Nissan Maxima 2004 Redesign

afty

I think the idea is that the G35 and the new Maxima will appeal to different customers. G35 is for people who value sport over luxury, and Maxima is for people who value luxury over sport. The I35 encroaches on the G35 in the same way today.

clpurnell

With infiniti going all rwd and no badge engineered cars the max is basically the I35 now. They may introduce a new car but what it will be is still a ? there is a large gap in the price of a loaded g35 (36k) and the base model m45 (43k) so there is room for another car.

dklanecky

How about replacing the Q45 with the M45 but offering an M35 version? (Basically the same platform, but with an engine option and maybe a stretched version for the "Luxury Limo" shoppers?)

Kind of like the "L" versions of the BMW's?

argonaut2

I can live with the grill, although I'm not crazy about it. I might be willing to part with $30+K, although that's a little steep. However, I do not like sunroofs, moonroofs, or the new glass top. Maybe Nissan could offer one without the glass top as an option, or special order. Probably cost extra though.

maxxed_out

I agree that you are aloud to complain about something you dislike. Its the american way. we NEED to do it. But you all costantly say it over and over and i kind of get anoid.

First time, you are interested on why you have a dislike for it, but know you are jus dissin the auto. Its still a max, and it will still live up to Max capabilities, with a little more, so we know ur mad bout it, but you dont need to be constant with it, I see your urge to complain, but seriously you come up with the same comment every time, and if your not gonna buy it, fine, we've heard it once, dont need to hear it again, it wont make Nissan change the grill(although most including i dislike it)
thats all

Also, the G35 sedan doesnt have 280? surprised...

hammer19

I went to the Detroit Auto Show and saw the new Max. Well, it's even uglier in person. The front end is bad enough but the interior looks totally out of place - too much shiny metal surfaces for this class of car, in my opinion of course. I'll keep my 2003 SE and maybe look at the Mazda RX8 for my next choice down the road. Sorry Nissan, you lost me unless you change. And what's with the price increase? They don't build cars anymore that regular folks can buy, do they? We may be forced to go "used" from now on. Of course, with our horrendous taxes in Canada, we're slowly becoming a third world country. My disposable income is dwindling at best. Sigh.

mirth

I agree about the price increase. Check out almost every newly released model, and almost all of them are $30,000 or higher. Unless they start releasing some new cars in the $20K category, my next car is going to end up being an Accord or something.

redkey1

A dealer in my area is obviously trying to get rid of 03's with heavy discounting. They have about 10 SE's with sunroof, splash guards and trunk / floor mats for $21,999 plus 0.9% APR. I'm thinking about jumping in now because of the crazy price increase on the '04 (for that price I go for a CPO BMW 5 series!) but my concern is that resale will drop and I'll be driving an outdated model that no one wants anything to do with (ex: 2001 Altima).

However, my logic stands as thus: unlike the 01 Altima, which was a cheap econo car. The 03 Max is a good looking, respectable sedan in its own right while the 04 will be a totally new design (doesn't even resemble the previous generations).

Thoughts?

wgr

I hope to buy an 03 at what I also hope is a big discount; but, I am waiting a few months until the 04 models are coming out. However with the discontent with the 04 model design and pricing, I hope I don't wait too long. The 03s may become more popular and the dealers won't have to discount them so much. ???

nissangirl

That is absolutely a possibility. I'm starting to wonder if the '03's will become "classics" - the final make from Japan.

achadha

I just read on nissanews.com that the first 04' Maxima rolled off the assembly block. Says they will be rolling to 1100 dealers in March still no actual pricing..Motortrend said starting at 28k but who knows...I think the price range they are talking about will be out of reach for most maxima owners

mariner7

A mag had a comparo of v6 family sedans last month. Camry came in over 32K, and it wasn't even the most expensive car there. That might have been the Passat. New Max probably will be 28-34K. Is that too expensive? I'll take the Max over Camry & Passat any day.

If you go below 28, you get Alty & its crappy interior. You also get the Accord V6 and its nice interior, but then again that Accord exterior design!

obiwankenobi1

Check this one out! I was thinking about it the other night:

I think a good reason why Japanese automobiles built in Japan are better than American built Japanese automobiles is the fact that Japan has no military. The agreement they signed after WWII stated that they are not allowed to have a military (or something that resembles that. I am not totally sure). Without having to spend any money on a military, think of how much more they can spend on building materials as well as the factories and people they employ at said factories. It now makes sense why the build quality in Japan would be better than here. I don't know how much the U.S. spends on military, but I would gather it is a quite impressive amount.

That said, I am gonna stick to the fact that products built in Japan are always going to be superior to Japanese products built stateside. It just makes sense to me.

Obi

nissangirl

Now tell us that our current Max's are going to be "Classic's" and be worth many thousands of dollars in 20 years......hopefull thoughts.

monte4

That want happen with the Max, Maximas are very popular and have a huge enthusiast following unlike the Altima. Maximas from gen 3 and 4 are still very popular and well saught used cars in good condition. Nissan Girl I think he means in classics in a recent sense say 4 or 5 years from now. Just look at the 89 it is a 14 year old design that still looks good and is popular on the used car market still

khoa

Nissan need to loose that "tooth" on the front grill ... hideous. Maxima 1st year models are always ugly and WILL BE refreshed.

corkfish

Motorweek said the new Maxima wil be rear wheel drive. Did they make a mistake? I won't buy a Maxima or an Altima becaue the torque steer is so bad.

afty

Yes, they did make a mistake. The new Maxima is FWD and based on the Altima platform.

If you want RWD, Nissan wants you to look at the G35 instead.

berbel

Astute observation.........

Yeah....go and look @ the G35 for 3-5 k more money.
I'm waiting to see the performance specs of the
'04 model Max compared to the G35. This could prove
to be an interesting scenario with the Max now rated @ 265 hp. What do you think?

berbel

mirth

I'm betting that torque steer will still be a problem in the new Max, unless you get a manual with limited slip.

I only find I get torque steer on my '02 if I gun it at 0-15 mph. It doesn't really bother me, but you have to be aware of it. I was willing to accept it in the current model Max is exchange for the higher horsepower, but I was hoping that they would address it in the '04.

corkfish

Yeah, I drove the G35 and loved it. I'm still waiting for the manual though and am hoping I can buy a base 6 speed for less than $29,000. I assume that the new Maxima will be heavier then its predecessor. I drove the 6 speed Maxima and liked the ride and the car was great on the highway, but again, the torque steer was awful. Maybe if the new version is a little heavier it will help, but I think I'm through will front wheel drive. Now that there are more choices, it's all wheel or rear wheel!

taste

I love the front grill on this car. I suppose all of the whiners out there who hate it will have to deal with it up or buy another car. I guarantee Nissan won't care either way. Why do I say this? Because the number of people who will buy the new Max BECAUSE of its design and feature will outweigh the number who boycott it because of their issues with the front grille. Give me a friggen break. It's a car. If you don't like it buy something else it is not as though there aren't enough very fine auto's in the Max price range. Some people will never be pleased by one design others will love it. Buy it or move on. In the end 2004 Sales will be the final barometer. I plan on buying it (or going for a steal on the 2003) as I know one is already a great car and the other will be. If your greatest concern is the stupid grill and not things such as safety, features, price then you should make the kind of money that can afford to buy a 75K+ car where the brand name and design of the car are more of a deciding factor in the decision then safety, features, price, etc... When you have money to burn then you can complain about grilles when you are spending 30K your just picking the pepper out of the flysh*t

hammer19

We "whiners" out here happen to be the people who spend the money to keep Nissan in business. If we don't like the car, for whatever reason, we can discuss it in this forum as well as make our feelings known to the Nissan Corp. Brand loyalty is important to car manufacturers all over the world. How do think GM or Honda stay in business, considering the dull crap they push out year after year? Buyer loyalty! So I think, in time, Nissan will heed the will of their consumers, especially if sales go down. And, by the way, I don't happen to like pepper in my flysh*t!....and maybe $30,000.00 USD is nothing to you, but that's $45,000.00 CDN, plus 15% tax, and that's almost a year's salary to us "whiners". So I need to be EXTREMELY pleased before I part with my hard-earned money. You must be very young.

taste

We "whiners" out here happen to be the people who spend the money to keep Nissan in business.

(taste)
Mnn so your point is what? Your a whiner? Whiners keep Nissan in business? You obviously care about the car deeply. If you decide to NOT buy the car because you don't like the front grille versus safety, price, features...well that is your prerogative.

If we don't like the car, for whatever reason, we can discuss it in this forum as well as make our feelings known to the Nissan Corp.

(taste)
I would certainly agree with you. Likewise others such as myself are free to make counterpoints to what we feel to be inane points.

Brand loyalty is important to car manufacturers all over the world.

(taste) Yes I would agree with that.

 How do think GM or Honda stay in business, considering the dull crap they push out year after year? Buyer loyalty!

(taste)
GM - Because they are one of two domestic US auto manufacturers and have been in the business a long time in the worlds largest car market. Second they are providing huge incentives and financing these days which is why they have actually INCREASED their marketshare (mostly at the expense of FORD) in the last year.

Honda - Reputation and product.

 So I think, in time, Nissan will heed the will of their consumers, especially if sales go down.

(taste)
This cannot be empirically proven on a car that hasn't even been released to the marketplace. Maybe you will be right. Maybe you will need some cheese with your whine when Sales increase...

And, by the way, I don't happen to like pepper in my flysh*t!....

(taste)
Uhmm... thing you misunderstood the analogy. I suggest you reread.

and maybe $30,000.00 USD is nothing to you, but that's $45,000.00 CDN, plus 15% tax, and that's almost a year's salary to us "whiners".

(taste)
How much you earn or do not earn is none of my business. My point is a simple one. If you are purchasing a mass produced car deciding not to buy it because of the front grille points to a lack of good decisionmaking skills in my book BECAUSE the purchase is not a superflous one for you. It is a major decision. If you have money to burn then you can buy on aesthetics because anyone who spends 100K+ for a car is not buying for functionality. They are buying for status, personal tastes, or just a whim.

So I need to be EXTREMELY pleased before I part with my hard-earned money.

(taste) Works for me. If you feel a very elegant front grille is your #1 priority for buying a car (over the above stated reasons) far be it from me to stand in your way.

You must be very young.

(taste) Maturity is not defined by age only enhanced by it. My age (as is yours) is irrelevant to this discussion.

hammer19

That's what I say, too. We understand each other fully......and don't be so sensitive. HEHEHE

taste

Great response Hammer and agreed. These forums are like a good stew in that every once in awhile they need to get stirred ;-)

nissangirl

I see you drive a Honda. Then it does appear that looks are not a factor to you.

Stir that.

obiwankenobi1

Good one Nissan Girl!! I will have to agree with you on that one!

Honda = Bland
Toyota = More Bland
Nissan = Exciting and Fun

Obi

nissangirl

LOL !!! I just couldn't help myself.

talon95

Now that's irony... the owner of a 2003 Maxima taking a condescending attitude towards someone else's taste in automotive styling.

lmp180psu

At least Nissan is trying to come up with designs that are more evolutionary, and not using elements of past designs that didn't work back then and certainly are not that successful now. I point to the new accord( a very well engineered car) with its Buick Skylark rear end, and the Acura TSX that is so boring , looks like a slightly upmarket Civic, and has tailights that look like a Kia Optima. Styling is a personal opinion but at least Nissan is trying to come up with unique elements in its designs.

taste

When you have a chance to step away from gorging yourself at the buffet line of ignorance perhaps I will discuss with you(as I have on other boards when someone comments on my Honda profile) that my other car is an Audi TT Roadster; I just don't stick it in other readers faces until they slag me for owning a Honda.

Speaking of Honda I did purchase a new Ody in 2003 because family transportation was needed. The NAV + Dealer added DVD is an incredible way to travel for space/comfort/and sanity. I don't care how uncool driving a Mini is I love it.

As for the Max it is a nice FWD drive sport sedan for the middle class. If you take it more seriously than that you are taking yourself far too seriously. Call me when you are ready to spend $50,000+ on a car and we can talk aesthetics.

kennyg5

A $50k car (such as a Hummer or Land Rover) is not necessarily better looking than a $30k car. For me, I think the Chrysler 300M looks great, unfortunately it has questionable reliability. On the other hand, I think the Max looks good and has excellent reliability. Different strokes for different folks, but one should avoid making general statements that can be easily discredited.

deanb1043

I'm not crazy about the grille, but I figure if I get a black 2004 maxima it will blend in. I can't wait to try out the manumatic transmission I love manual trannies, but the traffic jams in NY get very tiresome on the old clutch foot.

talon95

and the new Maxima is a perfect example. The rear end is a near dead ringer for the Ford Taurus... that's their idea of a "premium sports sedan"? And its profile makes it look like the big brother of the Saturn Ion. So if Honda has some styling inspirations that can be questioned, well, Nissan is hardly immune to that problem themselves.

clpurnell

Saw the max on nissan's sight and hated the grill. Saw it in person at houston auto show and it was tons better. Plus it was on a silver car which it blended in nicely with. I think the max will still be a winner.

mirth

"Why do I say this? Because the number of people who will buy the new Max BECAUSE of its design and feature will outweigh the number who boycott it because of their issues with the front grille. Give me a friggen break."

taste - that's YOUR opinion. Maybe you'll be proven correct, but don't preach it as gospel to us. Personally, I don't like the grill, but the main reason I wouldn't buy the new Max is the price increase.

obiwankenobi1

You aren't going to get anywhere on this board arguing against Maxima owners. You will lose that battle. I am not even going to start because I don't want to embarass you.

Do you drive an Eagle Talon or something? Sad....Very sad.

Obi

prayerfor

Several here have argued that, relative to Nissan, Honda styling is bland and boring. While I would agree, what this fails to recognize is that Honda has no incentive to introduce radical departures from their present designs, since their "recipe" (engineering, technology, price,and of course design/styling) is working.

Let's not kid ourselves: Nissan hasn't gone bold and aggressive with their styling of late purely for the sake of being bold and aggressive. They've done it to survive, because the direction they took in the '90s simply didn't work and nearly drove them out of business. Had the "old" Nissan been more successful, we would'nt be seeing such radical design changes today.

Put it this way: did the Buccanneers change their game plan at halftime of the Super Bowl? Only with slight tweaks, because it was working beautifully and they were winning the game. Were the Raiders forced to alter their game plan in response? Significantly, since they were getting killed.

Now, tell me -- between Honda and Nissan, which one is the Bucs and which is the Raiders in this analogy?

myrddin157

While browsing around the nissan-techinfo site, I managed to find the 2004 Owner's Manual. It gives you some useful information. Most of it is already known though. Here's the link.

http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/nissan/pdfs/og//maxima/2004-Nissan- -Maxima.pdf

Also, there is a link somewhere in that site to the 2004 Maxima Navigation system manual.

radarlove

Aaron Robinson, a writer for Car and Driver said it best..."These days, Nissan is like a circular saw dropped in Jell-O: Unusual shapes are flying in all directions."

mariner7

Well, it's very hard to tell. If you measure profit per revenue, Nissan was the more profitable company in 2002. Last year, Nissan stock rose 31%, the most of any automaker. Most auto stocks declined in the bear market, Toyota's went down by 16%. I don't have the number for Honda, but probably it declined by at least a little bit. Nissan is far from the weakling that it was!

They just have very different philosophies. Take their SUV's. The Hondas maximize the utility value, the Nissans maximize the excitement value. Both are probably near the top of the industry at what they do. Yes, Nissan did change strategy, and it's working incredibly well!

berbel

fond of the new grille either but will withhold
judgement until I actually see the car in person.
It can't be any worse than that of the Passat with
that huge "VW" placed in the middle or is it the
other design characteristics that seem to be displeasing so many?

berbel

nissangirl

Personally, I have to admit, that from what I've seen from some of my friends that own Honda's is totally quality and reliability. I have never owned a Honda, take that back, I have a Honda lawnmower...LOL! It's very old, and still going. But I have never purchased their vehicles. If the looks of my car didn't matter AT ALL, then I would consider a Honda. BUT I do prefer the whole package when I am spending around $26k , quality, reliability, appearance, and a bit of performance.

bartalk2

Nissan began manufacturing the '04 Max in Tenn. last week. Supply may be limited over the next year. They are producing 80,000 the first year. Last year Nissan sold 102,000 Maximas and 98,000 the year before. On the other hand, the '04s are more expensive and they've dropped the low-end GXE, so demand may be down.

92drexel

www.nissannews.com has a video of the '04 being produced. You guys should see that flimsy paint job...no wonder I have a billion chips on my hood, bumper, and mirrors!

nisinfiguy

What yall need to realize though, is that NOT ONE OF YALL has driven the new Maxima, (I personally cant wait!!) Personally, I would buy a Honda if I suffered from insomnia, b/c my best friend has a 2000 accord, and I have to say, its nothing more than just plain BORING!! On the other hand, my sister drives a 1995 Altima GLE, and I still jump at the bit to drive that car bc it is trully a fun car to drive. People can say what they want about how superior Honda reliability is to Nissan's, but to be quite frank, I DONT SEE IT. The '95 Altima has only been in the garage for flat tires, oil changes, brake jobs, etc..Your normal maintenance. I stand behind Nissan 100% when they take the more "radical" designs to their line-up...it turns heads. I get TIRED of seeing accords everywhere. The Maxima has not been reviewed yet, and looking back at the past Maximas, I think Nissan has a damn good idea of what they are doing...you dont change your flagship this radically unless you have doen your homework and know what the consumers want.
Nissangirl....GREAT POSTS!!
But if you look, everyone has completely bashed the interior of the Altima, but I dont see that hurting sales too much. I would DRIVE the new Maxima first before all the Nissan-Bashers pass judgement. I would be willing to bet its 10x better than previous models, although I have to say, I melt everytime I see a 2003 Max SE with Xenon headlamps, good show Nissan. Does anyone know if the 04 Max will have HID?! I hope so.
Finally, anyone seen the new Titan to come out this fall...Im not a truck person, but if I was, this would be at the top of my list for the interior, very nice.

maxamillion1

They are now optional. And the price of the damn car still will be higher. I'm telling you, the 2003 was a BARGIN for all the stuff you got.

afty

Check out the new issue (March) of Motor Trend. They have a comparison test between the Audi A4 3.0 Quattro and the '04 Maxima SE manual. Basically they said the Maxima was daring and overall a very good car, but they picked the Audi as winner.

The Maxima was reasonably fast, 6.3 seconds 0-60 with a 14.8 second 1/4-mile. Driving impressions were good; they said it felt more refined than the Altima, which is on the same platform. However, it suffered from torque steer just like the Altima does, and they suggested that it would benefit from the limited-slip differential or an AWD option. Estimated price as equipped was $34k.

nisinfiguy

Man, that kills me to hear they arent standard anymore on some models...AHH! I think that made the Maxima and even the Altima look REALLY classy. That is one of the things Nissan did do that Toyota and Honda did NOT do, the Xenons. Oh well!! How much does that option add to the price? Bc if it is more than $1,000 I would have them put in aftermarket for about $800 USD.