I'm in search for a new car after tranny #2 on my 4th gen has once again developed the diff. bearing issue, so I'm selling it cheap and putting it behind me. New problem though - do I get a 5.5gen Max (6speed) or a 98 - 2k GS400?

I'm looking for reliability, fun, and speed. The GS doesn't come in stick, but no one I know who has owned a Lexus/Toyota (including myself, I had a Camry for a while) has ever had a bad thing to say about them + the V8 is a monster.

My 4th gen on the other hand has been the biggest pile of ****ing **** I have ever driven. Everything creaks or rattles on the interior, the calipers are garbage - 2 seized so far, replaced all 3 Nissan o2 sensors - year later all went bum, the transmission is def. the biggest problem I have with the car - notchy as hell, nearly impossible 2nd - 3rd shift, I'm on my second rebuild because of Nissan engineering etc etc etc - the car is costing me $500 a month just to repair. I'm scared of going with another Nissan, let alone another Maxima. Have you guys (5.5gen, I NEED the 3.5) not had these same issues with your generation or is Nissan still putting out crappy shifting tranny's and bad interior workmanship? (or do I say screw it and give up stick to go for the GS?)

 

I had a '96 and it was great, never ever had any problems until one day it decided to go on fire, still don't know why. Anyway, I went looking for awhile for a 2002 and finally found one, at a honda place non the less. Found it online and it turned out that someone traded it in for an accord. We got it for a good price- $15550, 32000K miles, no accidents, nice wood trim interior. Look online for places withing like 25 or 30 miles of you. If you did this about a month ago, you might have my car now since you are about 15 miles form the place I got mine. You will love it, seriously, very smooth and the power is great. Good luck with the search.

 

I've never heard of anyone describe a Maxima the same way a Volkswagen is typically described. You might want to go with an auto 'anything' because it sounds like you either beat the **** out of the car or your shifting skills aren't very good.

 

well this is a maxima site, so what do you think?
duh, get the 6speed MAXIMA!!!!

 

Sounds like you have already made your decision. To be honest, 6 speeds are pretty notchy, and while they ARE very fast, they're definitely a biatch to drive in traffic. Reliability on 5th gens is pretty good, but then again, nowhere near that of a Lexus, not even close. Plus, Lexus service is hella better. My dad is treated like royalty with his GS4 at the dealership.

 

Even though you don't get a manual with the GS400, they do, however, come with the steering wheel mounted shift buttons. Not to mention the silky smooth Toyota engine and transmission. Besides, we all know how Nissan dearls are when it comes to service....... Just my thought.

 

Personally, I've had very good luck with my 89 SE but my 02 SE has had quite a few more (although mostly minor) problems. I would purchase another Maxima but I've had good luck. If I was you, I'd move on to another vendor. The reason being is that you will never forgive yourself if you by another Nissan and have even the slightest problem. At least with another manufacturer you will have a chance of a clean start. Outside of the Nissan family, I like the Acura TL and the GS 300/400 cars. I'd probaby go with the TL as its a better price (IMHO) and is a very good car (from what I can see from the stats and some postings).

 

I was torn between a used GS and my Max that I have now. I love the GS, and if there were something in my price/milage range I probably would have bought one before I found my Max. I love the Nissan, but the Lex is damn sexy

 

I'm actually considering a 03' GS430 myself sometime next year, even though i'm not getting rid of my max because i have plans for her. Personally I'd go with that Lex, even though it's hella expensive to modd I would go with the Luxury/power/reliability combo that is well known with Lexus/Toyota. I had my 96 Avalon for seven years drove it hard every single day, and didn't have to replace a single engine or tranny part untill i hit 150,000mil. I've had no problem out of the one I have now as well (76,000 miles strong). Unlike my max, where as i've had problems from day one, from cheap @ss paint and front windsheilds, to a sluggish tranny and a lack of real torque. Not to take anything away from the Max, they are good cars but still it's not a 300hp luxury car either that, looks incredible, sounds even better with the most basic mods, and will retain 70% of it's value after 3-5yrs.
Make sure you get other opinions as well, try www.clublexus.com

Oh yeah, and just imagine throwing a SC or TC on a 8cy 4.3 Liter Lexus!?! I will say no more

 

I am an excellent manual driver, take a look in the 4th gen forums for the common differential bearing over-shim issue (www.motorvate.ca also has an indepth explaination). It comes this way from Nissan.

edit - Thanks for the replies btw. I think I'm just going to put out the extra cash for the GS because that poster was right - I'll never forgive myself if I drop 16-18k on another Nissan and not be 100% happy with the way the car shifts (the notchiness is insane on my 4th, and from the sounds of it, the 5th gen) or if something goes wrong. I always threw around the idea, even with my 4th gen, of getting a 92SE 5sp as a project car... maybe now I'll go for it + a GS, to keep it in the family .