Thanks cmd. Edmunds shows the TMV to be over 27K and that seems about 2K too high. In my area (N.Va) they are advertizing SEs w/ sunroof for 21,900. That would make the vehicle I'm looking for around $25K. I'm going to test drive an SE, GLE, and Accord today. I know I can get an Accord for just over 23K. I'd prefer the max, but not for 4000 more.
lilelvis- what model accord are you finding for 23K? Would that be the EX? I'm seing the LX advertised in NY metro are for just under $18K. I like the accord's features, but I'm not so crazy about the new design + the fact that the V6 is an option on the LX. Nissan only offers the 3.5L 255HP V6 on all Maximas
I think once you test drive the maxima you'll make up your mind. I've had 7 Nissan in my family in the past 10 yrs. (2 pathfinders, 5 Maximas) and all of them have been great cars. The 2002 I've driven is a rocketship.
Six months ago I got a loaded GLE (w/o nav) for $3700 off sticker. I paid cash and no other fees except tax and registration. The same car may probably be bought now for $4500 off sticker because the 2004s are out, but you may be limited in choice of color and options. Dealers tend to charge a bit more (few hundred dollars) if you pay cash, because they are not getting profits from finance charges.
I think the real market price difference between a loaded Maxima and a loaded Accord (EX V6) is about $1500 to $2000 (not $4000). I believe the Max is worth it because you get a better engine, xenon lights, heated steering wheel, auto exit system and other creature comforts. If you choose the GLE, I don't think you will have torque steer. I don't drive the SE manual, and I heard that torque steer may be present in that car if you floor the gas pedal from full stops. At highway passing speed (30 to 70 mile range), you should not have torque steer even if you accelerate hard.
In sum, you can't go wrong with either car since they are both great cars for the money. Test drive both cars before you make your decision, but you must act fast before the 2003 Maximas run out.
by far the best improvement you can make to a Maxima for the money. I have them on both the 95 GLE and the 00 SE.
The confidence they inspire with virtually flat corner handling is very noticeable to anyone who drives the car or even rides with me around a few corners. It's also very noticeable in everyday around town driving.
I don't race the car(s) so I can't vouch for the specific performance increase but it would be my first modification on any Maxima.
i love my 2k maxima gle... i think all i want to do is add the HID lites from the 2k2 and that's it...it'll be the perfect car for another 10 yrs... for me anyways...
my friend just bought a 2 door accord ex with leather and spoiler for 22,200 plus dest charge 500... in nyc... FYI
Thanks for all the info . . cmd - The 23K figure came from the accord groups where several postings have the EX-V6 (no nav) for around 23,200. I do prefer the max as does my wife. I just don't know that I will prefer it $4000 more (if that is actually what the difference is). I can live with 2000 more. The test drive is going to be the key factor (for both me and my wife). I own both a nissan and acura and have been happy with both (although I do believe Honda quality is better - albeit no so much that I would hesitate in buying the max over the accord). I like the HID lights and heated mirrors, but really I like that the max is bigger than the accord. I plan to really test the max to see if torque steer or the rear end will be an issue. But when it comes down to it - it is still a family car more than a sports car so I don't think either will be an issue for daily driving.
How many of the posters on this board are potentially internet sales reps for dealers? Seems like a pretty easy was to spread disinformation to the public.
I'm sure all these internet sales reps read Edmunds.com every day.
I had requested an online quote through carsdirect two days ago and when I spoke to the dealers internet rep he asked if I had been on edmunds. I wondered the same thing you did. I think even if someone was inclined it wouldn't do much good because if they posted a high figure there still would be several real consumers posting true comments. Plus, they probably don't care about other areas of the country. Although I'm sure the internet rep I spoke to could figure out that I am the same person he spoke to on the phone. We'll know when someone says $3000 over invoice is a good deal.
I paid 16,125 for an SE with everything but Nav..sticker was 30,541. The local dealer is advertising $4500 off sticker with 0.9% financing on all 03 maxima's. I've had mine for 2 weeks now..great car.
The local dealer is Bob Howard Nissan in Edmond, OK if you want to check it out on-line.
In my experience, I don't think dealers like internet savvy shoppers too much. For example, before I bought my 03 Max, I also cross shopped the Acura RL, which at that time was about $7000 off MSRP, according to carsdirect.com (Acura was giving $4000 incentive because RLs were moving very slowly off showrooms). When I first stepped in the dealership, I was only offered $2k off MSRP and the salesman said he was already giving me a good deal. What a liar!! When I told him about cardirect.com, he said the best he could do was $6k off MSRP. I did not like my shopping experience there, even though I liked the RL and the mid 30s price for a luxury car.
The dealership where I bought my Maxima was more honest. They quoted me a price which was only a couple hundred dollars over carsdirect.com, and when I told them that I am a repeat customer (I bought my 97 GLE there too), they knew that I was serious and struck a deal immediately.
The internet and Edmunds certainly are great tools for car buyers, and anyone who buys a car without first visiting this forum is doing it at his or her own risk. Thanks Edmunds!!
The previous poster paid $10000 less than an average buyer. It is either a typo or the dealership owner is his dad and he is getting a gift.
well... after reading a few post on here and have been thinking bout getting a FSTB for my 2k GLE, i think im going to get it this weekend... seems like the Stillen one cost about 180 and the one from courtesy is about 50..... why the huge difference? i could understand stillen being a better quality..but by that much?
for all the people that have a FSTB installed, which did you buy? if u bought others brands..please let me know what they are. thanks,kyle 2k maxima
I have two of the FSTB's from courtesy nissan. Whe I bought the first one (95 GLE) it was about $80 with shipping and the 2nd one (00 SE) was about $100 with shipping. Are they really down to $50?
The stillen one looks better (in some people's opinions) but I'm not displaying the engine compartment of my Maxima so I don't care what it looks like, only how it works!
What is Nissan offering on the Max this month? Still $1,000 rebate and 2.9% over 60 months? Seems like there are still a lot of '03 Maxs on the lots, I'm hoping the offers have been sweetened? Anyone know?
I was told the $1000 and 2.9% (can be used together) is good until Monday. However, that same rebate is supposed to expire each month and they just renew it. So I imagine on Monday the incentive will be the same (or even better). I drove both the max and accord today and thought both were good cars (I can't say that either one amazed me). I really didn't find torque steer to be an issue. I accelerated pretty hard from a rolling start and thought it was a non-issue. I'm sure it would be more pronounced from a stop, but it seemed like it wouldn't be a problem. Same for the rear suspension. I'm sure hard turns on rough pavement may make the difference more apparent - but for daily driving it wouldn't concern me. The Accord was smaller, but the seats were better and it had dual zone climate control, and the layout seemed a bit more intuitive. The max has heated mirrors(nice, but no big deal) and memory seats. Strange as it may sound - my decision may come down to the fact that there are limited int/ext color combinations on the accord. We don't want black leather, but don't like the gold color. Black exterior looks nice, but not sure I want that either. Haven't talked numbers on the max yet. The cars were so close that I don't want to spend that much more for a max (otherwise I'll just spend more and look at TL). Might even look at a 6 or camry. Too many really good cars and none much better than the rest. BTW - I assume mikey38 meant 26K or it was a joke based upon my previous post.
I've been on an Edmunds boards for the quite some time and found them quite useful for the variety of reasons. Here is my searching/buying experience for what it worth. I had a Mazda 626 5 door hatchback a nimble nice car never had any mechanical problems with it aside normal wear and tear. When I started to look for a new car I wanted something slightly bigger and more luxuries. My natural choice was Mullenia. Test drove it liked it amenities quality made in Japan e.t.c. almost signed a buyer's order, thought about it overnight and canceled it. The reason being small displacement engine 2.5L for the relatively big car, I didn't want to take a chance with a S model because of Turbo. Then I started looking for the new TL/TL-S or Maxima/I35 or used BMW 528/530 and Lexus GS400. With the used cars especially these ones it's hard to find good low miles not abused car around for the budget I set aside $30k give or take. So I was left with a choice of TL or Maxima. I also briefly looked at new loaded Altima 3.5SE, Passat V6 GLX and Infinity G35. Altima was a big turn-off because of interior materials, I understand they need to save some money somewhere, but not like these, they truly can compete now with chevy/pontiac with such interior. I looked hard at Passat for some time; test drove it, was nice all around, almost set my mind on it, but then decided against it. Engine is on a small side too little content for the too much money, and the biggest turn-off was reliability. Some posters on a VW board suggested entering VW dealership through the service department to see these unlucky owners before making final decision. Infinity G35 was a nice car dimensions was good, reliability, engine 3.5L, then when I looked, sat in a car I realized that some !@#$ genius at Nissan design bureau made the driver seat/place narrower than the passengers. Not being a chubby I felt myself squeezed!!! In my judgment it was a perfect way to kill sales to a lot of people of otherwise good car. So it was left to 2 contenders TL and Maxima. I looked at TL 1st I liked the engine auto/manual shifting transmission but then again 2 biggest turn-offs the shortcuts Honda made on interior materials audio/climate controls it's practically a joke. But biggest of all it was the seating position. It felt like you're seating in half/cave and roof like a hat you're wearing, not being a tall guy 5.8, it really was odd no matter how I played with the seat adjustment I couldn't find a comfortable spot. For a change I went to Honda dealership to seat/drive in fully loaded Accord V6 it felt more comfortably. So finally it was Maxima; the seating position, view, driving acceleration was everything looked great. I finally decided on what car to buy at late fall, but then rumors of a new redesign 2004 maxima surfaced. After seeing a spy photos I realized it isn't for me, it's like a contest who makes the most ugliest car, an Accord had a prize for a few month but Nissan decided to take it away. Anyway to make already long story short I searched on Nissan web site who of the nearest dealers has the sizable inventory of fully loaded except NAVI SE and GLE. Found a couple of dealerships within a driving distance. The 1st dealership I stopped by I test drove both SE and GLE for about an hour. Didn't find a noticeable difference in driving/handling. So decided to stop on GLE, I like the 7 spoke alloys better 6 spoke on SE, the spoiler I always can get later. They had all options and color combination I wanted. Pretty much it was a loaded car with MSRP of 30,022 that the highest for GLE the only difference with SE is a spoiler about 500 extra. After much back and forth between sales guy, manager and finance manager I got the car for 25,100 with only NY tax and DMV fees extra with the total out of the door cost of $27,370. I took a Nissan finance Loan of 21,000 with 2.9% rate for 4 years the rest I put down. So far it's been 3 weeks, it's like a swiss clock I'm counting miles till the break-in period end so can apply some weight to the gas pedal. As I said earlier that was my experience for what it worth.
Is everyone including the 1000$ rebate when stating dealer quotes. It sounds like the 2003 are going for 3.5-4 grand under MSRP before the rebates. 5 grand under which some are claiming must include the rebate. Sound about right to everyone?
too funny. the dealer i was at the other day had an 02 holdover 6 speed i test drove that stickered at 27.3k....the 'best price' was 24.5k (this is an 02 remember)...what a crock.....no leather.....ugly color....what should i offer these guys, like 18 grand or is that even too much. No doubt though some idiot will give them asking price.
Thanks for the great info. Sounds like your search went like mine is going. We're going to test drive a TL today. I felt the same about the SE and GLE - I didn't notice much of a difference. So you end up paying more for a similarly loaded SE. 25.1K sounds like a very good deal - that is about what I was expecting - so it is nice to hear about actual numbers from somebody. I guess the frustrating part is that I was hoping the test drive would make the decision easier. Both were nice cars, but I can't help but feel if I get one I will miss the amenities of the other. One side of my brain is telling me that I'm not getting much for $2000 more, but the other side is saying get the car i like whether it is 23 or 25 (or 27 for a TL). The only saving grace is you can't really go wrong with any of them (and you don't notice how ugly the accord is when you sit in it!). If the max had the side airbags and dual climate this decision would be easy.
I think 25 for a max is a great deal... considering what you're getting for your buck... the TL has nice seats and all, but it doesn't match the performance of the maxima until you're looking that the TL-S which i'm sure it's more than 27k. The TL is also very bland looking, it almost blends in with all the other sedans out there...
I wouldnt even consider the new 4 door Accords, they're just butt ugly.. there's just something about the rear half of the car and the way it's shaped.. the coupe doesn't look half as bad but 23k for that car? i don't think so..
one thing you mentioned that you don't care for were they heated mirrors.. let me tell you, i was in the same boat as you, who cares about heated mirrors..not a big deal, it's one of those things that you won't miss unless you've had it...on a snowy day or a rainy day, you'll learn to appriecate how great those outside mirrors work. i'm a sucker for safety, and if your mirrors are completely clear, no rain drops on them, you'll see your surrounding better. like i said, u won't miss having them unless u had them before..
good luck with whatever you choose... i currently have a 2k maxima gle and will wait probably a yr or two and get the Z or the G35C.
I bought it from Major Nissan in Garden City Long Island. Johny Dietz was my sales person, nice guy not spoiled yet. But you got to be firm with the sales and finance managers, these muchahos through at you every trick they got under the sleeve. Just stay firm and hold your ground, they got nowhere to go. Let me know when you get a good deal on GS400. Just kidding.
I also cross shopped the TL. It is a very nice car for the money (pretty much everything comes with the car except nav). If Acura has fixed the tranny problem (and no one is really sure whether it has been done), the TL would be an excellent choice if you don't care about the fold down rear seats (standard in the Max) and the slightly crammed feeling inside. The advantage TL has is a longer warranty (needs it if tranny is a problem) and the independent suspension. For me, I prefer the Max reliable and sweet engine and I can live with the suspension 'cause I am not an aggressive driver.
BTW, the GLE comes with side airbags, and like Kyle says, heated mirrors are nice in the rain and snow (both TL and Max have this feature).
Went to drive the TL and the dealership was closed. I was shocked to see a car dealer closed on a Sunday especially after missing several weekends with the snow. I take it from the previous post that the TL does not have fold down rear seats. That may not be a deal breaker, but that is a big deal to me. It also does not seem to have the dual zone climate control. I do think the heated mirrors are nice - especially with frost in the mornings. But of the differences in the max and accord, it wasn't a major factor. I didn't realize the GLE has the side airbags - that really helps. (I also think the TL has just one memory setting for the seat - the max has two and both my wife and I will drive it). I really wish the max had the dual climate - but I guess with the heated seats it isn't that big of a deal.
yep.. when i got my max in 2000, it's included in the meridien package... i dont know if they package it like that anymore or if it's standard.. it should be!
ybt, i assume u'll be making $488 to $500 payments a month?
Hey, If safety is your issue, then I don't recommend the Maxima. Go to www.highwaysafety.com and check out the car crash ratings, you'll see that the Maxima doesn't do all that great. The TL is actually safer then the Maxima. I'm not saying that the Maxima is a bad car cause I have a 03 SE model, just saying that the safety ratings is better for an acura tl and don't go by if the car has two air bags or four air bags.
Lilelvis- Yesterday, I also test drove an 03 Maxima SE and an Accord EX V6. I'm thinking I like the Accord EX better than the Maxima now. The interior on an Accord LX looks cheap + the 4cyl engine is too slow, but the EX V6 is right up there with the Max for a few grand less.
I was quoted $24K for an '03 Accord EX V6 w/ Leather (included already in EX V6 I think). Have you been getting better prices than this for an Accord? Has anyone else also?
My experience at the Nissan dealership was typically unpleasent and full of lies & BS. I'm not sure how Nissan dealers are in other parts of the country are, but everyone of them (6) I've been to in NY, LI area are all scammers, with the same BS routine.
I went to the dealership (Legend) who quoted me $23,091 over the phone (for an SE with Titanium and Sunroof), to check out the deal, but of course when I got there, (after they made me wait for 30 minutes) things were different.
I was planning on doing a lease based on $23,095 (quoted price), but when I got there, suddenly the aquistion fee jumped from $495(as quoted on the phone)to $795. I pointed this out to the sales rep and he suggested that maybe I had it wrong "since I had spoken to so many dealers, maybe I was confusing them all." Not only was he trying to scam me, he was now insulting me by implying that I was a moron..Nice huh!
Since I was planning on leasing, I asked for all the numbers that factor into the lease (money factor,residual, lease term, mileage). Based on the price I was quoted ($23,091), the montly lease payment they arrived at, $314.19 a month was way too high. Using a few different lease calulators & guides I got from the net, I had my monthly payments coming out to be about $265 a month.
When I asked what cap cost he was using, the sales guy gave something like $25,200, which was about $2K higher than the orignal quote. I again questioned why this was higher and I got a song & dance about how the price on a lease is higher than the price for a cash purchase or finance price. Everything I've read on the internet has told me that this is not true.
Tired of the scams and lies, I picked up my stuff said thanks and walked out. I am so frustrated with the entire car buying experience and all its deception and haggling. The leasing process in itself is so complicated, that it seems almost impossible not to get scammed.
While I think Nissan's cars are great, I feel that all of their dealers are scammers, based on all the ones I've been too. They all have the same MO and will try everyway possible to rip you off.
Sorry you're getting the runaround cmd. I've heard bad things overall about Nissan dealerships. Ironically, I preferred the Nissan place to the Honda dealership I went to. Of course, I haven't talked numbers with either - and that's were they pull their stuff. I requested a carsdirect quote from the nissan place but haven't actually received a quote yet. I did the same last night for an I35. Not exactly sure what the I35 will go for, but I would probably be willing to pay 1500 more for it. I also think the honda interior was every bit as nice as the maxima (actually liked the seats better - even though they don't have memory). But those tailights! Based upon discussions on these boards I figure an Accord EX-V6 should be about 23,100 (I don't know if that would include destination). And from the earlier post, I think a GLE w/o nav would be around 25,100. But again, I am basing that on others' numbers. I don't think you get much more for the 2grand. But that being said, $2000 one way or another doesn't matter if you don't like the car. There are things I like and dislike about both. That's why I am going to look at the I35. I know it's just a dressed up GLE, but maybe there will be something in it that I really like - and therefore won't mind paying 2000 more for it. Maybe it will be more comfortable seats or maybe it will be a stupid clock in the dash that you can't see at night
cmd74 - I agree with you - most Nissan dealers in LI and NYC are rather frustrating to deal with.
Legend are probably one of the worst dealers out there. (I bought my Maxima there.) Don't even think of going there for service. They ARE bad.
I find Habberstad Nissan in Huntington semi-decent as far as service goes. Just check your lug nuts after every tire rotation - they over tighten them, which in turn leads to warped rotors. Also they constantly over (or under) fill fluids - last time I got too much A/T fluid and not enough coolant when I went for A/T and coolant change. Also they constantly top up the wiper fluid with water. That worked great until this winter when the wiper fluid froze! Oh, and don't let them change the dust and pollen air filter - you'll get a number of rattling noises after that - you'll end up tightening everything yourself. Oh, and finally they will try to deny any warranty work.
But as I've said, they are not too bad compared to the other Nissan dealers.
If I were to do it all over again I would probably buy an Infiniti. Actually, I am going to bring my Maxima to the local Infiniti dealer, to see if they are any better.
I certainly miss my previous BMW! Incidentally, my dealer was Habberstad BMW, and they were the best dealer ever. I did have more problems with my BMW, but I was very happy with the service.
Thanks for the info sgrd0q- I drove past Habberstad Nissan after I left Legend yesterday, but I was so fed up with Nissan, that I just drove right past.
I think I'm done with Nissan all together now. Its just too much of a hassle and a not a pleasant shopping experience at all. I'm thinking of looking at Passats now to compare with the accord. I don't know to much about them, but they seem a little higher in price if you match them up option to option with the Accord EX V6.
As for getting a car serviced at a dealer, I don't think I would ever do it. They overcharge so much for every type of service, and as you said, they are prone to do things wrong, probably in an effort to get you back in there. I go to my local mechanic, who's way cheaper, & a lot more trustworthy.
I bought my '97Max at the Nissan dealer in Smithtown, L.I. Actually a fairly pleasant experience because I had an honest salesman (now gone elsewhere). Service dept not bad; fewer ripoffs than one might expect, and they did honor whatever warranty claims I had. Nonethless, be alert and stay informed. The informed customer is least likely to be cheated.
As unhappy as you seem to be over Nissan, I can't imagine you would like a VW experience. You deal with buying the car once so suck it up if it's a bad experience. You'll be dealing with servicing the car for the next 2,3,4,...how many years you planning to keep your next car? At least a Nissan is fairly reliable. A Honda (Accord, Civics have gone a bit downhill) is even better. VW (and Audi), on the other hand, tend to have all sorts of electrical problems...which tend to be the most frustrating in my opinion, since they are often hard to diagnose and hard to even duplicate once you're at the dealer.
Thanks for the input re the after market stuff. Really appreciate the food for thought you guys contributed!!!
kyleknicks: You mentioned getting the HID's installed on your Max. Have you looked into this seriously? How much, parts and labor, would this put you back?
well..the HIDS from Courtesy Nissan sells for about 1200 bucks right now.. but I think I could have my gf's connection and get them alot cheaper... maybe around 600 to 800. So i figured it would be a $1000 upgrade on a car that i love everything about.
If i trade my 2k max in for a new one, i would lose god knows how much $$. I would probably only get about 13,000 for it even though it's got every option on it except the cd changer.
there are numberous websites/pictures on the net that show 2k or 2k1 maxima's with the HIDS installed.. and let me tell ya, they look really good.
If you do decide to get the HIDs, you might check with your auto insurer about something called 'modification insurance'. If those HIDs are stolen, you're out the $ because they aren't part of the standard equipment of the car. Just something to think about...
Thanks for responding to my inquiry. $1200.00 is a lot for headlights, esp. since I don't have any "connections." That doesn't even factor in the labor costs incurred with installation.
vocus: How sure are you about that insurance rider? If I were to completely rip out my Bose system and have someone install something from Nakamichi which would be a "permanent part of the car," I would think that my carrier would have the same obligation to insure it that they had with the Bose system. Where am I wrong?
well, i look at it this way... how much would it cost me to trade in my 00 maxima for a 03 maxima? maybe 10G's? the only thing i've had serviced on my car was the warped rotors... i have 35k miles on it so far and it's been perfect.. and the only thing i would want upgraded were the much brighter lites.. i think it would make my night driving alot more enjoyable so it might be worth the money. the extra 33 horses isn't worth the other $9000..who uses that many anyways?
I know when one gets custom stereo equipment put in, that's definitely not covered. I know alot of people who invest 1000s in their cars (from my VW car club) and they all have the insurance I spoke of. It's not really that expensive either.
EDIT: I just called State Farm (my ins. company) and asked if I added HID lights to my Jetta (which I would import from Europe if I wanted to pay $1100 for them) if I would need special insurance. My agent said no, but to hold onto the receipts for the stuff to prove you paid for it, should there be a loss. This might differ though, because I know people who have modification insurance on their cars...
just had my rear corner windows serviced for wind noise.... I must say Jerry Rome Nissan's service dept (west springfield,MA) is quite good. Unlike the dealers in NYC, the first thing out of their mouth isn't, you'll have to pay for it.
so I quickly checked out the Z350 in the showroom... man!!! the thing is beautiful.. I like all 3 colors I saw, the silver, electric blue ( I know they call it something else), and the maroonish. very sharp! I can't wait to get it in a few years.. hopefully, the price won't be too much more. the ones I saw in the showroom were all touring models going from 34K to 36K. I'm just wondering how the car's going to handle weather like we been having lately.. rain, snow storms. I don't think the 18inch rims will help with traction... definitely a summer car. oh...one thing I noticed, that cover on the center console where the navi is.... if I get it with the navi, I would never close that cover..and if I didn't get the navi system, I would never open the cover... that thing is CHEAPPPPPPPP.. it's like one of those bread boxes where the sliding door.. almost like a garage door... but there doesn't seem to be any tracks for it to guide on... I have no doubt it'll break more than once during the life of the car... but other than that.. the volt meter, oil pressure have individual pods sitting on top of the center console.. very nice touch.. I will definitely be looking into this car when they start selling it near invoice.. and not MSRP.
I've been out of touch with Edmunds for awhile and I was curious to see if anyone has experimented with Xenon bulbs in a 2001 Max...Do you need a converstion kit to do this? and is it very expensive...Also is there a briter replacement bulb for the foglites...Let me know...Thanks...Joe D.
I am very sure you would need some type of conversion kit to go to xenon headlamps. I have experience in putting these lights into VWs, but not Nissans. I know you need different wiring for the lights in the VWs, so it's probably about the same in the Nissan. The kits, including lights and all, cost about $1100 for VWs, but don't know the price for the Max's kit (if there is one).
smazzy4, Was the $25400 for a SE or GLE? In addition, does that price include the $1000 rebate? What options were included? I live in Dallas and intend to purchase a SE loaded without the Nav system by the end of this month. Based on internet research from Edmunds, Cars.com, CarSmart.com, CarsDirect.com & Intellichoice, I figure a fully loaded SE without the rebate and including hold-back should be around $26000. Does everyone else agree or disagree? Based on that figure, $25400 would be a great price including rebate.
We've been looking for a couple of weeks to replace our family sedan. Looked at Mazda Millenias, now orphans so some good deals out there, Mazda 6, new style, not selling so some deals, also looked at Volvo S60 and S80, considered Audi, Benz, and Passat. Decided to look at the Max. We're not concerned about last year of the "old" style causing depreciation as we usually keep our cars 6-8 years. One of our dealers has an SE, with all packages except the Nav and heated seats and wheel. We live in Austin TX area so wouldn't have wanted the heat and we both know how to read maps, so didn't want nav. He wants 27900, which is about TMV according to Edmunds, although I think there might be more in there since the $1000 rebate started. I never have bought new and the dealers really POd us wanting a "documentation" fee. Excuse me, it's one form for Texas, I'll fill it out and you sign it for free I said. So I got to PO him a little too. Also I talked to a private party in Abilene, a few hours away with the identically equipped car, different silver color, he wants $25K, sounds on the phone like he'd take less. Only has 5500 or so miles.
BTW, I rate the above listed cars, Mazdas, Maximas, etc about equal on longevity and quality. My wife prefered the Max feel and finish over the Mazdas, less than the Benz, above the Avalon and comparable sized Lexus (overpriced in my view). How do these prices sound to you all. I have no fears on the private party sale and I'd prefer to deal with him than the dealer. Thanks for your help and hope to be back in a day or so as a newbie to Nissan. The last time I owned a Nissan it was a Datsun (1972 pickup truck). windy6
Just bought an '02 GLE w/ 71k, mostly highway, miles and fairly complete service records. Only additional options were sunroof/deflector and rear splash guards. It also has a 100k extended warranty that I'm in the process of trying to get transferred. Picked it up for 14.5. The interior is a solid 9+ out of 10, but the exterior has some minor issues... 3 of the alloys look like they were parallel parked into a curb (cosmetic only, the car tracks and rides fine), some minor scratches here and there...still a solid 8. Sound like a decent deal?
Speaking of wheels, does anyone have experience with getting alloys refinished? Are any of the places I've seen on the web worth being w/o your car for a week+ while the wheels are refinished? Also, the tires have about 10k left in them--looking for recommendations on tires that will last long (40k+) and ride reasonably well with good wet handling, won't be driven in snow.
Other than that, the thing goes like the wind and is one of the few cars w/ a sunroof that I don't hit my head on (read: TL, etc). 80 mph never felt so slow.
The sticker on the car your looking at loaded SE less Traction control, Nav, and Meridian, is (should be) $29,784 with an invoice of $26,752. I believe there is also a $1000 rebate on the Maxima taking your invoice down to $25,752. (The dealer is still making the holdback money of 3%.)
I think if you go back over this board for a few weeks you'll see practically no one is paying even invoice, they're all below.
For reference (and maybe getting a much better deal) go to carmax.com, and search for a Maxima SE with the same sticker price and see what they'll charge you for it (with a no haggle policy).
They only have Nissan stores in Greenville and Washington DC but you can still use their pricing as leverage to make a better deal with your local dealer.
Example from Greenville Carmax stock #1660059:
2003 SE MSRP $28,344 selling today at $24,148.
You should take a long test drive over the same road with both the SE and the GLE. The SE has a much firmer ride than the GLE which some people (like me) like and some find too harsh.
IMO, the Maxima is way more car than the Mazada and you'll most likely agree with that statement after you've had yours for a couple of hundred thousand miles!
They're awesome vehicles and great deals are out there right now as the body style, design, and manufacturing plant is changing for the 2004's.
Comments
Add the dealer invoice prices for Leather $1347 & Meridian $346 for your car.
I'm not sure what "dealer fees" would pop up though.
Does Nissan charge an advertising fee, A dispostion fee, Also does anyone know if NMAC leases include GAP coverage?
I think once you test drive the maxima you'll make up your mind. I've had 7 Nissan in my family in the past 10 yrs. (2 pathfinders, 5 Maximas) and all of them have been great cars. The 2002 I've driven is a rocketship.
I think the real market price difference between a loaded Maxima and a loaded Accord (EX V6) is about $1500 to $2000 (not $4000). I believe the Max is worth it because you get a better engine, xenon lights, heated steering wheel, auto exit system and other creature comforts. If you choose the GLE, I don't think you will have torque steer. I don't drive the SE manual, and I heard that torque steer may be present in that car if you floor the gas pedal from full stops. At highway passing speed (30 to 70 mile range), you should not have torque steer even if you accelerate hard.
In sum, you can't go wrong with either car since they are both great cars for the money. Test drive both cars before you make your decision, but you must act fast before the 2003 Maximas run out.
The confidence they inspire with virtually flat corner handling is very noticeable to anyone who drives the car or even rides with me around a few corners. It's also very noticeable in everyday around town driving.
I don't race the car(s) so I can't vouch for the specific performance increase but it would be my first modification on any Maxima.
my friend just bought a 2 door accord ex with leather and spoiler for 22,200 plus dest charge 500... in nyc... FYI
cmd - The 23K figure came from the accord groups where several postings have the EX-V6 (no nav) for around 23,200.
I do prefer the max as does my wife. I just don't know that I will prefer it $4000 more (if that is actually what the difference is). I can live with 2000 more.
The test drive is going to be the key factor (for both me and my wife). I own both a nissan and acura and have been happy with both (although I do believe Honda quality is better - albeit no so much that I would hesitate in buying the max over the accord).
I like the HID lights and heated mirrors, but really I like that the max is bigger than the accord. I plan to really test the max to see if torque steer or the rear end will be an issue. But when it comes down to it - it is still a family car more than a sports car so I don't think either will be an issue for daily driving.
I'm sure all these internet sales reps read Edmunds.com every day.
I think even if someone was inclined it wouldn't do much good because if they posted a high figure there still would be several real consumers posting true comments. Plus, they probably don't care about other areas of the country. Although I'm sure the internet rep I spoke to could figure out that I am the same person he spoke to on the phone. We'll know when someone says $3000 over invoice is a good deal.
The local dealer is Bob Howard Nissan in Edmond, OK if you want to check it out on-line.
The dealership where I bought my Maxima was more honest. They quoted me a price which was only a couple hundred dollars over carsdirect.com, and when I told them that I am a repeat customer (I bought my 97 GLE there too), they knew that I was serious and struck a deal immediately.
The internet and Edmunds certainly are great tools for car buyers, and anyone who buys a car without first visiting this forum is doing it at his or her own risk. Thanks Edmunds!!
The previous poster paid $10000 less than an average buyer. It is either a typo or the dealership owner is his dad and he is getting a gift.
for all the people that have a FSTB installed, which did you buy? if u bought others brands..please let me know what they are. thanks,kyle 2k maxima
The stillen one looks better (in some people's opinions) but I'm not displaying the engine compartment of my Maxima so I don't care what it looks like, only how it works!
I drove both the max and accord today and thought both were good cars (I can't say that either one amazed me).
I really didn't find torque steer to be an issue. I accelerated pretty hard from a rolling start and thought it was a non-issue. I'm sure it would be more pronounced from a stop, but it seemed like it wouldn't be a problem. Same for the rear suspension. I'm sure hard turns on rough pavement may make the difference more apparent - but for daily driving it wouldn't concern me.
The Accord was smaller, but the seats were better and it had dual zone climate control, and the layout seemed a bit more intuitive. The max has heated mirrors(nice, but no big deal) and memory seats.
Strange as it may sound - my decision may come down to the fact that there are limited int/ext color combinations on the accord. We don't want black leather, but don't like the gold color. Black exterior looks nice, but not sure I want that either.
Haven't talked numbers on the max yet. The cars were so close that I don't want to spend that much more for a max (otherwise I'll just spend more and look at TL). Might even look at a 6 or camry.
Too many really good cars and none much better than the rest.
BTW - I assume mikey38 meant 26K or it was a joke based upon my previous post.
Here is my searching/buying experience for what it worth. I had a Mazda 626 5 door hatchback a nimble nice car never had any mechanical problems with it aside normal wear and tear. When I started to look for a new car I wanted something slightly bigger and more luxuries. My natural choice was Mullenia. Test drove it liked it amenities quality made in Japan e.t.c. almost signed a buyer's order, thought about it overnight and canceled it. The reason being small displacement engine 2.5L for the relatively big car, I didn't want to take a chance with a S model because of Turbo. Then
I started looking for the new TL/TL-S or Maxima/I35 or used BMW 528/530 and Lexus GS400. With the used cars especially these ones it's hard to find good low miles not abused car around for the budget I set aside $30k give or take. So I was left with a choice of TL or Maxima. I also briefly looked at new loaded Altima 3.5SE, Passat V6 GLX and Infinity G35. Altima was a big turn-off because of interior materials, I understand they need to save some money somewhere, but not like these, they truly can compete now with chevy/pontiac with such interior. I looked hard at Passat for some time; test drove it, was nice all around, almost set my mind on it, but then decided against it. Engine is on a small side too little content for the too much money, and the biggest turn-off was reliability. Some posters on a VW board suggested entering VW dealership through the service department to see these unlucky owners before making final decision. Infinity G35 was a nice car dimensions was good, reliability, engine 3.5L, then when I looked, sat in a car I realized that some !@#$ genius at Nissan design bureau made the driver seat/place narrower than the passengers. Not being a chubby I felt myself squeezed!!! In my judgment it was a perfect way to kill sales to a lot of people of otherwise good car. So it was left to 2 contenders TL and Maxima. I looked at TL 1st I liked the engine auto/manual shifting transmission but then again 2 biggest turn-offs the shortcuts Honda made on interior materials audio/climate controls it's practically a joke. But biggest of all it was the seating position. It felt like you're seating in half/cave and roof like a hat you're wearing, not being a tall guy 5.8, it really was odd no matter how I played with the seat adjustment I couldn't find a comfortable spot. For a change I went to Honda dealership to seat/drive in fully loaded Accord V6 it felt more comfortably. So finally it was Maxima; the seating position, view, driving acceleration was everything looked great. I finally decided on what car to buy at late fall, but then rumors of a new redesign 2004 maxima surfaced. After seeing a spy photos I realized it isn't for me, it's like a contest who makes the most ugliest car, an Accord had a prize for a few month but Nissan decided to take it away. Anyway to make already long story short I searched on Nissan web site who of the nearest dealers has the sizable inventory of fully loaded except NAVI SE and GLE. Found a couple of dealerships within a driving distance. The 1st dealership I stopped by I test drove both SE and GLE for about an hour. Didn't find a noticeable difference in driving/handling. So decided to stop on GLE, I like the 7 spoke alloys better 6 spoke on SE, the spoiler I always can get later. They had all options and color combination I wanted. Pretty much it was a loaded car with MSRP of 30,022 that the highest for GLE the only difference with SE is a spoiler about 500 extra. After much back and forth between sales guy, manager and finance manager I got the car for 25,100 with only NY tax and DMV fees extra with the total out of the door cost of $27,370. I took a Nissan finance Loan of 21,000 with 2.9% rate for 4 years the rest I put down. So far it's been 3 weeks, it's like a swiss clock I'm counting miles till the break-in period end so can apply some weight to the gas pedal.
As I said earlier that was my experience for what it worth.
engine sure is sweet.
I guess the frustrating part is that I was hoping the test drive would make the decision easier. Both were nice cars, but I can't help but feel if I get one I will miss the amenities of the other. One side of my brain is telling me that I'm not getting much for $2000 more, but the other side is saying get the car i like whether it is 23 or 25 (or 27 for a TL). The only saving grace is you can't really go wrong with any of them (and you don't notice how ugly the accord is when you sit in it!).
If the max had the side airbags and dual climate this decision would be easy.
I wouldnt even consider the new 4 door Accords, they're just butt ugly.. there's just something about the rear half of the car and the way it's shaped.. the coupe doesn't look half as bad but 23k for that car? i don't think so..
one thing you mentioned that you don't care for were they heated mirrors.. let me tell you, i was in the same boat as you, who cares about heated mirrors..not a big deal, it's one of those things that you won't miss unless you've had it...on a snowy day or a rainy day, you'll learn to appriecate how great those outside mirrors work. i'm a sucker for safety, and if your mirrors are completely clear, no rain drops on them, you'll see your surrounding better. like i said, u won't miss having them unless u had them before..
good luck with whatever you choose... i currently have a 2k maxima gle and will wait probably a yr or two and get the Z or the G35C.
Let me know when you get a good deal on GS400. Just kidding.
BTW, the GLE comes with side airbags, and like Kyle says, heated mirrors are nice in the rain and snow (both TL and Max have this feature).
I take it from the previous post that the TL does not have fold down rear seats. That may not be a deal breaker, but that is a big deal to me. It also does not seem to have the dual zone climate control.
I do think the heated mirrors are nice - especially with frost in the mornings. But of the differences in the max and accord, it wasn't a major factor.
I didn't realize the GLE has the side airbags - that really helps. (I also think the TL has just one memory setting for the seat - the max has two and both my wife and I will drive it). I really wish the max had the dual climate - but I guess with the heated seats it isn't that big of a deal.
ybt, i assume u'll be making $488 to $500 payments a month?
If safety is your issue, then I don't recommend the Maxima. Go to www.highwaysafety.com and check out the car crash ratings, you'll see that the Maxima doesn't do all that great. The TL is actually safer then the Maxima. I'm not saying that the Maxima is a bad car cause I have a 03 SE model, just saying that the safety ratings is better for an acura tl and don't go by if the car has two air bags or four air bags.
Just my 2 cents
~Jerry
I was quoted $24K for an '03 Accord EX V6 w/ Leather (included already in EX V6 I think). Have you been getting better prices than this for an Accord? Has anyone else also?
My experience at the Nissan dealership was typically unpleasent and full of lies & BS. I'm not sure how Nissan dealers are in other parts of the country are, but everyone of them (6) I've been to in NY, LI area are all scammers, with the same BS routine.
I went to the dealership (Legend) who quoted me $23,091 over the phone (for an SE with Titanium and Sunroof), to check out the deal, but of course when I got there, (after they made me wait for 30 minutes) things were different.
I was planning on doing a lease based on $23,095 (quoted price), but when I got there, suddenly the aquistion fee jumped from $495(as quoted on the phone)to $795. I pointed this out to the sales rep and he suggested that maybe I had it wrong "since I had spoken to so many dealers, maybe I was confusing them all." Not only was he trying to scam me, he was now insulting me by implying that I was a moron..Nice huh!
Since I was planning on leasing, I asked for all the numbers that factor into the lease (money factor,residual, lease term, mileage). Based on the price I was quoted ($23,091), the montly lease payment they arrived at, $314.19 a month was way too high. Using a few different lease calulators & guides I got from the net, I had my monthly payments coming out to be about $265 a month.
When I asked what cap cost he was using, the sales guy gave something like $25,200, which was about $2K higher than the orignal quote. I again questioned why this was higher and I got a song & dance about how the price on a lease is higher than the price for a cash purchase or finance price. Everything I've read on the internet has told me that this is not true.
Tired of the scams and lies, I picked up my stuff said thanks and walked out. I am so frustrated with the entire car buying experience and all its deception and haggling. The leasing process in itself is so complicated, that it seems almost impossible not to get scammed.
While I think Nissan's cars are great, I feel that all of their dealers are scammers, based on all the ones I've been too. They all have the same MO and will try everyway possible to rip you off.
Based upon discussions on these boards I figure an Accord EX-V6 should be about 23,100 (I don't know if that would include destination). And from the earlier post, I think a GLE w/o nav would be around 25,100. But again, I am basing that on others' numbers. I don't think you get much more for the 2grand. But that being said, $2000 one way or another doesn't matter if you don't like the car. There are things I like and dislike about both. That's why I am going to look at the I35. I know it's just a dressed up GLE, but maybe there will be something in it that I really like - and therefore won't mind paying 2000 more for it. Maybe it will be more comfortable seats or maybe it will be a stupid clock in the dash that you can't see at night
Legend are probably one of the worst dealers out there. (I bought my Maxima there.) Don't even think of going there for service. They ARE bad.
I find Habberstad Nissan in Huntington semi-decent as far as service goes. Just check your lug nuts after every tire rotation - they over tighten them, which in turn leads to warped rotors. Also they constantly over (or under) fill fluids - last time I got too much A/T fluid and not enough coolant when I went for A/T and coolant change. Also they constantly top up the wiper fluid with water. That worked great until this winter when the wiper fluid froze! Oh, and don't let them change the dust and pollen air filter - you'll get a number of rattling noises after that - you'll end up tightening everything yourself. Oh, and finally they will try to deny any warranty work.
But as I've said, they are not too bad compared to the other Nissan dealers.
If I were to do it all over again I would probably buy an Infiniti. Actually, I am going to bring my Maxima to the local Infiniti dealer, to see if they are any better.
I certainly miss my previous BMW! Incidentally, my dealer was Habberstad BMW, and they were the best dealer ever. I did have more problems with my BMW, but I was very happy with the service.
I think I'm done with Nissan all together now. Its just too much of a hassle and a not a pleasant shopping experience at all. I'm thinking of looking at Passats now to compare with the accord. I don't know to much about them, but they seem a little higher in price if you match them up option to option with the Accord EX V6.
As for getting a car serviced at a dealer, I don't think I would ever do it. They overcharge so much for every type of service, and as you said, they are prone to do things wrong, probably in an effort to get you back in there. I go to my local mechanic, who's way cheaper, & a lot more trustworthy.
Thanks for the input re the after market stuff.
Really appreciate the food for thought you guys
contributed!!!
kyleknicks: You mentioned getting the HID's
installed on your Max. Have you looked into this
seriously? How much, parts and labor, would this
put you back?
Thanks all/berbel
If i trade my 2k max in for a new one, i would lose god knows how much $$. I would probably only get about 13,000 for it even though it's got every option on it except the cd changer.
there are numberous websites/pictures on the net that show 2k or 2k1 maxima's with the HIDS installed.. and let me tell ya, they look really good.
Thanks for responding to my inquiry. $1200.00 is
a lot for headlights, esp. since I don't have any
"connections." That doesn't even factor in the
labor costs incurred with installation.
vocus: How sure are you about that insurance rider?
If I were to completely rip out my Bose system and
have someone install something from Nakamichi which
would be a "permanent part of the car," I would
think that my carrier would have the same obligation to insure it that they had with the
Bose system. Where am I wrong?
berbel
I'm in austin, tx.
EDIT: I just called State Farm (my ins. company) and asked if I added HID lights to my Jetta (which I would import from Europe if I wanted to pay $1100 for them) if I would need special insurance. My agent said no, but to hold onto the receipts for the stuff to prove you paid for it, should there be a loss. This might differ though, because I know people who have modification insurance on their cars...
so I quickly checked out the Z350 in the showroom... man!!! the thing is beautiful.. I like all 3 colors I saw, the silver, electric blue ( I know they call it something else), and the maroonish. very sharp! I can't wait to get it in a few years.. hopefully, the price won't be too much more. the ones I saw in the showroom were all touring models going from 34K to 36K. I'm just wondering how the car's going to handle weather like we been having lately.. rain, snow storms. I don't think the 18inch rims will help with traction... definitely a summer car. oh...one thing I noticed, that cover on the center console where the navi is.... if I get it with the navi, I would never close that cover..and if I didn't get the navi system, I would never open the cover... that thing is CHEAPPPPPPPP.. it's like one of those bread boxes where the sliding door.. almost like a garage door... but there doesn't seem to be any tracks for it to guide on... I have no doubt it'll break more than once during the life of the car... but other than that.. the volt meter, oil pressure have individual pods sitting on top of the center console.. very nice touch.. I will definitely be looking into this car when they start selling it near invoice.. and not MSRP.
Hi, Board members, posting your personal test drive results is a new requisite to your continued membership on this Board :-) Giddyup.
Was the $25400 for a SE or GLE? In addition, does that price include the $1000 rebate? What options were included?
I live in Dallas and intend to purchase a SE loaded without the Nav system by the end of this month. Based on internet research from Edmunds, Cars.com, CarSmart.com, CarsDirect.com & Intellichoice, I figure a fully loaded SE without the rebate and including hold-back should be around $26000. Does everyone else agree or disagree? Based on that figure, $25400 would be a great price including rebate.
Decided to look at the Max. We're not concerned about last year of the "old" style causing depreciation as we usually keep our cars 6-8 years.
One of our dealers has an SE, with all packages except the Nav and heated seats and wheel. We live in Austin TX area so wouldn't have wanted the heat and we both know how to read maps, so didn't want nav.
He wants 27900, which is about TMV according to Edmunds, although I think there might be more in there since the $1000 rebate started.
I never have bought new and the dealers really POd us wanting a "documentation" fee. Excuse me, it's one form for Texas, I'll fill it out and you sign it for free I said. So I got to PO him a little too.
Also I talked to a private party in Abilene, a few hours away with the identically equipped car, different silver color, he wants $25K, sounds on the phone like he'd take less. Only has 5500 or so miles.
BTW, I rate the above listed cars, Mazdas, Maximas, etc about equal on longevity and quality. My wife prefered the Max feel and finish over the Mazdas, less than the Benz, above the Avalon and comparable sized Lexus (overpriced in my view).
How do these prices sound to you all. I have no fears on the private party sale and I'd prefer to deal with him than the dealer.
Thanks for your help and hope to be back in a day or so as a newbie to Nissan. The last time I owned a Nissan it was a Datsun (1972 pickup truck).
windy6
Speaking of wheels, does anyone have experience with getting alloys refinished? Are any of the places I've seen on the web worth being w/o your car for a week+ while the wheels are refinished? Also, the tires have about 10k left in them--looking for recommendations on tires that will last long (40k+) and ride reasonably well with good wet handling, won't be driven in snow.
Other than that, the thing goes like the wind and is one of the few cars w/ a sunroof that I don't hit my head on (read: TL, etc). 80 mph never felt so slow.
I think if you go back over this board for a few weeks you'll see practically no one is paying even invoice, they're all below.
For reference (and maybe getting a much better deal) go to carmax.com, and search for a Maxima SE with the same sticker price and see what they'll charge you for it (with a no haggle policy).
They only have Nissan stores in Greenville and Washington DC but you can still use their pricing as leverage to make a better deal with your local dealer.
Example from Greenville Carmax stock #1660059:
2003 SE MSRP $28,344 selling today at $24,148.
You should take a long test drive over the same road with both the SE and the GLE. The SE has a much firmer ride than the GLE which some people (like me) like and some find too harsh.
IMO, the Maxima is way more car than the Mazada and you'll most likely agree with that statement after you've had yours for a couple of hundred thousand miles!
They're awesome vehicles and great deals are out there right now as the body style, design, and manufacturing plant is changing for the 2004's.