jimmie8: You're probably right about the filter. I doubt I'll notice much difference, though my boss says he call tell the difference in his Miata. Your other point is well-taken. I figured a cost of $50 for a lifetime air filter is saving money over the long-run anyway. Since you seem to know so much about the Maximas, do you know if pre-wiring is run for a CD changer in the Max?
I'm fairly positive the Maxima is NOT prewired for the changer...you're going to have to remove the head unit (which apparently is a pain), connect the adaptors, and then run the wiring back to the trunk. Apparently running the wiring is not too difficult...there are some tubes/tabs you lift up to get access to underneath the carpet.
Have 1991 Maxima with 73,000 miles. Been a good car but recently when blowing cold air suddenly blows very warm humid air. No pattern & can't make it change. Will eventually get cold again. Is it possible the expansion valve is freezing up? Any suggestions? Dlr could not duplicate problem. Thanks Doug
I have a 97 with 73,000 miles on it also, and this happens to me as well (it typically only blows warmer air for 3 or 4 minutes). I'm guessing there are a couple things it could be:
1) What you mentioned...the thermal expansion valve might be malfunctioning. Either it freezes or a chunk of something in the refrigerant piping gets stuck in the valve and only gets blown out once enough pressure builds up on the hot side of the A/C loop.
2) The compressor has a slight leak on the intake side which allows air to get into the compressor. This air eventually builds up to a level where it prevents proper compressor operation. After a while, enough air gets in the line to cause a purge.
I'm not really sure what else it could be...all I know is when it happens, the compressor continues to operate (because I can't feel the compressor click off). My best guess is what you guessed...the TX valve. Although you might want to try and recharge the refrigerant just in case...it might be as simple as that.
I'm sure this has been discussed in the approx 2600 messages before this one, but I thought I'd bring it up again.
I have a 2000 GLE, (which I absolutely LOVE). I've been putting high test since I bought it 18 mths ago, like the manual says.
My next door neighbor coincidentally also bought a GLE Maxima(different color). She said the dealer told her regular was fine and that's all she's been putting in hers.
So should I be spending the extra 15-20 cents a gallon or not?
..shouldn't be much different from Icelandic Pearl, and if it's anything like our Icelandic Pearl it should be a great color. Under direct sunlight it looks creamish, and you can see the metallic specks. The actual pearl effect won't show in pictures...
I just purchased a new Max on Sunday and am debating the same question. The owner's manual recommends premium for best performance but says that 87 octance will work. If you haven't tried the 87 octane, I would try a tank of it and see if you get any knocks or pings. Or maybe try mid-grade. My boss also owns a 2001 Maxima SE. I will ask her what grade she has been using and if it has any adverse affects. By the way, my co-worker also owns a 2001 pathfinder which recommends premium fuel. He usually uses mid-grade with no ill effects. My guess about the whole issue is that the car will run fine with regular gas, but premium will give it the extra little bit of performance that most people buy a Maxima for anyway. Anyone who owns a Max have an opinion on this??? Thanks.....
Stick with the Premium. I tried both 87 and 89 on my 2K1 SE..it doesn't pull nearly as hard with the lower octane.
Here in Atlanta, we are blessed with some of the cheapest gas in the country. While its cheap, its also that oxygenated low emission garbage that kills gas mileage. I frequently see a 2-3 mpg difference between the gas sold in Atlanta and the gas sold in the rural parts of the state. Must be the formulation.
I run 93 in my 97SE but for a while I used 87, and to be honest, I saw very little difference in performance...I did see an increase in fuel efficiency (especially on the highway), and so that is why I continue to use 93.
You shouldn't be experiencing any pings because even if the 87 does tend to make your car ping more, the Maxima will retard engine functions to prevent pings....so its possible you might see a slight decrease in performance under worst case driving conditions (not likely though).
I can imagine using 93 might help slightly in 1/4 mile races (if you do that kind of thing). Other than that, I really don't think you will notice (your brain might try and convince you otherwise, but don't listen to it)
After a huge amount of research and just plain old reading, such as here, I am going on a second shopping trip this weekend to buy a new Maxima or Camry. I have eliminated the '01 Camry, due to styling. The '02 Camry looks great, but they seem extremely proud, (too high price) of them.
That leaves me with Maxima. Not wanting Leather, or sport suspension (too old for it), that leaves me with the GXE.
OK, finally my question. The '01 GXE MSRP is just under $25000, invoice just under $23000 as near as I can discern. I have seen here that two buyers have bought SE's at about $500-$600 under invoice. That is only about $2500 under MSRP. As the car will be instantly a 1 year old used car, it seems to me there would be a substantial depreciation, in excess of that $2500 discount.
Am I overlooking something here, or do they just not depreciate as I would expect of any new car? I really think you could get an '02 Maxima for invoice, and that only leaves about $600 difference between the '01 and '02.
I could not make a decision as well. My dealer told me he would knock 1K off 01 GXE invoice the other day. That gives me about 1K diff between 01 and 02 Max. Yet 02 offers very nice head lights. I give that $500 credit, which made me lean towards 02 one. However, the problem to me is 3.9 APR is really attracting me.
i have 1990 maxima w/ auto transmission. it drives great. however, for some reason it is now requiring me to press in a button on the gear shift before i can shift from park to drive. i never had to do that it the past.
the problem is that because of the placement of the button--half-way up the shaft on the back side, it takes 2 hands to shift, one to press in the button, and the other to pull the gear from park into drive or reverse.
does anyone know how to de-activate this switch and what i did to activate it? thanks.
I was thinking there would be more help on this subject. I have since found out the invoice on the '01 is $22235, well under $23000. I will still wait to see if anyone here can give us more info on what to expect depreciation wise on the '01. I have the money set aside, so the financing doesn't enter the picture for me.
Maybe someone at FreshAlloy will have something to say on it.
To me, there were several factors to consider when I decided to get the 2001 SE. There are several things to consider when looking into the cost of the vehicle. True, a 2002 SE might only be a grand or two more maybe. However, the best APR you will get with a 2002 would probably be from a credit union or the internet, which would run about 3% more than the 3.9%/60 months currently being offered. Over 5 years, that's another 2-3 grand in finance charges, not to consider less gas mileage and higher insurance with the 2002. I am 25 and know insurance would be outrageous for a 2002 SE with 255 HP. As far as buying a car that is a 2001, I don't understand the logic of buying a "used" car. True, it is a 2001 but has 0 miles just like the 2002s. Unless you plan on buying and selling in the next couple of years, the difference in model year should make little difference seeing that the mileage on my 2001 and someone elses 2002 will be almost identical (Except that I live in Atlanta and drive 20,000 miles a year!) when I sell years down the road (I kept my former car for over 9 years). Maybe I'm just trying to justify buying the 2001 to myself, but I figure the 2002 will cost thousands more over the long run than a 2001. In reference to fwatson, I think your invoice information is incorrect. As far as I can tell, I paid just under invoice for the 2001 SE automatic with floor mats, in-cabin microfilter, and splash guards ($22,500). You could stick with the GXE if you want, but I just can't get past the plastic where the fog lights normally are. And personally, I don't like the look of the Maxima without the spoiler. I am in agreement about leather. You also get nicer standard wheels on the SE. Not to convince you to get the SE, but I think you'd only pay slightly more for the SE than the GXE and be happier with the vehicle over time. Just my opinion....
I test drove a 2002 GXE last night. I was really disappointed with the cloth seats(support is ok, fabric looks spongy and susceptible to wear). I would recommend the leather. The plastic, titanium-colored door handles looked really cheap (maybe they just clashed to much with the sand colored interior). Xenon headlights are a big improvement.
The 3.5 is impressive - smooth, quiet, and powerful. The salesman apparently had not yet driven the car and was impressed with our 30 to 65 acceleration going up an interstate on-ramp.
I was told that Nissan was doing an early release of 3,000 2002 Altimas on August 31. The comparison will be interesting.
After looking at the standard features on the 2002 Maxima, I'm starting to wish I waited. The SE auto with floor mats, in-cabin microfilter, and splash guards has an MSRP right around $26,100, only $1000 more than the MSRP on the 2001 I just bought. However, it has standard 17" rims, power driver seat, cargo net, 6 disc in-dash player, etc... In other words, it looks like the SE comfort and convenience package is standard minus the sunroof. Plus, you get 33 more HP. Just wondering how Nissan is able to add all these features with little more price added. Maybe my comfort will be that the 3.5L engine is less reknown than the 3.0L, but I'm sure it will start racking up awards this year as well.....
Quick question for those of you who had the next to last version of the Max (95-99 - I don't remember which generation it was). Several people who had the older version commented that they thought that it was overall better than the 00/01 version. Any thoughts on how the 02 compares? Trying to make some comparisons and I've driven the 95 SE enough (my dad's) to be curious how the 02 compares.
I don't think the new Maxima will be such an improvement that it will sell for close to MSRP, I would not pay more than $500 over invoice for a new one.
BTW, I saw a new Maxima at the local dealership in my area finally, it looks real nice, it was a SUnlit Sand SE with Blond interior, I think it looks slightly better than the 2000-2001s
So, looks like they are selling about $300 OVER invoice. Same for several other GLE's and SE's on there too in Greenville SC, Washington DC, and Chicago. These are the Carmax locations that sell new Nissans.
Surprises me a little that they are already discounting this car that close to invoice price.
Comparing Carmax-White Marsh Nissan Maryland and Kelly Blue Book: (White Marsh is one of the Carmax dealers which sells new Nissans)
02 GLE MSRP $28686 (incl dest, sunroof, deflector) Invoice $26277 (KBB invoice shows $25777) No haggle price $26698, which is $921 over KBB invoice or $421 over White Marsh invoice.
Is there some way to determine which is the correct invoice? Does invoice change? If so, how often? Perhaps both invoice prices were accurate as of the different dates published. (Not.)
Just go with whatever invoice price quote is the lowest. Even if it's a little below the "real" invoice, it's better to start with a lower quote anyway. Besides, kbb is such a know site that they'll be hard pressed to question it.
I've heard of many people complaining about the weak paint on their maxima's. I believe i don't have any chipping on my 2k1 black se yet, which is has 50 mi on it. Does anyone have the paint chipping problem?
To gk99 on buying a '01 SE w/c and c for 23440(including dest.charge). I am looking at buying the same ('01 SE with C+C) and live in N.J. There are mostly 01 SE's in the lots here. Don't forget there is a $500.00 rebate. The invoice is around 23,600, (including dest.charge). I think you should try to pay less. They came down to invoice for me without seriously discussing price.
I will say this also, I am driving a rented 2000 max this week and the car is excellent.
I think I paid about $800 over invoice on my 02 Maxima SE. I think that is pretty good considering they have only been out a couple of weeks. It is a great car as well. I love the Xenons and 255 horses!
So if you are going to get a Maxima and can afford the 02, get it. It is more car than the 01. Not to say the 01 isn't a great car, but with 33 more horses, the choice should be obvious.
Only options I got were the floor mats and sunroof.
Obi 2002 Nissan Maxima SE Sterling Mist/Frost Cloth
Not being especially gifted at judging distances, I found it extremely helpful to have a hood ornament on the Nissan Laurel I drove on narrow 1 1/2 lane village roads in Japan. The Laurel ornament slightly resembled a Buick ornament.
Although the top five Nissan sedans (President, Cima, Cedric, Gloria, Laurel) in Japan all have hood ornaments, the one that found its way to the States appears to have traded its ornament for a new name. (I believe the Cima is the Infiniti Q45). Has anyone tried to buy and install a Nissan ornament on his/her Maxima? I'm getting an 02 GLE and hope to add either the Cedric or Laurel ornament, if possible. (The Nissan Cefiro, which I believe is the Maxima, has no ornament.)
There has been some discussion on what the value and depreciation of a '01 Max would be if it were purchased today.In looking at current dealer retail prices at Edmunds for '98, and '99 SE's there is about $1500.00 difference in retail (year to year).
So isn't it safe to say that about $1500.00 should be the difference in purchase price between a '01 and a '02 max if purchased today?
If people are buying '02's at $500.00 over invoice than a '01 should sell for $1000.00 under invoice.
If you have an SE, these ornaments are probably too stodgy and conservative for you. The Cima(InfinitiQ45) ornament is shown in the Infiniti Vehicles forum of FreshAlloy.com. Go to "How can anyone not be impressed by this photo" and look for the 8-24-01 posting by wowzer.
You can go to nissan.co.jp and see the lineup of all Nissan cars--those with hood ornaments and the rest without. Set your browser for View/Encoding/Japanese before you visit the website. At the website, press the 'click' button. When the 10-item menu opens, move your cursor to the second (car lineup) item from the top. Slide the cursor horizontally across the second row (sedan) from the top of the 13-item menu. When the third menu containing 10-items opens, select the second row from the top to see the Cima. To see exterior photos, select the first button under the word CIMA. (The sedans listed in the third menu, from top to bottom, are: President, Cima, Cedric, Gloria, Laurel, Cefiro, Skyline, Primera, Bluebird, and Sunny.)
I am looking to buy a car within the next month. My lease on my 98 Accord ends on the 22nd of Sept. I am in my mid 20's and of the 4 cars I have had, 3 have been Accords and 1 has been a Camry. After looking at prices for the 01 Maxima it seems I can get a lot more car for the money as compared to Honda (I don't like the looks of the new Camry). However, I mentioned the Altima and Maxima to my Dad and he said he wasn't sure about Nissan's reliability as compared to Honda and Toyota. Since I am not a car expert, I thought I would seek some advice.
Also, since the redesign of the Altima, what does Nissan plan to do with the Maxima?
I am sure after posting this message, someone will tell me just to get the 02 Maxima. I am very interested in the low financing available with the 01. Do you think that when the Altima arrives, Nissan will have special financing on the 02 Maxima?
Any make of car can be a lemon -- even Honda and Toyota will turn out a clunker every once in a while. That said, the reliability of my '97 Maxima SE was exemplary. It never went to the shop in 3 years and 45,000 miles of service. Admittedly, that's the beginning of a car's life cycle, and hopefully nothing goes wrong at that point, but I had absolutely no complaints about Nissan's reliability compared to the Acura I had at the same time.
For 2002 the Maxima is getting a facelift, which will involve putting in a 255 horsepower 6 cyl. engine (up 33 from last year), high intensity discharge headlights, as well as some other power doodads. The car is moving upmarket to some degree, although there is a difference of opinion as to how successful it will be in that very competitive $30k price point.
Who knows what kind of financing will be available when the Altima debuts. Its always possible there will be some incentives floating around, but that's trying to read tea leaves...
I would seriously consider the 01 Maxima, given the great deals and financing that are out there. '02 would be nice, of course, but unless you really want the upgrades (do you really need 255 horsepower? Isn't 222 enough for day to day puttering around town?), you'll be getting much more car than a similar Accord for about the same price.
Chris4: I paid about $25K for my SE, which I don't think is too bad. I didn't get leather or the Bose because I can always upgrade the speakers and I can live without leather. I also got the auto instead of 6-speed. Only real option was the moonroof.
Mica: Thanks for the info!
JHerman: I agree that you do not need the extra hp for every day driving, but once you drive the 02 to the 01, you won't want the 01 anymore! My fleet saleswoman even told me she won't sell 01's to her customers anymore because the 02's are so much better. Don't get me wrong, the 01 is still a fantastic car and you can make a great deal on one. But if you have the extra cash, go for the 02. It has got A LOT of power!
Also, when the Altima arrives, I don't think they will discount the Max. I think they have made enough improvements that it is still a better car than the Altima and worth the extra money.
"If people are buying '02's at $500.00 over invoice than a '01 should sell for $1000.00 under invoice."
I agree on your asessment on this. However, after hitting 5 Nissan dealers in the Orlando/Tampa area, the best I could do was $23783, only about $300 under invoice. They all insisted on keeping a $700 profit. LOL. And I encountered two very rude dealerships. I had offered $23500. This was on a base GLE. I gave up in disgust, and became a traitor to Max fans by buying an '01 Millenia with virtually identical sticker to the Max, $28225 for $21830, and they include virtually every option a Max offers, as standard equipment. In addition, they dropped the $925 dealer package as well. Out the door $23779, including absolutely everything.
Yes I know, the Max will blow it into the weeds, but that isn't my goal. I was looking for luxury, and a quiet ride. The Max had a lot of road noise, and road stiffly. The Mazda is super quiet and smooth.
If you feel I am comparing apples to oranges, that is fine. Enjoy your Max's. They are no doubt the right choice for you, just not for me.
OK, I will get off your board. Sorry for the interuption.
Do you think it'd be possible to fit a 4th generation (95-99) Cefiro hood ornament onto our 5th gens? There's a guy on the Maxima.org forum that has it (along with Cefiro grille and headlights), looks sweet.
fwatson: There's nothing wrong with your opinions, I gladly welcome another point of view. We would have looked into a Millenia if not for 2 reasons..1, there's no dealer in a convenient location for us and 2 the engine was underpowered (in our opinion). Like to test the speed out sometimes hehe ; )
kmax2: Don't forget that most sites' dealer retail prices for used cars are for cars with average milage (usually about 12,000 miles per year). This means that the 1999 SE whould have about 36,000 miles on it and the 1998 SE would have about 48,000 miles on it. If the two had the same milage (which is the case with new '01 vs new '02) then the prices would be closer. If again you use edmunds and check out the used values and click on the Customized Appraisal button you can enter the milage on each. If you enter 36,000 miles for both the '98 and the '99 you will see that the value of the '98 goes up by $550 while the value of the '99 is unaffected. The difference between the two cars would then be closer to $1,000. That said, I am sure that it will come to a point where the dealers will be very interested in getting rid of the '01 Max's. Once the new '02 Altima comes out I think that it will be very difficult for the dealers to unload the '01 Max's (which have less equipment and a less powerful engine then the '02 Altima SE) without some serious decreases in prices.
gagirl: I believe that Consumer Reports has the Maxima rated just as high, if not higher, then the Accord and Camry in terms of reliability. As JHermon mentioned though, any manufacturer can create a lemon and I have had more then my share of problems with my 2000 Max SE.
You are right. I don't need the extra horsepower. That's another reason I was thinking about the 01. My Accord has 150. Anything more than that is more than I am used to.
Don't forget about the 02 Altima. The 02 Altima will be cheaper than the 02 Max and might have everything you need. Reliability shouldn't be an issue with the Altima. I believe the Altima is being built in their Smyrna, TN plant which is supposed to be a very good manufacturing facility. Even though I'm a happy Maxima owner (just bought a 01 Max 2 months ago w/ 3.9APR here in Atl), if I were in the market right now, I don't know if I'd buy a 02 Max over the new 02 Altima. I have to diagree with obi wan here, it just seems these 2 cars are really similar in size/engine/content, except price. The only Max advantage seems to be the 6spd, locking diff, and nav. I guess I'll have to test drive both to really see .
If you don't mind me asking, what model Maxima (GXE, GLE, SE) did you buy and how much did you pay?
The only reason I would consider tha 01 Maxima over the 02 Altima is the 3.9APR on the Maxima. My current car is leased so I don't have a trade in and would rather not put a big chunk down.
We sound like we're in about the same boat with car buying (mid 20s, buying in the next mo. or so, not wanting to put a lot down). My search is focused between a max (01 or 02) and an 02 altima. I agree with what has been said so far. My deciding factors should arrive at the end of the week when the pricing for the altima hits and rumor has it (from the altima 02 forum) that there should be 1 or 2 at dealerships this weekend. If you have any interest in the 02 altima (sounds like it should be comparable to what else you're looking at), the 02 forum is pretty good
The problem with your shifter is likely in the shifter box. There is a switch in the shifter box that activates when you put your foot on the brake to shift from 'park' to 'drive'. You'll hear a click when you do this. This is a safety feature to keep children from inadvertantly shifting the car out of park.
That little pin you refer to is the emergency override just in case the switch in the shifter box fails. The dealer must repair this (it's relatively cheap - $75 or so for a new switch).
Please note that this switch also controls your brake lights (tail lights). So if you loose this switch then your brake lights won't work. Get this checked ASAP. Have someone step on your brake pedal and check the operation of your lights.
I bought '01 Max GLE. Like it alot except for the suspension. When We have people in the back, or heavy stuff in the trunk, the rear of the car bounces up & down like the shocks are 20 years old (the car has 7,000miles). Has anyone else noticed this. The dealer said the suspension is not faulty. Has anyone tried aftermarket suspension, If so which one?
Comments
Thanks
Doug
1) What you mentioned...the thermal expansion valve might be malfunctioning. Either it freezes or a chunk of something in the refrigerant piping gets stuck in the valve and only gets blown out once enough pressure builds up on the hot side of the A/C loop.
2) The compressor has a slight leak on the intake side which allows air to get into the compressor. This air eventually builds up to a level where it prevents proper compressor operation. After a while, enough air gets in the line to cause a purge.
I'm not really sure what else it could be...all I know is when it happens, the compressor continues to operate (because I can't feel the compressor click off). My best guess is what you guessed...the TX valve. Although you might want to try and recharge the refrigerant just in case...it might be as simple as that.
Would you let me know please if it is a stark white or what.
Many thanks.
send message to gsd@canada.com
I have a 2000 GLE, (which I absolutely LOVE). I've been putting high test since I bought it 18 mths ago, like the manual says.
My next door neighbor coincidentally also bought a GLE Maxima(different color). She said the dealer told her regular was fine and that's all she's been putting in hers.
So should I be spending the extra 15-20 cents a gallon or not?
Here in Atlanta, we are blessed with some of the cheapest gas in the country. While its cheap, its also that oxygenated low emission garbage that kills gas mileage. I frequently see a 2-3 mpg difference between the gas sold in Atlanta and the gas sold in the rural parts of the state. Must be the formulation.
You shouldn't be experiencing any pings because even if the 87 does tend to make your car ping more, the Maxima will retard engine functions to prevent pings....so its possible you might see a slight decrease in performance under worst case driving conditions (not likely though).
I can imagine using 93 might help slightly in 1/4 mile races (if you do that kind of thing). Other than that, I really don't think you will notice (your brain might try and convince you otherwise, but don't listen to it)
That leaves me with Maxima. Not wanting Leather, or sport suspension (too old for it), that leaves me with the GXE.
OK, finally my question. The '01 GXE MSRP is just under $25000, invoice just under $23000 as near as I can discern. I have seen here that two buyers have bought SE's at about $500-$600 under invoice. That is only about $2500 under MSRP. As the car will be instantly a 1 year old used car, it seems to me there would be a substantial depreciation, in excess of that $2500 discount.
Am I overlooking something here, or do they just not depreciate as I would expect of any new car? I really think you could get an '02 Maxima for invoice, and that only leaves about $600 difference between the '01 and '02.
Any help? Thanks in advance.
the problem is that because of the placement of the button--half-way up the shaft on the back side, it takes 2 hands to shift, one to press in the button, and the other to pull the gear from park into drive or reverse.
does anyone know how to de-activate this switch and what i did to activate it? thanks.
Maybe someone at FreshAlloy will have something to say on it.
The 3.5 is impressive - smooth, quiet, and powerful. The salesman apparently had not yet driven the car and was impressed with our 30 to 65 acceleration going up an interstate on-ramp.
I was told that Nissan was doing an early release of 3,000 2002 Altimas on August 31. The comparison will be interesting.
BTW, I saw a new Maxima at the local dealership in my area finally, it looks real nice, it was a SUnlit Sand SE with Blond interior, I think it looks slightly better than the 2000-2001s
2002 GLE MSRP $28,755
Invoice $26,124
No haggle sales price $26,448
So, looks like they are selling about $300 OVER invoice. Same for several other GLE's and SE's on there too in Greenville SC, Washington DC, and Chicago. These are the Carmax locations that sell new Nissans.
Surprises me a little that they are already discounting this car that close to invoice price.
02 GLE MSRP $28686 (incl dest, sunroof, deflector)
Invoice $26277 (KBB invoice shows $25777)
No haggle price $26698, which is $921 over KBB invoice or $421 over White Marsh invoice.
Is there some way to determine which is the correct invoice? Does invoice change? If so, how often? Perhaps both invoice prices were accurate as of the different dates published. (Not.)
Can anybody tell me if I'm paying too much?
BTW, I live in New York.
I am looking at buying the same ('01 SE with C+C) and live in N.J. There are mostly 01 SE's in the lots here. Don't forget there is a $500.00 rebate.
The invoice is around 23,600, (including dest.charge). I think you should try to pay less.
They came down to invoice for me without seriously discussing price.
I will say this also, I am driving a rented 2000 max this week and the car is excellent.
Good luck
I think I paid about $800 over invoice on my 02 Maxima SE. I think that is pretty good considering they have only been out a couple of weeks. It is a great car as well. I love the Xenons and 255 horses!
So if you are going to get a Maxima and can afford the 02, get it. It is more car than the 01. Not to say the 01 isn't a great car, but with 33 more horses, the choice should be obvious.
Only options I got were the floor mats and sunroof.
Obi
2002 Nissan Maxima SE
Sterling Mist/Frost Cloth
Although the top five Nissan sedans (President, Cima, Cedric, Gloria, Laurel) in Japan all have hood ornaments, the one that found its way to the States appears to have traded its ornament for a new name. (I believe the Cima is the Infiniti Q45).
Has anyone tried to buy and install a Nissan ornament on his/her Maxima? I'm getting an 02 GLE and hope to add either the Cedric or Laurel ornament, if possible. (The Nissan Cefiro, which I believe is the Maxima, has no ornament.)
Got any links on those mica? If I can add anything to make my 02 SE look better, I would like to know!
I am tinting the windows and chroming the wheels this week.
Obi
So isn't it safe to say that about $1500.00 should be the difference in purchase price between a '01 and a '02 max if purchased today?
If people are buying '02's at $500.00 over invoice than a '01 should sell for $1000.00 under invoice.
The Cima(InfinitiQ45) ornament is shown in the Infiniti Vehicles forum of FreshAlloy.com. Go to "How can anyone not be impressed by this photo" and look for the 8-24-01 posting by wowzer.
You can go to nissan.co.jp and see the lineup of all Nissan cars--those with hood ornaments and the rest without. Set your browser for View/Encoding/Japanese before you visit the website. At the website, press the 'click' button. When the 10-item menu opens, move your cursor to the second (car lineup) item from the top. Slide the cursor horizontally across the second row (sedan) from the top of the 13-item menu. When the third menu containing 10-items opens, select the second row from the top to see the Cima. To see exterior photos, select the first button under the word CIMA. (The sedans listed in the third menu, from top to bottom, are: President, Cima, Cedric, Gloria, Laurel, Cefiro, Skyline, Primera, Bluebird, and Sunny.)
Also, since the redesign of the Altima, what does Nissan plan to do with the Maxima?
I am sure after posting this message, someone will tell me just to get the 02 Maxima. I am very interested in the low financing available with the 01. Do you think that when the Altima arrives, Nissan will have special financing on the 02 Maxima?
For 2002 the Maxima is getting a facelift, which will involve putting in a 255 horsepower 6 cyl. engine (up 33 from last year), high intensity discharge headlights, as well as some other power doodads. The car is moving upmarket to some degree, although there is a difference of opinion as to how successful it will be in that very competitive $30k price point.
Who knows what kind of financing will be available when the Altima debuts. Its always possible there will be some incentives floating around, but that's trying to read tea leaves...
I would seriously consider the 01 Maxima, given the great deals and financing that are out there. '02 would be nice, of course, but unless you really want the upgrades (do you really need 255 horsepower? Isn't 222 enough for day to day puttering around town?), you'll be getting much more car than a similar Accord for about the same price.
My $0.02...
Mica: Thanks for the info!
JHerman: I agree that you do not need the extra hp for every day driving, but once you drive the 02 to the 01, you won't want the 01 anymore! My fleet saleswoman even told me she won't sell 01's to her customers anymore because the 02's are so much better. Don't get me wrong, the 01 is still a fantastic car and you can make a great deal on one. But if you have the extra cash, go for the 02. It has got A LOT of power!
Also, when the Altima arrives, I don't think they will discount the Max. I think they have made enough improvements that it is still a better car than the Altima and worth the extra money.
Obi
02 Maxima SE
Sterling Mist/Frost Cloth
I agree on your asessment on this. However, after hitting 5 Nissan dealers in the Orlando/Tampa area, the best I could do was $23783, only about $300 under invoice. They all insisted on keeping a $700 profit. LOL. And I encountered two very rude dealerships. I had offered $23500. This was on a base GLE. I gave up in disgust, and became a traitor to Max fans by buying an '01 Millenia with virtually identical sticker to the Max, $28225 for $21830, and they include virtually every option a Max offers, as standard equipment. In addition, they dropped the $925 dealer package as well. Out the door $23779, including absolutely everything.
Yes I know, the Max will blow it into the weeds, but that isn't my goal. I was looking for luxury, and a quiet ride. The Max had a lot of road noise, and road stiffly. The Mazda is super quiet and smooth.
If you feel I am comparing apples to oranges, that is fine. Enjoy your Max's. They are no doubt the right choice for you, just not for me.
OK, I will get off your board. Sorry for the interuption.
fwatson: There's nothing wrong with your opinions, I gladly welcome another point of view. We would have looked into a Millenia if not for 2 reasons..1, there's no dealer in a convenient location for us and 2 the engine was underpowered (in our opinion). Like to test the speed out sometimes hehe ; )
That said, I am sure that it will come to a point where the dealers will be very interested in getting rid of the '01 Max's. Once the new '02 Altima comes out I think that it will be very difficult for the dealers to unload the '01 Max's (which have less equipment and a less powerful engine then the '02 Altima SE) without some serious decreases in prices.
gagirl: I believe that Consumer Reports has the Maxima rated just as high, if not higher, then the Accord and Camry in terms of reliability. As JHermon mentioned though, any manufacturer can create a lemon and I have had more then my share of problems with my 2000 Max SE.
You are right. I don't need the extra horsepower. That's another reason I was thinking about the 01. My Accord has 150. Anything more than that is more than I am used to.
The only reason I would consider tha 01 Maxima over the 02 Altima is the 3.9APR on the Maxima. My current car is leased so I don't have a trade in and would rather not put a big chunk down.
Thanks for your help.
The problem with your shifter is likely in the shifter box. There is a switch in the shifter box that activates when you put your foot on the brake to shift from 'park' to 'drive'. You'll hear a click when you do this. This is a safety feature to keep children from inadvertantly shifting the car out of park.
That little pin you refer to is the emergency override just in case the switch in the shifter box fails. The dealer must repair this (it's relatively cheap - $75 or so for a new switch).
Please note that this switch also controls your brake lights (tail lights). So if you loose this switch then your brake lights won't work. Get this checked ASAP. Have someone step on your brake pedal and check the operation of your lights.
Goodluck!