I'm having some reliability issues with my 93 SHO auto with 120K. The Yamaha engine is awesome, but everything else seems to be falling apart. My wife wants a reliable car, and is interested in a Toyota Avalon. I think it looks like an old fogey car and I really like the looks of the 2001 Maxima.

What are the major differences between a Maxima and a Maxima SE anniversary edition, other than price? I personally like the pearl color that appears in some of the messages below. Is it possible to get an anniversary SE close to invoice? I live near DC.

How's the overall reliability of the Maxima? It's got to be better than Ford.

Thanks!
Jim

 

My best friend had a SHO for a number of years, but after 100k it started falling apart. Seems to happen to most american cars. Anyway, my father has a 1999 Avalon xls and it is pretty nice. He has had no problems with it, but it has no advantages over the maxima. It is slower, poor styling, and more expensive.

As for getting an anniversary edition for invoice, I kinda doubt it. There are so few A.E. out there that you kinda have to take what you can find. Their premium is coming down recently though. Aside from cosmetics, and a muffler off an I30, there is no real difference between an A.E. and a regular SE.

I purchased a 2001 SE three weeks ago and am very pleased. You can talk them down to invoice on those fairly easily. The only other advice I would give would be to try to get a 5 spd if you can.
Good luck.

 

Hi Jim,

We (wife and I) just went through this two months ago! We had a '93 SHO (ATX), and with 100K on the clock it stated having problems - in the shop five time in six months.

We traded it in for a '00 Max SE 5-speed. The SE has the sport suspension (stiffer springs, bigger front anti-sway bar, etc) compared to the GLE/GXE. The anniversary edition has limited slip, but otherwise is same in perfomance to the SE.

If you're a real performance guy, you'll want the SE or Anniv. edition. The Anniv. edition was more difference in price for the other (non-performance) stuff to justify picking it up for the LSD.

We picked up the Max for performance and reliability reasons. A new car had better be more reliable than a 7yr old, 100K+ mi car.

The Yamaha motor in the SHO is awesome, but the rest of the car is Ford Taurus...

Dave Lum
'00 Max SE 5-speed
Other, faster cars
http://www.datsuns.com

 

If you want performance...2k1 SE 5sp. If you want power and some luxury go.....2k1 GLE (auto only), whatever you do go MAXIMA, I feel it is the best car that amount of money can buy.

Mark

 

After looking around for an AE, I've found dealers will only go MSRP on them, because they are rare. I also agree that the upgrades don't justify the expense over an SE. Now I just need to talk the wife into a 5-speed!!

 

I also had a Ford in the early 90's. What a piece. Good luck on the new Max. If you're going to get an SE, look to spend low to mid $20's