I own a 2001 Maxima SE, automatic and have 8500 miles on it. Love the car. No vibration, no hood flapping, sometimes takes two or 3 quick trys to start,(rare)and a minor "thump" from somewhere under moderate or hard acceleration,(perhaps inherant with the motor mounts). The paint does chip to easily in my opinion,(Gray Lustre). All in all very satisfied with the car and I enjoy driving it - it is fun to drive, and that's with "only" 222 horse 217 torque. Engine is truly smooth as silk.
Check out one of the mail-order tire/wheel companies online such as www.tirerack.com and see who they have listed as their tire installer in your area. Co-incidentally, this is what I did and the tire store they listed for my area did a fantastic job. Again, no guarantee, but they will probably do a better job than a car dealer.
I feel for you buddy !! Nothing I hate worse than to see the passenger seat shaking and vibrating. Good luck !! Let us know how you make out !
I have: 1) 2k Max.........bulletproof 2) 94 Altima......bulletproof 3) 92 P'up.........bulletproof I had: 1) 86 Max.........bulletproof
I think I see a car buying trend :-)
I've owned several Toyotas ( no Hondas), and in my opinion, the Nissans have been superior to the Toyotas.
Also, if you do a lot of highway driving, like I do , and you are surrounded by Dump Trucks spewing their loads all over your car, you might want to try the 3M Clear Mask.
After reading the comments I am totaly convinced the problem is improper wheel balance. I have no faith in this dealership. After they installed my new wheels I found the psi in all tires between 42-44. I doubt if they even torqued the wheels. If I can't get satisfaction from Nissan I will go to an independant tire company as suggested by you Townies then send Nissan the bill if they fix the problem. Thanks much for the excellent advice. Will keep you folks posted. Ps. I run a mixture of Mobil 93 and 89. It averages out to 91 at a much cheaper price.
I have narrowed down to Dunlop SP Sport A2 and Bridgestone Potenza RE950. Anyone use either of these tires and can offer their insights? Thanks in advance!
I know someone who installed the Dunlop SP Sport A2 on their Mazda Protege. They said the tires have wonderful wet traction, a good ride, and were pretty reasonably priced as well. I don't know about the other ones though.
Just wanted to let everyone know on this board that I fell in love with my max again today. Let me explain...I washed, waxed, detailed inside, changed the oil all today and then cruised. There's nothing like driving a good looking max. Cheers!
Just bought and picked up a new 2002 Maxima GXE in Grey Lustre with mats and splash guards. I love this vehicle. My previous vehicle was a lease and I've been researching for like a year for its replacement. Out of all the mid-size sedans available for under $25k, the Max was, IMHO, the best of the lot. Cheers.
I have 2002 SE 6 SP with approx 2200 miles on it. I have been very impressed with the smoothness of the engine and how it fires right up when starting. As far as the hood vibration and paint chipping goes, I haven't noticed any hood vibration and it is too early to tell regarding the paint chipping (no problems so far).
A couple of things I have noticed about the car since purchasing it: there is wind noise coming from the back part of the car. It sounds like one of the back windows is partially open. I am going to have the dealer look at this. Also, if you purchase an SE, be prepared to pay some $$$$ to replace the stock tires. The stock tire is not only expensive to replace, it has a very low (160) trend wear rating. So be prepared to replace tires more frequently and at a much higer price. Why Nissan put such a rare size tire on this car is beyond me.
I have a 2000 SE with the 17" 225/50 size tires. I can concur with the post above there are very few tires to choose from and they are expensive.
When it does come time I can suggest Michelin Pilot Sports (tread wear rating 400)in the same size. I ordered a set from Tire Rack.com and paid $202 each + shipping. Had them installed yesterday along with the SmartTire pressure monitoring system.
What an outstanding tire! Much quieter and smoother ride than the Potenza's that the car came with standard. Hasven't had a chance to really put them to the test yet (raining for two days) but I believe they're gonna be great.
Expensive, yes but when you consider they're the only thing between you and the pavement, might as well stay in as much control as possible.
The Smart Tire system is also outstanding. It provides both air pressure and air temperature in each tire (one tire at a time). For what it cost, I don't understand why manufacturers don't make this standard (or optional)equipment.
Working on buying my fourth Max and have decided GXE is not for me. Is there any reason to buy an SE if you want leather and automatic? Have read some bad things about the SE ride and tires. Should I just go with the GLE? I am not overly concerned with the spoiler but would like to know about any other differences - especially performance related issues. Thanks.
I was recently in the same boat. My Camry was just totalled out by an insurance company. I have had my eye on the 02 Max for 7 weeks now. Coincident ally, I've been driving an SE from enterprise. Three weeks ago, I got to test drive a GLE and loved it. I think the SE is harsh, but performs great when driven hard. I was able to drive the GLE for 4 hours one day, and it was much more plush and slightly more quiet I just ordered the GLE in Luster Grey loaded with Nav. Can't wait! The GLE has 55 series tires and the SE has 50 series. I felt the suspension in the GLE was more Camry like and handled fine for a sedan under aggressive driving conditions. Unless you plan on driving aggressively most of the time, get the GLE. My only problem with Nissan is they offer the GLE in Glacier Pearl with a blond leather interior only. I wanted it with the frost leather. I'm currently still driving the SE rental which is the Sterling Mist color. Everybody seems to have this color which was my first choice. Scott
Also in the same boat ... wanted a new family car and my wife doesn't drive stick.
Was leaning toward the SE but the GLE with leather, moonroof and the 6-CD Bose was less than a similarly equipped SE. Purely personal preference, but I think the GLE interior is a bit nicer as well. And the auto-climate control and seat memory features are really nice creature comforts.
We got the 2002 GXE Sterling Mist with the idea that if we wanted leather we would have it installed aftermarket because the aftermarket leather is softer and seems to be better quality. One dealer told me they ordered all their Altimas and Maxs with cloth and installed leather aftermarket. We have frost cloth but we opted for charcoal floor mats because they don't show dirt. The interior is two-tone anyway so this works for us. We may keep the cloth interior because leather is hot in the summer here in Atlanta and cold in the winter. We LIKE this car. The V6 engine has a great reputation for reliability. The power with 255 HP, the Xenon headlights standard, the autodim rearview mirror, ABS standard, no sunroof (which we didn't want.) No problem with hood flapping (tighter than our 93 Accord hood), only one pinhead sized paint chip on the Max hood after 3K miles, and we get 28-29 mpg with mid octane gas. After seeing posts here that gas mileage goes up with higher octane, we might go with the premium. Our Honda 4 cylinder only gets 29-30 mpg and of course has a lot less power than the Max. Another major consideration in getting the Max is that it had way more room than the other sedans (Camry/ Accord) that we looked at. My husband is 6'3" & 240 lbs. He likes the shoulder room. We got the Max for close to the price if not better than the Altima with ABS because of the rebates. We paid $23,200 drive-out including $1300 tax. The Altima DOES NOT HAVE A CASSETTE player. The Max does. Small thing but it mattered to us. BTW, I *like* the way the Max looks from the rear with the round tail lights. Also the 02 Max is made in Japan and next year I think it will be made here. I can't help but wonder if that will affect quality as it has in other foreign makes. This is a great car!!!
I didn't want leather, but I wanted 17" wheels and a sunroof. I also wanted the spoiler with integrated light. It eliminated having that darn third brake light inside the car! So, the GLE was not for me.
11,500 miles and counting! Not one prob with my 02 SE!
The SE is a really nice car ... in fact, when the dealer was adding the pinstripe to my GLE, a couple of weeks after the purchase, he had a minor accident, so I ended up with a 02 SE loaner for a few weeks.
But my GLE has 17" wheels and a spoiler with integrated light and no brake light on the rear deck, just a color coordinated plate ...
but only because it's available with the six speed manual. If the GLE were offered with the six speed, I'd take it over the SE. I like cars without spoilers, I like the clean tail look. Spoilers always feel tacted on to me, and I also like the rims on the GLE better than the rims on the new SE, but if I were getting the Maxima, it would HAVE to be the six speed, so no question about it, I'd take the SE for that reason alone.
Thanks for the info on replacement tires for the Maxima SE. I will keep your suggestion in mind when I need to replace the stock tires. A treadwear rating of 400 sounds great for performance tires. One question though. Did you shop around a lot for the best price. Was tirerack.com the lowest price?
Is anyone using a K&N air filter in their Maximas? If so, what are the results of using one. Do you notice any difference in performance, mileage, etc? Is it worth the added cost compared to stock air filters?
I use a K&N in my 01 SE. To be honest, I can't tell you if it makes a difference in power or mileage, as I installed the K&N within the first 1000 miles when I wasn't pushing the car very hard. In my opinion, the K&N is worth it regardless of whether it improves performance because of it's ability to be cleaned and used for the life of the vehicle. K&N doesn't recommend cleaning them until around 50K miles anyway. So, figure the cost of normal replacement of stock air filters vs. K&N, and you'll find that K&N is probably cheaper in the long run. Anyone else have a K&N that has noticed a difference?
I too installed a K&N filter on my SE for all the reasons you cited. I've got about 60,000 on my SE and have cleaned the filter a couple of times. Had I stayed with the OEM filter, I probably would have reinstalled "several" of them by now. Yes, I'm a little "anal" about my car!
Re replacement tires posted by dllanecky. For purposes of clarification............
Michelin offers TWO "Pilot Sport" tires. One is simply called a Pilot Sport and the other is called the Pilot Sport "AS." (all-season). The latter is actually "W" speed rated while the first is "Z" rated. I believe dklanecky is referring to the Pilot Sport AS @ $202.00 per tire @ Tirerack.com.
Actually, you guys are right. The wheels on the 02 SE are pretty ugly.
I was actually please that I personally knew the dealership I bought my SE from. They put GLE wheels from their loaner on my SE for $60! I also got away with the Turanza'a the loaner had. Both cars had about 4K on them when the swap was done.
Now I have an SE model wil GLE wheels! I looks really good. Plus, I have 20% tint all around. I could not feel a performance difference between the Potenza's and the Turanza'a, and I know the Turanza's will last longer.
Like I said before. One happy 02 SE owner here!
Obi 2002 Maxima SE (02 GLE wheels) Sterling Mist/Frost Cloth Dark Tint 11,500 "Passat Ripping" miles
I bought a 2002 Maxima SE about two months ago. Everything is great except the gas mileage. It only reaches around 20 local and 23-25 highway. Is it normal? If not, what will be the possible reason? BTW, I have tried all levels of gas and there is no much fifference. Thanks.
Hello, I have a '98 Maxima GXE 5sp. with 69,000 miles. About 5 weeks ago after an oil change at the dealership, service advisor told me the Power Steering suction hose is beginning to leak. Since then I haven't noticed any drop in the P/S reservoir and there aren't any squealing noises when turning either.
Instead of breaking my wallet (BMW to the tune of $120 to fix this leak, should I go for one of those "Power Steering Sealer" products? Has anybody had any experience with them? They claim to not harm any steering parts and to cure leaks within 200 miles of driving if the leak is minor? Are there any drawbacks or pitfalls to using these prodcuts? Thanks
I have a new 2002 Maxima GLE with 2,000 miles on it now. Normal suburban driving with no highway driving, I'm getting 23.6 mpg. This is mileage calculated at each fill up and not using the Trip computer which is about 4 to 5 mpg off. The car shifts into the different gears(Automatic) anywhere between 2,000 and 2,400 rpm's. I'm light on the gas pedal and the car moves normally forward without pushing it. I haven't had the opportunity to drive long distance on the highway to get a true highway mileage. For the size, weight and engine, I believe that's pretty good gas mileage.
beanctr and dklanecky: Be careful with treadwear ratings. They cannot be compared accurately between tires of different brands. Treadwear ratings are assigned by the manufacturers and are best used to compare different tires from the same manufaturer. A Bridgestone tire with a treadwear rating of 160 may actually wear just as well as a Michelin tire with a treadwear rating of 400 (then again it may not). A Bridgestone tire with a rating of 300 should last twice as long as a different Bridgestone tire with a rating of 150.
I have a 2002 SE 6sp with 2500 miles. The highest mileage I have obtained is 26 mpg with mostly highway driving. I use premium fuel and measure the fuel mileage after each fill up (don't use the trip computer). I am satisfied with the mileage so far given the engine hasn't been broken in yet and the fact that the engine delivers such lively performance.
Re:Treadwear ratings Gerapau,
Good point regarding treadwear ratings. I had michelin pilot XGT'S on my former car with a treadwear rating of 300. I got 43000 miles out of them. So I would expect to to get more mileage out of the michelin pilot sport AS (treadwear rating of 400) with similar driving habits and tire maintenance (i.e. balancing, proper tire pressure,etc.).
Another solution to getting a longer lasting tire (as mentioned above) is putting the GLE sized tire on the SE. The diameter of the GLE sized tire is not much different than the SE's stock tire. It is also much easier to find a better price on the GLE sized tire (not as rare) than the SE using TireRack pricing as a source.
I recently had my 2k maxima serviced at Jerry Rome Nissan in West Springfield, Mass...and am very happy with their customer service so I would recommend them to anyone in the area. the service rep wasn't too sure about my vibrating steering wheel when I asked him about a TSB on the brake judder but after I showed him the print out I had, he took down the tsb# and didn't ask anything else.... and now my steering wheel doesn't vibrate when I brake.
K&N air filter - I put one in my car about 12,000 miles ago and 2 days ago, the check engine lite came on... so I took it in and they reprogrammed the ECU.... they didn't say it was cause of the filter, but I assumed that it was since that's the only thing I changed and it wasn't because of the gas cap. I put mine in cause of cost, performance wasn't an issue with me but whatever extra performance I get out of it is a bonus. The question I have about the filter is, do you guys notice any dirt accummating on the filter? I noticed on the regular stock filter, you actually see how much dirt gets trapped by the filter, but on this K&N, it looks clean after 12,000 miles. any ideas?
Has anyone installed the 3M Clear Mask on their Maxima ? Please give full particulars such year of vehicle ( the older the better ) paint color, how long it's been on, etc. Has it turned yellow ? Has it cracked ? Have you taken it off ? What does the paint look like afterwards ? Your general thoughts and opinions would be appreciated !!
Last December, I rented a '02 Max SE for a few days when I was out of town, and fell in love with the car. Anyway, I hear the '03s are coming out soon (basically the same as '02), so I have two questions to anyone out there who may know the answers.
1. I've read in several places that the 'Majestic Blue' color is going away for '03; anyone "in the know" know if there is going to be a similar dark blue? I think it's an amazing color on that car. I like it so much, I'd kick out of my GMAC lease early to snatch up one of the '02s before they go away.
2. I generally liked the ride of the SE, but going at high-speeds over some rough highway was terrible. It felt like I was driving over raw buckboard. Is the GXE/GLE's ride softer, but still hold corners like the SE? I'd go test drive, but I have this strange guilt about joy-riding when I'm not actually ready to buy that day.
HI- I recently test drove a used 2000 Maxima SE at a dealer. The car drove great, but when I got in the back seat, I noticed that the leather seats said Infiniti on them. The dealer said that Nissan must have just put the wrong leather in, but I don't think I buy that. Does anyone have any insight on what this could mean?
Could be aftermarket leather. Someone bought the Maxima with cloth seats and had leather added at a later date. Probably thought the Infiniti embroidery was cool.
Thanks for the info! I guess I'd better get down to my Nissan dealer and see if there's a huge difference between the GXE/GLE's suspension and the SE. Although, it would probably still be cheaper to wait for the '03 SE, and then 'pad' the suspension if I don't like it then bail out of a lease 8 months early.
drove a altima 3.5 se and a maxima se today and was amazed on how they both performed almost the same. handling felt just as tight in the altima as the max in turns. did not push them to hard as the salesperson was with me and getting white in the face and holding the arm rest for dear life. i think the altima se may be a good choice for the money. does anyone have the same thoughts.
If the Maxima doesn't have the $1000 rebate anymore, then the Altima is a decent deal if you don't mind the interior. If the rebate is still in effect, then I would get a Maxima GXE or SE for the same price as an Altima 3.5SE but with a better interior and Xenon headlights. It really comes down to which one looks better to you, since they almost are the same car. If you're a stick driver, get the Max SE.
I own an 02 SE 6, Glacier Pearl, Leather, Bose, Sun, winter pkg, LSD - wow! I noticed hood movement at higher speeds, got out at gas stn, and hood actually jiggles if you grab it. Seems to be the latch as opposed to rubber dampers ommitted as someone mentioned before. Now 5800 miles on it, no troubles.
I too think the GLE rims look better, the SE's look, well, stock.
As far as smoothness, I just simply wait until I get perfect roads to open it up, (like DE or MD, they have great roads next to the most WORSE roads on the planet PA. Rough roads are harsh on the SE for sure. (but so is a Ferrari - heh heh!)
So for you racy types, this idiot in a Mustang GT Conv. went to pass me from behind on an entrance ramp on the hash marks, I was already going 70, shifted to 3rd from 4th and nailed it, and pulled away from him, I could hear his V8 screaming too! Took 3rd out to 105 and hit 4th, cannot imagine the top end on this car - would require a super-speedway I suppose!! (about 6500 RPM What a rush!) Still very smooth, and felt in full control.
Great story about the Mustang - I bet that guy was cursing! That's one of the things I love about the Maxima. It doesn't have speed written all over it, yet it manages to blow away cars which attempt to convey precisely that message.
You wrote you hit 105 in 3rd... Wow! I also have a 6-spd and I've done 85 in 3rd, but I was at redline. The manual says the suggested top speed for 3rd is 80. If I assume my reading was right, that means you hit about 8000 RPM. I'm impressed.
I was driving my friends' old Mustang 5.0 convertible a couple weekends ago and was unimpressed with the acceleration. Granted, it's 10+ years old and has some miles. I told him it was pretty quick, but my 01 SE could take it. He went on and on about how I was crazy and that he knew he could take me. We haven't had a chance to race yet, but my Max is much more responsive than the Mustang. When I stomped on it going 55, it didn't even act like it wanted to go any faster. It was definitely louder and acted like it had to try harder than the Max to achieve the same speed. Oh well, the above post made me think of this story. I'll let you guys know the results if we ever get a chance to square off. Smart money is on me though......
FYI: Murray Discount Auto Parts located in the Chicagoland area has a special deal if you purchase a K&N air filter. You get the cleaning kit, retails for $9.99, FREE.
Read your article about the the Altima test drive. I was in your same situation where I couldn't decide which way to lean. I have owned two Max's (96, 99) previously and after driving both I went with another 02 SE. The Altima was bigger on the inside, has great looking guages, and an excellent factory CD player. However, the ride in this car is way too STIFF! You will have to drive that on new pavement everyday not suffer backaches from the constant jolts. I also feel that car is way overpriced! I looked at a 3.5 SE in auto, with spoiler, and roof, and invoice was almost $24. Remember the base line Altima is only $16,999 and after a few years every rental company will dispose of these (4 cyl.'s) and the trade-ins will be around, and then I believe you'll find the 4 cyl. to be very cheap (in value) making it very difficult to sell a 6cyl. for $5,000 higher. The new 3.5 255 hp and body style in the 02 Max SE is awesome (except for the fish eyes in the rear) compared to the old style's and is less money than the Altima. I'm not bashing the altima here, I just don't believe it is a better buy than a Max. Remember there are no 4 cyl.'s in the Max line so they hold there values fairly well.
I have 02 SE with 600 miles on it.Love this car.This Sunday I checked oil level and had to add some. Did anyone have to do this? Manual says it is OK to add oil, but I have less than 1K miles.
Comments
such as www.tirerack.com and see who they have listed as their
tire installer in your area. Co-incidentally, this is what I did and the
tire store they listed for my area did a fantastic job. Again, no
guarantee, but they will probably do a better job than a car dealer.
I feel for you buddy !! Nothing I hate worse than to see the passenger
seat shaking and vibrating. Good luck !! Let us know how you make out !
I have:
1) 2k Max.........bulletproof
2) 94 Altima......bulletproof
3) 92 P'up.........bulletproof
I had:
1) 86 Max.........bulletproof
I think I see a car buying trend :-)
I've owned several Toyotas ( no Hondas), and in my opinion,
the Nissans have been superior to the Toyotas.
Also, if you do a lot of highway driving, like I do , and you are
surrounded by Dump Trucks spewing their loads all over your
car, you might want to try the 3M Clear Mask.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
MANY THANKS
ADDRESS
NAPANEERIVERBEND@SPRINT.CA
I have 2002 SE 6 SP with approx 2200 miles on it. I have been very impressed with the smoothness of the engine and how it fires right up when starting. As far as the hood vibration and paint chipping goes, I haven't noticed any hood vibration and it is too early to tell regarding the paint chipping (no problems so far).
A couple of things I have noticed about the car since purchasing it: there is wind noise coming from the back part of the car. It sounds like one of the back windows is partially open. I am going to have the dealer look at this. Also, if you purchase an SE, be prepared to pay some $$$$ to replace the stock tires. The stock tire is not only expensive to replace, it has a very low (160) trend wear rating. So be prepared to replace tires more frequently and at a much higer price. Why Nissan put such a rare size tire on this car is beyond me.
Agree with you, for under $25K, it's right at the top of the list...believe me, I looked for several months.
When it does come time I can suggest Michelin Pilot Sports (tread wear rating 400)in the same size. I ordered a set from Tire Rack.com and paid $202 each + shipping. Had them installed yesterday along with the SmartTire pressure monitoring system.
What an outstanding tire! Much quieter and smoother ride than the Potenza's that the car came with standard. Hasven't had a chance to really put them to the test yet (raining for two days) but I believe they're gonna be great.
Expensive, yes but when you consider they're the only thing between you and the pavement, might as well stay in as much control as possible.
The Smart Tire system is also outstanding. It provides both air pressure and air temperature in each tire (one tire at a time). For what it cost, I don't understand why manufacturers don't make this standard (or optional)equipment.
Scott
Was leaning toward the SE but the GLE with leather, moonroof and the 6-CD Bose was less than a similarly equipped SE. Purely personal preference, but I think the GLE interior is a bit nicer as well. And the auto-climate control and seat memory features are really nice creature comforts.
We LIKE this car. The V6 engine has a great reputation for reliability. The power with 255 HP, the Xenon headlights standard, the autodim rearview mirror, ABS standard, no sunroof (which we didn't want.) No problem with hood flapping (tighter than our 93 Accord hood), only one pinhead sized paint chip on the Max hood after 3K miles, and we get 28-29 mpg with mid octane gas. After seeing posts here that gas mileage goes up with higher octane, we might go with the premium. Our Honda 4 cylinder only gets 29-30 mpg and of course has a lot less power than the Max. Another major consideration in getting the Max is that it had way more room than the other sedans (Camry/ Accord) that we looked at. My husband is 6'3" & 240 lbs. He likes the shoulder room. We got the Max for close to the price if not better than the Altima with ABS because of the rebates. We paid $23,200 drive-out including $1300 tax. The Altima DOES NOT HAVE A CASSETTE player. The Max does. Small thing but it mattered to us. BTW, I *like* the way the Max looks from the rear with the round tail lights. Also the 02 Max is made in Japan and next year I think it will be made here. I can't help but wonder if that will affect quality as it has in other foreign makes. This is a great car!!!
11,500 miles and counting! Not one prob with my 02 SE!
Obi
But my GLE has 17" wheels and a spoiler with integrated light and no brake light on the rear deck, just a color coordinated plate ...
Thanks for the info on replacement tires for the Maxima SE. I will keep your suggestion in mind when I need to replace the stock tires. A treadwear rating of 400 sounds great for performance tires. One question though. Did you shop around a lot for the best price. Was tirerack.com the lowest price?
If so, what are the results of using one. Do you notice any difference in performance, mileage, etc? Is it worth the added cost compared to stock air filters?
I too installed a K&N filter on my SE for all the
reasons you cited. I've got about 60,000 on my SE
and have cleaned the filter a couple of times. Had
I stayed with the OEM filter, I probably would have
reinstalled "several" of them by now. Yes, I'm a
little "anal" about my car!
Re replacement tires posted by dllanecky. For
purposes of clarification............
Michelin offers TWO "Pilot Sport" tires. One is
simply called a Pilot Sport and the other is called
the Pilot Sport "AS." (all-season). The latter is
actually "W" speed rated while the first is "Z" rated. I believe dklanecky is referring to the
Pilot Sport AS @ $202.00 per tire @ Tirerack.com.
berbel
I was actually please that I personally knew the dealership I bought my SE from. They put GLE wheels from their loaner on my SE for $60! I also got away with the Turanza'a the loaner had. Both cars had about 4K on them when the swap was done.
Now I have an SE model wil GLE wheels! I looks really good. Plus, I have 20% tint all around. I could not feel a performance difference between the Potenza's and the Turanza'a, and I know the Turanza's will last longer.
Like I said before. One happy 02 SE owner here!
Obi
2002 Maxima SE (02 GLE wheels)
Sterling Mist/Frost Cloth
Dark Tint
11,500 "Passat Ripping" miles
I have a '98 Maxima GXE 5sp. with 69,000 miles. About 5
weeks ago after an oil change at the dealership, service
advisor told me the Power Steering suction hose is beginning
to leak. Since then I haven't noticed any drop in the P/S
reservoir and there aren't any squealing noises when turning
either.
Instead of breaking my wallet (BMW
fix this leak, should I go for one of those "Power Steering
Sealer" products? Has anybody had any experience with them?
They claim to not harm any steering parts and to cure leaks
within 200 miles of driving if the leak is minor? Are there
any drawbacks or pitfalls to using these prodcuts?
Thanks
For the size, weight and engine, I believe that's pretty good gas mileage.
Guiduan,
I have a 2002 SE 6sp with 2500 miles. The highest mileage I have obtained is 26 mpg with mostly highway driving. I use premium fuel and measure the fuel mileage after each fill up (don't use the trip computer). I am satisfied with the mileage so far given the engine hasn't been broken in yet and the fact that the engine delivers such lively performance.
Re:Treadwear ratings
Gerapau,
Good point regarding treadwear ratings. I had michelin pilot XGT'S on my former car with a treadwear rating of 300. I got 43000 miles out of them. So I would expect to to get more mileage out of the michelin pilot sport AS (treadwear rating of 400) with similar driving habits and tire maintenance (i.e. balancing, proper tire pressure,etc.).
Another solution to getting a longer lasting tire (as mentioned above) is putting the GLE sized tire on the SE. The diameter of the GLE sized tire is not much different than the SE's stock tire. It is also much easier to find a better price on the GLE sized tire (not as rare) than the SE using TireRack pricing as a source.
K&N air filter - I put one in my car about 12,000 miles ago and 2 days ago, the check engine lite came on... so I took it in and they reprogrammed the ECU.... they didn't say it was cause of the filter, but I assumed that it was since that's the only thing I changed and it wasn't because of the gas cap. I put mine in cause of cost, performance wasn't an issue with me but whatever extra performance I get out of it is a bonus. The question I have about the filter is, do you guys notice any dirt accummating on the filter? I noticed on the regular stock filter, you actually see how much dirt gets trapped by the filter, but on this K&N, it looks clean after 12,000 miles. any ideas?
particulars such year of vehicle ( the older the better ) paint color, how long
it's been on, etc. Has it turned yellow ? Has it cracked ? Have you taken it
off ? What does the paint look like afterwards ? Your general thoughts and
opinions would be appreciated !!
1. I've read in several places that the 'Majestic Blue' color is going away for '03; anyone "in the know" know if there is going to be a similar dark blue? I think it's an amazing color on that car. I like it so much, I'd kick out of my GMAC lease early to snatch up one of the '02s before they go away.
2. I generally liked the ride of the SE, but going at high-speeds over some rough highway was terrible. It felt like I was driving over raw buckboard. Is the GXE/GLE's ride softer, but still hold corners like the SE? I'd go test drive, but I have this strange guilt about joy-riding when I'm not actually ready to buy that day.
Thanks for any advice!
Thanks.
i think the altima se may be a good choice for the money. does anyone have the same thoughts.
I too think the GLE rims look better, the SE's look, well, stock.
As far as smoothness, I just simply wait until I get perfect roads to open it up, (like DE or MD, they have great roads next to the most WORSE roads on the planet PA. Rough roads are harsh on the SE for sure. (but so is a Ferrari - heh heh!)
So for you racy types, this idiot in a Mustang GT Conv. went to pass me from behind on an entrance ramp on the hash marks, I was already going 70, shifted to 3rd from 4th and nailed it, and pulled away from him, I could hear his V8 screaming too! Took 3rd out to 105 and hit 4th, cannot imagine the top end on this car - would require a super-speedway I suppose!! (about 6500 RPM What a rush!) Still very smooth, and felt in full control.
You wrote you hit 105 in 3rd... Wow! I also have a 6-spd and I've done 85 in 3rd, but I was at redline. The manual says the suggested top speed for 3rd is 80. If I assume my reading was right, that means you hit about 8000 RPM. I'm impressed.
Murray Discount Auto Parts located in the Chicagoland area has a special deal if you purchase a K&N air filter. You get the cleaning kit, retails for $9.99, FREE.
Read your article about the the Altima test drive. I was in your same situation where I couldn't decide which way to lean. I have owned two Max's (96, 99) previously and after driving both I went with another 02 SE. The Altima was bigger on the inside, has great looking guages, and an excellent factory CD player. However, the ride in this car is way too STIFF! You will have to drive that on new pavement everyday not suffer backaches from the constant jolts. I also feel that car is way overpriced! I looked at a 3.5 SE in auto, with spoiler, and roof, and invoice was almost $24. Remember the base line Altima is only $16,999 and after a few years every rental company will dispose of these (4 cyl.'s) and the trade-ins will be around, and then I believe you'll find the 4 cyl. to be very cheap (in value) making it very difficult to sell a 6cyl. for $5,000 higher. The new 3.5 255 hp and body style in the 02 Max SE is awesome (except for the fish eyes in the rear) compared to the old style's and is less money than the Altima. I'm not bashing the altima here, I just don't believe it is a better buy than a Max. Remember there are no 4 cyl.'s in the Max line so they hold there values fairly well.
If a WRX can be a Mustang GT, then an 02 Max SE can beat a WRX!
Thanks for the info!
Obi
Thanks.