As with you, some idiot backed into me in a parking lot and while the damage was minimal, it buckled the bumper cover. I think I want to replace the bumper cover because the black paint is chipping off.
How much was the cover and the labor to replace it. Your post indicated that the body shop could'nt repaint the bumper. My question is can you order prepainted black bumper cover from Nissan? Thanks.
I was wondering if anyone had experienced this in their Maxima to date? I have a 2000 GEL and from day one when the engine is turned on..... the air registers -187f with AUTO/CON on. The circulation and defrost buttons light up. This happens happens every time the car is started, and remains this way for up to 3 in., at which point it goes into a normal Auto Air. (it also did this in the winter prior to the heat coming on). Any info? Suggestions? Thanks!
The total bill for a new bumper cover was ~ $550. That included all labor, paint, env. fees, etc. Since paint was listed on the receipt, I'm assuming the bumper cover showed up naked (black rubber). The guy at the body shop said he couldn't repaint the old bumper b/c the paint was chipping too much, so he bought a new one to paint it from scratch. I had another rear bumper cover replaced on my wife's 96 J30 at a Nissan dealer and it was the same deal so I can only assume all the Nissan bumper covers show up without paint. If you can order a painted bumper cover from Nissan, I don't know how. I would prefer that over having the body shop paint it. Sometimes the body shop can leave lines in the bumper cover if they don't sand it down correctly (happened on the J30, so they had to repaint it). If your bumper cover is buckled, you'll probably have to have a new cover anyway. I don't think they'll be able to return it to it's original shape. I don't have the receipt in front of me right now, but I can post the exact $$ of the rear cover later if you like.
So far (only 6 payments), I have no complaints about NMAC. Got the best interest rate around (3.9).
The only possible drawback is that the bill arrives about 10 days prior to the due date, and it takes NMAC at least 7 - 10 days to post the payment AFTER they receive it. I never got hit with a late payment but it could happen if you delay making the payment. I alleviated that problem by making payments via online banking.
Thanks, I really appreciate your quick response to my inquiry.
I am requesting an adjuster come by to give me an estimate. As long I know that it's around $500-$600, I don't need an exact amount, as it would be slightly different here in NY anyway.
The only thing that makes me hesistate is that I know that this is probally not the last time this will happen. I don't know why but these freakin' people park by feel, they don't stop until they hit something! Unbelievelable!
Funny thing was that I am so conscious about this, I parked away from everyone, into a corner of a half filled parking lot. This Idiot came all back all the way until he hit me! All as I watched in horror.
I am so sick of these people...guess what...absolutely no damage to his POS! This Kills Me!
I know how you feel. I bought a new 2001 Mazda Protege back in February of 2001. I came out one morning, with the car parked right in front of my house 3 weeks after bringing it home, and found a huge scratch up the side of the bumper. I was so mad! And right in front of my house too. Cost me the $250 deductible (uninsured motorist), and also had to do without my car for a week. I am still mad over that!
I feel your pain. I park way out in the parking lots as well to avoid someone hitting my door. It's happened once before to my wife's J30 so now I have a complex about it. If you have to park close to someone, I try to find the nicest car and park next to it. My theory is someone with a nice MB S500 wouldn't want their car scratched or dented at all so they'll be extra careful when opening/closing their doors. It's worked so far . I've had 2 people "roll" into me here in Atlanta because idiots here drive bumper to bumper so if they let off the brake for a second, they're in your back seat. Good luck with your bumper work.
lol my dad has the same method on avoiding scratches and dents in parking lots. he also tries to avoid 2 door cars because their doors swing wider. of course we didnt figure that SUVs would dent our maxima (dumb mistake)...their higher stance would mean that the SUVs door (not the molding) would hit up higher than the molding on our car could protect. well now we feel the pain, we have a VERY noticeable dent on the front passenger side door on our icelandic pearl paint courtesy of a ford expedition.
I currently own a 2001 3.2TL, but when I saw the new numbers on the 2002 Maxima, it has my interest peaked. If the prices for the cars stay around the same, what do you guys think are the chances of getting an 2002 SE for a lease price of under $360 for 3-3 1/2 years and 12,000-15,000 miles per? Thanks all for the input. PS. How have you current Maxima owners felt about the build quality, my TL is perfect. Thanks again.
I have a 96 Maxima SE with about 84K miles. Tonight for the first time I noticed the "check engine" light, or "malfunction warning light" or whatever it's called, lit up. The owners manual didn't give much help - just said something about a possible emissions problem, and the gas cap not being closed properly. The gas cap is fine. Anybody have any thoughts as to what's making the light come on, or anything I should know about before I take her in? The car has been running fine otherwise.
our max has had 2 build quality issues. the first is a subwoofer rattle that was addressed under a TSB and fixed free of charge. the second is a misaligned rear bumper, its not that obvious, but its not aligned perfectly. other than that our max has been perfect.
are you considering the TL-S? since both are going to have 260 hp and can be had with 6 speed manuals they should both be considered. the main difference is the price...youd get much better "bang for the buck" with the max. good luck
Actually, I'm surprised that your light hasn't come on b4 now. It's probably the o2 sensor. Mine, and a couple of other Max owners I know, "expired" around the 50K mile mark. You have two options - you can take it in & let the dealer replace the o2 sensor ($150), or you can ignore it. I've been told that, if you ignore it, your performance will diminish. I chose to have it fixed.
Haven driven both the Maxima and the 3.2TL I can honestly say I like the Max better. The power boost will only make things better. My buddy's TL has been perfect also, but he and I agree it looks too much like a fancy Accord. I think he is getting bored with it. Lucky for him his lease is up in 2 months.
Check out Edmunds.com's First Drive of the 2002 Maxima by following the link in the Additional Resources box on the left sidebar of this page. Let us know what you think.
I appreciated the review and pictures of the new car in terms of appearance and mechanical changes.
However, I would have appreciated a bit more info on the actual performance with the new 3.5 liter engine upgrade. I have previously posted that I find the 2000/2001 models LESS responsive than my old 1995 SE, in spite of a "rated" 32 hoursepower increase (190 to 222). Is the 260 horsepower of the new Maxima "real"?? If it is, the car should be able to keep up with a 540i 6-speed which, although it has 282 horsepower (8% more), is over 500 lbs heavier (16%+ heavier).
Guess I'll have to wait to drive it myself. Also, what's up with the SE 6-speed not being available until late October/November (i.e. three + months after automatic GXE/GLE's arrive)?
I doubt that these clowns even drove the car themselves! The so-called "first drive" report is no more informative than the overview provided by nissannews.com.
I appreciate the info. I think I am going to definitely lean toward the max only because of the "bang for the buck", and the fact that I am happy with my 2001 3.2 TL, and I don't really like the idea of having two of the same car. Thanks again for the help. I will update you if and when I purchase.
I'm not a mechanical engineer. Therefore, instead of reading critiques of which suspension system is supposed to be better, I did the unthinkable thing before I bought my previous Maxima of extensively test driving various cars to see which handled the best. Granted, it's no BMW, but the Maxima SE beat the heck out of the almost every other other front wheel drive car I tested, many with supposedly superior "independent" rear suspensions. I have only driven a friend's TL in a "respectful" manor, but from what I can tell, it handles like an Accord (which is to say, not as good as a Maxima).
The Maxima suspension may not be the most cutting edge technology, but according to my buttocks, it works. Same can be said of the BMW M5, which happens to use recirculating ball steering. Know of any superior technology rack and pinion sedans you would like to put up against it???
well, I think that with cars in Maxima's price range and above will pretty much perform similarly under normal driving conditions. However, when it comes to driving at the cars' limits or when trying to swerve out of harms way, the car's dynamics will benefit slightly from having an independent suspension at all four corners. Sure the Maxima handles great, but have you tried cornering hard on rough surfaces and tried the same thing with the TL? Chances are, there will be a slight difference between the two cars because the Maxima will not be able to keep its rear tires on the road with as much contact as the TL. The Maxima is still an awesome car and I hope that people will see that (at least in most cases) when you pay a little more for the TL, you will get what you pay for.
As far as the M5 goes.... let's put it this way... who can match BMW in creating the best damn drivers' cars on the face of the earth? No matter WHAT they use, they'll find a way to make it better than the competition.
This weeks Autoweek had the 2002 Maxima on the cover and a 6 page article. from the pix i saw it doesnt look like the max has those "altezzas". its more like a grey taillamp surround with chrome bezels around the lamps. here are some quotes from the article..
"On the road the engine is superb. It's a leap over the competition, comparable to the Volkswagen VR6 engine when that was new. In both cases you think you're drivng a turbocharged engine without the turbo lag. The power is not only broad, coming on seemingly from just above idle and then staying on all the way across the tach to redline, but its's oh so smooth."
"The automatic shifts more quickly than we would have expected for a midsize, mass-market sedan and the gated shifter did indeed make for easy no look sawing of the lever."
"The manual was sporty was well, wiht hte 6 speeds allowing plenty of access to power. But the engine was so broad in its power delivery it felt almost as if the 5 speed would have done the trick. The cable linkage felt a little numb compared to the more direct acting rod linkages of old." (2000-2001 maximas had rod linkage, new one has cable)
they then go on to complain about hte lack of suspension travel, but the rest is praise.
It really depends on the market – the same car may be quite different from country to county. For instance my '97 M3 was rated as 240HP, while the European version was rated at 321HP. They skipped some upgrades to the engine, and offered the car with a five speed gear box (instead of six) to keep the cost down. As it turned out US demand was good, and the new M3 is now virtually identical to the European version, save for a few HP drop due to different emission controls.
In this country M5 is consistently clocked at 4.8 secs 0-60, and the best I’ve read about the WRX is 5.8 secs 0-60. So in USA there is no comparison between the two as far as 0-60 times go. I don’t know what is the M5 in South Africa, but it is conceivable that they released a tuned down version there – last time I was in South Africa the average car was at least 3 times more expensive than here.
Another point about the WRX – the engine is turbo charged, and you can practically get any power out of a high pressure turbo (of course with the obvious sacrifice in long term reliability.) In the U.K. they have an even more powerful turbo charged Subaru. Also, I’ve seen kids take a 1.8L Integra, and turbo-charging it to get phenomenal HP. The beauty of the M5 is that it has a very linear normally aspired engine.
And one more point about the WRX – as far as sports/sporty cars go this is probably the worst handling car in ANY country. I hear 8 year old Integra GS-R’s and the Celica GT-S’s run circles around it in auto crosses.
By the way how is your Pontiac GTP doing? Approaching the end of your lease yet? If you do - you should consider the new '02 Maxima with 260 HP. The current Max is great but the new one should be awesome!
The South African WRX was STi which is much more powerful than American WRX. Also I had the impression that WRX with its AWD was one of the best handlers. Basically those South African drivers were going to prove that their car could handle better than a more expensive M5 as well.
My GTP... lease ended back in December. I miss it a lot. But my '99 300M keeps me quite entertained. Not the strongest performer off the line, but it is VERY potent at high speeds. Also it loves curves and can even do a four-wheel drift nicely. My 300M has the performance handling group package.
The lease is ending in November, that explains why I am lurking in other cars' forums, in case if something does not work out with getting another 300M.
The new Maxima and Altima both sound quite interesting.
I just spoke to my friend in Virginia who had some trouble with his brakes croaking on his 2001 SE. I had the same problem at 18k miles and at 36K miles. The dealer cut my rotors and replaced my pads, but I was not satisfied. He told me the service manager there came back from a regional meeting and said the brake problems on 2000 Maximas are well documented and that the rotors should have been replaced under warranty. He said they also use a different type of pad. I think my dealer is ripping me off. By cutting the rotors and swapping the pads they probably figure it was good enough to get me through the warranty and then when it came back again, I'd pay out of pocket and they can make a few bills on me. I'm calling Nissan tomorrow and demanding replacement rotors and pads. 222Hp sport sedan should not eat up brakes so fast and so badly. apparently there are a bunch of defective rotors out there.
I also brought it in a while back because I thought the car's tranny slipped real bad from 1st to 2nd when I got on it hard. The jerk-off mechanic said that it was normal. That the tranny shifts electronically. I asked him if it was adjustable, and he sid that it wasn't. But now I find out there is a sevice bulletin from Nissan for the problem. They recommend replacing one part and if that does not work then another. I can't believe the BS you have to put up with at these dealers. I guess they didn't want to go through the trouble of looking up and fixing this documented problem. Now with almost 40k miles on my car, how do I know that if all that slipping it has been doing didn't just knock of 100k miles off the life of my tranny? Dealers SUCK!!!!!! I'm going to complain to Nissan about this too.
BEWARE of dealers with crumby service departments, managers and mechanics!!!!
In addition to tony1034, I have noticed a fair number of complaints about the 2000/2001 model Maxima's.
I have a 95 SE 5-speed with 110,000 miles and have had virtually no problems. Front brakes lasted 90,000 miles. Clutch is showing no signs of wear. I'm just now in need of a second set of replacement tires. Basically, car drives as good as new, averages 24+ mpg overall (up to 30 highway) and, as I've posted before, feels quicker than the 2000/2001 model.
I am considering a 2002 Maxima SE to replace my 1995. Part of the reason I would consider the Maxima rather than jump up to a BMW 5-series has been my high satisfaction with its reliability and very low routine maintenance and service costs over the past seven years. Given the 2002 is basically an upgraded 2000/2001, am I likely to be dissapointed based upon the 2000/2001 complaints?? Can anyone claim my level of satisfaction with their 2000 model??
As big of a fan I have been of Nissan, I don't want to assume I wasn't just damn lucky with my particular car/model.
Why get a 2002 maxima? I'd wait for the 2003 model. The 2002 model is improved simply to bridge the gap between the 2002 altima and the 2003 maxima. If you can, I'd wait for the 2003's and if you don't like them, then you should be able to get a leftover 2002 at a great deal.
I too think that the max is a good car, however the shoddy paint job on the new maximas are well documented. I definately wouldn't buy another one until Nissan stops using substandard paint that chips so easily.
I seem to recall from several discussions in this forum last fall that the lug nuts were screwed on with too much torque at the factory. This could cause the rotors to warp prematurely.
From what I've heard about the 2003 Maxima, it will be larger (presumably heavier) and targeted more at the Toyota Avalon. Absolutely not the direction I want to go.
Nonetheless, I may very well take your suggestion regarding waiting until more facts are out on the 2003 - and all the other competitive cars that are coming out in the next 8-12 months. The Maxima has remained on my shopping list as the "prudent value" alternative; however, BMW and Mercedes are introducing new and/or upgraded versions of their 5- and E- series as well. It seems like everyone is racing to introduce "new and improved" models more frequently these days.
Fortunately, my 1995 Maxima is chugging along just fine so my sense of urgency is not high.
Thanks for your input.
P.S. Has Nissan done anything to acknowledge/correct the paint chipping problems being reported relative to 2000/2001 models??
the current maxima's main competitors (according to Nissan) are the avalon and acura TL anyway. i doubt the next maxima is gonna be a Japanese buick like the avalon. itll grow bigger but nissan is keeping with their performance image im guessing.
rite now my dads pearl white maxima has no paint problem (one small ship on the front bumper that could be from me dropping the hose nozzle on it). it seems to be affecting the darker colors more (black, grey lustre). from what ive heard nissan isnt doing a good job at all of addressing the paint problem. there is a website up (www.nissanpaint.com). you might wanna check there.
there have been quite a few people reporting warped rotors, i think we might have them too. theres a TSB out on it and Nissan will fix the problem for free. the brakes are under a 3/36,000 warranty or something...
96 SE, about 84K. Took it in to see about the check engine light that came on last week. The shop said it was a speedometer sensor, replaced for $168. On the way home, the car is squeaking like Minnie Mouse. Almost like a brake squeak, only rhythmic and occuring without applying the brake. Sounds like it's a transmission or axle thing.
I understand the speedometer sensor produces a sine waves by which the speed is measured. Is it possible I just got a defective sensor? Could the bad sensor from before been masking something more serious? Any ideas before I take it back in in the morning?
Some one posted awhile back asking if the ECM upgrade was working for the 2001 SE 5-speed manual.
Well the dealer just got done doing mine today, and there is definitely an improvement. I did some test driving in the parking lot in first gear and the jerkiness is much less noticable. It is still there some what, but I have much better throttle control and I am able to feather the throttle a lot better at the lower speeds.
Hope this helps. Sorry it took so long for the reply, just took a while to get it scheduled in at the dealer.
On July 2nd my 2kGLE was two years old!! I have 39850 miles on it and my sunlit sand paint looks as good as the day I bought it. Other then having the TCM replaced the only other problem was warped front brake rotors that were replaced under waranty. My stock Toyo tires are just about ready to be retired. The Toyo's have performed flawlessly in both wet and dry conditions. I will tell you that I don't baby this car and I am very happy with its build quality. I have 3 kids who have torcher tested my leather seats with everything from pen marks to chocolite stains. The leather also looks as good as the day I bought the car thanks to Lexol cleaner and polish!
Anyone having trouble keeping this car under 80 on the highway!! I am 38 years old but as my 18 year old son says "This car is sweet" and yes I have been crazy enough to let him drive it!
I am looking for a new car (used though as I am still a student) and I saw a 98 Maxima GLE on a lot listed for 16995. It has 42000 miles on it and a leather interior with sun roof. (I wasn't able to test drive it or talk to anyone because I was making the rounds at 5 am looking for the no hassle approach to car sales). I also saw an Acura Integra GSR for 14995 with similar accoutrements. 2000 dollars cheaper then the Maxima, what do you all think. Also are there any known issues about the maxima that I should be aware of. Thanks
I previously posted how satisfied I am with the reliability of my 95 Maxima SE (same model generation as the 98 GLE).
My prior car had been an Acura Integra. I know Acura seems to have a pretty good reputation, but my car literally bgan to fall apart after about 75,000 miles. Everything that could go wrong, did - two or three times in some cases. Clutch/transmission, shocks, A/C compressor, brake rotors, exhaust system (twice), etc. When I finally had enough at about 105,000 miles, I ended up donating it to Salvation Army. My Maxima at 110,000 miles feels like new.
Note that I had a first generation Integra, but nonetheless my personal experience suggests that the Maxima is a more solidly constructed car designed to go a lot more miles than the Integra.
No comment upon your prices, since I am not in the used car market. Good luck.
Your doing the right thing by waiting. I hate to see people rush out to get the '02 when the '03 is right around the corner. I hear that the '03 will be bigger too...however it might not be heavier.
Compare the 2001 altima to the 2002 altima. The 2002 with the 2.5L 4 banger is a few pounds lighter than the 2001 with the 2.4L, yet the 2002 altima is larger than the current max (go figure!). I think the EPA size class has more to do with interior volume than exterior dimensions. However if your 95 is still cool then run that into the ground!
Nissan is doing absolutely nothing about the paint problems. I recently bought one of those ugly bras to slow the tide. I have a black max and I know of many others who have chipping problems. Funny thing is Nissan touted their paint as being good in the 2000 brochure by noting that they shot diamonds at the finish to test the strength of the paint...this blurb was omitted in the 2001 brochure. I'll have to point that out to my attorney. Never again.
i have a 2k max and i thought that i should be changing the air filter every 10k miles... is this correct? someone said that it's 30k which i think is wayyyy too long to change that out
Well I did it. I went and bought the 98 GLE. It was just such a sweet ride and the Bose system wasn't needed to cover up the almost non-existant engine noise. Now that the wheels are mine I need to be pointed in the direction of what additions should made on the Maxima to improve handling, looks, and value. I hate waiting for detailing, I want it NOW.
I continually read the problems listed on the 2000 max..own a gray lustre se purchased 7/00 and have no paint chips,no transmission slippage,no warped rotors or strange noises from behind the rear seat..am i that lucky???believe car built 4/00 has about 5200 miles NO PROBLEMS.. please respond
Jeez - you only have 5200 miles after a year? No wonder you have had no problems! I have 7000 on my 2001 SE, purchased in January. So far so good though :~)
Comments
How much was the cover and the labor to replace it. Your post indicated that the body shop could'nt repaint the bumper. My question is can you order prepainted black bumper cover from Nissan? Thanks.
Any info? Suggestions? Thanks!
www.nytimes.com/2001/07/04/business/04LOAN.html?todaysheadlines
The only possible drawback is that the bill arrives about 10 days prior to the due date, and it takes NMAC at least 7 - 10 days to post the payment AFTER they receive it. I never got hit with a late payment but it could happen if you delay making the payment. I alleviated that problem by making payments via online banking.
Thanks, I really appreciate your quick response to my inquiry.
I am requesting an adjuster come by to give me an estimate. As long I know that it's around $500-$600, I don't need an exact amount, as it would be slightly different here in NY anyway.
The only thing that makes me hesistate is that I know that this is probally not the last time this will happen. I don't know why but these freakin' people park by feel, they don't stop until they hit something! Unbelievelable!
Funny thing was that I am so conscious about this, I parked away from everyone, into a corner of a half filled parking lot. This Idiot came all back all the way until he hit me! All as I watched in horror.
I am so sick of these people...guess what...absolutely no damage to his POS! This Kills Me!
PS. How have you current Maxima owners felt about the build quality, my TL is perfect. Thanks again.
Many thanks...
are you considering the TL-S? since both are going to have 260 hp and can be had with 6 speed manuals they should both be considered. the main difference is the price...youd get much better "bang for the buck" with the max. good luck
http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/ecu.html
Nissanautoparts.com and Courtesy Nissan both sell discounted O2 sensors (average around $65). Save yourself $100 and replace it yourself.
Pat
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Sedans Message Board
However, I would have appreciated a bit more info on the actual performance with the new 3.5 liter engine upgrade. I have previously posted that I find the 2000/2001 models LESS responsive than my old 1995 SE, in spite of a "rated" 32 hoursepower increase (190 to 222). Is the 260 horsepower of the new Maxima "real"?? If it is, the car should be able to keep up with a 540i 6-speed which, although it has 282 horsepower (8% more), is over 500 lbs heavier (16%+ heavier).
Guess I'll have to wait to drive it myself. Also, what's up with the SE 6-speed not being available until late October/November (i.e. three + months after automatic GXE/GLE's arrive)?
I'm not a mechanical engineer. Therefore, instead of reading critiques of which suspension system is supposed to be better, I did the unthinkable thing before I bought my previous Maxima of extensively test driving various cars to see which handled the best. Granted, it's no BMW, but the Maxima SE beat the heck out of the almost every other other front wheel drive car I tested, many with supposedly superior "independent" rear suspensions. I have only driven a friend's TL in a "respectful" manor, but from what I can tell, it handles like an Accord (which is to say, not as good as a Maxima).
The Maxima suspension may not be the most cutting edge technology, but according to my buttocks, it works. Same can be said of the BMW M5, which happens to use recirculating ball steering. Know of any superior technology rack and pinion sedans you would like to put up against it???
As far as the M5 goes.... let's put it this way... who can match BMW in creating the best damn drivers' cars on the face of the earth? No matter WHAT they use, they'll find a way to make it better than the competition.
The M5 drivers got a letter from BMW telling them to not participate or their warranty would be revoked.
DISCLAIMER: Ruski does not really like Acura TL or Nissan Maxima or Subaru WRX.
"On the road the engine is superb. It's a leap over the competition, comparable to the Volkswagen VR6 engine when that was new. In both cases you think you're drivng a turbocharged engine without the turbo lag. The power is not only broad, coming on seemingly from just above idle and then staying on all the way across the tach to redline, but its's oh so smooth."
"The automatic shifts more quickly than we would have expected for a midsize, mass-market sedan and the gated shifter did indeed make for easy no look sawing of the lever."
"The manual was sporty was well, wiht hte 6 speeds allowing plenty of access to power. But the engine was so broad in its power delivery it felt almost as if the 5 speed would have done the trick. The cable linkage felt a little numb compared to the more direct acting rod linkages of old." (2000-2001 maximas had rod linkage, new one has cable)
they then go on to complain about hte lack of suspension travel, but the rest is praise.
Thanks!
In this country M5 is consistently clocked at 4.8 secs 0-60, and the best I’ve read about the WRX is 5.8 secs 0-60. So in USA there is no comparison between the two as far as 0-60 times go. I don’t know what is the M5 in South Africa, but it is conceivable that they released a tuned down version there – last time I was in South Africa the average car was at least 3 times more expensive than here.
Another point about the WRX – the engine is turbo charged, and you can practically get any power out of a high pressure turbo (of course with the obvious sacrifice in long term reliability.) In the U.K. they have an even more powerful turbo charged Subaru. Also, I’ve seen kids take a 1.8L Integra, and turbo-charging it to get phenomenal HP. The beauty of the M5 is that it has a very linear normally aspired engine.
And one more point about the WRX – as far as sports/sporty cars go this is probably the worst handling car in ANY country. I hear 8 year old Integra GS-R’s and the Celica GT-S’s run circles around it in auto crosses.
My GTP... lease ended back in December. I miss it a lot. But my '99 300M keeps me quite entertained. Not the strongest performer off the line, but it is VERY potent at high speeds. Also it loves curves and can even do a four-wheel drift nicely. My 300M has the performance handling group package.
The lease is ending in November, that explains why I am lurking in other cars' forums, in case if something does not work out with getting another 300M.
The new Maxima and Altima both sound quite interesting.
I just spoke to my friend in Virginia who had some trouble with his brakes croaking on his 2001 SE. I had the same problem at 18k miles and at 36K miles. The dealer cut my rotors and replaced my pads, but I was not satisfied. He told me the service manager there came back from a regional meeting and said the brake problems on 2000 Maximas are well documented and that the rotors should have been replaced under warranty. He said they also use a different type of pad. I think my dealer is ripping me off. By cutting the rotors and swapping the pads they probably figure it was good enough to get me through the warranty and then when it came back again, I'd pay out of pocket and they can make a few bills on me. I'm calling Nissan tomorrow and demanding replacement rotors and pads. 222Hp sport sedan should not eat up brakes so fast and so badly. apparently there are a bunch of defective rotors out there.
I also brought it in a while back because I thought the car's tranny slipped real bad from 1st to 2nd when I got on it hard. The jerk-off mechanic said that it was normal. That the tranny shifts electronically. I asked him if it was adjustable, and he sid that it wasn't. But now I find out there is a sevice bulletin from Nissan for the problem. They recommend replacing one part and if that does not work then another. I can't believe the BS you have to put up with at these dealers. I guess they didn't want to go through the trouble of looking up and fixing this documented problem. Now with almost 40k miles on my car, how do I know that if all that slipping it has been doing didn't just knock of 100k miles off the life of my tranny? Dealers SUCK!!!!!! I'm going to complain to Nissan about this too.
BEWARE of dealers with crumby service departments, managers and mechanics!!!!
I have a 95 SE 5-speed with 110,000 miles and have had virtually no problems. Front brakes lasted 90,000 miles. Clutch is showing no signs of wear. I'm just now in need of a second set of replacement tires. Basically, car drives as good as new, averages 24+ mpg overall (up to 30 highway) and, as I've posted before, feels quicker than the 2000/2001 model.
I am considering a 2002 Maxima SE to replace my 1995. Part of the reason I would consider the Maxima rather than jump up to a BMW 5-series has been my high satisfaction with its reliability and very low routine maintenance and service costs over the past seven years. Given the 2002 is basically an upgraded 2000/2001, am I likely to be dissapointed based upon the 2000/2001 complaints?? Can anyone claim my level of satisfaction with their 2000 model??
As big of a fan I have been of Nissan, I don't want to assume I wasn't just damn lucky with my particular car/model.
I too think that the max is a good car, however the shoddy paint job on the new maximas are well documented. I definately wouldn't buy another one until Nissan stops using substandard paint that chips so easily.
one change the temperature display to
permanently read deg F? Thanks!
Nonetheless, I may very well take your suggestion regarding waiting until more facts are out on the 2003 - and all the other competitive cars that are coming out in the next 8-12 months. The Maxima has remained on my shopping list as the "prudent value" alternative; however, BMW and Mercedes are introducing new and/or upgraded versions of their 5- and E- series as well. It seems like everyone is racing to introduce "new and improved" models more frequently these days.
Fortunately, my 1995 Maxima is chugging along just fine so my sense of urgency is not high.
Thanks for your input.
P.S. Has Nissan done anything to acknowledge/correct the paint chipping problems being reported relative to 2000/2001 models??
rite now my dads pearl white maxima has no paint problem (one small ship on the front bumper that could be from me dropping the hose nozzle on it). it seems to be affecting the darker colors more (black, grey lustre). from what ive heard nissan isnt doing a good job at all of addressing the paint problem. there is a website up (www.nissanpaint.com). you might wanna check there.
there have been quite a few people reporting warped rotors, i think we might have them too. theres a TSB out on it and Nissan will fix the problem for free. the brakes are under a 3/36,000 warranty or something...
I understand the speedometer sensor produces a sine waves by which the speed is measured. Is it possible I just got a defective sensor? Could the bad sensor from before been masking something more serious? Any ideas before I take it back in in the morning?
Thanks...
Flawless so far.
Well the dealer just got done doing mine today, and there is definitely an improvement. I did some test driving in the parking lot in first gear and the jerkiness is much less noticable. It is still there some what, but I have much better throttle control and I am able to feather the throttle a lot better at the lower speeds.
Hope this helps.
Sorry it took so long for the reply, just took a while to get it scheduled in at the dealer.
Anyone having trouble keeping this car under 80 on the highway!! I am 38 years old but as my 18 year old son says "This car is sweet" and yes I have been crazy enough to let him drive it!
My prior car had been an Acura Integra. I know Acura seems to have a pretty good reputation, but my car literally bgan to fall apart after about 75,000 miles. Everything that could go wrong, did - two or three times in some cases. Clutch/transmission, shocks, A/C compressor, brake rotors, exhaust system (twice), etc. When I finally had enough at about 105,000 miles, I ended up donating it to Salvation Army. My Maxima at 110,000 miles feels like new.
Note that I had a first generation Integra, but nonetheless my personal experience suggests that the Maxima is a more solidly constructed car designed to go a lot more miles than the Integra.
No comment upon your prices, since I am not in the used car market. Good luck.
My Toyo tires are getting low and need to replace them before winter. Can anyone recommend a good tire that will last 50k miles?
Your doing the right thing by waiting. I hate to see people rush out to get the '02 when the '03 is right around the corner. I hear that the '03 will be bigger too...however it might not be heavier.
Compare the 2001 altima to the 2002 altima. The 2002 with the 2.5L 4 banger is a few pounds lighter than the 2001 with the 2.4L, yet the 2002 altima is larger than the current max (go figure!). I think the EPA size class has more to do with interior volume than exterior dimensions. However if your 95 is still cool then run that into the ground!
Nissan is doing absolutely nothing about the paint problems. I recently bought one of those ugly bras to slow the tide. I have a black max and I know of many others who have chipping problems. Funny thing is Nissan touted their paint as being good in the 2000 brochure by noting that they shot diamonds at the finish to test the strength of the paint...this blurb was omitted in the 2001 brochure. I'll have to point that out to my attorney. Never again.
Have fun!
I hate waiting for detailing, I want it NOW.