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Is the Maxima a SAAB or a Corolla?

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Old 07-25-2010, 09:58 PM
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Is the Maxima a SAAB or a Corolla?

When i was younger I was a real gear head, I've had all the nice cars.

I had a SAAB 9000 which was supposed to be a great car, but it sure was expensive when it came to parts and I had to work on it all the time. By 170K, the heater core, the fuel pump, seat heaters, the radiator, the cooling fans, the alternator and the brakes were deqad. Talk about a finicky car

The last few years, I thought I had outgrown cars and my family shared a small fleet of Corolla's--4 of them. Talk about maintainance free, sturdy, reliable and carefree cars!! The military should buy them, they are tough as nails.

I just got my Maxima 98 SE with 188K on it. Sure have been doing a lot of repairs lately--did I get another SAAB?
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Old 07-25-2010, 10:02 PM
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every car is different. you never know what you picked up, if it has been beaten on or just has faulty things. in general the maxima is a very reliable car besides some minor things that seems to fail on all of them. personally i have had a boat load of problems with my i30, but i have had friends and family members take their max's to 250k withouth much issue. every car is different my friend.
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Old 07-25-2010, 10:09 PM
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Ive got over 250K on my 96. Had it a year and Ive only replaced CV boots, Valve cover gaskets, brakes and 1 O2 sensor. No Idea what the PO's might have done. You might have gotten a neglected car, catch up on maintenance items and you should be good. Hopefully the engine oil and trans fluid (AT?) have been changed somewhat regularly.

BTW, Ive worked on SOBs before, These are definitely no SOB. If I had to equate them to another I would say maybe Audi (worked on many of those) except simpler and more reliable.

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Old 07-25-2010, 11:17 PM
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I thought Maxima's were, well, Maxima's. ????
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Old 07-26-2010, 12:22 AM
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Originally Posted by JtzMax
I thought Maxima's were, well, Maxima's. ????
Ya
Maxima>>>>>>all
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Old 07-26-2010, 12:24 AM
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As mentioned before, You don't know how the car was previously treated.

I purchased my Maxima with 286k miles for $400 and its been the MOST reliable car I've ever owned as well as least expensive to maintain. My mom has owned cars that have required far more attention with less miles.

Make sure you're on time with the maintenance on the Max and you'll be alright. To answer your question whether it's a Saab or a Corolla... It's better than both combined and then some, it gets the fuel mileage of the Corolla while having more room, more power, more luxury, better looks, better engineering. All the Corolla is: the worlds number one selling vehicle but thats cuz its 13k base price My mom has owned 3 of them so dont' think I'm hating over here. 1979, 1982, and 1994
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Old 07-26-2010, 04:34 AM
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Originally Posted by ColombianMax
As mentioned before, You don't know how the car was previously treated.

I purchased my Maxima with 286k miles for $400 and its been the MOST reliable car I've ever owned as well as least expensive to maintain. My mom has owned cars that have required far more attention with less miles.

Make sure you're on time with the maintenance on the Max and you'll be alright. To answer your question whether it's a Saab or a Corolla... It's better than both combined and then some, it gets the fuel mileage of the Corolla while having more room, more power, more luxury, better looks, better engineering. All the Corolla is: the worlds number one selling vehicle but thats cuz its 13k base price My mom has owned 3 of them so dont' think I'm hating over here. 1979, 1982, and 1994

i just got my max and i replaced a geo(corrolla) no probs with that car it was great just forgot the performance! and i didnt have any options no pwr anything not even intermitant wipers now i have fully loaded SE. I can not get anywhere near the MPG! I get about 24 now i used to get upto 34 in the corrolla! Even if i beat it hard id get 28. I knew going in i was trading "some" reliablity for power and size and options however i think the MAX is the best possible compromise but we will see how reliable it is with time. i hope i can bring this post back from the dead in 5 yrs when i have 300k on it and report no issues!
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Old 07-26-2010, 05:47 AM
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My max has 267k and runs great theres a few minor things that need attention but its heart is still beating strong! The VQ30 is one of the best motors out there
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Old 07-26-2010, 05:59 AM
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Agree with the opinion of previous treatment. All cars have their wear points & I think by now it has been determined where these are more or less are on the 4th gen. In the 80's I wanted an original Supra but never owned one. I did wind up with a '82 280ZX for a while. Didn't think I'd like one until I had one. Today I rarely see a Supra anymore (maybe they made less) but I still see quite of few original Z & ZX's on the road. Point being, the durability of Nissan (Datsun).

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Old 07-26-2010, 06:23 AM
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I wd take a max over a SAAB or corolla any day.

I do like my chevrolets tho
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Old 07-26-2010, 06:34 AM
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Any car with that many miles can have a lot of issues unless you buy it new, take really good care of it and at 188K it might still run good because you made sure of it. When you buy a used car, there's no telling how the past owner/s took care of the maintenance and car period.
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Old 07-26-2010, 07:17 AM
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i'd understand if you bought a new car, but a used one (no matter what brand) with 188k on the clock...do the regular maintenance and expect things to fail (esp. suspension if it's still stock).
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Old 07-26-2010, 07:31 AM
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coincidentally,

I saw a billboard for monroe struts. It sd to replace struts every 60k. jus think about that, replacing struts every 60k. I never hrd of that.
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Old 07-26-2010, 08:13 AM
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lol what state was that in? we have pretty bad roads (and drivers) here in OK. I wouldn't be surprised if they lasted that long. Besides, Monroe is in a money making business.
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Old 07-26-2010, 08:17 AM
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If I could buy a brand new 4th gen max or a 2010 corrolla, I would get another 4th gen
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Old 07-26-2010, 08:18 AM
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Originally Posted by cashoit
coincidentally,

I saw a billboard for monroe struts. It sd to replace struts every 60k. jus think about that, replacing struts every 60k. I never hrd of that.
Or fork out the extra cash for performance struts and watch them last long time
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Old 07-26-2010, 10:10 AM
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Right down the street from my house in Mass.

U shd replace struts at least once the life of the car. Original OEM struts at 200k is a lil farfetched.
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Old 07-26-2010, 11:26 AM
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I've got 295k miles and only changed the transmission once the rest was just wear and tear parts. its a very good car and very reliable. i love it!
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Old 07-26-2010, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by 9Shenandoah
When i was younger I was a real gear head, I've had all the nice cars.

I had a SAAB 9000 which was supposed to be a great car, but it sure was expensive when it came to parts and I had to work on it all the time. By 170K, the heater core, the fuel pump, seat heaters, the radiator, the cooling fans, the alternator and the brakes were deqad. Talk about a finicky car

The last few years, I thought I had outgrown cars and my family shared a small fleet of Corolla's--4 of them. Talk about maintainance free, sturdy, reliable and carefree cars!! The military should buy them, they are tough as nails.

I just got my Maxima 98 SE with 188K on it. Sure have been doing a lot of repairs lately--did I get another SAAB?
No no, You got a Maxima. Fix everything once and she'll be good until twice the mileage.
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Old 07-26-2010, 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by bkortee
If I could buy a brand new 4th gen max or a 2010 corrolla, I would get another 4th gen
You know it...will even sign up for a waiting list if need be...lol
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Old 07-26-2010, 04:25 PM
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what kind of a thread is this in the first place........its not even close to a cheap corolla or saab.
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Old 07-26-2010, 08:28 PM
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Yeah it all depends on the previous owners and ect.

My car was in a front end collision and was repaired by a shop and re-sold. And I've had it for a bout 20k miles from 118k and I've changed the fuel filter, MAF, starter, alternator, radiator, and O2 sensors, and thats about it so far. And I've been driving it for about 10K more miles and nothing is going wrongs so far.
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Old 07-26-2010, 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Br0nz
i just got my max and i replaced a geo(corrolla) !
You know... thats something I also used to think but Corolla and Prizm are two very different cars.

One has all Bosch modules while the other has AC Delco...I think even the engines are not the same, similar but not the same if I remember correctly
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Old 07-27-2010, 05:10 AM
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NOt true

Originally Posted by ColombianMax
You know... thats something I also used to think but Corolla and Prizm are two very different cars.

One has all Bosch modules while the other has AC Delco...I think even the engines are not the same, similar but not the same if I remember correctly
I had a 95 Prizm. The ECU and airbag unit were Nippendenso but the ABS was AC Delco. It lasted 279 K miles and was still going strong when I sold it and $$$$((80 bought my Maxima, wanted something classy.
The engines are identical and the Prism has the same incredible AC system, after 15 years and 273 K miles, still ice cold!!

The trim, both interior and exterior --headlights, tail lights, differred.

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Old 07-27-2010, 05:27 AM
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Originally Posted by ColombianMax
You know... thats something I also used to think but Corolla and Prizm are two very different cars.

One has all Bosch modules while the other has AC Delco...I think even the engines are not the same, similar but not the same if I remember correctly

they have some differences because GM bought them and acted like they were there cars. ... what i mean is the different modules were because if you brought your GEO to GM/GEO for repair those are the parts they recommend. I went to the toyota dealer for my parts (anything hard to get to i did want to replace again) the engine is idenical but some of the other systems were add-ons and the body was a "copy" it was fabed in california to be a bit different. in 97 they took it a bit further adding their own stereo systems ect. but engine and drive train entire drive train were exact.
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Old 07-27-2010, 05:54 AM
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they virtually the same excpet for ECU. THe GM ECU is shyt, keeps flashing EGR codes even after fixes. The toyota ECU is bulletproof.
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Old 07-27-2010, 06:51 AM
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Saab's Saab. Nissan's Nissan. Maybe the previous owner of the Maxima never took good care of it. Mine is a 99 with 210K miles. My friend has a 2000 with 320K and a 1993 with 401K
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Old 07-27-2010, 08:24 AM
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i've had my maxima for 5 months now, and i have nothing but great things to say about the car.
The only things i've replaced are things that were bad when i bought the car. The rear struts and the halfshaft.
people tend to blame the cars, but just like it was mentioned, it's all about the past owners.
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