thesober

Hello everyone,

This is my first post but I have been reading in this forum for a while now.

Its time for me be purchase a car and I have narrowed it down to a 2001 Maxima SE or 2002 Altima 3.5. They both cost around the same price.

Any suggestions? comments, reliability is my most important factor. I have also been reading on Altima.net and there are many post about tranny failures...yikes!

Also if you follow this link...> :LINK
Should I be worried ?

Thanks for reading.

Qmax03

THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 WOULD BE THE WINNER HANDS DOWN !!! the only way i would suggest the maxima would be if you were purchasing a 2002 maxima 3.5 or else the altima would be the winner !

BrandonSE

iTrader: (1)

YEPP, i completely agree. Plus you could paint the tails red to look like the new altima and your set to go. Its up to you though. If you really like the design of the maxima go for it, if you want speed and a newer car go with the altima the supposed "lower model" in the nissan lineup....

chinaonnitrous1

iTrader: (12)

Drive both, feel both, experenice and breath both. I find the interior of the 01 Maxima to be more classy, and better fit and fnish. The altima interior feels like it has too much exposed plastic everywhere. Motor wise, the altima has more grunt and refinement. Ride quality, the altima has Independent Rear susp (IRS) which is a tad smootehr over rough bumpy surfaces. I think the maxima looks less cheap.

carmencip

This is a tough one. Definately would rather have the 3.5 engine but I couldn't buy the Altima because of the interior. Looks cheap, too much plastic, and not even good quality plastic. Check out the door panels. Horrible.
I also hate the Altima's orange color in the instrument cluster at night. I know, forget both and find a 2002 Max.

mjk

iTrader: (1)

exacly

Maximadmoiselle

iTrader: (1)

Another couple of things:
1. The Maxima is much more unique apart from being their flagship model. Altimas are all over the place.
2. I have a 2k and have never experienced failures of the inglition coils or a blown MAF, so it really boils down to how nice you are to the car.
3. Get the Altima only if you're **** about winning races
4. I think the 02 Max will be your best bet, but don't get hung up on the fact that the 01 has a smaller engine. Trust me it's big enough compared to a Honda.

2k3TitaniumSe

iTrader: (3)

Get the 3.5!

BrandonSE

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, racing really isnt a big deal to me, but when a stupid honda pulls up to me i know i can take i still have a VQ. The 3.0 isnt that much slower, and the 2001 has the AE, so look for one of those.

takkar

Get the Maxima. You should be looking at interior feel of the car as you will spend most of your time inside, behind the wheel. Whats and extra 30 HP? You can modify your car later ( Y-pipe+ headers) and make up for some of the HP difference...
my 2cents..go for Maxima.

F23A4

You might want to elaborate on which Honda you're referring to.

That said, the features I like most are the VQ35DE and Xenons so I'd have to go with the 3.5SE over a Y2k/2k1 Maxima. But as was posted earlier, I'd be a bit wary of the Altima's quality issues for the simple fact that it's A) the first production year, B) built stateside and C) A) & B).

Would you consider the 2k2 Maxima? I'm not seeing them for MUCH more than the 2k1 Maxima and 2k2 3.5SE. $.02

Peace.

mm7759

I say go with the Maxima. I actually started looking at the Altimas after driving one as a rental on a business trip. When I actually went down and drove the 2, I had some of the same concerns. I actually liked the way the Altima rode with the IRS, but the Maxima just felt like a more solid car all around, and yeah...wanted to avoid the quality concerns of an all new model (at the time). So far my 2k2 Max has been a great car!

MannyNJ2k2max

iTrader: (3)

Altimas 3.5's stock are tad faster than the Max 3.5's....why would you ever consider a 3.0
If pinned againt a 3.5 Max I'd take Max purely because of build quality(japan)

But as much as I love my Max....gotta keep it real...
2002 3.5 Alti over a 3.0 Max anyday of the week
Faster, better handling, roomier, newer styling....

"Bran Da Man"

I happpen to own both the 2001 Maxima SE and the 2002 Altima 3.5 SE, and I have to admit, the Maxima has been flawless! Unfortunately, the Altima has been plagued with recalls, too many to count, and the U.S. build quality has left a lot to be desired. If you want straight out power with very little refinement, comfort, or isolation, by all means choose the Altima. If you are looking for the best of both worlds as far as power and refinement are concerned, then choose the Maxima. Don't get me wrong, I like both cars, but the Maxima gets the nod! It is your choice. Respectfully, Brandon

4x4Max

iTrader: (12)

3.5 altima is so much faster than the 3.0 maxima...ive been in one, and that thing just takes off

imported_JIC_A33

besides, see the seats on the 00-01 maximas?

"Bran Da Man"

My 2002 3.5 Altima is too light! It's like you have to keep three hands on the steering wheel at all times! I don't get that feeling with my 2001 Maxima SE. The Maxima feels more balanced. The Altima too, when it delivers all of that power, sounds and feels gruff. The 3.0 in my Maxima is a lot more refined when she is summoned. It's as if Nissan skimped on the sound deadning materials in the Altima. The Altima is entertaining, but at a price. That price is, lack of isolation inside of the cabin.

IceY2K1

iTrader: (3)

If you can stand the Altima looks/interior, get it.

Hands down, it has better handling/braking/power and is even bigger inside.

The styling has begun to grow on me and supposedly they upgraded a few things on the 2005 model including interior, so if I can "smoke" the tail-lights....I'd buy it over a 6th gen ANY DAY.

NYPD-Arnold

iTrader: (8)

Uhh...no. The seats in the initial 5th gens look and feel great. That said, get the Altima; but make sure it's fully loaded - otherwise it's reeeaaallly cheap on the inside. The Max is a much better looking car, but the Altima is quicker.

imported_JIC_A33

Uhh..yes. the 00-01 seats look like CRAP compared to the 02+. Not an opinion..a fact. Look at some pics.

MONTE 01&97 SE

iTrader: (1)

Not in automatic form they arent I have edged out several of them and the reason alot of times in manual form they do a tad better than 6 spd Maximas is because of the 6spd. The Max has enough torque down low not really needing that extra shift although it helps up top.

NYPD-Arnold

iTrader: (8)

You can take your "my opinion = fact" horsesh*t and shove it up one of your bottom cavities, k? My uncle has an 02 GLE and the seats between my car and his have negligible comfort differences. They have slightly differing styling, but feel very similar. Keep that 'holier than thou' attitude to yourself.

thesober

Thanks everyone for your replies, it is greatly appreciated! I can't believe there are so many replies already, this forum is huge! Too bad the search function doesn't work. It limits my research by a lot, I would pay for the option but I can't.

Thank again!

Flip94ta

So what are you gonna picK? I have also debated the same topic and it helps that my girlfriend has a 2003 2.5 altima. Her car seems so cheap inside and I'm not a big fan of the gauges compared to my 2001 max. I would give up the 30hp for the style and class. When our friends get in my car they say "oh this is nice" and when they get in her car they say nothing. My car will be replaced with a 2003 maxima when the time comes.

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

I chose my 2k maxima over a 2k2 altima (same basic $$ when I bought it) and have never regretted the choice. Yeah, the Alti's faster, but there's more to a car than speed....Although all the 3.5 guys here would lead you to believe otherwise, the VQ30 is no dog.....

Maxima has class, style, comfort (esp. if you have meridian package), better interior, and speed/handling can be easily improved with some bolt-ons (RSB, LTB, intake, headers, etc etc)....

Altima is just like a honda accord - all over the place and not anything special. Like flip said, nobody's gonna be impressed with your Alti except high school guys....ladies like the maxima

or....just drive both and get the one you like better and forget everything all of us said!

panda_1

iTrader: (4)

altima, for sure

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

funny, my a s s doesn't really care what the seats LOOK like, it cares what they FEEL like....Good thing SR20 knows so much about the 00-01 maxima that all he has to do is look at some pics....and damn! who knew his word was FACT....I guess we should all just listen to SR20 from now on since his opinion is obviously far more factual than the rest.....

listen donkey, I have leather, power, heated seats on my 2k...I put 20+hrs in the car in 3 days driving to Charleston and back last month and felt great the whole way......so your perception of the 00-01 seats is full of ****

nadeemp8

iTrader: (5)

Maxima all the way, I picked up my 01 not too long ago and have never regretted it once. My girlfriend has an 02 Altima and it's nice but I don't enjoy driving her car as much as I do mine. Aside from that the Max looks 10X better than the altima, especially if you get the Anniversary edition.

Maximadmoiselle

iTrader: (1)

I suggest they create a separate 5.5G forum for 3.5 owners, since most are putting themselves off as a separate generation. All the arguments seem to gravitate around how much faster they are, how their HIDs this and that................ and yeah if you have a 3.5L with cloth seats, for sure your interior won't even impress my grandma, no matter if it's an Alti or a Max.

6spmax

I think SR20 is referring to the way the seats look, not feel. I agree that the 02-03 seats(at least in charcoal cloth and frost cloth) look better than 00-01 seats. But the 00-01 seats don't look bad at all.

Cutler

iTrader: (3)

I owned a 2k and the seats were just as nice as the 2k2 max.....

Nice try

irish44j

iTrader: (38)

yeah I know what he said, but it was just a retarded statement....especially since the leather seats and cloth seats look different in both gens.....do the 2k2-3 seats look a little better - I guess so....but I've received a number of complements on my seats - both looks and feel...

and the seats in my wife's mazda 3 LOOK better than any of the maxima seats (they sure don't feel better though )

NYPD-Arnold

iTrader: (8)

So it is unanimous...SR20 is a douche.

6spmax

To be honest, the seats in my old '95 altima felt better than the seats in my maxima.

BlackBIRDVQ

iTrader: (15)

I think some of ya 3.0L haters need to get a friggn reality check...... the fastest Maxima IS a 3.0L. I hate when some idiot on the forum starts to slam my car cause its a 3.0. I think its BS. My car don't even have power seats or a sunroof, let alone a spoiler... and I dont care cause I don't need extra dead weight keepn me from smoking that 3.5L.

THill5thGen

Only Altima I'd ever buy is the SE-R personally.

NYPD-Arnold

iTrader: (8)

I wouldn't mind the 2005. It's so frigin' aggressive up at the front. The tails are soooooooooooooo ghey, though.

00Max00

Go with the Maxima. You are not a racer, so it meaningless to you if you can't utilize all the potential of an engine. Most of time the 3.0 VQ already power enough. Moreover, don't forget the 3.0VQ is 9years in row of best engine of the world, is more refined than the new 3.5 and smother(3.5VQ no longer the best), less annoying torque steer. The Max's higher quality compare to Alti, is the flagship of Nissan, far beyond the cheap looking Altima. You won't go wrong with the Max, I can't be happier with my Max.

MannyNJ2k2max

iTrader: (3)

Not hating on the 3.0- but it cost you $$ out of your pocket to even taste 14's


The current platform engine is the 3.5, the newer car is the Altima -with an updated look that will keep up with the current aesthetic trend of the newer cars- and they've proven to benefit from mods very well- Its a NA beast -from this perspective I rather get into the newer car-