My younger brother (21 y/o) got the idea to sell his "abused" but so far very reliable 1998 Toyota Corolla w/ Auto trans, add some $$$ and buy himself a decent used (1995-1998) Nissan Maxima - w/ stick shift. He is sick of Auto tranny and he does not want to buy a used german car with stick shift. He also wants some real power, toys, and sporty feel. He likes the Maxima best from all the Japanese options, due to good performance/price ratio + stick.

I own a 2003 Maxima SE and i am very very happy with it. This car has 65k miles and it has been 99% trouble free. Unfortunately, i (we) don't know much about the 4th generation Maxima, esepcially about their "used car" reliability and most common technical issues. Are these cars reliable when old and how do they compare to same age Hondas or Toyotas?? What are the weakest points of a 4th generation Maxima? What breaks the most? How well does the transmission age? How is the Auto tranny in the long run? The reason i am asking about the AT is because in our area (N. California) it seems to be very hard to find a 4th generation Maxima with stick shift and low miles. Are they that rare?? He may have to get a car with AT and this concerns me.... AT cars tend to require more $$ for repair.

Please share your opinions on the 4th generation Maximas. I know we are all fans here, but i want to hear some realistic, objective opinions, based on experience. My bro has limited budget, he is in college, so if you think that a hard driven '98 Corolla with AT and 110k miles on it will be more realible (cheap to maintain) than a 95-98 Maxima with 80-90k miles, please say so. I am trying to gather as much information and opinions as possible before we find him the right car.
On a side note....when it comes to repairs, we both have a few years of experince in maintaining older cars....so there is no fair of grease and tools, we can do all the basics alone.

Thank you in advance for any advice!!!

 

4th Gen Maxs are very reliable, there are w few concerns to look out for but it depend on the year.

Transmission seems to be a trouble spot sometimes. The notirious differential bearing faliure that usually occurs around the 100K area.

99- coil pack issues
98- alternator recall (but a free fix if thats the case)
97- havent heard much
96- tranny bearing
95- tranny bearing.

over all very reliable and easy to repair if anything should need repairing. How to's and faqs can save literally hundreds in reapirs. Easy to diagnose problems and the forum is populated by more 4th gen owners than any other.

If he was abusing to his Corolla, then he would be abusive to the Max, althought the Max an take it, the cost for parts will be higher than the corolla.

AT trans I'm not familari with but havent heard of much failure at all, regardless of year. Corolla is a good college car, dont see why he should trade it plus pay cash. But with my biast opinion I'd say get the max.

 

keep in mind that 5spd's arent so easy to find

 

Yeap, thats the truth. Once I was finally decided on the Maxima, I looked HARD for 3-4 months until I found my 5spd.

 

i was on a hunt for a 5spd for 6+ months. i just gave up and picked up a GLE instead. price was cheap and condition of the car was great

 

Im the coolest kid in school because I have a Maxima.

 

I remember those days like it was yesterday

 

I've had my car since junior year in high school and now have it my sopomore year in college....got it with 90,000 and now has 133,000 so about 43,000 miles and the biggest service I have had done on my car is probably the brakes....and I bought my car on eBay.....if you can find a granny that lives near you that has a 97-99 max scoop it up...these things are a steal...excellent for a fast, realiable college car.

 

Common things that fly with the maxima that haven't been mentioned:

Oxygen Sensor
Knock Sensor

also be ready to do complete maintenance (more so if the mileage is higher)
-oil change, tranny fluid...

 

I actually went from a '95 AT Corolla to my '99 5spd Maxima.

I've had it for just over a year now and overall am very happy with the decision. I have had to do more maintanence on the Maxima, but it was to be expected with the mileage (bought it with 73k, now have 97k. I drive too much. haha). Only major thing I've had to do were the coils, which are notorious for going bad on the 99's. It is worlds more fun than the Corolla was.

 

my 96 MAX just hit 110,500 miles and i decided that the break-in period is probably just about done and i can now enjoy the long life of my car, properly maintained, of course.

I was curious, which Gen has proven to be the most relieable?

 

Me too! Me >

 

5 speeds in good condition are very hard to find, a few years ago after i decided to get a max i looked for a few months for stick, before i gave in and got the automatic. I am very happy with the car though and would highly reccomend it to anyone! good luck!

 

Same here! Took me a few months as well to find my 5spd. I'm glad I waited. I was looking and its really the only V6 manual trans japanese sedan under the $10k mark.

 

Women flocking the leather and subs every morning before class...ah high school.

 

Great replies! Thanks to all!

Seems like a 5-speed stick will be very very hard to fine, especially with lower miles/good price. I looked around - it's hopeless.

Lets talk about the Automatics Tranny on 4th genaration. I know that an AT Maxima will be slower than 5-speed one. But is it that bad?? I doubt it.....

On the reliability side.... anyone here who has an Auto 4th Gen Maxima....with more than 80k miles, please share, what is your experince with the transmission?? Is this unit strong? (considering that it was well maintained)
Most AT cars we had needed major AT service/overhaul ($1000+) around 110-120k miles. Is this the case with the 4th Gen Maxima? What have you heard/seen?

One thing that my bro's Corolla has as plus is a new AT, intalled at 86k miles by Toyota dealer (under extended warranty). Car has 106k mi currently.
It will suck if he sells the Corolla and few months later he ends up with a 100k miles+ Maxima that needs AT rebuild.
That's my main fear. Other than the AT concern, i don't think the Maxima will be able to drain his pockets that much. The AT is one of the FEW things we will not be able to fix alone in our garage.


Thanks again!

 

If you are asking us to tell you the AT will not give you any problems at all well . . . . that cannot be done. You will have to find out the hard way especially when you buy a used car. Interrogate the seller on the condition of the tranny and from there you can make the decision.
As for a general idea . . . . I have 156k miles on my Auto and have had no problems at all. I run it with Amsoil synthetic too. In my opinion synthetic helps. Like i said before, how you treat the tranny from the beginning tells the whole story.

 

Hey, I found you one in Sunnyvale. Original owner, 95k miles, SE model, loaded options, 5-speed manual. Probably wont last long, so take a look and jump on it if everything checks out!

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/83065229.html

Edit: here's another

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/82724853.html

 

Well the kids at my school don't realy know what i have. but if they did i would be the coolest kid

 

Thank you!!!

The first one looks great. Great find! Too bad my brother is comming back from Europe next Monday. He can't see the car. It may be gone by then.

I saw the second one yesterday but i am afraid that 115k miles may be a bit too high.

Thanks again!

 

Thanks for the reply!

I understand what you are saying. I was just asking for "relative" comparison and opinion. I am sure many people here owned other brand cars with Auto trannys and i was curious to see how the Maxima tranny compares to them in the long run and durability.
Example:... i do know that a Dodge Neon auto tranny is way way worse than my old Audi's auto tranny because iDodge's AT failed twice, with less miles on it and the same style of driving and care given. Unfortunately, in this case, my 03 Maxima has only 65k miles so i can't judge the AT durability yet - so far so good.

 

Go look at it for him, at least let the owner know you're interested. Black on black leather, loaded 5spd maxima? suuuper rare!

 

115k miles is nothing on these cars. I've had three 95 and 96 maximas, each of which is over 175k miles, two of which I still own (the other got totalled otherwise I'd still have it). You're worrying over nothing imho. I wouldn't have any qualms whatsoever about putting my little sister (21 years old) into a 150k mile 4th gen. The most expensive common problem, as has already been mentioned is bearing issues in the transmission of some 4th gen 5 speeds. That can get expensive. However a car that is at 115k miles like the one you mentioned will have already exhibited the problem if it was an issue with that particular car, and will have either been fixed, or it will be immediately obvious if it hasn't (weird whirring or clicking noises from transmission). The coilpack issues with the 1999 cars are easily fixable (you can get coilpacks for $10-15 a piece on here). An oil leak from the oil pressure sensor is fairly common, and that is a $12 part. Even a mechanic would fix it, part and labor, for under $45 probably (you could do it yourself in like 15 minutes if you wanted). Engine coolant temp sensor is a similar issue, even easier to replace (its front and center in the engine bay, and all you need to fix it is your hand and a 14mm wrench. Approximately a 5 minute job, and I think the part is about $30 brand new if I recall correctly).

BTW about 98% of 4th gen maximas are automatics I read somewhere, so finding a 5 speed is difficult.

Are you or your brother mechanically inclined at all?

 

As far as autos go I know there are a number of people who regularly post on this board who are over 200k miles on their original auto transmission. Same with 5 speeds.

 

wow thats an antique

 

I was fortunate in finding my 99 SE-L 5 speed. There is this little dealership like 5 minutes from my house and his office is what looks like a large tool shed with windows, (though nice inside), he has like maybe 20 cars or less on his lot and all of what seem to be foreign cars with higher mileage, mainly Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Acura. I at the time was driving my 3rd Gen SE 5 speed with 190k on it and was running beautiful. I was toying with the idea of getting a newer Maxima 5 speed. I was driving by one day and saw a 4th Gen in front of his office with chalk writing all over the windows so I stopped in and talked to him, very nice man. He had just picked it up at the auction. It was there because the dealership it was traded at couldn't retail it because it had 98k on it. It was an Arctic pearl 99 SE-L 5 speed, loaded with every conceivable option. I immediately gave him a $500. deposit pending on the CARFAX report coming back clean. The report came back as a one owner, no accidents or theft claims and regular service records. the CEL light was on and it was the ignition coils, I told him I wanted all 6 replaced before I bought it. He complied and I bought it for $9,200. cash. Not a single flaw anywhere, inside or out!
Hence, the happiest day of my life.
Sorry for the length, but I had to share. Def. look for a 5 speed if you can.

 

I would keep the corolla if it isn't giving him any problems. He should be patient and wait till he's out of college and get's his carrer started before considering another car. The problem is that he'll get this maxima and start treating it like a queen which will cost him more money than beating the crap out of a corolla. Not to mention he'll probably waist a lot of time on this stupid website instead of studying.

 

Yeah, true, then he'll get the " MODDING DISEASE ". and we all know where that gets us.... The poor house. You start with the easiest, cheapest mods, clear bumper lenses and the more you do, the more you want to do and the more expensive and elaborate the mods get and it goes on and on... Hmmm, what can you do to mod a Corolla? Hmmmmmm NOTHING!

 

blue ricer headlights! underglow! seatbelt pads and fluffy steering wheel covers.

 

Yeah about a year after I got my Maxima I went through a phase where I wished it was a manual. I read somewhere that my year Maxima actually puts out a good deal more HP when it has a manual transmission.

 

Yeah, I guess I forgot those few minor details. And fluffy dice too!!!

 

I have a 99 SE-L auto w/128,000, the tranny still shifts strong, but I believe I have a loose electrical conection. I've been getting code P1605 which is either a bad transmission sending unit, loose conector, or a weak battery. I havent heard many people complain too much about this problem.

I've had the car from day 1. The Max has been great. Other than routine maintenence, I've had to change the passenger air bag, and the coils.

Even my original sensors still work. I've never had major service done. Never left me hanging.

I do have to check out my suspension parts now, (ball joints, bushings) but I think I've dont fairly well with the originals w/128K mi. They seem like they are a little loose.

 

while you're at it, throw in that "8" ball

 

The first one looks just like mine, but i paid $5300. Hmmmmm...

 

I'm creeping up on 195k in my 95 GXE w AT and the tranny has never given me a problem. I do a tranny flush every 2 years.

95/96 models tend to need their starter replaced if it hasn't been done already.
97-99 models seem to have problem with their alternators dying.

If it's around 100k, you'll probably need to replace the struts/boots and do brake overhaul (rotors/pads) soon. Also the rear caliper pistons tend to seize after several years and might need replacing.

 

I'm near 127K and the orig. suspension/cv/axles are starting to give out on my Max.

 

i found my 99 maxima 3 years ago misprinted price in the paper for 10,500 w/60k miles and clean as hell then i went to stealership and they tried to tell me 16,700 and i said i would bring lawyers left w/ my black/black 99 5spd next day for 10,500 haha

 

i guess im kinda lucky... cv's lasted til 140,000.

 

I've got a '99 SE and love it. It's been far more reliable than the BMW 325i that it replaced. I'll be selling mine soon, so if you are near Ohio, tell him to check back hear from time to time.