So thinking of a new car. I found two I like.

96 Maxima SE 5 spd. Blue, black leather, every option. 100k miles.

98 Jetta GLX 5 spd. VR6 black on black leather. every option. 88k miles.


Both cars are from a very reputable dealer and come with a 1 year warrentee. The max is $7500 and the Jetta is $7900.

What do you maxima guys think about vr6 jettas? I had a 95 maxima so I know what they are like. Gimme your opinions! Thanks!

 

go with the max.....
vr6 in my opinion is going to have much more problems than the max...

 

more costly to fix and maintain a vr6.

If you only had these two, i'd suggest the max.

 

VW parts are alot more expensive than nissan.

 

I'd choose the vr6. little modifications will give it more power...

 

and aren't nissans a lot more reliable than vws?

and btw, I believe you can get a better price on that max... milk the stealer for every penny

 

Thanks for your advice guys. I do like the product support for the VR6, but its not as reliable as the VQ. I'll have to think about it.

 

check out carsurvey.org..you'll see why majority of the people here will tell you the maxima is the better and reliable car

 

The Max...the Jetta to get is the 1.8T anyway.

 

i go for the max

 

looks like everyone wants you to go for the max...
now create the same kind of thread on the vw forum....i bet 95% will be go for the vr6....
it's really up to you, you'll be driving the car and you'll be maintaining it...

 

Good answer Sam,
I would go for the max. Engine is 7 year best V-6 on the market. Exterior in my opinion maxima has better, interior definately the max, back seats are very uncomfortable in almost all VolksWagens.
Reliability definately maxima.
You have to look at both vehicles separately (knwing that maxima is a better car overall) and see which one is in a better shape. Mileage is important, but also check vehicle history on carfax for how many owners it had and possible accidents. And bottm line: drive it! Whichever feels better you should go for.

 

Hes right. My opinion is that you should test drive both cars, really "well" and see which one you like better. Im assuming your gonna mod it, in which case both cars are fun to mod, and both are fun cars to drive.

 

the jetta is uglier as well and much smaller. not as roomy as a max. + it has 172 hp and 173 torque and weights the same as the max

 

They're both good peppy cars. . .the Maxima is a little faster though, and the VW probably handles better stock. Drive both and see which one you feel better in.

 

The reliability of the VW Jetta during that time period worries me.

 

one word....... MAXIMA! In my opinion, the max is faster, better looking, and more reliable.

 

I have owned and driven both types. The Jetta is a strong little car and I emphasize 'little' compared to the Max. My Jetta was very reliable and simple to maintain. But compare these facts. The Jetta comes in different engine sizes. The Max is strictly a V6. No variables on engines with Nissan. Test driving (thoroughly) stomp it, stop it put it through the paces. Figure in gas and maintenance. 93 octane can be a big factor with this because that is the Maxima's t-bone to keeping an already solid car running in A-1 condition. Auto or 5-speed either one will be fun to drive. Last but not least an un-scientific and un-orthodox approach which ever car causes you to loose sleep buy it. The last technique has not failed me yet. Mind you I thoroughly checked and priced the car first.

 

VWs have far superior interiors (build quality and appearance) to a Maxima IMO. However, I think thats pretty much the only thing thats better about the Jetta.

Maxima will be more reliable, faster, and cheaper to maintain as well. I like the Jetta overall but I would go for a 1.8t instead of a VR6.

 

I might have bought a Jetta or Passat if VW's weren't so darned unreliable. The VR6 is a sweet little motor, as is the 1.8T. I need a reliable car, so I would get the Max.

 

the vw would be much more costly to repair (in the event of problems). they are both peppy cars from the factory. it all depends on preference...



ps- why would you all take the 1.8t over the vr6?¿? i dont understand, a 1.8 liter 4 banger (i know, i know, turbo) is expected to power a car as heavy as the jetta? there is much more potential with the vr6 IMO

 

i'd take the max~ no offense but jetta looks like a girl car to me

 

the different engine sizes youre bringing up doesnt matter because both cars are used. plus, you can always mod everything on either car. 93 octane is 1 dollar more per 5 gallons, 3 dollars more per tank pretty much. 48 bucks a year for performance like that? i'll take it... theyre also both foreign cars so parts are going to be a bit more expensive, but theres a ton more maximas than jettas so parts are probably going to be a bit cheaper.

i think the maxima youre looking at has 100k miles? thats the only problem i can see, because with how fun it is, the miles are gonna rack up in no time

 

ummm

 

It would take a crap load of mods on the VR6 to make up the 30 lb-ft torque difference between the two motors.

So you fill-up a little more than once per month? What if they drive a lot and fillup once per week. When I had my Accord V6 I was putting 30k miles on it per year. Part of the reason I got it was because it only needed 87 octane and that alone saved me about $500/yr. I drive a lot less now so I don't mind having to put 93 in the Maxima.

Last year 145,000 Jettas were sold. Compare that to 98,000 Maximas. Year to year numbers don't fluctuate very much so it's safe to say that VW probably consistently sells around 50k more Jettas per year than Nissan does Maximas. Oh and that doesn't include numbers for the Golf and Beetle, all of which are on the same platform and share many of the same parts. The Maxima was on pretty much its own platform in the US and the VQ was not used in any other US engine. As for how all of this would relate to parts prices, I have no idea.

 

jetta is not in the same class as a maxima so u cant compare the twoe by looking at the numbers sold. jetta is much cheaper and alot of teenagers like the looks and can afford the prices. thats not very true about the maxima. if u look around ull see that alot of teens drive the jetta.

 

thats a stupid question to ask on a page devoted to MAXIMA fans isnt it? derf.

 

"more potential" with the VR6?


You do know that a simple little $500 chip on a 1.8T gives you like 40hp and 80tq right?

 

He said there are a lot more Maximas around than Jettas. What does "class" have to do with that? Nothing.

There are a lot of teens in this forum too. Maxima resale sucks which puts it within easy reach of a lot of younger folks.

 

 

he said that more jettas were sold and that doesnt mean anything. last year prolly less than 1000 ferraries were sold, does that mean they are bad? no. maxima is more expensive and harder to afford. plus, our maxima's are USED, not NEW

 

I was a teenager when i got my 1st max and i would never chose a VW over a Maxima....MAXIMA ALL THE WAY

 

WTH are you talking about?

More Jettas were sold. Period.
That means there are more Jettas around than Maximas. Period.

If Toyota sells 400k Camrys per year and Nissan only sells 98k Maximas, that means that there are a TON more Camrys around than Maximas. PERIOD.

 

not a fan of the pre-99 body style. I think they are some of the ugliest cars on the road... As well as the interior, and i dont think the VR6 (in that gen) could catch up with the VQ mod for mod...



Eric

 

just dont waste your breath steve, some people just dont understand how to read....


Eric

 

VW was founded by Hitler.

 

look at it this way... you can do all this work to the and still fit a childse at in the back. and its already modded for a 5 point seatbelt.

 

If you do get the Jetta, opt for the cheaper 1.8T version... Chip it, exhaust and intake and you're going to be very fast... Maxima still gets my vote for looks/performance/reliability, but still gotta respect the 1.8T's

LEMAR

 

hmm yea for some reason i thought the newest generation jetta came out in 98... I agree the 98 Jetta interior looks like crap... I'm saying if you look at current VWs, their interiors are way better than any Maxima IMO..

 

It's your choice, do you want a good looking Maxima, thats pretty damn fast, or a Ugly Jetta that's not fast? your choice man