i was aiming for this generation because there slick and not to expensive, can someone give me a good price range to hang around, and which model to get. i'm probably going to want the most potential period out of them, and still have a nice car. i'm coming out of a beretta so this will be a big step for me. should i get the 5 speed auto, which model and someone tell me a little bit about them

 

i would get a 4gen 97-99 ones...5sp if u can also...

 

Heres just a quick breakdown of the trims and years...

The 97-99s do have different front and rear styling which are prefered more than the 95-96. Other than that and a few changes to the interior pieces and some other small changes they are the same.

Trim Levels:

GXE- the base max, has most creature comforts, comes with choice of 4-speed Auto or 5-sp manual, doesnt offer leather (correct me if im wrong) Has chrome trimming. 15s are the only choice

SE- the Sporty max, comes with a tuned suspension, 5-spoke 16s (on 97-99s) and everything thats chrome on the GXE is body color. 4sp, or 5sp manual, Usually is packed with options like sunroof, Bose, leather, etc.

GLE- Luxury Max, comes with auto only, and is loaded to the T with options, sunroof, leather, everything pretty much standard. Comes with 15inch sawblades


Ok, well most people here have either GXEs or SEs, most SEs. Get a 5sp Manual if you can, and dont pay anymore than 13K for a top of the line, loooow mile, fully loaded SE.


Eric

 

by your description above, I have the GLE but mine is 5speed. Black on black leather int, fully loaded.. but it's a 96. it's still GLE right?

 

GLE was not available in a 5 speed. You probably have an SE with leather.

The GLE is basically a loaded Maxima and only available with automatic.

The SE is the 'sporty' Maxima but it is more about options than performance. The SE does have slightly stiffer springs but it is not much of a difference and if you plan on going aftermarket it doesn't really matter. The SE does come with a lot of things that could easily be added to a GXE/GLE - 16" rims, white gauges, spoiler, fog lights, body color grill, etc. The SE also has a couple of options that would be very difficult to add to a GXE/GLE - different steering wheel (certain years only) and body color door handles.

There is information on year to year differences and available options in the FAQ thread at the top of this forum.

I would definatly recommend a 5 speed. http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/dri...2/article.html With the GXE any options require an automatic transmission (except 95), but the Max comes with a lot of options even in base trim.

 

Expect to pay more than 13k for a fully loaded 1999 SE 5speed. The 1997-99 SE 5speed with "leather" is truely a rare combination and sellers that know this will ask anywhere from 11k-16k for these cars. more at dealership. I paid 15k for my 1998 SE 5Sp with leather at the dealership 5 months ago, and paid $1500 more for 3 year/36month extended warranty... but automatic non-leather maxima's are plentiful and you can get good deals on them.

 

I agree with 98maxsel, if you can get a 98SE with leather option you will not be disapointed.... its finding the 5spd and lther is gonna be tough. My cuz had a beretta and I have driven it, it doesnt compare to a 5speed max.. good luck and happy hunting

 

97-99 SE with 5spd is the only way to go....take this from someone who had a auto and now has a 5spd.....5spd is the only way to go.

 

There are some deals to be had out there, I just picked up a 98 SE Auto w/leather and all the options for 15K(that's Canadian $$) Low mileage too, it only has 85,000 Km on the clock. It still had the orginal Toyo's on it(although, they're getting replaced this week, getting Avid V4's)

 

If I had the choice and the time, I would've tried to find a 5spd. However, my wife only got her drivers license two years ago and has never driven a stick.

 

Chrime door handles and front grill would be GXE or GLE.

I bet your grill and handles are body colored = SE.

 

so do i want to avoid getting anything less than a 97-99 in year, cause i didn't quite see the difference in the 95s to 97s but if u guys say so i'll beleive it, but i'm mostly interested in getting the car period cause i finally talked my mom into helpin me get something expensive, and of course i'm going to find the 5 speed no auto's can do, but can i still be satisfied with the 95 year SE. i found many of them for about 7k with a good 70k-90k miles on them, is that bad? and i'm also in college but i kno these will out run my car anyday, so i need something reliable. later on i can get the engine all tweaked out and rebuilt or whatever to maximize the performance and reliability levels but for now i just need the best i can get with what i can find and for how much i've got to spend. figure around 7k.

 

Yea, they are the same as the body..both black. Weird though..so I have a fully loaded SE? sun roof, leather , digital climate, power seats, windows, bose stereo but in a 5 spd.

hrm

 

Point 1) 97-99 fared quite a bit better in crash tests

Point 2) The front bumper and trunk are prettier on the 97-99 (or so most people think)

Point 3) The 1997 Maxima won most reliable used car in it's class (midsized, 1995-2000) in a recent magazing article.

 

Yup, loaded 5 speed SE. The best kind of Maxima

DW

 

dont kill yourself trying to find a loaded SE 5speed. its kinda hard. plus my SE is loaded and personally i dont like the leather. its nice looking and adds a great accent to the car, but in the winter your car is 100x colder and in the summer your back will burn and your shirts will get all sweaty and crap. go for the Se but dont be to worried about the leather, its not all that great. but make sure what ever you do GET A 5SPEED!!! you wont regret it, if you dont get one, you will

 

dont kill yourself trying to find a loaded SE 5speed. its kinda hard. plus my SE is loaded and personally i dont like the leather. its nice looking and adds a great accent to the car, but in the winter your car is 100x colder and in the summer your back will burn and your shirts will get all sweaty and crap. go for the Se but dont be to worried about the leather, its not all that great. but make sure what ever you do GET A 5SPEED!!! you wont regret it, if you dont get one, you will

 

The difference IMHO is almost purely cosmetic. It can make a big difference if you start modifying the appearance of your max though. The other thing to think about is that you're gonna have 8-16K more miles on the 95/96's. Finally, conventional wisdom seems to hold that the first model year of most cars don't have all the bugs worked out, making them a bit less reliable.

Quote:

but i'm mostly interested in getting the car period cause i finally talked my mom into helpin me get something expensive, and of course i'm going to find the 5 speed no auto's can do, but can i still be satisfied with the 95 year SE. i found many of them for about 7k with a good 70k-90k miles on them, is that bad? and i'm also in college but i kno these will out run my car anyday, so i need something reliable. later on i can get the engine all tweaked out and rebuilt or whatever to maximize the performance and reliability levels but for now i just need the best i can get with what i can find and for how much i've got to spend. figure around 7k.

If you're moving up from a Beretta, I think you'll be quite pleased with *any* 4th gen. (though you'll probably be even happier with the '97-'99 SE's ) If you find a 70K mile '95 SE with a clean title and pay 7K for it, that's a fairly good deal. If the car has been well maintained, then you shouldn't have to worry about too many mechanical problems anytime soon. Make sure the 60K mile tuneup was performed. If you're in snow country, be careful about rust. And just to keep it in perspective, you're paying about 1/4 the original cost of the Max That's pretty good bang for the buck.

Good luck in your search! Hope you find a Max that makes ya happy. And if you wanna be even happier, save a couple hundred bucks to get a performance mods after you've had the car a while

theLoon

 

and a couple more for superloon's possible body kit.

 

definately a 5 speed. i owned both kinds of max`s. 5 speed is the way to go, but it might take some time to find the 1 that u want . they are hard to find.

 

I know of a black SE 5spd w. cloth seats for sale. PM if interested. North Carolina....

Oh, sorry, shoulda looked. You're "up nawth".