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Nissan Maxima 2004 Redesign
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Comments
Ithink the car looks really good but would have looked even better with leather on the doors.
I need a better feel for the mileage numbers as I put on a lot of miles and the price of the car plus gas plus mileage around 20 mpg will not make the grade. Does anyone have some personal experience with what I should or could expect? Again, most of my driving is 300-400 mile runs on the highway at 78mph (speed limit is 75 mph here in South Dakota.
Thanks for any input.
Add in the fact that you can still buy a loaded 2003 Maxima now (MSRP of about 30k) for more than $4k of the MSRP, and you get a pretty compelling value story.
Go back and check out the Maxima board for years worth of discussion and history on the 95-03 Maximas.
I am biased as I drive about 30-35k per year on my Maxima(s) (95 GLE and 00 SE) and have had excellent and very low cost (per mile)long term results with both cars.
If gas mileage is important to you, you might be happier with a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry 4 cylinder that get far better gas mileage (on regular) than the Maxima.
I think the SL max has some pretty cool features for me. The folding mirrors are great because I have a tight fit in the garage.
The back seat is flatter and wider which will help with getting 3 car seats.
Trunk is larger.
If I didn't have other things to worry about, I would get the 350 Z or G35 coupe. Teh max is more of a ffamily sedan in my opinion. And probably will be 3 to 5 thousand different in price when you compare the acttual sales prices out the door.
My 02 Max SE w/6sp averages nearly 26MPG on 95% highway driving (avg speed approx 65MPH). While these figures aren't for the 04 Max, I would expect them to be similar
That Maxima is still there at the dealer. Actually my cousin and I sat inside of it yesterday (Saturday) and I was impressed by it. The materials, while cheap, were better than the Altima's.
Some more thoughts on "Why buy the Maxima?"
better then ">"
Infinity > Nissan (that's why Infinity was introduced to the market)
RWD > FWD (there is no FWD cars as you go over 35K, think about it...)
Infinity service > Nissan service (believe me after paying %34K you don't want to be treated as a regular nissan owner, on the other hand I've heard that Infinity service is very good)
and last but not least
Infinity driver image > Nissan driver image (if car is not just a 'motorized vehicle' in your point of view, but at some degree an image statement, you might want to lean towards Infinity)
ps. I'm a Maxima owner and a very happy one. It's just Maxima became so expensive that it is time to move forward -> to G35 (or others $35K cars)
So now I've driven the 04 Maxima 6sp Manual and the 03.5 G35 5sp Automatic.
Both are very powerful vehicles. Compared to my 89Supra Turbo, there is a lot of guts in the normally aspirated Nissan Engine.
The 04Max "pulls" through the entire powerband. The tranny is shifts are short and hit the mark perfectly every time. I'm afraid that my left calf muscle will begin to get smaller switching from the Supra (5sp) to the Maxima.
The 03.5G35 gives the same launch off the line and through the entire powerband but I can feel the "push" rather than the pull of the fwd. I didn't drive the 6sp manual G35 but I wanted to try out the tiptronic tranny. I really like it. It shifts quickly and with guts, but it is forgiving and in stop & go, will deal with forgetting to shift. I do a lot of talking on the phone while driving (hands-free installed of course) and not having to shift may be a plus.
My wife was with me during both drives. She likes the Maxima better, I like the G35. I think it's something to do with the rear-haunches of the body. The G35 looks like it wants to jump forward, while the Maxima sort of wants to slide-out.
Interior of both are nice, altough my teens like the reclining rear seats of the G35. I like the Elite package (rear-bucket seats) of the Maxima but it's a $6500 option.
At this point, it may come down to salesmen since the salesman at the local Nissan dealer is a good friend (not that it will make much of a differnece since it's the GM who authorizes the deal).
On Saturday AutoWay Nissan - Clearwater started the day with 11 04 Maxima's. That night they had only 5 left.
Same day, Lokey Infiniti had like 45 G35's (mix of 03 and 03.5 models...there's a difference). I think they're turning into a museum.
In the end, I have a couple of weeks before I'm going to buy since I'm travelling on business the rest of this week.
p.s. The supra has 125000 miles and a leak in the powersteering. I'm thinking about trading it for a clean 74 260Z...Would you do it?
TonVal
I love G35s and if I didn't have kids , and lived in a warm climate, then that would be my choice (G35). The G is definately better relative to service, resale value, image (if that's important), etc.
I guess that's how Nissan defines these cars. If you want room, then go for a max...if you want handling, prestige, and service then go for the G.
There are a few cars over 35k that have FWD. Offhand, I think these are FWD: all caddys (except CTS and Escalade), Acura RL?, Saabs? (I think). You can make the case that none of these are 'sport sedans' except for maybe the Saab.
If you live somewhere warm like California, I say definitely get a RWD car. If you live somewhere where you get snow from time to time, RWD can become a serious PIA.
My Dad's 2001 Volvo C70 Conv. was $41K and is front wheel drive. I can't stand it.
Now he wants another $40K+ Audi Convertible (FWD as well). I can't convince him on a CLK or 3 series. :-(
Obi
You must remember that FWD was introduced mainly because of cost cuts. Car manufactures can save up to 20% on parts and assembly line, simply because power plant is all-in-one (engine + transmission + differential ) And it was great while this saving reached consumers. (historically FWD cars were cheaper then classic layout cars).
I respect FWD on Volvo, because Volvo is heavier car and it is not build for performance, but for safety.
When it comes to performance, weight distribution is always a problem for FWD cars.
Also, as we got passed 250hp on FWD cars, torque stir became a big problem. Car makes are dealing with this problem by offering some optional equipment witch will reduce it, but guess who will end up paying for it ???
~alpha
Note: I test drove two 03 Maxima SE 6 speeds recently. Both had distinct vibration in the steering wheel around 60 MPH, probably due to lousy tires or bad balance. I was very serious about buying an 03 Maxima, but this experience left really bad taste in my mouth. Test driving an M45 was an incomparably more satisfying experience. Finally, I do not share your observations about the M45 bland looks. Some people think that the 04 Maxima is absolutely ugly. Personally I do not.
I understand what you were trying to point out about the M45. However what you said in #494 is, "the car literally flies." This caught my attention, as I was unaware that the M45 is capable of taking flight. In spite of the attendant driver training, licensing and traffic control ramifications, this breakthrough would assuredly revolutionize automotive travel; thus I opined that the car ought to sell very well priced at only $37K.
Or, in other words, I'm just joking around...
This is a fun car with lots of torque and a big interior. It definitely has power to spare. However for a few reasons, I think the automatic is the tranny for that car.
First, the clutch requires some effort. By the end of the test drive, I noticed my leg was not precisely sore, but I could tell I had been using it. The car is such that it will go fast in just about any gear.
The times I did get on it, I could feel the torque steer, it would bite on one side or the other.
I think a Manu-matic is the way to go with the Maxima. It lends itself to a relaxed style of driving and not a banzai mode like a 4 cylinder stick would.
Paid $1,500 over the edmunds invoice price once all of the B%$%#S%$@#$ fees were added in. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good deal considering the newness of the vehicle.
I did everything over the internet via United Nissan in Atlanta and Keith Norwood. The car I wanted was at another dealer(after trading one of their stock vehicles). He went and got it and all I had to do was sign the papers when I got there. It was really easy!
As for the car, My wife loves it. It really is big. We have a 1995 Q45 that we are going to sell and it seems bigger than that. I think it is the shape of the car and use of space that makes it feel larger. My wife says that it is fast as well.
I'll update when I get a chance to spend some time with it... that may be a while as my wife may not let me drive it!!!
First, I'm looking for a decent price. I know, since this car has not been out long, that there are no incentives, reduced interest rates ect.
I've gone to 3 dealers so far, and the best price I've gotten is 30,500, which I was told was $1,000 over invoice.
Is paying $1,000 over invoice fair?
Second, Is there anyone out there that has purchased the 04, and if so, are you happy with it sofar? Any regrets? Any helpful info that you would like to throw out there?
Thank you for any and all info.
She really was in the mood for a new/differnt car. we had agreed that the 2004 was the next vehicle. The difference betweem invoice and MSRP is $3000 according to Edmunds. Including about $600 in B#$%S#$% fees, wee paid $1500 over invoice. It is not the best deal, but she did not want to wait 3 to 6 months to buy at invoice. We bought yesterday. She loves it!!!!
The skyview in my opinion will be a great thing for this car.. Having had several cars with sunroofs, they are never opened... and when they are, they are closed quickly!!!!
If you can gte this now at $1000 over invoice... get it!!!
Will people who own or have tested the SE (and SL) with the automatic transmission please indicate whether torque steer is as objectionable there.
We currently own a '98 maxima (wifes car before we got married)and I love the car. However, I am 6' 5" and my head brushes the top of the roof (we have a sun roof). So I have been looking forward to the '04 to check out head room.
Drove one last month and loved the design and ride, as previously stated grill not as bad in person. I have the same problem with the sun roof in the '04 as our '98. I found a maxima with sky view and I have plenty of head room. Knowing that the '03 would be discounted and hoping to get a good deal I sat in one; however, it felt much tighter. I sat in the rear seat with the drivers seat all the way back in both cars (both had sun roof)the '03 I could not sit up straight and the '04 I brushed the top . However, plenty of head room in rear with sky view. The extra rear legroom in the '04 made a difference (obviously) which is nice because our 18 month old can already kick the back of the front seats. I love sun roofs but head room is an issue so sky view is good alternative for me.
So we order ours through or credit union here in Las Vegas since the model with our exact options was not available (SE, 6 speed manual, red opulence ext., tan int., sensory package, spoiler, mats, sky view). Our credit union guy was surprised that Nissan was willing to deal on car but we were able to get the car for under 30K (about same mark up on invoice as jhunterbob).
I think it was a good idea by Nissan to go a little larger than '03 model because it fits my situation perfectly (headroom and growing family). I love the design inside and out and can not wait until the car arrives. We also looked at the G35 but was too small.
Thanks for listening to my two cents; however reviewing post it looks more like 5 cents .
i particularly like the skyview roof...i think thats a pretty interesting way of opening up the cabin of a car...i cant stand it when i feel closed in and trapped inside a car because there's no sunroof!
i just think that they should offer an AWD option for all those horses! then the maxima would be a HUGE contender!
It's a rocket ship that corners flat. Period.
Still, the Nissan Maxima is a great car. But torque steer has always been a problem with Nissan Cars. I remember test driving a 1995 Nissan Sentra SE-R, the thing only had 140 HP, but it was pretty quick. When I romped on the accelerator however the torque steer was so strong that I had to fight with the steering wheel.
Come on Nissan, you can do better than this!
I owned a 91' SE-R (manual) and torque steer was present when you hopped on it but it was a fun car to drive and not too objectionable (torque steer). Personally I would not be too concerned with the torque steer if it is similar to my SE-R because when I did everyday driving and accelerated to pass it was not an issue, imo.
I agree it would have been nice for Nissan to correct this with the 04'. It would have made the car a real killer and put it above the rest, imo. In addition the Motor Trend and Car & Driver tests ( I have not read the Road & Track) were manuals and they test them to their extremes.