I've been looking for a maxima for a while and can't find a SE in my price range, but there are plenty of GXE's.

If i'm gonna throw some aftermarket wheels and H&R springs on it anyways the only things i would be missing from the SE are the foglights and the spoiler (which i could get aftermarket too)

There is a black GXE loaded (no leather) for $14,900 canadian ($9933 US dollars) with 125000 km's (78000 miles) on it.

what do you guys Think??

The engines are identicle right????

and how much for an aftermarket spoiler that looks like the oem one???

thanks.

here is a pic of it:

 

GXEs are very light and VERY moddable. Also you can pick up a spoiler from www.spoilersforless.com for a little over a hundred.

 

THanks for the link man.

When I click on the maxima spoiler if shows a pic of a 240sx ... it is the same spoiler or did they put up the wrong picture.

That's a pretty good deal!!! $99!! wow.

 

If you're gonna do wheels & suspension & have options on the wing and/or foglights (The OEM foglight kit is available for as little as $179 USD - do a search: someone talked about it recently) then I'd say sure, go for the GXE.

The only other thing that may not even be an issue for ya is: the GXE (I believe) has a governor (ignition cutout type) which limits your top speed to under 120 mph. Obviously, this is more of a bragging-rights limitation than an impediment to normal, everyday driving.

(My stock 5-speed SE once hit 143 mph on a lone, abandoned highway, so you see the car is capable of quite a bit more than the governor allows)

Anyway, there's a simple wiring modification you can do fairly easily (again, use search to find details) to defeat this, but it may cause your check engine light to come on, unless you wire it with a rocker or toggle switch in-line.

If you can live with these things, go for it!



Btw, sorry about your Z. OUCH! Glad you were ok, tho. Deciding to keep it in the family, but dial it down a notch, eh? Well, we'll give up the official clubhouse handshake as soon as you get your pink-slip. May you get a great deal!

 

You also get some minor things like white face gauges, and body colored door handles and trim. The gauges can be easily changed, but the trim and door handles might be a little more difficult. The biggest cost difference would be the rims and suspention, if you are going to change these anyway and don't mind the other datails then you might as well get a GXE.

All the fourth Gens had the same Engine, the base GXEs were speed limited. What is 'loaded', even the base GXE came with all power, cruise, etc.? (I have seen base GXEs advertised as 'loaded')

Personaly I liked all the details on the SE (White gauges, body color trim, fogs, spoiler, rims), and I hate the chrome door handles, so it was easier to get an SE then to try to change everthing.

If you can find a spoiler at a junkyard that is already the right color, you can save painting costs.

 

gxe is the best deal

 

GXEs rule. If you get one with a top speed limiter, it can be "dealt with" by clipping a wire...

 

white face gauges? we don't need no stinking white face gauges.



besides, GXE comes in 5 speed

 

The GXE's that have the speed limiter are the 5-spd GXE's (all of them) and automatics without security and convenience package (intermittent wipers, power trunk release, and alarm system). But since most automatics have the S&C package, you probably do not have to worry about the speed limiter.

 

if u don't mind the little things, then the GXE is the better deal. I wanted an SE as well, but couldn't afford one, so I got a GXE. All I wanted at the time was a sunroof which my car has. For doing a lot of mods, the GXE is the better deal, it's cheaper to start with, leaving you with more money for mods. Although sometimes I feel like i should have waited for the SE.

 

I have a GXE Auto with the S&C package...and a limiter.

 

Wanna mod it? GXE

Wanna leave it alone? SE

 

My 1996 GXE with comfort and convenience package has no limiter. If you're going to mod it go GXE, its lighter. The fogs and spoiler are nice however, but you can always buy them afterwards. Plus if you want an aftermarket spoiler you won't have to fill in holes like in the SE - same goes for fogs.
-Cyrus

 

come on now, you know that no one can resist the modding bug. no matter what trim they get.

 

I think they just put up the wrong picture.

 

The GXE only weighs like 40-50lbs. more than the SE, at least on a '95.

Personally I love the white face gauges on an SE. They look better than the aftermarket kinds.

And remember you might not notice those chrome door handles now, but it might start buggin you later. Chrome looks more flashy, but if your into a sporty ride, get the SE. You can paint them but they won't look as good as stock SE handles.

Bottom line - SE looks 10x better than GXE stock. If you plan on heavily modding your car, get a GXE (remember chrome and no white gauges). But if your gonna start slow, start right. SE.

Ok GXE boys now flame away

 

You have it backwards. The GXE only weighs about 40 - 50 lbs LESS than an SE.

 

Yea thats what I meant to say! Doh

 

I'm torn .... I don't know which way to go.

I's get aftermarket wheels no matter which trim i got but with the GXE I would ad the spoiler+paint+install, get some SE door handles, fog lights+wiring+install, and some H&R springs.

I dont know if it would be cheaper to maybe wait for a deal on an SE and then only have to thrown some wheels on it.

97 SE's up here in the Vancouver BC Canada Area go for about $21000-$25000 Canadian which is $14000-$16500 US dollars.

 

I don't think you can get SE door handles...

If your gonna plan on doing all this, the smart thing to do is get an SE. It will come like you want it stock, and look better probubly than your job.

Blah, screw the '97. Get your @ss a Superblack '95 SE 5spd and you will be smokin'! Check sig to see what you could have if you get a '95

 

Sure you can.

 

a used gxe and se are so close in things that count...
engine, manual trans availability, interior space, steering.
that the best thing may be just finding the
best condition model you can afford.

in most cases, that would be the gxe.
lighter weight, lower insurance, greater depreciation
in the used car marketplace.

i actually wouldn't have minded if i had been able to find a gxe, cause i ended up getting an used se with sunroof which i don't use (extra weight), bose system which is making me hesitate in getting an
aftermarket one, white gauges which i will probably cover
with indiglos. suspension and wheels/tires: you'll probably replace them anyway like i did.

whichever model you get, it finally looks like people
are starting to offer aftermarket upgrades.
good luck...don't hesistate if you can get a good deal
whether it's a gxe or se.

 

I don't think you'll be able to find many GXE 5-speeds in the Lower Mainland area.
If you can live without the special gauges, stock spoiler, fog lights, suspension + the SE Door handles(can't forget about those!) then go for the GXE, but it may be hard to come across one with a manual tranny though.

If you keep looking, you'll find a good deal on an SE.

I have a GLE, but personally, I wish I got an SE instead, they look really cool

 

Yes i agree get a gxe that what i got and "theeerrrreee great!" - Tony The Tiger

Bruce

 

Go for the GXE.

 

I have an SE. They are hard to find. I got lucky and found mine after only 2 weeks....and got a pretty good deal for it too!

The GXE's are every bit as good as the SE's. I just didn't want to do anything to mine. it is possible to mod a GXE fairly easily to become an SE...if you want to that is!

Leather seats are bout $600
White face gauges about $70 ???
Spoiler $150-250 (painted)
suspension $400-$800 (depending on type of suspension - this is better than SE)
It all kind a adds up so depends on what you want.

 

I can't beleive none of you have mentioned the number one thing that comes to mind when I think of GXE vs. SE. The ability to get all the luxury options on an SE! Sunny, you called the GXE "loaded" but I hate to break it to you, there is no such thing as a "loaded" GXE. Some people don't care about electronic climate control, leather, power sunroof, power seats, etc., but if you are like me, you wouldn't buy a car without it. So if you want a 5-speed and all the goodies, get an SE, if you want a 5 speed and don't care, get a GXE. However, keep in mind, the SE's body color grill and doorhandles as well as the black window trim is 100x better looking than the GXE's cheap chrome.
My modo, is don't settle. If you want an SE, be patient and keep looking. I totalled my Audi in a December and didn't buy my Max until the following Feb. because I am so picky and didn't want to settle. And I'm grateful every day that I did. Good luck.

 

Yeah! he's right! I had forgotten about that stuff ... heated seats, climate control....I took it all for granted I love my SE even more now!

 

GXE or SE...either would be a good car. I wouldnt get all bent out of shape about the trim level. Just as long as you get a 5spd car that you like.

But for pete's sake dont get a GLE...

 

Why not look for an ES. Its a canadian model of the SE without the sunroof and spoiler. It has the same rims,suspensions, and alloys and its a lot cheaper than an SE and comparable to a GXE.

What year was the car for $14,900?

 

priorities....

for a fixed budget, would you rather have a
newer, lower mileage max or a older higher mileage
car with lots of extra equipment?....

hmmm....tough choice.
most important in the used car search is
to be patient and be ready to jump on a good deal
when you find it.
i can't tell you how aggravated i was when i hesitated
and lose a great car deal...argh!

 

I second that.

 

What are you looking for??? Don't get an SE because people say it has all the extra stuff. A GXE with C&C is a damn good deal. I have one because it had everything I wanted and didn't want(sunroof, factory fogs, leather). GXE's can still be found with this stuff but don't kill yourself to get a high mileage SE because it has those things. IF you look at the GXE's on this board, you will see that GXE's have their own personality after being modded. No 2 look the same, unless they are fully stock.

 

if u want leather, get the two tone, white/black se leather, it's cheaper and cooler. All ( most) of the Se options r avaible for the GXE if u want them, and cheaper. However if the prices r the same, go with the SE. It naturally looks cooler. IT is faster, ( no speed gonverner) and more stylish

 

Couple of points.

I've had both a 97 GXE and now a 99 SE. I purchased the GXE while I was in school and living on a very strict budget. The car was wonderful, did everything that I needed a car to do, and was fast! After getting out of school and starting to work full time, I decided that I loved the Max and couldn't part with them yet, but wanted a nicer car (sunroof, leather, etc). A SE was the perfect choice for me. I got the same performance, a much, much nicer interior, and a better looking car. Like everyone has said, if your on a budget go the GXE route, they really are a great deal. Also the SE's feel smoother than GXE's. I really believe that the computer controled liquid engine mounts compared to the GXE's really do make quite a difference. Before I bought my 99 I did back to back drives with my GXE and theblue's SE, and his engine felt countless time smoother.

That being said, aren't all 5 speed SE's that are sold in Canada equiped with a LSD from the factory? If so, that's a major point in the corner of the SE.

 

My GXE doesn't have a speed limiter. Also it has 2-tone leather, performance suspension and a stereo system, all of which are superior to what a fully loaded SE comes with.
Why spend more money and get Bose, SE-tuned suspension and crappy leather seats when you'll end up replacing all that anyway.

 

that's the thing though. if you don't plan on replacing those stuff, then an SE is a better VALUE since it coes with all of those. my first maxima was a '95 GxE and i have a '95 SE now. my GXE was the basic with the c&c package. and yes, it did have a speed govenor (either that or my max couldnt make it pass 120. both my maxias are autos. the gxe was rougher than my se, especially on the freeway. the se handles better and is smoother in the corners. i love my se because it has a sunroof, leather, spoiler, and white faced gauges. other than that, it was like my gxe. it just looks a hell of a lot better.

 

My GXE came with a sunroof, power seat and a spoiler. I don't really care for white se gauges otherwise I would have them by now. Oh, and my max can pass 120 easily, I've tried that a number of times...while going back from Maxus 01

 

yeah, i'm pretty sure my GXE was more ghetto than yours though. all in all, what ever floats your boat...

 

Everyone makes such good points .... I think i'll buy whatever I can get a deal on first!!! And dip into my student loan if I decide on the SE.