The other day I was sitting in the back seat of my 2kse for a drive to the local chinese joint.....it was raining but not very hard and it sounded like water was coming through the inside of my car......Too f$#@%*(*()*ing loud for me. I also noticed that the windshield must be made of some thin ****. Raindrops coming down on the windshield sounded like it was hailing. I owned a 98 200sx and it had better insulation than this! Also....I have leather seats....and the back seats feel a little hard....I asked my friend and he felt that they were comfortable...but I still think they would be a little stiff for a long trip. One more b*&%h....I was getting a ride to the dealer the other day in one of those piece o crap minivans that nissan has....it was a 2000 and it had steering wheel volume control! Nissan....you better think before you put a gadget like that into a POS minivan before your best car on the lot!

Has anyone else noticed these gripes......

 

They put steering wheel audio controls in the minivan?!?!?!?! Why did they not put one in the maxima, the damn controls are 15 feet away, i have to lean over to change the station. Anyone know if the 2k1 steering contols can be added to the 2000 maxima with bose?!?!?!?


Adam

 

The first time it rained when I was in my Max I thought the same thing.....except I thought it was freezing rain not hail My driveway has a downward cant to it and when I get in my car on rainy days I swear the water is running thru the car...I mean I can hear it flowing like a tap is open or something...well more like a trickle but I can hear it

Was examining the overall build quality of the car today....damn is it cheap...from the cheap *** so called carpet in the trunk to the uneven edges of the carpet up front to the really thin plastic....man I just shake my head...I love the engine but the rest of the car seems pretty weak for the kind of dough it commands....my bad for falling in love on the test drive.


My 91 Celica GTS had waaaaaay better build quality than my 2K SE....maybe its a sign of the times.....over on the Celica forum I hear some folks griping over the cheapness of their cars also....prices go up...quality goes down...yeah baby...yeah

 

they do have audio controls now.. well at least on the 20th ae. the car is a well built one.. if u pay attention to details it is no honda.. i thin it's worth what it costs.. if u look in euro cars.. sure it looks nice. quality is a bit higher. but then the nice options we have would be a large hole in your pockets when it comes to euro

 

It was a rainy day all thay day.....and earlier I rode in my cousins 94 mercury sable for a trek up to the local walmart.....and her car purred in the rain.....quiet as can be......and she spent 5000 on the POS......but at the same time I felt the car was totally secure, clean, bigger, quick , and also that same POS was built better than my 28 thousand dollar car.....although not as fun....it was really comfortable.

In the back seat of 2kse it was loud to the point that the music had to be blasting not to hear the rain hit the side of the windows....car....and wheel wells....the noise seemed to migrate from around my legs....

Kind of disappointed that my car doesnt sound very nice in the back in the rain.....Hmmmmm .........Don't drive the Max in the rain!!! Drive the 61 pimpala!

 

Actually the steering wheel audio mounts is standard on the 2001 SE, GLE, & 20th AE and auto dim rearview is standard on the 2001 GLE & 20th AE...

 

The only gripe I have on the 2kMAx is that the butt looks like a Neon. I mean, compare the lights and how the rear bumper curves up at the ends! I mean its too close to believe! I asked the dealer, and they said, yea, but the Maxima is bigger. LOL!

 

As opposed to what other vehicle?!? The Maxima is a BARGAIN for the performance it offers. Camry? Forget it. Accord? lol. Taurus? Come on lets be serious. Grand Prix? Maybe the GTP if it had a 5spd, but its still a piece of crap plastic Pontiac. New Sebrings? Time will tell but the build quality will be worse than a Maxima. BMW? Ahh BMW. Nicer than our cars and able to outrun us with smaller engines more often than not, but have you checked their price? I'll supercharge my Max for less than a 3 series (with plenty of change left over) and roast them too.

Man sometimes I wonder what people want. When I first set eyes on the Max towards the end of my new car shopping last June, I figured it had to be $40k-$45K Cdn after the other vehicles I had looked at. Then they told me $35K and offered financing so good (2.9% for 3 years) that it wasn't even worth it to pay cash. Hell the little dinker Jetta GLX across the street cost $1000 more and wasn't 1/2 the car. What an incredible deal!!! I say Bah to anyone who thinks otherwise.

 

I love my new car.....it is fast, handles well, and the interior is the best I have ever seen. I love the gauges and switches that nissan uses....elegant without all of the VW bull****. My last car was a 98 200sxse and when I got into the maxima it felt very comfortable to me because all of the switches had the same feel, and looked nice without the B.S. that many manufactures are turning to in order to sell their crappy car. It may sound like I am gripping about my new car... but what I wanted was to see if other people noticed my remarks and scratched their head....or some other part of their body.

I am not very sure about the new taurus.....but when I get into a car that is 7 years old and feel that it is built better than my 28 thousand dollar car....that makes me pissed everytime I write the check for my beloved Maxima. I know....that 7 year old car is not going to be a pimp mobile like the maxima, but there is something to be said about the ride quality. That 94-95 mercury sable that maybe sold for 13 thousand (maybe) new..... and 7 years later still beats my car in ride quality! AS FOR FUN....THAT IS ANOTHER THREAD COMPLETELY!!!!

[Edited by MOBOY on 09-26-2000 at 12:55 PM]

 

The goal of Nissan was to build an even better Maxima with more performance and room, yet cost slightly less then 99 models. I think they ded a great job with their goals, and the car is king of its class from what I can see. I'm sure some quality in material may have gave way, but in the same price range and class its wins by a long shot overall.

I'm still obsessed that there is a dodge-Nissan scandal. Somebody please look at the new neon rear, then a 2000 Max and tell me someone didn’t copy someone? Ahhh. Whats with that. Nissan lost butt styling after the late 3rd gens.

 

You must be kidding. 1994-1995 Mercury Sable? My mother in law has one, I have had the unfortunate experience of driving it for a couple of days and the car just plain sucks (IMHO and in the HO of my wife). I think a lot of the difference you may be feeling is the difference between a car designed to be a quasi-sport-coupe (SE) and a car designed without any handling/performance considerations whatsoever. The 2000SE has 17 inch wheels, lower profile tires, and stiffer suspension to increase handling performance. The result is that you feel the road, feel the bumps and can drive the car far past any limits that the 1994 Sable has. It is not supposed to be a floaty silent ride. To me, that is THE REASON to buy the SE (OK along with the fact that it comes with a stick and great V6). That is part of what you paid $28k for. Not to mention the reliability. I also have a 96 SE with 105k miles on it and I have had ONE problem - a leaking oil pressure sending unit ($75). In my experience with American cars in general and Ford (fix or repair daily) that is simply unheard of.

As for rain and exterior noise, I agree that the Maxima could be quieter in the rain but other than that think the exterior noise is on par with that of its competitors. Japanese cars in general have a "lighter" feel to them than American cars even when they are the same weight. I think you are doing yourself a huge disservice by equating build quality with exterior noise. The Sable and Maxima are different creatures. If you really think the Sable is great, drive it for a week. If the Sable doesn't disgust you by the end of the week, sell your Maxima.

 

I have to agree with Albertan. I love my Maxima, and everything about it. No complaints so far, and doubtful I'll have any. As for comparing it to the Sable. Please tell me thats a joke. Sounds like a huffing and puffing squirrel on crack under the hood, and the ride is like a 78 Lincoln Continental Land Barge. One slight corner and you'll blow off it. Ride quality overall is so much better in the Maxima.

I also think I'm in the minority of those who like its styling. I even like the rear end design. So shoot me heh heh heh

 

Let me clarify my statement...the build quality of MY car is what sucks. My coworker has 2k SE and it is fine. Believe me, if you have gone through what I have gone through with my car you'd know exactly where I am coming from.


I want to love this car, I want to enjoy this car, I want to enjoy the ride.

But alas I can't....it rattles more than a Bill Lewis Rattletrap lure....car makes an chirp like a cricket on crack(my well documented engine mount dilemma), now I have a nice little vibe in the steering wheel that who knows what the F**k from, car was bought on June 26th and has been back to the shop at least 5 0r 6 times...not a very good record for a brand spanking new 20K car.

2 new engine mounts

1 new ECM

who knows whats next?

Paint quaility on MY car sucks...chips like crazy

Windshield glass is dog**** quality and I mean dog****...there is no way in hell that the glass should pit so easily.

Am I looking for things to be wrong with the car? Damn straight I am...

If my dealer came up to me and said "Gee Jeff, obviously Nissan royally screwed up the making of your car, please pick another off the lot" would I do it or tell them to shove it and give me a refund? I'd take another in a heartbeat because yes it is an awesome car.

On par with Camry as far as quality? Umm I'd have to say no as I still believe Toyota puts out a much better built car....Maxima is definitly more fun to drive though.

You have to realize maybe I've been sheltered by my previous car. It was a 91 Celica GTS that I loved. Sure it only had 130 ponies and would get smoked by Saturns but I don't race cars. I don't mod them, I drive them. All I ever had to do to that car was change the oil and put gas in it. I'd still be driving it if I didn't screw up and get it whacked pretty good in the summer of 99. When I traded it in it still had the original exhaust, clutch, struts, springs, etc......when it turned 100K some things did start to go like replacing a wheel bearing, valve gasket, rotors finally warped and needed replacing but....still an awesome ride and hugged the road like it was on rails...in fact I almost put my Max into the guardrail zipping around a curve that my Celica would take with no prob.

When I was looking for a new ride I was deciding between the new 2K Celica and a 2K SE. Thought it was time to get out of the 2 door coupes and into a more practical car(going on 36 yikes!) Given my experience I am having big time buyers remorse on THIS particular car and wish I had looked at the 2K Celica a little more closely...but what is done is done and I need to work through it the best I can.

I am a loyal Toyota owner who decided to test the Nissan waters and in my case...ya I got burned. And to make it worse it burns me more when you guys post about how grat you cars are because I want that to be me too....

So thats it in a nutshell

 

I aggree!!! It is the build quality that is suffering.....but if is build q....then it is also ride quality. I also had a 98 200 sxse that had 40k on it that I traded for my new car. (by the way....I love my car!) that car cornered far supereor in the corners than my max...LIKE GLUE! It was even quieter in that car than my new max. Max is a lot more fun though.....kinda like a roller coaster ride....to much power for speed limits!! No tickets knock on plastic! Instant road rage machine!!!!

I will shut up now!

 

jmn2kse, Dude, I feel for you. I know words offer nothing compared to your woes, but I really feel for you. From the sounds of it, you should definitely try the lemon law in your state if you have not already. My father's 2K SE, and my 2K GXE are both tight as a tick. No creaks, nothing. Hit a bump and I dont hear anything but the bump under me. My father has had his car since the week they came out I believe, and has never had a problem with his. I can definitely understand your frustrations with Nissan having to go through your dilemma and obviously your car fell through the cracks some how with the QA department. Good luck in whatever the outcome is man!