I told my dad to Drive my Max around while I followed it in the Pathfinder ...

Did this for like 15 min ... and I noticed something ...


THE Max has one of the UGLIEST A$$es out there ... it doesn't look bad "STANDING" behind it ... but DRIVING at different Angles and Distances ... its HORRIFIC!!!!!!!!!!!!



*sigh* she ain't perfect!

 

I agree that it's not the best in the business, but it certainly has good points.

I think it looks a lot better with some nice ground effect packages that I've seen around this forum. Seems to fill out the lines better, brings the lower lip closer to the ground, and makes it look less like the bottom has been chopped off.

 

I disagree, the SE tail lights look good, especially on dark colors (green, black, dark grey).

 

I agree...it hurts to say, but it is one ugly a$$ Luckuliy for us, you can't see it from behind the wheel. Slowly (very slowly) it has grown on me. When I took a test drive and mentioned the usightly rear quarters of the car to the salesman, he went off on how easy they were for other drivers to see and something about insurance. There was no hesitation at all...Maxima salesmen must hear that complaint alot.

 

Yeah it may not be the prettiest, but I think it's distinctive. It looks the best when looking at 3/4 not straight on!

At least everytime you beat someone they know what just blew them away! LOL!

 

Yep, that is one ugly butt. Don't all the TL owners know it!



But uglier, waaaaayyyyyy uglier is the powder blue available on the Maxima. I saw a 2000 SE in poweder blue this morning, I am going to see my shrink tonight.

Max2001SE has it down just like I see it.

The two saving graces on the SE are the smoked tailights and the wing. I am sorry, but the all red lights look horid on a white Max.

 

Amen to all your comments... I cringe at the red tails and no spoiler... (sorry to any members who have that setup... I don't mean to offend)

 

I was following a GXE couple days back. From far away, the car looks bubbly (?) and the lights look large in contrast to the bumper. Close up, it looks better proportioned. This is all from a straight-on view. I followed my dad in his van one time while he was driving my car home. The car looks hideous from that angle sitting in the van in a straight on view. Seeing some parts of the side of the car makes it look gorgeous (3/4 rear view,4/5 rear view or so.)

 

Best view from behind (not full on)...

 

The body kit makes the shot twice as nice

 

hey my birthday is coming up soon, hint hint. n/m
i think that the se has the nicest looking rear, because of the spoiler and taillights, i'm half way there, i got the spoiler, but the taillights are expensive, i tried looking for a wrecked se, but no luck. i think finding another car, that is around the same price as ours, with a ugly rear would cheer me up, but off hand, i cant think of any (camry and accord, but thats because i've seen each car a billion times)

 

I mean, I like my max

 

I don't know if the light reflects differently up there in Canada, but the Satin Blue Pearl is one of the best looking colors on the maxima...

 

Me Likes Me Butt !!!!

 

Man I love that body kit. Nice tint too, it really looks good on sterling mist, plus that antenna is awesome!

 

Thanks!

 

thats why his was maxima of the month
james

 

hehehe

 

When the 5th gen came out, I thought it was one of the ugliest cars on the road and knew that I would never consider it.

But it gradually grew on me to the point that I did a bit of research and the tech spec's impressed... now I own one.

I don't care what anyone says, the Max ain't pretty, but it isn't boring (Camry, Accord) and in my opinion looks striking and powerful.

I personally though, would not have any other than the SE rear light setup with the spoiler, it just finishes off the car better.

 

Damn, this is exactly like my car. Except it doesn't have a white pinstripe.

The Maxima's tail definitely looks best at angles. When I look at the rear of the Maxima dead on I get a neutral feeling about it. It could certainly be better.

That's how I feel about the Honda Prelude. Head on, it's not the most pleasant to car to look at. But at angles and when it's rolling, it's a very sweet looking car.

I like the SE tails on dark colors and the Sterling Mist. But, I've noticed a few GLEs lately and I think the red tails look fine. Either way, with black or red tails, the Maxima definitely distinguishes itself from all the others out there. I mean, look at the Accord's tail. The car looks so American. The Camry too. When you see a Maxima you KNOW it's a Maxima.

If anything, Nissan went the same route as Lexus with the GS by designing a tail that causes some controversy. There's an article where a Nissan product VP admits that the goal was to cause controversy. They definitley accomplished that!

Another thing to think of, the Maxima isn't you're ordinary (family) sedan. Leave that to Honda, Ford and Toyota to do that. So, to sum it up... the tail design just reinforces the fact that the Maxima is a sport sedan and a rebel among its counterparts!

 

Damnit kev you just cost me about a thousand bucks cuz i gotta buy that kit now!! i was going to anyway but now it moved higher on my list, damn is it sweet... ohh and how much for an ooglie from yongjun????

Adam

 

Much like the Max, I'm different from everyone else. I personally don't like the SE lights at all. They are definately better with darker colors, but in my opininon, the tinted rear lights look kind of goofy. On white particularly the tinted lights stick out way too much. As for the spoiler, I'm glad I don't have one b/c it sets me apart from the crowd. However, you guys are right...it does help to finish off the rear end. I'd like to see a max with a body kit and no spoiler just to get a feel for how it looks.

 

adam2k1 can you please change your picture i am gonna ralph

 

 

I thought it was appropriate for this thread!

 

I think it's all about the spoiler, with out I think the rear looks incomplete...

 

Funny, Adam! YJ said he wasn't selling the ooglies anymore, but he did post a link. I think it was http://www.racingsoul.com

 

The rear end would look much better with the stillen kit on it. Makes it look more aggressive! You can buy just the rear valence if it worries you that much. Check out the rear with stillen, click the link below. As if you never seen it before!

 

Personally, I always liked the rear of the SE; it is the all red rears (GXE, GLE) that I find, well, less than artful. It was the front-end I had to warm-up to.

It is interesting and I agree that dead on view from the rear is odd. The car is more impressive from angular views. But, hey, I think the SE tail is very original and much more imaginative than the Taurus, Camry, or Accord, to name a few. I, mean, what is up with the funky angled Camry rear lights?

This car has awesome profile and angles. Much more so than any gen previous to it. It does work better on darker colors...and I forgot about the satin blue...should have never been approved for Max use!

That's my 2 cents worth.

srm

 

Tennessee is in da house! Next time you might want to scratch out your license plate though!

 

Why doesn't anyone have a 20th edition Maxima? I think that car is pimp.

When i first saw the maxima, i thought it was butt ugly. but now i'm used to it. It's not really that bad. I think the front is the best in it's class, more aggressive than the accord and camry.
I think the accord with red/white tail lights look the best in it's class. the camry is to plain. but everyone has their opinions

 

Psssstttt..... your car's dirty.

 

and it has dual exhaust. I know it probably wouldn't add much performance and only add weight to an already heavy car, but.... It helps to even out the back end IMO. Its all about symmetry. Not unlike how most people here prefer spoilers to give the tail a finished look.

 

Hey Mugen13.....nice accord.....I had the exact same car as you before I got the Maxima....a '00 V6 Accord in Nighthawk Black.....

 

My thoughts exactly!

 

I like the GLE tail lights better than SE, SE tail lights look good with a black car.

Mark

 

How do you guys change cars like dirty laundry?? Damn! I got my car way back in '99. Unless something happens to it, I hope to have it for at least 10 yrs!

 

Mine is the 20th anniversary. srm

 

hehe....I am not the type of person to change cars that quickly either. My dad was looking for a used car, but instead he took my Accord and I got a new Maxima. We both got a good deal that way... I plan on keeping the Maxima for a while now....

 

Not a bad deal at all!!!

Btw, here's a part of a review that the WPost did way back in '99 when the new Max premiered...enjoy!:

The new Maxima does not repeat that mistake. Nissan design chief Jerry Hirshberg, exterior designer Doug Wilson and interior designer Alfonso Albaisa had a good time putting this one together.

Kudos to Wilson for penning one of the most attractive rear ends given to any sedan. The scalloped back lights sort of stand out from the car, floating, simultaneously appearing to be attached and unattached to the Maxima's backside, which curves prettily into the rear bumpers. Eyes automatically follow the back lights, which is good for product recognition and even better for safety.

Albaisa gets high marks for finding beauty in functional simplicity, as evidenced by his arrangement of the new Maxima's center console, which contains cooling, heating and audio system controls; a clock; a well-placed automatic shift lever; and driver-reachable storage areas. Similar consoles in some comparable cars are confusing busy boxes. This one is clearly marked and angled for optimum ease of use.

Anyone who has driven previous Maximas knows that the cars are road demons in clerical dress. The new Maxima runs hard and well, too--but with more horsepower. It just does it in more revealing clothes.