I am interested in discussing this topic because I just saw a topic
labeled "are you happy with your Max?"

Lets put the Maxima in perspective for me:

I have owned two previous cars and have driven a couple others as rentals.

1992 Acura Legend:
Pros

1) Great paint job
2) Great interior
3) Good resale value

Cons

1) Poor handling because very heavy and small tires
2) Braking is long
3) Very uncomfortable seats
4) A little on the slow side
5) Seemed very big and difficult to drive for its size
6) Poor automatic shift action

1993 Mazda 626 v6 (has to be one of the worst cars ever)

Pros

1) ??? Let me think about that for a while...

Cons

1) Very slow
2) Very violent automatic shift action
3) Slow transmission to react to input
4) Horrible handling- even lane changes cause a lot of body lean
5) Very weak body
6) Very cheap interior- though I think that the carpet quality in the Mazda was better than my Maxima
7) Noisy interior
8) Very unreliable - I was the unfortunate owner of this car for three years and the whole time involved spending mucho $$$ on fixing everything from the ground up. Finally suckered someone into buying at 120,000 miles. Lets just say that I replaced or fixed everything by the engine and that was on its last gasp.
9) Ugly

This was the kind of car that you would get in happy and get out of absolutely ****ed off and unsettled even crazed.

Rental 2001 Sentra GXE

Pros

1) Great gas mileage
2) Great stereo for stock system
3) Solid body
4) Paint good
5) Comfortable seats

Cons

1) Very very noisy- like driving a helicopter
2) Very slow
3) Rear a little cramped
4) Resale average at best

2001 Grand Am four cylinder

Pros

1) Good accelleration for four banger
2) Good paint job
3) Comfortable seats

Cons

1) Funky interior some things pretty cheap
2) Rear cramped
3) Below average reliability
4) Bad resale value
5) Visibility not so good

My step-Dad's 2001 Cadillac Deville

Pros

1) Very roomy
2) Very luxurious on inside
3) Great paint job
4) Very quiet

Cons

1) Has anyone ever driven a boat?
2) Some really cheap stuff on the inside and outside such as the trim
3) Too big for me- not fun to drive fast- very dangerous...
4) Resale not good
5) Reliablility below average

My Mom's 2001 Acura RL

Pros

1) Quiet interior
2) Nice interior
3) Nice stock stereo
4) Nice handling
5) Nice paint job
6) Reliable

Cons

1) A bit cramped in the front and back
2) Booooooring outside zzzzzzzzz
3) Booooooring inside zzzzzzzzz
3) Not really sporty at all
4) Resale average
5) Heavy car

I don't know about axcelleration since I have never WOT on it.

Now lets compare to my 2001 Nissan Maxima

Pros

1) Great excelleration
2) Very comfortable seats
3) Cool interior
4) Quiet interior
5) Cool exterior - no wait, beautiful exterior.
6) Very good handling for weight- doesn't even lean in lane changes and turns
7) Sporty - 17 inch rims available to make even sportier and looks real good

Cons

1) The elpremium gasso
2) Not as good a sporty car as the fourth gen Maxima.
3) Resale value is average
4) Heavy car for the twisties
5) Paint quality

Now when all the facts are compared, Even from such a wide variety of cars and price groups, I love my Maxima out of all of them.
It fits my budget (and no it didn't get it just because it fits my budget) and it is very comfortable to cruise in and is capable of shaming cars that cost the same and even more. Its a true sports sedan. Reliability is excellent. It is very roomy in front and back unlike the Acura RL, Sentra, and the Mazduh. The seats don't make my butt hurt and my back like the Acuras and the Mazduh. Interior quieter than Mazduh and Acura Legend. Not sure about the Acura RL though- pretty comparable.
Handling is better than the Mazda, Acura Legend, Acura RL, and Deville. Appearance is nicer than all of them.


The only thing that I don't like is the depreciation rate, but I heard that that's directly related to the fact the Nissan gives out so much rebates on their cars. Now if resale value was a little better, there would be nothing to hold against it.

Please feel free to share your views and opinions.
Sorry if this post too long-winded but I'm not much of a writer...

 

last car was an '84 Oldsmobille Cutlass Supreme
So my Max beats it in every way possible.....
except for when it comes to comfort.
That bad boy was soo comfortable. Nice soft seats....

 

Previous Car: 1997 Chevrolet Lumina

Interior: I35 wins hands down. So many creature comforts, better design, DRIVER FRIENDLY.

Exterior: Again, I35 wins hands down. Factory chrome 17" wheels, side skirts, HID headlights, better design, etc. The exterior on the lumina was boring and bare bones.

Performance: No contest, I35 all the way. It should have been illegal to put a 160HP V6 in that Lumina. Same, if not more weight and nearly 100 HP less...sheesh.

Braking: hahah....I35 wins again, everybody complains about Maxima brakes, but compared to the small front disc/rear drum brakes on the Lumina, these brakes are amazing.

Only thing I liked about the Lumina more than the I35, is that there were less stereo related rattles. I had amped components and subs and never really had a problem with rear parcel shelf or trunk lid rattles. That's something that has finally bugged me enough that I'm gonna take a look at it.

 

To me my mom's RL is way more comfortable then My max, specially in the back. The insides to me are very close call. Then The Maxima's engine beats the RL in every way. In looks it would be a close call specially since my mom's RL is chromed out.

I also have a 91 Honda Accord

Pro's
* Good speed for a 4 banger
* Nice handling
* Good gas mileage
* Reliability is good
* Inside nice, outside nice
Con's
* Auto
* Steering wheel vibration to much.

My 2k2 MAX

Pro's
* Good speed, wait i mean great engine
* Nice inside and outside
* Nice Rims

Con's
* turning
* Noise from windows and rattles
* Missing 15hp

For me my favorite would be the MAXIMA it is a nice car, to tell you the truth i was waiting for the new accord but got into one of these and fell in love. I DO NOT REGRET IT AT ALL!!

 

my old car was an '87 crown victoria LTD.

hhmm...
pros...huge inside, outside, trunk, engine compartment...comfy, bench seats for *wink wink* could take a hit like none other. i love the steel bumpers. plus weighing more than a lincoln navigator helps.

cons:
extreme sun damage. 5L V8 sucked gas like crazy. 11 mpg on a good tank. dried out dash. i poked holes in my "speaker grills" by accident by tapping on them. leather on steering wheel rubbed off. "chrome" stickers rubbed off. no traction. i could skid in fog. bouncy ride. tape player broken. radio antenna broken off.

but considering its an 87, not too bad. esp for a ford.

but my max is great. its got its problems but its a huuuuge upgrade from the LTD.
so no complaints.

 

----93 Corolla:

Pros: Great Gas mileage, good paint, great utility with the folding rear seats

Cons: Slow, small, sound system sucks, no power locks, no power windows, or power anything for that matter. After 6 major accidents (1 from me, 1 from my dad, 4 from my mom) every plastic replacement part vibrates and it doesn't ride anywhere near as well as it did.

----Dad's 98 Lexus ES 300

Pros: Amazing luxury, awesome Nakamichi sound system, six CD changer in the glove box, great gas mileage for a V6, super smooth automatic shifts, sweet sounding muted yet roaring engine (it's hard to describe), it's a lexus!

Cons: 215 or so horsepower is decently fast, but for some reason doesn't accelerate as well as my maxima, smallish steering wheel, no fold down rear seats, wood trim screams "old man", 15 inch rubber

----2001 Maxima GXE

Pros: It's fast, It sticks to the ground well (after I put the 17" SE Alloys on it, a FSTB, and a rear sway bar), the interior is larger than my dad's lexus, the interior is laid out nicely, sweet sounding engine, folding seats, good looks.

Cons: Initially, it felt like a boat, 15 inch steel wheels suck, lots of quality control issues (paint, interior rattles, etc). Starter problems that don't seem unique to just me and that Nissan can't seem to figure out. Nissan's service is by far the worst I've encountered so far. I also wish I had the 255 hp versions.

Well, in conclusion the Maxima is light years beyond a corolla, but still has quite a ways to go before it can touch the lexus. Not that they are in the same class, but for Nissan's flagship, you would expect it to compete with Lexus' entry level sedan. With the Lexus, it's all the little touches that make it my favorite drive of the three.

 

Previous:

91 Corolla
PRO:
- peppy engine (scaled down version of the Max..same power charestrics, just less area under the curve)
- dead reliable
- fun to drive (had a low limit of grip..so you could corner at 40km/h and think your doing 80km/h)
- great resale value

CONS:
- had only two speakers
- had only tape player
- no A/C
- no power windows
- no power door locks
- no sunroof
- no abs
- no airbags

 

Ive had some good cars before ..so my only good thing is 4 doors...

 

Previous Car: 1993 Honda Civic DX 4-Door

Pros:
- 30 MPG City / 38 MPG Highway
- Can actually seat 5 people in relative comfort
- Drop the rear seat down & can actually fit a large plastic picnic table
- 238,000 miles with never a major problem!
- The last model year all Civics were assembled in Japan

Cons:
- 102 HP / 98 FT-Lbs Torque
- 102 HP / 98 FT-Lbs Torque
- And did I mention 102 HP / 98 FT-Lbs Torque?


Car After The Civic: 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R

Pros:
- 165 HP / 175 FT-Lbs Torque
- SO much fun to drive!

Cons:
- Not the greatest gas milage for a 4-cylinder engine
- Back seat not good for adults
- Assembled in Mexico, so I'm worried about long-term reliability
- Girlfriend not taking care of the car very well


With the Civic, I was always amazed at the interior room relative to the size of the car and how much it could carry around. For the Sentra, it's quick and moves around with very nimble footing. I wish my girlfriend takes better care of the SE-R since she's already mashed one front tire into a curb (I get vibration past 60MPH, so the wheel probably needs to be rebalanced and re-aligned) and scratched the front bumper big time trying in fit into a tight parking space without paying attention. The Maxima is better than my old Civic and the SE-R in almost every way, of course. It's not really fair to compare the two with the Maxima since it's really apples to oranges. I only hope that my Maxima will be as reliable and trouble-free as the Civic was as I plan on keeping it for quite some time.

 

So, compared to my last car the Max handles worse, brakes worse, has worse paint, way less fun to drive, cost almost 2x as much. But, the Max is more spacious, smoother ,quieter, faster and the radio controls are much better located. I had a Protege before and that's a pretty exceptional car in it's own right.

 

My former car was a 99 Pontiac Grand Prix SE with the 3.8. I loved that car until I rented an i30. Since then I've been in love with the maxima.

Pros-
Great looking exterior
Great engine, easily modded
Good 1/4 mile with slight mods
Huge interior
Good aftermarket R/D


Cons-
Sh*t interior design, plastic
Sh*t for brakes. Had to replace front and rear rotors at 30k
Terrible Customer Service, you guys complain too much, try dealing with GM to get anything done.
Terrible stock system.
Handled like an ice cream truck befor STB's and Sway bars

All in all I am pleased with my used MAX, so pleased in fact that I bought it before I sold the GP. 2 months later i am still the unhappy owner of both. Payments are killing me! Anyone wanna buy a 99 GP, cheap?

 

last car 93 se and i want it back

 

Considering my other car is a 93 sentra the maxima is better in every way except gas mileage!

 

I've owned 3 Mustangs. The most Recent- 92 Mustang GT and 86' (cherry) Mustang SVO.

Pro's:
- Far superior build quality.
- silky smooth engine.
- beautiful interior relative to mustang's.
- better resale value
- more room
- better stock options

Con's:
- Lack of lateral support on 2k2 seats.
- no trademark exhuast sound. (stock)

 

My previous car: 94 Honda Accord EX Coupe

Pros:

-great acceleration for a 4 cylinder
-great gas mileage
-5 speed

Cons:

-2 door (really the main reason for getting rid of it)

My current car: 2001 AE

This is a great car, with the exception of it being an automatic. If only I could have found a 5 speed.... oh well

 

OK you asked for it .

1968 Mustang Coupe 289/3speed auto (Aug,1992-Aug,1995)

Pros
- Cool factor, there is nothing better than driving to high school in a classic muscle car
- Great learning experience, you could tweak on every aspect of that car without having to have a degree in computers (which, ironically is my career now)
- Sound F/X, nothing sounds better than a V-8 through dual pipes, even one that's questionably tuned.
- Aftermarket, can you say EVERY part on the car?

Cons
-Steering sucked
-Brakes sucked
-Acceleration sucked (for it being a 289 with a 4-barrel)
-Interior sucked
-Suspension sucked
-NO climate control.

Summery:
GREAT first car. The cool factor overshadowed all. A part of me wishes that I kept her and restored her to hot-rod form. I miss that car...

1990 Ford Taurus SHO 5-speed (Aug,1995-Jan,1998)

Pros
-Exceptional acceration for a V-6 (at the time, variable intake - that will NEVER catch on)
- Exceptional braking
- Cost/performance
- 5-speed synchro manual transmission in a sedan
- A large aftermarket I never got to tap.
- Brought the idea of a true sports sedan out into the open. (Just opinion, please no flaming here!)

Cons
- Terrible build quality, with the exception of the engine and transmission
- Maintainence was comparable with a sports car
- Demanded 92+ octane gas, and you think the Max runs poorly on less than premium

Summery:
Fun, though not a practical as I should have been. I put alot of miles on this car. I do not regret getting the car, but looking back on it I should have looked for a Maxima. Also, never put a foreign engine in a domestic body - unless you want to maintain.

1996 Nissan 240SX SE 5-speed (Jan,1999-Nov,2001)

Pros
- Sporty without most of the maintainence
- Very good handling
- Rear wheel drive
- Good ergos for the size (no cup holder though)
- Aftermarket

Cons
- Power, in stock form, was non-exsistent (NO torque!)
- I am 6'3" :D
- No room for anything (it was a sports car with a back seat, sort of )
- I only found out about the aftermarket after I sold it (where was Fast and the Furious? LOL)

Summery:
Another fun car, though this was fairly practical from the side of maintainence and gas mileage. Handling was very good stock and had I known about the aftermarket it would have gotten better...well after I dropped a new engine in it of course. No regrets here either.

1998 Ford Mustang Cobra Coupe 5-speed (Nov,2001-Jun,2002)

Pros
- Oh the power.
- Aftermarket parts from the factory with neat tricks like body stiffening cross beams and true dual exhaust.
- Excellent brakes
- Excellent steering reponse and feedback
- Nothing sounds better than a properly tuned V-8 through dual exhaust - I got that little thrill every morning for a while when I turned that key...:D
- Aftermarket was HUGE
- Excellent fuel delivery and regulation no matter the weather.

Cons
- Maintainence, this whip needs its own house (garage)
- In my case, this particular car was wrecked then rebuilt - NO salvage title, it had a clean one, so I learned a valuable but costly lesson.
- Gas mileage when using the grin inducing WOT was bad...
- Interior blew monkey chow...
- I am 6'3" (you would think I would learn...and I did...)

Summery:
The only car purchase I have truly regretted. It got to the point that I hated driving it because I was always tense about something breaking or failing. Then of course there was the prior accident to which I still know little about.The build quality, because it went through Ford's SVT was actually good with the exception of the general Mustang parts...mostly the interior. Cheap plastic sucks. Would I get another 'Stang? Maybe. But never again for a daily driver. I would love to restore an older model or even build up a late-model fully...

2000 Nissan Maxima SE (Jun,2002- Present)

Pros:
- Great engine
- Great comfort/room
- Luxury/performance/cost
- A look that just grows on you...
- The best community support around...

Cons:
- The engine should be a tad quieter than it is esp in the cabin (still chasing that stupid "plane overflying sound")
- The brake longivity sucks
- A never-ending complusion to mod that can only be cured by getting them all, then buying a machine shop and building your own :D
- Mediocre aftermarket - but one thats growing
- Really hit-or-miss dealer service.

Summery:
I have never looked back. The Maxima is a perfect fit for me. It has everything I want in nearly perfect balance (though I would seriously look at a new one if I could afford it). I should have bought one right after the 240SX, but the Cobra was just to seductive. There is nothing on the market in this category that would sway me. Get one. :)

 

Other rides:

1993 Mazda MX-6 (Current station / beater car)

Pros:
- Not bad looking
- Good power (5-Speed)
- EXCELLENT brakes (just think about stopping and the car stops!)
- Price (my sister gave it to me for free!)

Cons:
- Chick car
- BIG POS (my poor sister replaced EVERYTHING on the car)
- Rough ride (feels like you're not using the clutch or shocks)

1999 Dodge Durango

Pros:
- A lot of fun to drive
- Good power
- Handled very well for a SUV
- 4x4
- Mega room in the interior

Cons:
- Gas miliage (I had to measure in Gallons per mile!)
- Lots of mechanical troubles (oil pump, sensors, not starting after 4 trips to 2 different dealers)
- Service SUCKED. (Ever have a shop manager yell at you for warantee work?)

1997 Trans Am w/Ram Air

Pros:
- FASSSSSSSSTTTT!!!!
- Real nice looking.

Cons:
- Handled like a fat girl on a moped.
- Tons of mechanical problems. In the shop about 10 times up until 13,000 miles.
- Hard to drive, not the car you want for the daily commute.
- No traction (would slide when it was cloudy).
- Strickly a weekend car.

Summary:

American cars suck *****. I'll never get one again. I love my Max!

 

LAST CAR, still have 93 SHO
PROS, custom built trans wit shiftkit rips 2nd apart
initionally cheap
easy to find at junkyard(hint hint)
quick
292hp n 280 tq est after all mods
kicked my friends Tbirds goat
Ate nother friends TSI
Gave nother friends VR4 a decient run
Stock killed a 5.7 86 RS

Cons, FORD
broke every month
trany blew at 100k
horrible brakes
always had something wrong with it
never ran well
Automatic
Ford
bad paintjob
exhaust sounds like a kazoo jammed in a honda
whooooing! from under the hood

92 TEMPO
PROS best car in the snow ever!
could repair with a kick and a bobby pin
easy to find parts
didnt care if i wreaked it
high 30 mpg
got it for $300 buck n sold it for$250 3 years later
could get it on 2 wheels with little problem
lots of exercise from all the pushing

Cons
Ford
90 hp
120 tq
0-60 in 13.23sec
e brake only worked on one rear tire
pulled hard to the left
three differant red body panels
three hubcaps
no airbags
no power anything but left mirror
brakes really never worked
ran for over a year with practically no fluids except for gas
had to power shift all the time
had to put in n at stops cause it didnt idle
left headlight hotglued in
uneven break lights
ugly as sin
rattled like a fox
leaned into turns like a fat midget
check engine light burned out from being on all the time
random things turnin on n off
ugly interior
3 spd auto
speedo only went to 85
no tach
shook like a bat outta hell over 35
no abs
random lockin of tires
chuggin at any speed
poor visbility, blasted giant A pillar
rear speaker held in my big rubberbands, came from ford like that
odd lugage rack thing on trunk
no trunk popper
never started on warm days
power steering was funky
ruff ride
always seemed to have a flat
wieghted like 3500lbs so pushin was a pain every week
couldnt tow anything larger than a lawnmower
what chick would dig this thing
i could go for hours, i think thats enough for now
i want this car back, i miss it so much!

 

Previous car: 87 Monte Carlo SS

Pro's:
It was an SS

Con's:
T-tops leaked
Due to leakage driver's seat bracket rusted through and broke.
Driver's side interior door handle broke (opens Dukes of Hazzard style now)
Leaked / Burnt oil (not too bad considering 87)
Right windshield wiper worked extremely poorly
Low power (180 HP on a V8???)

Although a better comparison would have been my '86 Monte CL (had it from 95 to early 97).

Pro's:
Mint interior
Still pulled pretty good
Front bench seat was real comfy
Exterior looked good, a little rough but not bad for a 10 year old car
Can fit boku stereo equipment in there.

Con's:
Carb and exhaust were going bad
Got stolen and stripped to death


All in all the Maxima is the best car I've ever had and driven. Very happy for it and there isn't another vehicle in it's price range I would trade it in for.

 

my previous cars 94' nissan 300z, 97' 240sx', 93' rx-7,
91' lotus elan m100 turbo



94 300z

pros;
fast
great interior
head turner
every mod imaginble avail.

cons;
a little cramped
too many functions on one ***
leaking gas tank after being rear ended


97 240sx;
nice power for a 4 banger
import custom dream

cons
tranny is like bubblegum
stereo speaker placement
no turbo


93 rx-7

pro's
fast, fast fast
nice interior
great shifter
ergonomics
looks great


con's

rotary go boom factor


91' lotus elan



pro's
will spank the max off the line
will spank the max off the line
handle's like a go kart.
gas mileage to match a go kart
exclusiveness of the car.
did i mention it will spank the max off the line
and in the 1320


con's
no backseat
dashboard was too big
terrible stereo
size of a go kart



my max
pro's
fast. spanks my wife's accord all of the time
good room
nice back seat
good feel for a car of it size
quiet interior


con's
fast, but loose's to my 90' cabrio
that damn squeeky window
not really happy with the rear end

i know i was supposed to list my last car. but i owned them all
within the 2 years of owning the max.

 

I bought the Max knowing it was a compromise between good powertrain and questionable exterior design. I would have stayed with Infiniti but they dropped the manual trannies on the I30. I will seriously consider a 6 spd G35 in a couple of years as the Max will be a big boat by then. Face it, the Max only shines because of its powertrain, everything else (suspension, handling, exterior design, material quality, warranty service) is unremarkable.

 

incinerate myself.
Prior car: BMW540 six-speed. Only better things about Max are:
- Much more affordable...primary reason for buying it versus another Bimmer.
- Larger inside...much more room everywhere.
- Better steering...the 8-cylinder 540's have recirc ball vs. rack & pinion steering & it's dead and lifeless compared to the Maxima's.

In every other respect da 540 was glorious...oh well

 

SO SO TRUE!!!
My mom had the body style before the 92. I forgot what year. You described that car perfectly. I always hoped my dad would come pick me up instead of my mom because he had a better car. I'd walk a few yards away from the school before i got in. My mom though would always park right in the front entrance. Just embarassing. I was ashamed to ride in it, expect when it snowed. That car is so heavy and underpowered, it wouldn't slide one bit. You can floor it in the snow, and it'll just pick up and go about it's business without one slide. Brakes on the other hands in the snow... how did they say it in "mickey blue eyes", FORGETABOUD IT!! You said 0-60 in 13secs? Must have been the 92. My moms was more like 0-60 in 13mins. The car was dead reliable though, surprisingly enough because we would only do an oil change when we heard the freaking banging of the cylinders without oil. You add oil and there it goes on its way again, crunching away.
OOPS, sorry for the long post i didn't notice i got carried away. The car was great though. I don't miss it though.

 

1989, 1991, 1994 Mazda 626

Mazda is the biggst POS car in the universe. Their transmissions are garbage and they are outright rattletraps. My parents loved them when I was in high school, so they kept selling me theirs cheap when they were done with them. I would have been better off buying a used Pinto.

Mazda=

 

Most recent:

1999 Honda Accord 4cyl sedan (still have)
Pros-
-Superior ergonomics (large gauges)
-High quality interior
-Low cowl (hood cannot be seen from driver's position)
-Soft but supportive seats
-Bulletproof engine
-Quiet for a 4 cylinder pulling a midsize

Cons-
-Paint seems to deteriorate fast
-Tranny went bad after 2.5 years
-F23A4 motor has no cajones, w/auto tranny

2000 Nissan Quest SE (still have)
Pros-
-Excellent equipment package for $24G
-Large Sunroof
-Minivan with sport suspension and 16" 5-star wheels wrapped in HR rated Goodyear Eagles
-Shortness in legnth allows for easy parking
-Outhandles many other minivans & most SUVs
-Smooth tranny

Cons
-Loads a wrattles from day one
-Cheap interior materials
-Built by Ford
-HR rated 60 series tires aren't don't have long life on minivans (3 blowouts - to date)
-VQ33 has no cajones

1994 Mazda 626 LX V6 5speed
Pros-
- Only 164hp but only weighed 2900lbs
- Gutsy motor
- Ran upper 15s stock
- Compact exterior w/mid size interior
- Topped out at 135mph
- Center console vent "swings" airflow automatically

Cons-
- Generic looking
- Short shelf life--much shoptime

1995 Mazda 626 LX 4cyl auto
Pros-
- Compact exterior w/mid size interior

Cons-
- Weak, buzzy motor, especially with auto tranny
- Generic looking

1989 Plymouth Colt GT
Pros-
- Potent powertrain
- Quick/fast
- Can easily swap in Eclipse GST motor and gain the ability to run upper 12s
- TOTAL SLEEPER

Cons-
- Too compact
- Looks like any other Japanese Hatchback
- Cheap material inside
- Terrible paint quality

 

it took three mazda 626s to find out they suck?