As some of you know i am possibly looking to buy a 5 speed maxima, (95-97) is what i can probely afford. So I know that the 95-96 max GXE's are the fastest out of the 4th gens and the 95-96 SE's are pretty close in speed too. But what are the main differneces between the two? I think i would want and SE since i guess it is suppost to be the "sportiest max" and has some nicer options than the GXE like a spoiler, leather, white face guages, ect. But would i sacrifice some speed with getting an SE or are the GXE's only a litte faster as long as they are both 5 speeds? thanks

 

It's in the FAQ...

...and GXEs are not always faster, but GLEs are always slower

 

O sorry, thats just what i am looking for. A question though, the GXE's never come with a spoiler? and which do you think is an over all better model?

 

GXEs never came with a spoiler from the factory. Many havr had them added by dealers or owners.

For me it would come down to the car in question. I would base the decision on vehicle condition, mileage, features, color etc...not trim level.

I have a GXE and I love it.

 

My 99 SE ran 14.52 in the quarter mile. My 97 GXE ran a 14.53 in the quarter mile.

Neither is faster than the other. They are more or less the same car. Get the options that you like better.

 

HEY YOU!! stop bad mouthing the luxury edition!!

anyway, if you go to the maximum forum there is a link that gives u all the differences between gxe's and se's, and gle's....as far as what you'll get from se over gxe, it all depends

some gxe's come with everything se comes with except abs, white gauges and same colored door handles....oh and sunroof....u can possibly find a hooked up GXE with all the same features except the few i mentioned (probably) but whatever is more important to u go for....if u plan to hook up car all the way, i say go for hooked up GXE cause the wack system u get with it, u will more than likely replace....everything else...is up to u....

 

but your GXE traps out higher i would rather have the one that traps out higher if they are .01 sec difference

 

I concur!

 

Yeah, but that could be due to tire pressure, tire compound, wind, etc. In my mind, having driven both (duh!) I don't see any performance difference.

 

ok

 

If I'm not mistaken, the only difference in performance in an SE and GXE is that the GXE's have a limiter installed from the factory.

I have an SE and love it! Not because it doesn't have a limiter, but because I like the factory options it has. Chose the one you like the best...

 

GXE with C&C pkg does not have a limiter. At least mine didn't.

 

If I had to do it all over again I would have gotten the "loaded" SE. Loe the litte thigns like body color door handles, white guauges spoiler, shadow trim, spoiler. It's really about what you prefer.

 

The only performance difference in any of the models should only be as a result of a "weight" difference since the engine output should be exactly the same across all models. GLEs are loaded and therefore usually are heavier which slows them down. GXEs are usually the least optioned therefore they would be the lightest. The general rule of thumb that I've gone by is 100 lbs. equals a tenth of a second quicker in the quarter mile.

The SE has the handling package from the factory and should take corners better than the GLE and GXE. However if your going to put aftermarket springs and wheels on then the model you buy is personal preference.

I like the SE because of the color keyed look. No chrome on the SE other than the emblems.

 

Yea, don't compare the two based on .0001 sec of speed difference. Choose the best car that you can get (condition, history and price-wise) that has the most options you want.

I know I wanted a spoiler, body-matched door handles, stock fogs, sportier suspension, and any other stock options I could get. When I was looking, I didn't even glance at GXEs because of that (I actually went to see one that was supposed to be an SE, according to the dealership, but was the worst GXE I've ever seen...cig burns in the cloth, chrome hubbies, weak shift ****, ricey-looking pedals...the best part about it was it was a 96 with 67K on it, and they wanted like, $14,750 for it!)

 

the reason most people buy an SE over a GXE is not because of options or weight.. its that stupid thought in the back of their minds..

i once saw a woman doing 65 in the fast lane in an ML55 ... i also have seen an older lady in her 50's driving a 2001 M5 .. why do you ask they have these cars? options? speed?

on because of the trim level it is.. basically thats what it comes down too.. i have a SE and you have a GXE..

i have a modded to ***** GXE .. rims.. custom leather.. dropped.. turbo.. you can't tell its a gxe apart from the chrome door handles.. but my good friend has a 95 SE with only a CAI.. but you know what his falling argument is? i have an SE and you still drive a GXE.. granted i could have bought 5 95 SE's with the money i spent.. but hey.. its still only a GXE

 

Well i mean i would take either if i found one in good condition, low miles ect. But i think it sounds like the SE has some nicer options that i want (spoiler, sunroof, leather,white face guages). So i will probely look for at the SE's.

 

I am probabably not most people, but the reason I bought an SE was because I liked virtually all the options it came with including - white gauges, spoiler, SE 5 star rims, body color door handles and trim, fog lights, nicer steering wheel and the slightly stiffer suspention to hold me over until I was ready for springs. I could of added most of these options to a GXE fairly easily, but it was a lot easier to just buy a SE in the first place. If I had found a good deal on a GXE I probably would have bought it and added what I wanted. Just buy what car is right for you, but there should be no significant speed difference between a GXE and SE.


BTW - Your car is still only a GXE

 

SE's are better because ummm.... I have one!

Seriously though they are basically the same cars. If you plan on upgrading your suspension & wheels get the GXE. I'm waiting for a year or 2 before I do that stuff so I'm happy I got an SE. Don't 4get about the cool white gauge faces!

 

you cannot beat the stock se 5 spoke wheels

 

No, but you can always buy them for your GXE

 

I'm not sure if anyone mentioned this...

but SE's come with electronically controlled liquid-filled engine mounts. This is also standard on the GLE, and its purpose is to reduce engine vibration during acceleration and idle.