I'm thinking of buying a Maxima SE to replace my recently departed '93 SE-R (totaled it in last week's brutal snow storm - sadness).

Are there any major differences between the various years of 4th generation SE production that I ought to be aware of before I purchase? Are there significant options packages that are desireable? Are there known problem areas in a certain year to watch out for?

Thanks in advance for your time.

 

I would have to say 95 SE or GXE. Lightest of them all.

 

I think that the 98 and 99 look better, as far as taillights and the gauges on the inside. Oh yeah the radio too.

SuDZ

 

i drive a '99 SE-L and it looks great. if you want to see what options the 99 SE-L has, check out my website for a listing.

 

I know someone posted the differences on the forum before. Lemme go find it ...

YAY, got it, from SprintMax in another post.


97 - 99 have more re-inforced bumpers and they are more secure than the 95 - 96...

95's are lightest and they are the fastest.. they have less emmisions restrictions...

97 - 99 have better looking headlights, grills and taillights..

98 - 99 have digital odo

99 have better security package


I drive a 95 SE, and yes, I prefer the reinforced bumpers but I like the 95-96 front end better (different bumper, headlights, fogs, grille).
I wish I had the immobilizer
Don't really care for the digital odo with 2 trip comps, I could live without it.

Price goes up with the years, so whatever fits your budget!

 

Don't forget, the ecu upgrades suck or are non-existant for '97+

 

I believ though that on the 95 and 96's you can replace it with the 97+ grills and bumpers. I may be wrong but pretty sure you can. So that can always be something you look into later on if you want.

Can somone confirm that for me?

SuDZ

 

Don't forget that the crash test results on the '95'-'96 cars weren't as good as the '97 and up years.

 

Yes, you can. You can do headlights only or headlights, grill and bumper. Corner lights are the same.

 

The only significant difference between the fouth Gens is the front/rear redesign and the improved crash protection on the 97-99 models. Any differences in weight and speed/power should be minimal.

Here is my first post on this board, lots of good responses -
Year to year differences on the 4th generation Maxima

And some information on the different options available in different years -- http://www.geocities.com/jgadlage/maxspecs.html

 

It's the best looking and hopefully, someday, it may become a collectors edition. It has Titanium coated rims, gauges, SE-L embroidered floormats, Titanium coated Maxima emblem in the rear, and SE-L badges. Plus, it has a bracket by the top of the strut mounts so you can't put on a Strut Bar. Shoot for the 99 SE-L you won't regret it!

 

Also they did some things in the inside like a revised Cup holder, optional Homelink 97-99, Redesigned Steering wheel GXE and SE, Se's have a nice wheel for 97-99, In SE red needles vs white and of course the revised Radio faces.

 

Wasn't the paint quality of 95-96 worse then 97-99 too?


Personally, I like the look of the 97-99 much more, that is why I got one, I could have gotten a 95-96 for cheaper and a more affordable price but I think the 97-99s look so much better, front end, and rear... however, you can convert both the front and the rear to make it look like 97-99, but it's a lot of parts and hassle... 97-99s also have less problems... such as the common O2 sensor failure and starter failure....

 

I know that the fifth gens are available but don't put my car out to pasture just yet I mean is my '96 that old now days

 

The redesigned front and rear end of the 97-99 really make the car look a lot better, and I've noticed the paint of the 97-99 is a lot nicer too. My 95's paint sucks ***!. But if price is part of the equation, its a more important part than some minor exterior improvements, which for the most part can all be changed....

 

Especially in black or dark green with clear bumper and red/clear tails. I don't really like the earlier year where the lights and grills changed (and the ones with the the rear turn signals on top).

 

I thought you were talking about wine for a second

 

Bill your 96 is still cool and will be for many more years, just take a look at how well the 3rd gens. are holding up a timeles design thats 13 years old. As far as 4th gens looks go the 97-99SE's are the best looking, they look more agressive and those 5 spoke alloys are tight, I dont know what Nissan did to them for the 5th gen but they dont look as good.

 

Is this true?

 

Go for 97 - 99 SE in Black....
They really look sharp!

 

I'd say a 97 or 98 SE.

The mild front and rear fascia changes in 97 only added 7 lbs (that's right, a 95 GXE weighs 3005 vs 3012 for a 97 GXE per the Nissan brochures), and I think those changes make the front end of the car look better. The interior (steering wheel, cup holders) were improved a little, too. There were also a few minor bugs that were taken care of by 97. Drivetrain-wise, the 97-98s are identical to the 95-96's, with the exception of the engine computer. The 95's and fed-spec 96's use OBD-I compliant programming vs OBD-II for all others. There's no HP or torque difference between the two ECU types, but the good thing about the older OBD-I is that there are ECU upgrades available (~+5 HP, +12 ftlbs). You can (illegally) install an OBD-I ECU on a car that originally came with OBD-II, though.

99's do have some engine changes. The front exhaust manifold/pre-catalyst setup is slightly more restrictive. Perhaps there's a 5 HP/ftlb drop, but that's just speculation.

If you are planning on modifying the suspension of the car, then I'd consider a GXE also. The only functional difference between the SE and GXE is wheels/tires and springs/shocks. There's no point in paying for an SE if you're going to upgrade that stuff anyway. SEs do have some minor interior upgrades, though (leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift ****, and cloth fabric types).

 

This is all right except a small part about the OBDI and OBDII.. ALL 96's, even Fed spec 96's have OBDII, and even some 95's have OBDII. For 95's I think it was the first half got OBDI and second half OBDII from what I have read and seen??? However, I never did understand why that was?? lol

 

I would have to say the 97-99 SE. I got my 97 SE new and now am happy to report 210,000 miles and counting. I still love the looks too. At my last oil change they gave me a 02 SE to drive and it's a fantastic car, but I'll wait till the next gen comes out to retire my 97.

 

WOW!!! 210K Have you done any major work to it??

 

You imply that not being able to install strut mounts is a good thing. Why?

 

What about a 96 GLE. i am planning to buy one pretty soon from this guy. Is the 96 that bad in the crash test.

Oh yeah. How much would you esimate a 96 GLE with 50,000 miles on it?
need to know quick. hes gonna bring it ova on sunday.

 

Can you elaborate on this point? Why would ECU options be better for earlier years?

Thanks in advance for helping this newbie learn.

 

97 and up have codes that haven't been broken yet.. No one will pay the R&D costs to do it. 97's can put a 95-96 in theirs with just a few mods to an 02 sensor I believe, but 98 plus have other things that are ran by the ECU such as a digital mileage and stuff, so you can't change it out with an upgraded 95-96 ECU... Did that help a little???

 

Yes Victim, that helped. Thank you.

I guess I'll start shopping for a '97 SE then, because it can be chipped.

 

Anyone know of a good, clean '97 SE 5 speed for sale?

 

Yes, Brian V has a very good and clean 97 SE 5 speed. Probably the bes around. 14.3 1/4 mile with a normally aspirated engine!!! Good Luck!

 

So how do I find this Brian V? I ran a search for 'Brian V' on the forum and came up empty.

 

Really? Why aren't ECU upgrades available for '97+ SEs?

Second, does the ECU upgrade make that much of a difference?

 

98...98 98 nintyeight, 1998. I'v been sellin datsun parts since the first gen. go with a 98. Yes 1998 SEL, cold pack, SE man.trnz. Side by side, heads up, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.. Not a 99. Not a 96 or 95...A98. cant dis a 97 caus thats what I gots.

 

I think 95 is the best year but that opinion was influenced by my 95 max.

 

hehe I am biased, but I like the frontend better than 97+ Also love the steering wheel on 96. My leather wrapped one has ideal thumb position in my opinion. Nice and low. I am big fan of roundness in a car, and 96 frontend is nice and round The foglights are nice and round. The rear end is also nice and round, although i don't like that little line in it. The climate control temp buttons are nice and round. As far as safety, at the speeds I drive it, prolly won't make much difference

 

As long as you like and take good care of it the car will be great for years.