wassup everyone
a friend of mine recently started looking around for a car, and has narrowed his search down to a maxima and a passat. he is looking at a 2000-2001 maxima and 99-2001 passat. what are the pros/cons concerning each car. also, after reading the "The New Let's Sue Nissan" post, i am kind of concerned about the quality of the 2k max, are there any similar problems, or any big problems he should look out for. will the car run forever, as my previous car, a 1995 max gle, did, without a single mechanical problem, only routine maintenance? thanks for any help u guys can put up.

 

well, the "sue" thread relates only to 2k2-2k3, the 2k-2k1 are a different car in many respects (different engine, at minimum).

i think there are a lot of 2k-2k1 drivers here (myself included) who would highly recommend one.

IMHO, passats are for drivers who seek comfort and convenience over performance. maximas are geared to enthusiast drivers. if your friend's never gonna turn off overdrive, or never downshift into 2nd on the highway (or 3rd in a 6spd), never find out how far into the floor the pedal goes he may be very happy in a passat...

to be fair, i've driven passats of various ages (including the one in question) and have a friend with a 2k passat. they're very nice cars, and that's how i'd describe them. comfortable, well-built, gadgets galore, efficient and predictable. german engineering personified.

save the german part, i could say all the same stuff about a maxima. however, for the maxima i'd have to add: a blast to drive, deceptively fast, not your average sedan.

countless random people have complemented me on my car (even in it's near-stock state). i get "is that a maxima? nice!" from bank tellers, store clerks, gas station patrons, people on street corners... you name it. my friend in the passat (i feel bad) gets no such reaction. nobody complains about riding in his car, for sure. but people fight over my backseat... and i don't think all of that is due to my charming personality...

 

I have 2 2K1 Maximas, a GLE Auto and an SE 5 speed manual. I have had no issues with either, save for the brake judder on my SE when applying light pedal pressure from 70+ MPH (fixed with Stillen (Brembo) rotors). If you opt for a Maxima, get and install an FSTB (Fornt Strut Tower Brace-I have Courtesy) and RSB (Rear Sway Bar - I have ADCO). When my Wife got her GLE, she test drove a Passat and didn't like the interrior roominess or the pickup near as well as the Maxima, although the Passat is a nice car. The Passats are not rated as highly on reliability either, although I don't know what their issues are (may be minor). I would sure like to try out the new Passat W8, but, it is probably in the mid to high $30Ks.

 

personally, i would get a 2k passat over a 2k maxima. i was looking at the 2k2 maxima and 2k2 passat...i went with the max beacuse of the extra power, but that aside, i felt that the passat was a better car. (definitely better looking, IMO). but when you compare the 2k maxima, the HP difference isn't quite as dramatic.

either way, i would say they're both excellent cars, can't go wrong with either.