I currently have a 2000 se and I love it. I wanted a 6 speed but my budget put me in a 5 speed. My girlfriend is looking into buying a 2004 6 speed, but the 6th gen fourm was a little weak. Is a 6th gen worth the money? or would is a 5.5 a better bet?

 

Look at how many people have problems with their US built 6th gens, how many of them had Nissan buy their cars back... then just do what you really wanna do- buy the last of the Japanesse made Maximas.

 

5.5th gen.....definitely. The interior layout is nicer. The exterior has more style.

 

5.5 all the way

 

5.5, 6th gen is an old man's car...hehehe...

 

Hmm.... you're asking people in the 5th Gen forum if ya should get a 5th Gen..... what did ya expect?

Get a 2002-2003 6 speed with HLSD and black leather... if ya give me a good enough offer you can have mine...

 

how about a trade , one siilver slushbox for one blue 6-sp ?

 

Nice try bud... if ya had a 5-speed with SC or something I might have considered it... but I'm gonna pass on the autotragic... besides, my car is worth more than that... I only have 38k miles on it too, not to mention suspension and other mods...

 

the 5th generations maximas look 100%x19billion better than the 6th generations..i think thats a good enough reason to buy a 5th gen.

 

if your not going to mod, 6th gen. Ind Rear Susp makes for better ride IMO.... On looks, 5.5 gen.

 

the exterior of the 6th gen isn't bad but the interior makes me cringe everytime i see it. nissan butchered the car. the 5.5 gen looks much sportier too.

 

I cant say for certain if the 5.5G is "better" than the 6G but, I can say that I like the styling of the 5.5G better. (Biased? maybe) However, I do believe that the 6G is a bit more upscale than the 5G in general.

 

thanks for your opinions. time to convince the girlfriend. 5.5!!!!!

 

why not just get an Altima 3.5 or SE-R? i really beleive that the altima has replaced the maxima for the 4dSC...the maxima has moved into grandpa territory.

glad i got the best of both worlds..

altima 3.5 se (05)

and the last of the great maxima's 2003 maxima SE! w00t!!!!

 

another biased answer--> 5.5 gen. you'll probably get a different answer on 6gen forum

 

I don't know about calling a 6th Gen a grandfather's car. MY SE is awesome, not to mention I have put about $3,000 into it. With my Injen intake, Cattman catback exhaust, y-pipe Underdrive pully and drilled/slotted rotors I dare you to say its grandpa's car. I believe it can run with the best of them now. Header's and possible supercharger are next.

 

9 months waaaaaaaaay too late there, pal.

 

Lets not think about the builders. It's the engineers fault, not the Americans. I own two american cars, very happily and with many less TSB's and reoccuring problems than the mixima. (NO MAF, COILS, 02, transmission, ETC.) ----GMC Vortech 350 and 89 302 Mustang.
Sure they need the normal alternator, tires, hoses, (steering box, idler and pitman arm after 160,000) etc.
I am just stating that american cars overall are just as durable as imports. Sure, they have bad models, ultimately it is the engineering and oem standards that make it less reliable, not the fact they are "built" here.

 

I think that the 6th gen is a little classier looking but it is also a good amount bigger. I really like the gauge cluster on the 6th gens and the NAV but I really love my 5.5 gen 6 speed. Exterior stlying on the 5.5's is also much nicer IMHO. The 5.5 gen 6 speeds are a little hard to come by but check out ebay and do a nationwide search (power search) on autotrader.com. There is a place in pennsylvania and alabama that has a handful of 5.5 gen 6 speeds always in stock. I wish I saved the links but after I found mine (from autotrader) I deleted them. I found both of them from ebay motors so I'd imagine you could find them also just do some searching. If you can find one with hlsd that would be a plus the only reason I passed up doing that is because they were all far and I would have to pay to transport of fly there and drive back. Not to mention mine had 40k miles (2002) and I bought it certified pre-owned so I have roadside assistance and a 3 year warranty up to 100k miles . I didn't even drive a 6 speed or even ride in one before I bought mine but when I did at the dealer I was pwned and knew right then I was going to buy it.

 

If you're looking for new, try to pick up a 2005 I35...last Japanese made Maxima/I35 (same car as the 5.5 Maxima).

 

Don't you know? The gf is always right, even when she's wrong!

 

2004 was the last year for the I35.