So I'm about to craigslist my 1990 Maxima GXE, the previous owner lowered it stupidly and due to that I lost a muffler, blew my axles (since replaced), and tore the flex pipe between the exhaust and the manifold.. etc etc etc and I've already replaced it with a 1996 black on black leather GLE.

But you know.. as I was cleaning the 1990 for sale (likely for parts), I kinda have some remorse.. it was the car which introduced me to Nissans (although I had in the past eyed the Z-line) and was the reason I bought my 1996, I mostly picked 4th gen as I wanted airbags and manual (although I failed at finding a manual). It also has this unique shape that sort of brings together the boxy 1st and 2nd gens and the rounded 4th and up...

Anyway, I'm almost tempted to go find another 3rd gen just for the hell of it, so I'm wondering what is the 'sought after' year/model/options etc of 3rd gen, la creme de la creme as they'd say.

Also kinda related, anyone know of the 3rd gen power antenna works on a 4th gen?

Thanks!

Edit: dammit, Seller's, not Sellers

 

REPLY:.....mine....lol

well, my 91 se 5 speed if your into an older single cam
or my 92 se (its an auto but when that fries i have a 5 speed swap and all the related parts) only these 92-94 se models are honored to house the
ve 30 w\dual cams(technically quad cams since its v-6),direct coil ignition,
vtc(variable intake cam timing),timing CHAIN,vlsd diff,etc.

 

i have 1991 Brougham edition everything digital with sonar suspension....need some work but engine and tranny is perfect....i live in VAN...

 

Yeah, get a 92-94 VE (DOHC, 190 hp instead of 160 in the GXE) 5 speed. You'll probably get some VTC clack but use the toyota oil filters and it won't be too bad.

 

GXEs didnt come in 5sp they were all autos... only SEs came in 5sp and auto was optional on SEs....1989-1991 SEs SOHC engine 5sp...1992-1994 SEs DOHC engine.....1989-1994 GXEs all auto with SOHC engines

and then there was a top of the line model which called BROUGHAM EDITION everything was digital in this model and as far i know all of the brougham editions came with stock metallic paint...well at least all the models i have seen have metallic paint included one i jus bought which has burgundy metallic paint...it included sonar suspension with sport and comfort mode too...o ya it was auto with SOHC engine...

This is how it goes

GXE-->SE-->BROUGHAM

 

eh... more like Brougham <-- GXE --> SE because really, luxury or sport can both be considered "premium models" compared to a base GXE... it all depends what you want in a car. Cuz the SE is sure a better handler with the stiffer suspension, and a better mover with a 5spd, but the Brougham has a few gadgets that the SE has to envy like digital dash, climate, SONAR, etc. And especially in a 92-94, GXE->SE->Brougham would be saying VG->VE->VG which is kindof a "wait... what?" moment.

but as for your descriptions of the models you're right (i don't know about the metallic paint either so i'll take your word for it)

 

a VE5, depending on what options you want.
Since you clearly want an airbag, you get it standard from 93-up. 92 it was optional. you can get aBS on the car, it already has a VLSD (4th gens did not) and Heated mirrors (again not on a 4th gen). There really were not that many options available.
ABS
Moonroof
Automatic
Leather
CD
Airbag (92 option, newer standard)
those are the only options that the SE had IIRC.

 

mudflaps

that's the ONLY option John's 4th gen has

 

Actually I believe Canadian 4th Gen SE's had VLSD in them.. or something like that, and my 4th gen GLE has heated mirrors.

Either way for 3rd Gen 92-94 seems the way to go. Nor sure if I want to go the Luxury Brougham route or SE yet.

 

You don't want the 'luxury' Brougham unless you like to ride around in incredibly dated and semi-ridiculous stuff like 'sonar suspension' and the cheesy/dumb looking digital dash crap

 

+1, always kind of thought that stuff was kind of cheesy/corny for it to still be sought after 15+ years later.

Functionality > Looks

I'd go for a 92-94 SE 5-spd and make it my own according to what I like best. (ie- Swapping things out for others) You have lots of options if you're not afraid to get your hands dirty and have a little bit of extra cash. Some might say a loaded (and sought after) VE would have:

Leather
BOSE
Power Seats
Black Interior
Sunroof
Spoiler
etc.

But IMO, having stock leather (seats that haven't been reupholstered in the last 15+ years) are harder to keep looking nice, often crack in the rear seat headrest area, if it's black it starts looking "ashy" if there is any kind of light on it, and I feel like I slide around when I'm driving it; it doesn't hold me in enough. I tend to like cloth seats better, (Velour or Tweed); not the GXE's crap cloth. The tweed in grey looks dated to me, but I really like the tan tweed even though it's so hard to find it clean. However, the velour (grey or black) I think looks the best, and is extremely comfortable to me (especially the back seat if you care about passengers) But then I had to take into consideration that cloth seats in any maxima rarely came power, so I swapped over the frames to have what suited me best, tan, power, velour seats. Which goes for everything on the car. But I doubt you'll be disappointed or have buyers remorse if you get a VE platform to start with seeing as though the engine/tranny/body checks out. All accessories can be changed.

 

but not both together.
the only way the A32 chassis had them both together was on the I30t AFAIK
that is the reason I bought mine, couldn't find a VE for the price I paid for my I30t.

 

i know wut u r trying to say but u cant say that BROUGHAM IS CRAP...cuz its a top of the line LUXURY MODEL of 3rd gen Maxima....SE is more on the VERY sports side MEANS Sporty LOOK,fast, better handling and bumpy ride....BROUGHAM is more on the VERY LUXERY side MEANS totally RICH and LUXERY LOOK, comfortable ride....plus they have METTALIC STOCK PAINT on dem and they r not many on the roads.....so they r GOOD in thier OWN fields... NOT CRAP

EDIT : i own both SE and BROUGHAM ( premium model of GXE )


and i thinkkkkkkkk if u put suspension in sport mode it kind of handles better ...not sure cuz i didnt get the chance to drive much..it doesn't have insurance on it and it is parked....fixing it slowly slowly needs right fender and miner paint around the car....

 

unlyke ur jDm tYtE grammer skillz

sorry I had to

of course you can buy a GXE (like I did 2 years ago) and if you mod enough stuff then there's no real difference between it and an equally modified SE (* means i've done it):

• 5spd swap (if SE wasn't already 5spd)
• aftermarket springs/struts (or SE strut/spring/sway swap*)
• aftermarket stereo system
• rear disc swap for GXE*
• spoiler added to GXE*
• foglights added to GXE
• SE cluster swap for GXE*

at which point they're basically the same car just one has keypads (which are very nice to have..... i'm gonna add them to my friend's SE)


also i have heard the GXE PS pump has a higher flow rate or something than the SE pump does? anyone else heard this?

 

yep cap u r right its better this way.... BROUGHAM <----GXE----> SE

 

never heard of it that GXE PS PUMP has higher flow rate...could be...

naa I have a good grammar i just cannot write all words..too lazy...i try to make words as short as i can lol

and ya having key pads on the doors are really good...i never use key to get into the car...just use it to start the car lol...

 

which is good when it's cold you can lock your keys in the car w/ the car running and warming up in the Canadian winters

 

yep...i will do dat in snow...

 

I've heard this also, wonder if the part number is the same. I'll check the FSM when I'm back home.

Luxury and Luxery are the same amount of characters

What do you mean metallic paint? I've never heard this anywhere and have often seen Broughams in junkyards (usually maroon or pearl with maroon insides - not my thing I guess) but most if not all 3rd gens I've seen have had a metalflake glisten in the paint if it is in good condition.

 

superwhite is straight gloss. no flake.

 

pumps are the same
racks aren't....
the SONAR had one
non-sonar GXE had another
all SE had a third

 

i think this explains more what u r looking for about metallic paint...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallic_paint

 

None the less, If that's all you're talking about. It wasn't just a brougham option. I've never seen any paint codes brougham specific and have seen in person that most SE's/GXE's also use metalflake/metallic in their paint.

 

ok

 

I think I certainly would prefer cloth as my '96 has black leather so I'd rather something different. And yes, although the Brougham options might have some initial new-fangled (or is that old-fangled now) appeal, I think I'd tire of it.

 

I used this feature extensively when I was driving my soon-to-be-sold GXE.. I like the key fob on the 4th gen, but of course you'd have to separate it from the key to do the locked while idling trick.. and you can't lose a keypad.

 

Thanks for the info everyone

 

get something like the current G35 has. A proximity sensor system. you keep the transmitter on your belt and when you get close to the car it will allow you to unlock it with a button on the door handle, it's very convenient

 

I like mine:
90 vg 122K miles
Leather (excellent shape)
Sunroof
Bose (still rocks)
Dual Power seats
Sony 10 Cd changer (somehow wired in to Bose)

Everything still works great. Shifts excellent

 

fail.