I was going to trade my car for 2000 GXE 5 speed, but the car I looking at is sold. Meanwhile the dealer has a AE Majestic Blue Anniv. Maxima, fully loaded, 5 speed. They are very eager to sell it to me. Should I trade up or wait until the rumoured 3.5 Maxima comes out next year?

 

What sort of deal are they offering you on the AE? Unless its a killer deal.. say 25K-26k I would wait for the supposed bigger engine.

Say you add a y-pipe and intake and get 15-20 hp more. Wouldn't you rather add that on top of 250 (or whatever the new max will have) than on top of 227.

 

Not sure about the numbers yet. They want me to come in talk about it. He said he could get me into a lease with $1000 down and that would take care of my $3000+ negative equity. I think I'll like the cosmetic features of the AE + the leather, Bose, sunroof, etc. + the limited slip differential. At the same time I would like the 250/260 HP of next year's model. Isn't 227 enough with a 5 speed? I would be in the 14's already.

 

I would wait, and am thinking of waiting. I would try to confirm the 2002 VQ35 rumours, since I would not want to loose an AE.

If I have my way I am walking out of the dealer with a copy of my white 2000 SE, except with a few more cubic inches.

A 227HP manual will not get you into 14s. A 260HP would get you pretty close.

 

I also have mixed feelings about the AE, the body kit leaves something to be desired. The whole upside down muffler tip is a lazy way out. The VLSD is nice but I'd be just as happy with a similarly equipped SE and way happier with a similarly equipped SE with 260hp.

 

If the VQ35 is true, then that would be the choice. But... the AE does seem tempting. The AE would get you into the 14's, but the VQ35 would get you lower 14's. Wouldn't you like that? Hehe...

 

I say wait. It is very hard, if not impossible to get out of the lease that he is offering you. If the 260HP comes out, you'll be stuck in your lease until 2004!! Just hang on to your GXE. You are basically upgrading for a few vanity features and 5hp that you'll never know you had.

 

i'd find out for sure what the specs of the 2002 max will be. If all those rumors turn out to be true, I'd definitely
wait................260 horses man!!

 

Tell that to Larry, who has already run a 14.38 in is 2000 SE.

 

I'd wait.

I don't really buy off on rumors until I see it on the lot... but it's worth waiting to find out.

I'm extremely happy with my AE... but I'd be happier with 260HP.

 

True, but don't forget the VLSD. Great for shorter 60 ft times at the strip.

 

Or you could get the Acura TLS. It has 260hp already. Available next year(confirmed) and will have a 5 sp automatic.

 

I've been having side conversations with other people. This is one thing I have been talking about too. The 5 speed with 225 already gets the car to mid 15's. The Type S should run in high 14's to 15 flat. Same price as an AE too.

So... my choices are:

1) Get the AE tonight or tomorrow. Leather, Bose, AE stuff, VLSD, exclusive color, and fast 5 speed manual.

2) Wait for 2002 3.5 rumor Maxima. What tranny options will they have next year? 6 speed manual? 5 speed auto?

3) Acura TL Type S . 260 HP. Nice luxury, a little smaller. Acura service and reliability.

 

i was obsessed with getting the blue AE for awhile. but i thought about the advantages that would entice me to get it. the color, 5 hp, body kit...thats it, oh and it would stick this time. i dont think the AE body kit is enough, most of the people i talked to (not any car lovers), they didnt notice the AE body kit.

so i think the advantages of the 2002 outwiegh the AE. maybe they will have the majestic blue available on all 2002's too.

<img src="http://www.geocities.com/sem_video/2k1AEside.jpg">

 

It's fairly simple what the engine / tranny options will be... Go look at the prototype Z spec. There is basically going to be a Big-Z (dibs on the nickname).

What is the Z going to get for a tranny??? Do you remember?

 

Paul, from a strong source in Nissan, and I can't mention any names, but the Max will be called a SE-R for 2002, it will have a 6spd, TLSD, 18" wheels 3.5L 260-280 hp (they want to beat toyota so there waiting for a release on there hp #'s). This was a pretty definite thing. Car size will not change till 2003. I am holding off as well to get more for sure info and pictures hopefully before I make the decision. I also want a 20th, but depends if I will get one in time if any are left.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure Nissan would allow the SE-R to have more HP than the Z though. Kind of bad for the Z's image. I bet they keep it down to 260.

 

And Mad Max makes nowhere near 260 hp.

 

Everyone is talking about turning in their cars for the 3.5L. If Nissan bumps this car into a larger class with a larger engine, won't this be a lot more expensive? How much will this car cost?

 

The majestic blue AE is beautiful. Get it if you want a rare machine.

Wait for the next model if you care more about hp.

I have still only seen 1 other blue AE. And that was in Longwood Florida over Christmas. My wife and I freaked out. The dealership was using it as a demo.

None of the dealerships in Austin have had an AE on the lot for more than 2 days. And only 1 other one was blue.

 

I am definitely waiting for the 02'. Stock 18" wheels , I won't even have to buy new rims (even though it would prolly look sick sittin on chrome and rubber bands. 0 Man just a 3 year cycle on the 5th gen, ne1 know why? Is the 5th gen not selling as well as expected? cause you can't throw a rock w/o hitting one around here.

 

Yea, Ancira here in San Antonio has 5 AE 20th Maximas, and 2 of them are in that blue! But there both autos.....uggg!

 

This is what I have come to understand from reading various posts and sites.

The 2002 Max will be the same body style as the current Max (possibly a few mods). It will stay that way for 2 or 3 more years. in 2005-2006 the Max WILL move up to be the Nissan stable mate of the Q45, with a V8 developing some serious HP. (anyone know where I can buy a used IRL Infinity motor?)

The whole logic behind this is:

In the year 2002

The Altima is being bumped into the Accord class (if Accords can have class :-) ), this is done by shoehorning in a VQ30 with 220-240HP. The Max is 2-3000$ too expensive to compete with the Accord.

To diferentiate the Altima from the Max (hey I would consider a VQ30 Altima!) they are putting in a 260-280HP VQ35 in the Max.

This will also give a 1 year shakedown for the Nissan 6sp manual. (someone at Nissan has been listening to us!)

The VQ35 *MAY* be available as an option, at least for the first year. I doubt that it will cover the entire Maxima lineup.

As to naming the new Max, it's up in the air. I and others have thought of SE-R, but the more I hear SE-R is a Sentra / 200 nameplate. I don't think it will be called that.

We could start a new thread trying to name the thing...
SE-Z
Z
SSE (sounds too Pontiac)
SS (sounds too Chevy)
MAX
S

Can you think of others?

In the year 2004-2005-2006

The Altima will completely take the place of the Max and the max gets a *COMPLETE* redesign. RWD, V8, Independant suspention.... NEW CAR, old name.

 

Well if you read through the posts I already said what is and will happen. They can not keep the MAX in that body past 2002 because the ALTIMA will be a little BIGGER than the current MAX. 2002 the max will be called a SE-R and get a 260-280hp 6spd, 18" wheels only for 2002 for its last year in that body. Once it grows it will become q45 sedan and will become a poor boys M5.