Well... assuming they come out with this car, what do you think they'll charge for it? I was talking to YJ last night and he estimated 32k. For that price I might as well go with a Z or hold out untill I can afford my s4. Any thoughts?

 

Bling bling, money ain't a thing...

That sounds about right to me... I have a wider range though. Anywhere between 30 to 35K is where they're shooting for since the Max is going to become a full sized sedan.

 

How many of the performance nuts here are gonna go for a 30k+ performance sedan over a <6sec 0-60 sports car (Z). Or a ~25k WRX. In my opinion one of the things the max has going for it is it's performance/price ratio. 40 hp isn't worth 5 or more G to me.

 

I thought that Nissan had already revealed that they were just going to do a slight refresh when they dropped in the 3.5L ? Probably just change the front and rear clips /headlights/taillights...like they did with the '97 Maxima.

And what happened to the rumor that the next Maxima was going to share the upcoming Altima platform?

I dout very highly that Nissan is going to kill the current Maxima platform after only 2 YEARS in production!!!

As far as pricing goes...If Nissan keeps the current platform; does a slight refresh; installs the 3.5L (which by the way is mostly a rebored 3.0L) I would look for a $500-$1,500 increase over the current base prices.

[Edited by warrlocked on 02-06-2001 at 11:23 AM]

 

It really depends on which trims they offer the 3.5 in. If they only go with SE-R, then I think it will be 30K+. If they offer a GXE or SE option, then I would see it going for 25K+. I can't wait to hear the details! I keep checking sites, but I don't think we'll hear anything until after the Altima makes its showing in April at the NY auto show.

 

The story isn't that the Maxima is going to share the Altima platform, but that the Altima is going to get the 3L V6 and the Maxima is getting the 3.5.

Nissan's official word, in interviews and such is that the Altima is slated to compete with Accord and Camry while Maxima goes after higher-end builds.

If you ask me...Nissan is confusing Nissan with Inifinit...could be preparing to make a big move like shift Maxima to Infiniti under a different label or take Nissan up a notch to compete with Acura and Lexus.

 

As Nissan announced they are cutting the production time from the normal 5 years to a 3 years for this generation. The Maxima in 2002 will still have the same body, but will have the 3.5L in the SE-R model with a 6spd, TLSD, 18" wheels. A very limited production car. In 2003 The whole Maxima will be redesigned and become a full sized car with the new 3.5l engine.

 

you're saying there will be minor changes to the body....so you're also saying that the 3.5 will fit in the current maximas?

 

Slap twin turbochargers on the current 3.0L..make it RWD add a six speed manual or 5 speed manu-matic and I am good!.
Oh no, that would it make it faster than the new Z. Oh well!...doesn't hurt to dream!. Thinking of the name...the Bi-Turbo Maxima!. Cost?...hmmmm


Speed

 

Russ, they might have informally told their dealers, but nothing is final until it rolls of the line. (I'm not doubting your info.) They haven't issued a press release just yet. I'll keep scanning the sites, until I see something official about pricing and the full details. I have hopes they will offer the 3.5 VQ without all the trimmings. If they do a limited run of the SE-R, look for the dealers to gouge us. My dealer is calling the AE Maxima "limited." The thing is, Nissan is producing over 10,000 of them. Not exactly limited. If it goes exactly as you describe it, it will be a highly sought after car. Has any of your sources given the price range?

 

When did I say dealers? The guy I know who tests Nissan's new cars have already seen it and knows all about it. This is the info I got straight from him and its not rumors, its the real info from the horses mouth.

 

Russ

I'm saying that Nissan told their dealers, not you. I think you speed read on this board. LOL. My dealer told me, including the Sales Manager who orders all the cars. That's where the dealer comment comes from. Like I said, I don't doubt you. I was asking for more details. Like, will it have leather standard? Will Bose be standard? Will there be a 5 speed auto in any Maxima next year? What is the base price? Will the car be lowered? What does it look like? Is the grill different? That kind of stuff. I bet it's the same as an AE Max with the 3.5 inside. That would probably put the price at 32K.

 

The half-liter increase is from a longer stroke. Get the long-stroke crank and shorter connecting rods from the Pathfinder. With that, you should be making more than the Path's 240hp, with the Max's better-flowing cylinder head. That's where the rumors of 260hp for the Max are coming from.

Oh, and speedracer3: You could easily put at least one turbo on the VQ, if you get the JDM turbo manifold. All the tuning(fuel pressure, boost level, compression ratio, etc) mumbo jumbo is up to you.

 

Actually there are 2 forms of the VQ3.5L engine out in the pathfinder. One has 240hp, one has 250hp. The max will get the 250hp one but bumped up a little in another area.

Also Paul, the max will have a 6spd too. I heard the SE-R won't be available in auto, but that was a rumor. Other details are suspension is stiffer, cosmetic changes not sure of but there are some.