I am looking to by a 4th generation Maxima in the next couple of months and wondered what differences there were year to year.

I am probably going to buy a 96 or 97, but I may consider a 95 if it’s in real nice shape, or a 98 if the price is right.

 

Starting with your standard 95...

95.5: OBD2

96: big cup holder, power passenger seat, taller emergency jack

97: new bumper supports, new front and rear sheetmetal and appearance, digital odo, new steering wheel and console, many electronic changes

99: SE-limited package, all cars CA emissions spec(I think)

Plus there were different paint colors every year.


Others can help add to this list I'm sure...

 

95-96: The original 4th gen

97: Front end/Rear end facelift (changed appereance)
16" rims on the SE
New steering wheel design
New Bose radio facelift

98-99: Digital Odometer
Side Air Bags available
Climate Control facelift with Ambient Temp
feature added

I would recommend going with a 97 or up because I like the nose/rear end better. The Bose radio is easier to operate because of its bigger buttons and the steering wheel looks a hell of a lot better. Side air bage were rare so if you go with a 98-99 you probably will end up with one that dosen't include this feature.

 

97's didn't get the digital odo or at least my 97 doesn't have it.

 

1995- 1st year 4th gen, component layout similar to 3rd gen SE models

1996 - revised emissions equipment, OBD II, new cup holder

1997 - strengthened crash protection, stronger bumpers, facelifted front and rear (taillights reversed, clear headlights, new fogs), revised dashboard, new steering wheel, 16" wheels on SE

1998 - side air bags, red needles across the line, digital odo

1999 - emissions equipment similar to 5th gen models, SE limited edition available



I would say go for 97+, if only for the better crash scores. Insurance institute rated the 95-96 models "poor
and the 97+ "acceptable" in frontal crash tests.

 

Man, you know your 4th Gens

DW

 

Just to clarify what I am looking for, my main criteria is going to be price. I want an SE, but I plan to upgrade the suspension and wheels anyway, so I wouldn’t mind settling for a GXE if the price was right, but I would miss the fog lights and white face gauges. I am looking for a 5 speed.

Basically I would get an older model in very nice condition with more options, or a newer model with less options. The Maxima seems to come with quite a lot of standard options, but some of the other extras would be nice (Heated seats, keyless entry, power trunk release, etc)

So far it looks like the biggest difference is the front and rear end changes, I will have to look at a 96 and 97 closely to decide if I like the 97 that much more. If I could afford a 98 chances are one with side air bags would be out of my price range anyway.

Three more questions –
What is an OBD 2?
Was the GLE ever available as a 5 speed?
There was a 95.5 Model?

 

OBD2=On Board Diagnotics 2
Some 95 Maxes were OBD1

OBD is the computer standard/protocols developed so you can hook up a computer to your car, and use an OBD program to read all th vital stats (RPM,service codes etc) on your car. Look here for more info;

http://www.obd-2.com

All GLEs are automatic.

95.5 Model?? Maybe that's when the 95 went OBD2??

 

I have been told that the 95-96 are faster because they are lighter. I prefer the clear needles because I made them blue. They make Indiglo gauges that are white during the day and blue/green at night. You can always add stock fog lights. Just some stuff to consider.

Erik

 

And if a 97+ model is out of your price range but you like the bumper of a 97+ you can get a 95-96 and convert the front end to a 97+. You just need a new bumper and grill. The 97+ headlights look better but they are the same size so you could keep those.

 

When EXACTLY did OBD-II kick in though? My '95 was produced in 1/95, but I know that production started in 8/94, so would I have a 95.5 then?

 

Mines is obd2 and it was production date is 12/94.

 

I though 1997 was the first year for odb2 that is why JWT does not make the computer yet...

Is that not the case?

 

Interesting how it seems you all are more interested in gauge needles and headlight lenses from between Maxima model years than crash protection, which is the real advantage of 97+.

 

Actually, I think that the OBD question came up more often. Anyway, most people are looking at a COSMETIC difference,not a safety difference.