of size, sportiness, and damn good build quality (as both of our cars attest). Whether or not Nissan can recapture some of that is questionable. The fact that a good portion of the market now cross shops the Maxima with the Buick (I mean Toyota) Avalon, is not a good sign. That would have been virtually unthinkable back when I bought my 1995 SE 5-speed.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    "The fact that a good portion of the market now cross shops the Maxima with the Buick (I mean Toyota) Avalon, is not a good sign."

    Guess you haven't seen the specs on the 2006 Avalon....nor the reviews....

    0-60 in 6.5....15 sec 1/4 mile.....280 HP......

    http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/toyota/avalon/100577983/photos.html
  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    Recall that introduction of 95 Max SE got glowing reviews by the car magazines. I believe that it was introduced in Summer of 94. Think that Motor Trend named it Car of Year. All liked the power, smoothness and easy revving of the engine and appreciated the car's handling in spite of not having an irs. Magazine testers preferred irs of previous gen of Maxima, but said that setup on 95 worked fine. Some of the testers said that Max should have offered 16 inch wheels on the 95. Max did upgrade to 16 in 96.
  • kennyg8kennyg8 Member Posts: 225
    I saw the review and it indeed had high praises for the 95 Max. The engine was sweet, smooth and powerful (when compared with similarly priced and even higher priced cars) but I did not like the "broom stick" suspension (even though I ended up buying one because of great experience with the 92 Max). I prefer the irs in my 92 Max and I felt it was more solid and higher quality in terms of fit and finish. Times have certainly changed ... the new Max made in the U.S. is not like the ones made in Japan.
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    "Guess you haven't seen the specs on the 2006 Avalon....nor the reviews....

    0-60 in 6.5....15 sec 1/4 mile.....280 HP...... "


    Yeah I've seen the reviews. Interesting, In 2005 it takes Toyota a "reported" 280 hp to get virtually the same acceleration figures as my 190 hp Max SE 5-speed achieved over a decade ago. I guess if you put enough horsepower behind a river barge and you can get a 15 second quarter mile out of it.

    "Avalon" and "sporty" are mutually exclusive terms. It's only transmission choice is a slushbox automatic. Its suspension is tuned to take you over railraod tracks without spilling your coffee. And the seats are designed to hold butts that are twice as wide as mine. Or at least twice as wide as my wife's. It may be a nice alternative to a big Buick or Crown Victoria, but the Avalon wouldn't make my mother in law's definition of sporty, let alone mine.

    It appears that the Infiniti G35 sedan has taken over the role once reserved by Nissan for the Maxima, while the Maxima and Altima have morphed together into less distincitve cars. But, whether it was the Cresida of old, the Camry throughout, or the Avalon today, I don't think anybody with a sporting bone in their body would get too excited by these offerings from Toyota. So, again I say, if that is what the 2005 Maxima is competing with and being cross shopped against, it is a sad sign.

    P.S. Look at the kennyg8's post subsequent to yours. The debate among 3rd & 4th generation Maxima owners was whether the IRS was better than the newer Multi-link solid beam axle. That's the kind of debate that driving enthusiasts have. And regardless of which side of that debate you were on, you knew that back in 1989 through 1999, nothing from Toyota or Honda even came close.
  • rampedramped Member Posts: 358
    I made exactly the choice you stated when I traded my '92 Maxima SE last year. Since it's essentially a second car and I needed to stay within a budget, I got the Mazda 6s with the sport package/side airbags.

    Suydam pretty much summed up the difference between the earlier generation Maximas and the Mazda 6. The Mazda is a great car to drive (It'll outhandle the Maximas all day), but it's power train is nowhere near as powerful and efficient as the Maxima's VQ 6. I am growing a little weary at the lack of low-end torque in the Mazda 3.0 litre V6. There's a lot of shifting at low speeds with the 5-speed automatic transmission. But, overall the Mazda is a very good car, and I have had no reliablity issues with it at all.

    Like many of you, I never considered the new generation Maxima. What a shame what Nissan has done to the car.
  • silverfox1silverfox1 Member Posts: 91
    Have a current 97 Maxima GLE and want to replace it with a new Maxima SL. Have the possibility of finding an 05 SL (new) for $1720 less than an 06 SL. May have a better chance to get the color I want with the 06. What are differences or why is it better to get the newer car (06)?
  • kyleknickskyleknicks Member Posts: 433
    for one... depreciation
  • silverfox1silverfox1 Member Posts: 91
    I tend to keep cars for at least 7 years, longer if the mileage is low. My 97 only has 78,000 miles on it. Really don't need a car but getting up in age and want a change. Will try to sell it to some one in the family since the car is immculate.
  • strapsstraps Member Posts: 2
    I am intrested buying a used Maxima 01' SE. Can you please tell me about your experiences with the car good and bad, and if you suggest buying?
  • kyleknickskyleknicks Member Posts: 433
    straps... my opinion is that you should look into a 02 maxima.. the 02 and 03 max's are the sweetest model years u could get... combine the attractive body style with the 255hp engine... plus the HID's...

    not that the 01's aren't nice.. i have an 2000 and at 55k miles, its still running like new.. the 00 and 01's are basically the same car... with minor differences such as dimming rear mirrors, and stereo controls on the steering wheel...
    the main issue i have on my car is experiencing brake caliper seizures.. once in a while.. the original rotors on the max is pretty crappy too.. i've installed brembo oem rotors on all 4 corners and there's no more steering wheel shaking when i'm trying to brake...
  • newcarmannewcarman Member Posts: 55
    Good Day people.

    I have a question regarding the Maxima.

    Im really interested in buying a new 2006 Maxima, but do you think its a good choice?? Should or could i feel confident with this car??

    Ive been reading about some problems for some people. As per say rotor problems, needing tire rotations, paint wears, check engine lite.

    Would i be better off with a Lexus ir an Acura TL??

    Also, i was reading that the 2005 right now trade in value would be only about 19,000. Thats about a 14,000 depreciation in not even 1 year.

    What do you think??
  • kyleknickskyleknicks Member Posts: 433
    isnt there a few thousand dollar diff btw the maxima and the lexus/acura?? if you could afford the extra 3G to 5G's, i would def go towards the lexus/arura... u get a better product and you get better service..... when i bought my maxima... i was kinda stretching my budget from 23k ... and bought my car at 25k.. there was no way for me to look at the ES300 or the TL3.2 cause it was out of my budget....

    if you could swing it.. go for it... and it depends alot on what is it worth to have that luxury badge on your car or not.... good luck
  • abdulngabdulng Member Posts: 1
    My nissan maxima QX had a problem after buying fuel and it was taken to a garage and diagnose and later discovered that it was valve and two of it were changed and after that problem of starting came up sometime it will start and after it might not. what is the solution.
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    "Would i be better off with a Lexus ir an Acura TL??"

    That depends upon what you want and, as kyleknicks noted, your budget. I went with a 2004 Acura TL 6-speed after having a great 150k mile experience with a 1995 Maxima SE 5-speed. I could comfortably afford the price difference in 2004, and found the TL 6-speed to be both more refined and better performing / sportier feeling. Being that I am a bit of a driving enthusiast, the Lexus ES had no appeal to me whatsoever, but for those favoring an dull-to-drive but nice looking, ultra reliable Japanese Buick, it is the king.

    As for resale value, I can still get $27,000+/- for my TL 6-speed w/ Nav that I paid $33.3k for in May 2004, after 20,000 miles. That's pretty good. But the prior TL's have taken quite a hit. I think Maxima depreciation has gone up recently, because the car is floundering and looking for it's place in the Nissan/Infiniti line-up and even among consumers. The 4th generation I had was produced for 5 years (1995-1999) with nominal changes. Prior to that, the third generation spanned 6 years, I believe (1989-1994). Since 1999, it seems that Nissan can't go more than 2-3 years without going back to the drawing board. Suggests they really don't know what they are doing.
  • letgigletgig Member Posts: 4
    Stay away from 2003 maximas or their HID headlights, had my 2003 maxima for literally 3 1/2 months, had HID headlight stolen within the first week, cost 1100, then 4 weeks later, airbags were stolen, cost 3700.00 it is a beautiful ride, but unless you can keep your eye on it every minute, trust me, i live in a good quiet area with surveillance cameras and it happend found out it's too hot a car....recently traded it for a pontiac G6 granted not the same, but not hot for parts....so unless you have a private garage and won't take it to many public lots or areas....get the 2005 or 2006 minus HID headlights.

    Good luck
  • chewy2chewy2 Member Posts: 19
    Re the sweet 2002 and 2003 Maximas: Do you know anything about front wheel shimmy at highway speeds? My boss had a 2003 and loved it, but traded it in when the dealer could not fix the shimmying. I'm interested in 2002 - 2003 because of the 6-speed manual.
  • sgrd0qsgrd0q Member Posts: 398
    I have a 2001 Maxima approaching 105K miles. According to the manual the spark plugs must be replaced at 105K miles. I have no problems with the car. Should I change the plugs? Thanks!
  • kennyg8kennyg8 Member Posts: 225
    Some metro areas of NY, NJ and CT had experienced thefts of Maxima HIDs, but that was a year or two ago. Since Nissan put the datadot system and installed a security bracket on the 5.5 gen Max, HID thefts have subsided significantly. If you don't live or drive in the tri-state area, HID theft is not really an issue unless someone holds a vendetta against you :cry:
  • maxamillion1maxamillion1 Member Posts: 1,467
    The best Maximas EVER IMO.
  • habitat1habitat1 Member Posts: 4,282
    I am sure you would get a few challenges from 4th generation (1995-1999) on that opinion.

    Out of curiosity, what has been your experience with brakes/rotors on the 02/03. I got 90k miles out of my front pads, 110k out of my rears, and at 155k miles have never had the original rotors touched. A freind who bought a 2000 Maxima had major brake problems within 25,000 miles requiring the rotors to be replaced and they were still problematic. She traded the car at 40,000 miles. Did they fix that problem for the 02/03.
  • suydamsuydam Member Posts: 4,676
    I have an '01 GLE with 55000 miles, still original brakes and rotors. So I'm not sure it's a general problem, but maybe particular to a few cars. A fantastic car.
    '14 Buick Encore Convenience
    '17 Chevy Volt Premiere
  • aggiedogaggiedog Member Posts: 238
    02 SE, on original brakes and tires @ 52K. Tires are getting close to the end but the brakes are in great shape.
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