IceY2K1

iTrader: (3)

It's .....

TimW

iTrader: (6)

actually, I really wasnt thinking about the added cost of ownership for the coupe. If I really had all that in front of me, not sure I would have done the coupe. I'm still trying to save for a big move, I spent alittle more than I wanted to, so the added ownership costs are not that welcome. I just have to be sure to get my money's worth while I'm driving it.

nissan5788

If you guys think paint chips on the Max are bad, you should've seen my '99 Grand Am. It was full of paint chips...that was the first time I'd ever experienced a paint chip issue. My parents' Intrepid (1999) has almost no paint chips though. I don't think the paint chip issue really is exclusive to Nissan.

Nissan service does suck though. I've gotten 10X better service at 2 'lowly' Pontiac dealers locally than I've ever gotten @ 3 local Nissan dealers when taking in Nissan's "Flagship" for warranty issues.

IceY2K1

iTrader: (3)

Any pics of the rear seat and trunk?

How much room for passengers/luggage did you lose from the Max->G35C?

Galo

Nissan quality is indeed erratic -but if you happen to get a good car, you get a GREAT car.

Same applies for dealers, generally most posts here deride dealers but in my case, I have been extremely pleased with my dealer's service...definitely a 10 on my scale

My car turned 2 years this weekend...yes, I only have 17.6k miles on it but apart from the brakes and the transverse link recall, it's been absolutely flawless.....

JCW915

Hm...if you guys want good service; the mercedes dealer in atlanta is great. whenever i go with my dad there; first they give you a loaner car for free (even if your car is just getting an oil change); free donuts, regular starbucks coffee, fruits, and bagles in the service room; you won't have to stand there and wait 10 minutes (like NISSAN) just to get help. Most important of all, they never say "Sorry, we can't duplicate the problem"

bobcat

Woosh: I got a question.. why in the world, after all the problems you've had with them, did you go back to that dealer ?? If they showed that kind of incompetence I would have never given them the keys again. Find another dealer now!

Yes, its sad that you have to do that.. but do what ya gatta do I guess..

My rotors warped at 22k on my 2k2 and, since I'm fortunate enough to have a dealership nearby with a decent service dept I took them in, explained the problem and they surfaced the rotars no prob.. no charge.

So..find another dealer nearby..look in the dealer experience forum.. ask around, whatever. never go back to your current dealer, period.

baltomax2001

Same thing happened to me. Took my 2k1 GXE, the dealer turned the rotors, and they warped 5000 miles later. Took it back to the dealer, the service manager said it must be the way I drive, and wanted to charge me a lot of money to install new rotors, pads, etc.

I said the heck with that. Installed aftermarket rotors, brake pads, and metal brake lines. 8000 miles later and no brake problems.

This Nissan is my first and last. Compare a 2004 Maxima vs. a Infinti G35 prices.

baltomax2001
2001 Maxima GXE

bobcat

Yeah.. i gatta admit though, my next one will be a G35 coupe.. i drool every time i see one on the road.. must...have.... I'd get it now if I wouldnt be about $10k upside down on my current loan

TimW

iTrader: (6)

I went out and snapped a pic or two for ya... try not to laugh...

For lack of anything better, I put my water in there for scale. yep, thats the middle size bottle :/



Ever see those bulk paper towel things at Sams/Costco? Thats exactly how high the trunk is. As far as volume, two of those will fit in there. Just barely..

TimW

iTrader: (6)

the back seat.. see the front seat? you can see the height of the front seat, compare that to the back.. if your head is higher than most headrests, your head will be touching the back glass.

TimW

iTrader: (6)

Also note, you cant even slide your hand behind the seat to put something behind you on the floorboard. You have to put takeout food in the passenger floorboard or the trunk.. :/

JCW915

ROFLOL ROFLOL ROFLOL!!!


I knew it was small...but didn't know it was THAT SMALL. Ok if i ever get into that car, I will feel like the nutty professor when he got stuck in that dodge viper. LOL!!! Imagine a football player that's over 6'4 and weighs 250+ pounds...i would love to see people squeeze into that.

highroad

Guess I've been lucky. Five Maxes (starting with a sweet '91 SE) and the worst experience I've had is a maddening vent rattle that I went back to the dealer 5 times on and never got fixed right. But that was my maxed out '99, and I loved it for everything else it offered. Right now, I've got a new Bose on order due to the left channel problem, and I figured what the hell, get the hood TSB done at the same time and dealer said "Sure," even thought the flutter has been minimal.

For all you guys who are dissatisfied, I say this: Come on up and visit me here in the heart of GM territory. After couple of years the paint is peeling off in chunks, the trim is falling off the body, the doors don't line up right and the resale is in the toilet. Now, that stuff is made like CRAP, and the styling is clunky,and you still gotta pay about what you pay for a sleek Maxima when you're looking at junk like a Grand Prixor an Olds Intrigue.

So if you want your Nissan to be an Infiniti, or course you're gonna be disappointed. But compare it to any domestic -- then race 'em -- and you ought to be pretty satisfied.

mcfalcons15

I'm with you. My next car is an infiniti for sure.

SEmy2K2go

iTrader: (10)

I ran into a similar problem with the brakes on my 2002 SE @ 28K. I had the rotors turned at a local Nissan Dealership and being that I was still within the factory 3/36k warranty, the brake rotors being turned were covered. If you are still within the factory warranty, the dealership should cover having the rotors turned. This 100% cleared up my brake shutter issue. (Only speaking for myself for this issue)
Thanks.

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

Consider yourself very lucky. The TSB that extended the brakes warranty to 3y/36K did not include 2k2s or 2k3s. Normally, they'll only cover the "wear 'n tear" items 1 year/12k miles and NNA is not in the habit of extending "good will" too often.

PimpShiFus

I am just ****ed about the depreciation. the 02/03maximas have sticker price of 30k+ fully loaded, and right when u drive one of the lot, it goes down to 22k, that is if you are lucky! It will be real funny if i buy another nissan again!

SteVTEC

That's why you buy used or wait until the end of the year for all of the incentives and rebates to come out. *ESP* at the end of a model generation.

bobcat

this is true for most new cars...

rubman

That's why I'll be ready this Fall to either but a G35 Sedan, or a Coupe. Who cares if someone else drove it first and put 10-13K onthe odometer. And save a good 5-6K on it, my only choice might be the sedan not coupe. However, it'll still be a 330i slayer, even in auto. trim.

SteVTEC

We're talking imports here, though. Both Toyotas and Hondas have much better (less) depreciation than Nissans do. BMW 3-series also has excellent resale because everybody wants them. Nissan resales values are a step below all of the above, but still better off than domestics as a whole.

filtor1

iTrader: (7)

I feel ya. I will go with Mercedes or M power next. Good luck with the wonderful world of Nissan ownership!

Wills98MaxSE

I know the feeling, when I had my '98 Altima GLE and in June '99 when I had approx. 22K on the odometer at the time, suddenly the car went dead after taking it to the dealer for an oil change, and had to have it towed to the dealer, dealer was willing to cover the tow but still charged me $35 instead of $70 or what should've been a free battery becuz I wasn't close to the 3yr/36K warranty expiring, yet the service rep goes "Batteries are a powertrain item, that warranty is 12mo/12K" and I'm like "Shouldn't this be covered under the 3yr/36K warranty" and he was like "no"

I wish we could do this to dealerships --->

PimpShiFus

MUch Much much below

TimW

iTrader: (6)

The dealer network is responsible for the poor resale. People trade because they are sick of the treatment, not because the car isnt mechanically sound. The aggressive fleet sales & lease programs were blamed, but that was years ago.

I totally discounted the Z because I dont want another new car of mine ever rolling on a Nissan lot for service.

Btw, my 2k max resale wasnt bad at ALL..

filtor1

iTrader: (7)

What did you get for your 2K max, how many miles? I have an 01' with 43,000. Just curious!

SkoorbMax

My father had a 95 GXE 5 speed and before wrecking it at 40k KM it was fine for him.

Last novemember I bought my 2000 SE 5 speed with 37k miles on it from a used car lot. It's got 56k now and the only problem I have had is a bad O2 sensor a week after I bought it (I bet they turned the engine light off on me, since it would drive a few hundred miles before the light would come back on).

Otherwise really I've been really happy with it. Well, once the driver door jammed. It would not open from the inside except with difficulty. I sprayed WD40 in there and great ever since.

The only braking issue I've noticed is when they are really hot from hard brakig before hand they'll make a foul scrunching sound. However, generally I'm really easy on the brakes.

I do my own oil and have not tried Nissan service. So far I'm happy with it.

A word about resale: DO NOT BUY NISSANS NEW. They drop like a ROCK. How else do you think I bought a fully loaded SE (minus the leather and 17" wheels) for $15,300 last year? New it would have been tons more. Late last year (2002 remember), they had a 2002 FULLY loaded SE with 10,500 miles for $20,500. If you buy a new nissan you'll be upside down on the loan forever. Essentially it was a brand new maxima except for pretty low miles (probably highway) for thousands less than new.

This is why the Z is unattractive to me. Used you know the car has been driven crazy, and new you're gonna take a brutal hit in resale. The G35 is the only option, but damn I can't buy one of them for $15k can I?!

TimW

iTrader: (6)

I got 15.5K with 45K on a 2K GLE. I lost 10K in 4 years. Not great, but the absolute most any 26K would return in 4 years would be what? 18K? Whoooty fricken doo.. I would pay 2K extra to drive a max over an Accord.

Colonel

Didnt you trade in and have to remove your HIDs at their request? Or am I on the fun stuff?

TimW

iTrader: (6)

I was given the 15.5 trade in value, with or without HIDs.. Heh, whatever.. I *ran* home to swap those things out. In my mind I got 16K from my car, but technically it was 15.5

Thaniel

I don't think that is a reason to say you will never buy a nother nissan. Many dealers of all brands give crappy service. I buy nissan because I like their products not because of their service. Still doesn't excuse the poor service.