I want opinions from everyone on this message board. Hopefully there will be a good share of UN-biassed opinions, however all are welcome!

Here is the dilema: I'm looking for a used car and have 5 thousand dollars to spend. I narrowed my selection down to two cars.

The Nissan Maxima SE and the Acura Integra [GSR/RS]. They're very different from each other, but I am willing to go with either one because I am a student and this will be my first car.[2/4 doors doesn't matter for me] Do you believe the Maxima is as nimble as the Integra? Do you notice the size of the Maxima when parking/turning into tight areas? Do you ever feel like switching to a sports car? Do 4 bangers wear out faster? etc etc
I'm basically torn between two cars that have a lot to offer for their price. I am 18, and want something that will be fun for a first car.
Thanks for your opinions!!

 

I would pick a 1994 SE 2 speed over a GSR any day. Maxima is a sports car punk and has a lot of luxury!!

 

well maxima is my first car too, i am 16 yrs old, and i have 92 maxima gxe. I would go with the 92 max se. For parking maxima is not that big but it is bigger than Integra, i drove my friends integra and i know it is smaller so you can get the integra into parking with small lot but for maxima it will be a problem. But as far as driving the max it is not a difference than integra, and its pretty easy. Max is a four door sport car, so u will be able to let lots of people like your friend sit in the max. and max is luxurious and a sport car. I would go with the max but that is my opininion..

 

I guess another option would be the Type R, but when it comes down to it, how fast IS the Maxima compared to an Integra on the track? I'm guessing a used Type R is faster, but I probably won't find one. Is the Integra a compromise of luxury for performance? ie: hard cornering / auto Xing

btw: I'm grilling Integra owners too. I'll summarize their opinions once I've collected enough 'data'.

 

I agreee with the above comments about the Max, but as a first car, if you want something sporty, there is more to consider. The Max is definitely sporty, but as it is my 3rd and biggest car I can tell you that it does NOT drive as sporty as a GS-R would...the Max feels heavier when going into curves, and the turning radius sucks. Don't even think about pulling a U-turn on a residential street, you'll need to make it a 3-point. In a smaller 2-door sports car it's a lot easier to maneuver at low speeds, and the 4-banger engine is much more rev-happy and "pocket rocket" fun feeling. My first car was a TRD Turbo Celica AWD...I'm glad I went with that as my first car to experience the raw fun of a car like that. The Max is definitely the closet thing to a compact sports car you can get with 4 doors and tons of luxury features. The luxury features are verrry nice to have, and if I did it again, then I would go with the Max as my first car. Just keep in mind what you're giving up.

Oh, also I think most general repairs are cheaper on Integras for the most part, and they get better gas mileage...things to consider since you're a student! If you can afford to keep up the Max well, you like luxury but don't want to give up the sporty feeling, then defintely go with it! But a GS-R is a great choice as well (I don't personally like the RS though).

 

Thanks, great post. So you're glad you had a sporty car at first for the 'experience', but grew out of that due to the lack of luxury/convenience?

 

Go to a Honda forum and you will find the same results, but on the other side of the spectrum. Personally, I love the room and the acceleration is very nice after I've modded. But, I know the back seats are VERY cramped in an Integra. But, if you plan on modding this car, of course, you know what to get... a honda. I'd rather have a Maxima or I wouldn't have bought it. Keep doing research like I did before I bought my first car. www.epinions.com is a good site.

Since you're asking this question on a Maxima Enthusiast Forum... you know what the answer will be. Just think about the pros and cons and you will make a good decision.

 

Get a MR2. Fun cars to drive. BUt if not, get the GSR. You're young, get a sports car. You're suppose to get a sedan when you're old. Don't get me wrong peeps, Maximas freakin' rock. Everyone has different taste, so it's all up to you.

 

The Integra is definitely a lot sportier. But the Maxima is more comfortable and luxurious. For autocross, Integra is definitely better, as it's smaller. But for daily driving, a Maxima will be more comfortable (quiet, etc.) Integras are pretty noisy, and will ride harder than a Maxima. Plus the inside is not as luxurious. Max acceleration is probably about the same, but Maxima might be easier to drive because it has more torque down low. Honda four bangers have to be revved hard to make any power at all, they're gutless at low RPM. If you want auto, consider that carefully, an auto Integra will be quite slow. I'd say forget Integra if you want auto. Parking? Depends where you live. If you live in crowded cities like San Francisco or New York, then Maxima's size will be noticeable, especially when parallel parking. But on most other cities it won't be so noticeable. For modding, Integras have a lot more aftermarket parts than Maxima.

So, as you can see, they're quite different. Which one for you? Depends on what you want in a car! For a comfortable, luxurious, quiet car that's also pretty fast and handles well (for its size), choose Maxima. For a small, nimble, sporty car (with manual transmission) that'll get good fuel economy, choose the Integra, though it'll be less comfortable than a Maxima.

 

I'm starting to think that the Maxima is a better buy for a couple of reason now. Okay, more than a couple:

I'm reading a car and driver magazine from '94 and it states the '94 SE is faster than the Integra GSR in a straight line, brakes equally as hard as the GSR and for it's time cost nearly 10 thousand MORE than the Integra. Now that these cars have ages, they are similar in price. Concerning handling/cornering, the Maxima should be fine with fatter/sticky tires and stiff suspension. I'm sure the Integra is a GREAT car to drive fast, but the bottom line is: the 4 banger needs to be revved higher, it doesn't have luxury, and I'll be driving the car a LOT.

So until I can afford the Maxima [should be within this year] I will save up some more money and further educate myself about these cars. [my decision isn't final yet]

Thanks again for your help guys!

 

Yup, that too. Integras have great resale value (good for new car buyers, not so good for used car buyers), so used Maximas are better value.

But you know what you should do? Test drive both of them (preferably at a dealership so as not to inconvenience a would-be private seller)
Try several other cars too. See what you like best!

 

both cars are nice in there own rights ,but i dont think I would ever pick what little sport you get from the Integra over the max this is a timeless classic and a fine automobile.good luck on your choice.

 

Driving the max, right after driving my truck makes me feel like I'm on a scooter or sommin?... Anyway, I'd take the max, just for the luxury's sake. Sure the GSR is nimble, but if you line the two up on a 12% grade, the max will be waving bye-bye. The max is also a little heavier, which helps the ride, and safety, too. Its convienent to have four doors, I never thought I'd like it, but I do. As long as you get the SE, you'll be happy .



Tony

 

You can make both cars about equally as fast...

low/mid 14's with the bolt-ons

The GSR is way more typical of the whole import scene. I gaurantee you with the Max you'll turn alot more heads, and that's without a body kit and stupid strobe lights and fart pipes.

You'll also surprise alot more people too. You'll get alot of 'you got Nawwwzzzz?' and 'hey that's the 300zx engine!!!' and 'man he's turbo'd'

Then they'll stare at you in disbelief when they find out you only have basic bolt-ons

And to be honest, my car doesnt feel big at all. It actually seems somewhat small/frail compared to some of these newer cars. A new Max seems like a boat compared to the 3rd gen.

The 3rd gen Max is a nice size, definitely not hard to park or anything like that.

Personally (and this is coming from a guy who's twin bro and friends are all hardcore Honda guys), I'd go with the Max.

Then again it's your car. There's alot more GSR's out there, and the aftermarket is definitely geared towards Honda's, but obviously us VE guys dont do so bad for ourselves.

You'll obviously get a different response from a Honda board, but then again, most of them couldnt be anymore ignorant about the 3rd gen Max.

 

2 speed huh?

 

All I have to do now, is save up for a maxima!! I think it's nicer than any other generation of Maxima.

I also got my hands on a Stillen catalog from '97. [there aren't too many prices listed in it though..and stillen.com doesn't have too much listed on it's website..]

 

Maxima is a "sleeper" with both power and insurance...its wonderful what 2 extra doors can do Integra will be better around turns and handling but lacks the power and "UMPH" of the Max. Just like my friends 240sx, he can out do me in any turn but i can kill him in acceleration and speed. With the Max Id concentrate on suspension upgrades first if you want to make it handle like an Integra. (FSTB, springs/struts, SFC) Plus the Max is more "upscale" than integras.

As for the parking aspect its really not too hard...parallel parking is easy, excellent visibility from the inside. One of the reasons I like the spoiler, it helps you judge where the back of the car ends when looking through the rear view mirror while backing up

 

Now that I've gotten a lot of feedback from both sides, I thought it'd be nice to share some of the main points made from Integra owners. Feel free to retort/bash any of the following:

"The Maxima has a live rear suspension. Take it through some twisties at speed and you'll be crawling back for the GSR in no time."

"there is great potential in the integra if u want to fix it up and great aftermarket following as well."

"If you want something fun, get the Integra. They are tons of fun. If you want something to haul a lot of friends, get the Maxima."

"Stock the GSR does understeer, but that can be corrected cheaply. However, there isn't much you can do to improve the rather shoddy handling of the Maximas."

"I think you will be more satisfied with the 95 TEG GS-R.....quicker, and a lot more fun."

"I think the Integra will be more fun for you to drive, as the GSR is faster than the Nissan and needless to say, it's just, well, its just fun as hell. You will alos enjoy the RS although it wont be as quick, since it doesnt have vtec."

"I think what it lacks that the maxima has to offer is nice cupholders and a more plush ride."

nice cupholders??

 

Have u been hanging around the Acura Forum?

 

Of course! I want both sides of the story..

 

They don't know what Maximas can do.

 

Hey... what a perfect question to ask. I own a 93 Maxima SE and a 94 Integra LS, so I feel I can comment pretty well. The integra has been my daily driver for about 6-months now (doing some significant work on the max). So I'll give you my spin on the integra while wearing my 93SE hat (keep in mind that my Integra LS only has 140Hp - while your perspective GSR has what, 170?)

Integra Pro's:
o Seats are far superior to the Max - no contest with better side bolstering and a better fit overall

o Braking/Handling - I don't know what the road tests say, but the feedback from my integra's brake pedal is a lot better - little-to-no nose dive when braking hard. very responsive. Also when cornering (highway on/off-ramps), the stock suspension on the max is MUCH more soft than the integra - the Acura feels much more pinned to the ground, while the max has a relatively uncomfortable amount of body roll (this perception is probably exasperated by the seats: the LS seats hold you firm, while you have to hang of the steering wheel quite a bit with the SE)

o Hatchback - you can fit much larger items in since the seats fold down.

o 5-speed - The shifter is a nice firm short throw.

o overall quality - I haven't had ANYTHING break or be defective on the '94 integra. Paint has lasted very well.. all the interior compontents are in terrific shape - Subtle things feel "solid" - for instance, the door handles latch feels very well made.

o Parking - I can fit into any spot that is legitimately a spot. The max feels a LOT longer

o Gas Milage - the LS get's average of 30Mpg - that's mixed hwy and "city".

Intega Cons:

o No backseat to mention - you can fit people in there, but if you're riding with friends at all, they'll definitely be fighting for shotgun. (also a pain when taking home groceries and when the truck is full of shlt like mine always is during the summer

o Shorter Gearing - Doing 80 on the highway, the integra's running around 3500RPM, while the max is closer to 2-2.5k....

o Road/Wind Noise - The integra is noticable louder ride - especially on the HWY.




So to summarize, the integra is a more fun "city" car with outstanding handling, good gas milage, adequate "luggage" space, and remarkable dependability. I think of the maxima as more of a grand-touring sedan - Far superiour on the highway and local routes; built for cruising around, enough HP to make it fun to drive, and with an interior designed to be comfortable.



-Matt

 

These responses were to be expected dude, the integra is a smaller car and will handle accordingly. But, the maxima ha an excellent parallel link rear suspension, so don't be fooled..with bolt on suspension mods the max handles better than most cars it's size..add in tires struts and spring and it WILL carve corners! Also, the torque of the VG max is great..this is what makes a car FEEL faster..pull harder while accelerating. Those 4 bangers have to revved out to really feel a pull. My girls H22 prlude is like that. I kill her off the line, but once she hits 5k, VTEC pulls nicley..and right past me! But I like being able to just jab the throttle and get some scoot, not stand and wait. Plus, Maximas are less common, Be different. However if money is a factor, the Honda product might be cheaper to maintain..maybe. My friend had to have his 2nd gear synchro replaced twice! And he was nice to it..no power shifting. This is a common integra problem. Good luck and from an unbiased viewpoint ehem..get the Maxima.

 

Get a 240SX with a SR20DET engine
Were those guys saying we have better cupholders? What cupholders?
Why don't you go test drive the two cars and see which one you are happier with. They are both good cars, I think it just comes down to what you are planning on doing to the car, which one is going to fit into your life the best.

 

Hmmm, I'd like to respond to some of these opinions (not all are facts!)


Beep! Wrong! Well, that proves that them Integra owners know something about Maximas, but not quite enough. Newer Maximas (I think it started with the 4th gen) do have beam axle rear suspension, which is kind of like a live axle but without the axle itself in the middle (and because of that the beam itself is much thinner & lighter, minimizing live axle's main problem: unsprung weight.) But the 3rd gen has fully independent multilink rear suspension.

Can't argue with this one. 100% true. Modding your car can get expensive though. If you intend to mod your car heavily in the first place, get an Integra. But if you intend to stay mostly stock, Maxima's better from the start.

Define fun. If you live near a twisty mountain road (like that Acura commercial) then I'd get Integra for sure. But here in the U.S. roads are wide and mostly straight, and easy straight-line acceleration matters more than gokart handling, in my opinion. Maxima can easily handle what (wide and not too sharp) corners you'd likely to encounter. Maxima with its big low-end torque is better than Integra for straight line acceleration. Sure Integras potentially can go pretty fast, but you have to work the engine real hard to do that. You could easily get caught in too high a gear and get beaten by a Granma's Buick LeSabre.


Ha! You're unlikely to have to or need to improve either car's handling unless you race or autocross or something. And there are aftermarket handling improvement kits for Maximas.

Quicker? That's debatable. More fun? Maybe, but Maximas will more than compensate for the small amount of 'fun deficiency' it has with more comfort and luxury.

Actually, I'm sad to report that Maxima's cupholders aren't that great. In fact it's pretty rudimentary.

 

Heh, I'm always amazed how much WE know about Honda, and how little THEY know about us. That surely tells you something about the whole Honda rice-boy movement and one-sided nature of it. We know just as much if not more about THEIR cars than them, just by the overwhelming volume of them.

Anyone who thinks you cant make a 3rd gen Max excellent in the handling department is ignorant. Take my car 'through the twisties' and you surely wont be crawling back to the GSR.

I guarantee you my car can handle as good, if not better, than most any modded Honda. PLUS outrun 95% of them, WITH passengers.

They're also dumb if they think the GSR is faster than a VE. Screw Vtec. They act like Vtec is a freakin turbo-charger or something. Vtec is no match for the high-end loving VE (with our VTC's mind you).

I gaurantee you, you mention Maxima to a Honda boy and he'll think slow sedan with NO available mods. Most of them have no clue about the VE engine either.

Take some Honda boys for a ride/race in a modded VE and they'll surely be enlightened. Ask my bro and my friends. Frankly, most Honda boys dont even know any better. Their biggest problem is their ignorance of anything non-Honda mixed with over-inflated exaggerations of how fast they really are.

 

Right on man. That's what I love about Maxima..sleeper. No one expects 4 doors to smoke them when they have a Honda with a loud exhaust. Very gratifying to "eat rice".

 

I couldn't of said it any better. My friend (Owns 2 Hondas) is so ignorant. He thinks he's the shiet with his 97 Prelude. He doesn't even wanna hear about Maximas, he thinks they suck and yet he knows jack about them. He brags about his "sport shift." Talkin' about downshifting as if it was a 5 speed. He's not really my friend anymore, he's too much of a poser now.

 

Yeah, about having passengers an still being able to go fast...I had a car full (5 people, and 2 are quite 'big') of people, and this guy in a super riced late 80's Accord with farting exhaust pulls next to me at a stop light, and revs his engine...he's alone in the car. He out accellerated me from the light a bit, but not by much. And I had an extra 600+ lbs. on board! My last car was a Turbo'd TRD Celica. It hauled like a bat of of hell with just me in it, but *once* I tried accelerating fast in it with 2 other friends, and I was so depressed! It didn't even feel like it was moving until over 4k RPMs. Thank you, Maxima torque!! I'm glad I went with the Max.

 

Heh, Amen to that.. not only the VE get to have fun.. My VG just raped a few GSR's as well..

but james you have to admit.. when u drive a GSR or integra. it really does FEEL like you are going fast.. thats the fun factor of that car. but in reality your really slow.. haha but hey its a fun car to drive.