It's on page 132. I don't have a scanner otherwise I'd post it on here. Mostly positive review. Anybody have a scanner that can post the review?

no but I just put a post in here too about that. Pretty sweet huh!

oops didn't see it

Ok heres my sorry a*s scan. Sorry i really suck when it comes to photo manipulating. I couldnt get it to save it in a zoomed in state. So you'll have to d/l and open it up and zoom in to read it.

http://home.carolina.rr.com/mrglynis/maxarticle3.jpg

I thought they knew their stuff

Don't miss..

Rare 6spd, 255HP 2003
02s have them too!

Otherwise a nice article on the 5th gens..

I think they were just saying that they didn't make many mannys for the 03, whereas with the previous years you could find a 5 or 6 speed easier.

I was kind of tickled that they would devote a page to the 5th gens

Usually, they resort to flinging mud when discussing the 5th gens, they say it desperately needs independent rear suspension, limitations of fwd, harsh ride on SE's, etc.

All that is nice, but for me VQ35, that's what sold me. The #'s dont lie. See sig.

decent write-up. at least they didn;t bash the original 5th gens like most do. yay

I read that when i got my issue of MT in the mail. I was grinning what they had to say about the maxima. I'm very glad it's a positive mark. I think the 5th gen was the Best maxima ever.

Hard to read the article..

I agree they actually said it handles just fine,what bugs me with them although is that they didnt do a test with an 02/03(they also should have mentioned the extra luxuries features for 02 HID etc). The car changed alot in 02 and they usually test cars with significant changes, maybe if they would have the Max could have taken their "fastest FWD car" throne from the 03 3.5 Altima with a good driver!

Their one year test summary was similarly praising of the 5th gen. They refer to it as the budget BMW 5 series which in itself is a great compliment considering it is typically lumped with the Accord and Camry. They also said that basically, everyone on staff would fight over who got to drive the Max home at the end of the day. They know a good thing when they see it.

They bashed the rear end styling. You either like it or dislike it. No inbetween

Those are two of the MOST flattering comments I think ANY motojournalist could bestow upon the Max.

I'm getting misty over here....!

gr

Yup. IMO the rear 5G is BUTT Ugly especially w/o the spoiler but (like Ferbs), the VQ35DE sold me immediately.

Yeah, but that's a subjective thing. As an example, ppl may favor the Altima rear to the Maxima rear, and not to bash the Altima, but imo the rear end is massive and the rear lights belong in a department store jewelry case. That being said, a 5spd or Auto 3.5L Altima is still a car that doesn't mess around.

Opinions are like a s s holes, everybody has one.

As far as the rear styling on the Maxima, it is unique, I will give them that. I've had ppl come up to me saying the rear of my car looks like a pug dog's face.

No, the article said the 03 upgraded to the 6spd, thus the rarity of it was only one year production. When in reality the 03 6spd is no more rare than the 02 6spd.

The article didn't state those recalls only effect 5g's 2k2+

Great article. They also enjoyed their 2000 long-term 5speed SE. They didn't have one single problem with the car (No unschedule stops ect..)

wait.....there has been recalls on the 5th gens? i just recently got an '03, do i need to go get something checked/fixed for the recall?

I must be the weird one of the group because i for one think that the maxima's rear is nice. I love it really. Not why i bought the car but i like it. Except the 2k-2k1 GXE and GLE red tails.

I like the black 2kSe and the 2k2+ rear.

I guess you missed the part where i said you'll have to download it. Then open it up and zoom in to read it. Worked for everyone else.

I'm with you!

Nissan is nice enough to list their recalls on www.nissandriven.com. Contact your local Nissan dealer service dept. and have them check your VIN# for the recall status of your Maxima.

me too, the black lights are tight...esp on my black car since they blend in a little, but are still easily defined. The 2k2-3s have us on the engine (and HID's if you care about that - I don't) but I think the 2k0/1 have the slicker tail.

There is also a long term test done in Edmunds on the 2002 GLE. Very positive comments from the Edmunds editors. I recall they wrote about 6 to 7 articles over a 14 month test period.

Funny. But if you've driven a 5 series, you know that it IS a great compilent for a car that costs tens of thousands less to even draw those types of comparisons. I didn't write the article, I just paraphrased it. They could've written that the Maxima sucks, you know, but instead chose to write that it is an affordable alternative to a vehicle most of us can't afford to own. What's wrong with that?

its one of those times when you are just so damn proud of your car.