Guys, when I picked up my max from the dealership earlier this week, the service guys were talking about this rumor for the 7th gen Max. Not sure if you guys have heard of this or what you think about it but apparently Nissan is looking into moving the Max into the Q45 platform and using their new v8 to power it! Wouldn't that be a blast! It kinda makes sense, who knows, maybe it's wishful thinking but it sure would be nice. I like the 6th gen but I have to admit that it's looks too much like an altima for my taste. Any thoughts?

 

the 6th gen was supposed to be v8 and rwd, but we didnt get either of those things =[

 

lol...

 

is it just me... or is the 6th gen just NOT selling. I remember the Altima had become just as common as civics here in Los Riceles, CA.. hope they restyle it a bit.

 

The 6th gen had over 11,000 sales last month it was suppose to be Nissan's best month ever for Maxima sales... however I'm not sure if those numbers included 2003 Maximas as well. If you want to check it out for yourself go to nissannews.com

 

They hadto include the 03 because my local dealer already goes 2500 off the MSRP with no hassles.
I've seen the same 6th gens in their lot for like 3 weeks now.
03 get huge discounts Like 5K of the MSRP

 

Thoughts? According to most dealers, the 5th gen had actually 2 engine options for the Maxima... don't believe a word that they say. The next gen is so far out, I doubt Nissan knows what it's going to be.

 

Infiniti is looking to move the Q up to the status of an S-Class or 7-Series. In order to do so, you cannot share parts, let alone an entire chasis with a lowly Nissan. It's already bad enough when you sit in a Q and see the 5th gen Maxima steering wheel and other interior bits. It gives the perception of a lower class car (lower class meaning less than the 60k sticker would suggest). The Q is less than a blip on the radar right now of consumers shopping for a premium sedan. My hope is that since the current Q was developed while Nissan was in the red financially the next one (developed in the black) will be truely world class and not share parts so obviously.

 

I don't see too many 6th gens, not that I want too either...

 

In April 2003 Nissan sold about 5428 '04 Maximas. ttp://www.theautochannel.com/F/new.../01/160454.html

Take 11584 Maximas sold minus 9636 import cars sold plus 3479 Zs sold = 5427 '04 Maximas sold. Note, the import cars sold number includes 2002 Maxes, 2003 Maxes, all Z cars, but none of the (all imported from Mexico) Sentras.

Or, take 25236 North American cars produced less 13232 Altimas sold less 6575 Sentras sold = 5429 '04 Maximas sold.

 

I've seen 2 on the road...that's it. I was like "Yuk, that just doesn't look good". When the new Altima first came out I saw TONS of those on the road...and I actually like the way that one looks. I have a feeling the 6th Gen will be restyled to grab a better market share down the line.

Funny, Nissan goes through all this trouble to get marketing info but I think one post on the .Org asking what people think of the new styling would provide millions on the return purchases. I would not buy this new Maxima.

 

The 'talk' at my dealership was that Infiniti doesn't allow Nissan to put a V8 in their cars, something because of 'competition'. Doesn't make sense when Nissan is the parent company... but explains why, to date, the Max has been left without a V8.

If it's true that Infiniti wants to up the Q to a higher status, then it does make sense that it COULD follow with a small v8 in a Max... but only if Infiniti 'allows' it.

 

Actually, this is not unique to Nissan...look at engine/model choices between Lexus and Toyota.

By all rights, at least the Avalon should have an 8.

 

Most dealers arent well informed about the current gen, much less the next.

 

Kind of like going to Best Buy or Circuit City, etc.

Unless you get lucky and stumble upon someone who really knows what they are talking about, you better do your homework before going there.

 

People here will tell you that Nissan wouldn't poll us (since we're a community whose members number only in the 5 figures), but it's true... I'm pretty sure they'd get good feedback because there are enough consumer conscious people on here to be able to give Nissan some good feedback. The thing is that they don't know the .org as well as we do... so they don't know if we're just a bunch of ricers, or mature people with wise styling decisions.. or both.

It doesn't help us, though, when many reviews praise this gen over the 5th (including C&D).


Yup... and I think once the Avalon goes 8, then the Maxima will too. The VQ is part of a legacy, but I think they'll leave it to the Altima to continue it. I'd hope for a RWD inline-6.. don't know why, i just like I6 engines.



My dealer said the 03 Max had 245 horses (which technically he was right because of the -15hp ordeal) but that the new one would only have 240 so i should take the 03 while i could... this is before the actual release of the 04.

 

Very true at the same point when the Altima came out in 2001/2002 it was more of them on the road than the 04 Max. I've only seen one and I caught it in the odd head on view which doesnt do it any justice..

 

I have seen a couple around the west side of Houston...

but then again, they may have been Saturns....

just not sure sometimes.

 

Question. If the maxima was V8 and I assume would have to RWD. Who in the hell would buy the G35s and M45s? Not logical.

More logical would be to drop the Maxima and move into the M45 slot. The M45 was just a stop gap car to get into the 5 series BMW market.

But since Nissan just revamped the Maxima, who knows?

 

i've seen quite a few of them around my are and i'm not impressed i like the 5th gen soooooo much better they should have stayed more along those body lines

 

i'm looking at one out my window... oh wait, it's an Ion

 

It makes sense, since the maxima needs a reason to be $10k more than the altima and I always wondered why Infiniti had a V8 sedan and Nissan's highest was the maxima with the V6. I would be really nice for Nissan to produce the Maxima into a V8 Luxury car...

 

Hey I totally understand what you guys mean about the dealerships, some of them have no clue of what they're selling. Nevertheless, It's an interesting idea to picture the Maxima in a v8 on a Q45 platform and rwd! No that I would pay premium dollar for without thinking it twice.. I'm sorry, I still can't get used the new Max and every day that goes by makes me think that i'll never get used to it. Lets face it, it's just an Altima with a Maxima badge. That's probably what makes me think that the dealers may not be that far off. Instead of going forward with separation between the Altima and the Maxima, they'll wait 3-4 more years to push the Q45 to compete with the S-Class and then push for the separation between the Maxima and the Altima. Then I can see them building on the Q45 platform. Budget wise, it would makes sense to roll out the 6th gen on the Altima platform because it would be all cosmetic vs rolling out a brand new platform.. Who knows.. I guess that's just my 2 pennies.. but it sure does sound nice!