JettmiesterMax

I am seriosly thinking of buying an '02 SE 6-speed Max.

It has Sunroof, And Bose. No leather.

40K miles for $15,500. It is in pristine, perfect, garage kept shape. Pearl White with tan interior.

You 6-speed owners, what do you think of the tranny? Easy and nice to shift, or notchy and bulky? Alot of reviews i read say go for the automatic. Do you ever wish you had? I was spoiled by the perfect 5-speed manual tranny in my classic SE-R. The car is not local for me to go drive right now. I will travel Sat to go do that. But the pics they sent of it, the car is perfect.


Anyway, I feel it is a good deal, my credit union states that this price is below loan value loan value. I am all set financially to go get it.

Please, tell me what you think of your 6-speeds. And have ever had any problems elsewhere with it? How is the Bose? And how about your insurance?

Thanks so much

PS, my '95 in almost perfect shape will be availble for sale if i do finalize this transaction. Anyone interested?

Fezzik

iTrader: (2)

WHat are you doing posting on this forum... Go get this baby. lol. The tranny seems to be a little different for each of us 6-speeders. Mine was a little notchy but Redline MT-90 solved that.

PearlWhtMaX2000

iTrader: (5)

wow that sounds great. i have an automatic, but i love it. the bose is good, not enough bass for me so i added 2 12's. but the price seems ok. i baught my 2k p-white w/leather sunroof/bose/and winter Pckg (heated seats) with 60k miles on it for $13,200. so i think u are gettin an ok deal. go for it. Congrats

TitaniuMax03

iTrader: (1)

lucky you..go get it and start modding

housecor

iTrader: (2)

My 6-speed is definately notchier than my '97 5-speed. You have to be more deliberate in your movements to ensure engagement, but this is by no means enough of a reason to pass on the manual IMHO. A number of orger's have improved/eliminated the notchiness with synthetic gear oil. I'm still considering this move.

I test drove a number of 2k2-2k3 auto's which I liked. However, it was a bit unwilling to kick down in certain situations and felt like it needed an extra cog to me. Of course, I've always driven manuals so it's hard to please me with an auto. I drove a 6-speed and loved it - purchased the very next day.

Be sure to drive both tranny's before you buy.

GreekMaxima

nice find bro but... 40k miles i think is too much but if you like go get it!!!

Bluesbrekr

iTrader: (4)

I love my 6 speed. I have never wished it was an auto, and have no complaints about how it shifts. A bit notchy into 3rd when new, but got smoother by about 5000 miles. I put MT-90 in the tranny at 12,000 and it shifts a bit smoother than stock and not at all stiff in the cold weather.

skinyc15

The 6spd is very smooth and quiet through out the rpm range. In my opinion....If you are driving fast in the 6spd (racing) you always have to keep an eye on the rpm to make sure you don't redline too long because the engine is very quiet.

MannyNJ2k2max

iTrader: (3)

Congrats! Pass on the autotragics, 6 speeds are not
easy to find (as long as car is in good condition)

my tranny is perfectly broken in.....changed tranny fluid synthetic evey 15k

Greek to the Max

iTrader: (2)

Even if the tranny wouldnt go in gear, I'd still buy a manual. You can never compare a manual to an automatic, no matter how much you dislike or like a specific transmission. Manual is Manual.....Better yet, its like comparing women, even though some are ugly, you still choose women.....(unless, you know).

kratz74

The price is very good. 40K miles isn't high. The 6 speed is very efficient. I can get 30 mpg on the hwy with cruise set. Even rowing the gears around a bit I get 25-26 in mixed driving. 6 speed isn't as smooth as the 99 and 95 Max I had but its not bad. I drove the auto Max too. Its ok but I just didn;t like it-couldn't put my finger on it.

I do think the price is good though.

elmaximo

If you do a lot of city driving I would not reccomend it, just my opinion, but that is a very good price, so it may be hard to pass on it. From my own experience I can tell you that the shifting is notchy and the clutch engament point is a little to high, but I read somewhere on this board that some people have adjusted that. So good luck if you decide to buy it, it make take some getting use to it but you will enjoy it.

jeepik

iTrader: (2)

i wouldnt even consider an automatic Maxima.

I love my 6 speed

MONTE 01&97 SE

iTrader: (1)

The Price is good but 40k miles is alot for what could be a year to 2 year old car, the average mileage a year is 12-13,000 according to statistics taken, and you know that its partly what resale is based on. If it would have have 13-25k on the odometer they would be asking for more also the "6psd" hurts the resale as well.

kratz74

I don't think the 6 speed hurts resale. May be fewer buyers but the ones that want a 6 speed definitely want it. Does a 6 speed BMW get hurt over an auto in resale? No... In fact Autos hurt some cars-like Vettes.

DrVolkl

I don't think 40k is too bad. I have 32k on my 2k2 and I haven't been driving it that much. Just a few long trips here and there...to Portland and back many times, down to Cali, out to Utah...it adds up. Other than that, it's just back and forth to work. I'd rather have a few more highway miles than less city miles...which is harder on your car.

maximadave

iTrader: (10)

I love my 6-speed even though I'm on my 2nd tranny. Go get it!

housecor

iTrader: (2)

I've found manual maxima's are actually easier to sell. I just sold my '97 5-speed for well above blue book to the second guy who looked. I got over a dozen serious call in the few days it was in the paper - and people were very excited - even asking for confirmation - when they heard it was a manual. While a dealer may not want a 6-speed, selling a manual max outright should be no problem - There are plenty of guys just like us who are hunting for the "diamond in the rough".

DaBoxSE

iTrader: (5)

Im in the same boat. I'm buying a Black 02 Max SE 6spd with 26k miles for $16k. Just a roof for options...no leather/bose/climate. Just the way I like it. I remember test driving an 02 Max and I didnt like the way the shifter felt at all. There was too much "play" in it when it was in gear. I guess thats how a lot of them are I hear. But that didnt stop me from going forward with getting a 6spd! I hope to be getting the car by Saturday.

Doesn't your location affect the resale value of a car? Like the resale in Florida is more than the resale in Massachusetts... I figured weather and climate conditions affected the value.

But anyways, Good luck with the car!

Luds

hmmm...

sounds a bit like my 02' 6sp. I have Bose, sunroof, no leather. 32k miles on my car and have been quite happy(besides going through 5 stereos. The only mechanical problem I've had in the 32k miles was the front sway bar came/broke loose. Man did body roll ever increase during those 2 weeks.

As far as the tranny. The 6sp manual in the max is fairly notchy as far as they go. Part of that I believe is due to it having to be a bit heavier duty(this isn't a civic's tranny) to handle a fair amount of torque. Besides, I actually like a manual to have a bit of a notch to it... gives a bit more feedback, more feel if you get one I mean. Of course, if one is a true "sport enthusiast" he/she could certainly do without such long throws. That would be my one complaint(and pretty minor at that). Like anything you'll like it better the more you get use to it.

I actually love the clutch action, feel, and engagement point.

My one complaint, with the car as a whole, is the lack of traction with the 6sp and VQ35. I wish I had the LSD. My next car, especially if it has this much torque, will be rear wheel driven(torque steer anyone?).

I think that is a very solid price on that car as well.

JettmiesterMax

Thanks for the input guys...looks like I am set to buy. I will be driving it this weekend, and prob driving her home.

Looks like the 1st thing on the agenda are tires. I want great all seasons. What is the best for this car with your experiences? I love Dunlop A2s, but I can find none in the size for the '02 max on tire rack.

It has 3 open recalls I am getting taken care of Monday:

R2001- Acclerator pedal stoppe
R006- Maxima transverse link
R0022- Crank position Sensor

The car was bought new in Feb 2002, she is not quite 2 years old yet.

The car is highway miles and babied. Always garage kept, 35% tint on sides and 80% on rear, Clean Carfax and Excellent maintenace records. Owner puts Valvoline 10W 30 in it every 3k miles. I always used Castrol. Should I stick with the valvoline?

On lunch hour now, so i will go.

Maximum Performance

sounds like a nice ride
i just got my a month ago, an 02 with 5K miles 6 speed and lovin it, SE no options

2002 Maxima SE

iTrader: (3)

1) Switch to a 5W30 oil
2) Tires -- Michelin Pilot Sport A/S

SkoorbMax

Satan smiles when people buy automatics!

housecor

iTrader: (2)

1. I recommend Mobil 1 5w30 Full sythetic. Available in 5qts. at Wal-Mart.
2. Falken 512s are often compared to the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S, but for about half the price. These are likely the 2 most popular choices on the org. for 17" 5th gens.

JettmiesterMax

Ok, bought the car Sat. Drives perfect. After The drive, I had to buy it. Shifter is a bit notchy, but not too bad at all. Excellent maintanence records and adult owned. I had all the recall stuff performed today.

She sure is a classy and a fun ride. Like my '95 Max GLE and my '91 Classic SE-R all rolled into one car (THANK YOU NISSAN). No rattles or anything. Lexus quiet. As Mike Ness sings on his 1st solo Album: "I'm In Love With My Car..."