5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

Why...

Old Mar 16, 2005 | 07:16 PM
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Why...

do you like your maxima so much?

To start off, don't get me wrong I love mine, but I've only had it for a month and haven't really had anything but problems so far, so I'm not sure why I like it so much. (heated seats went out, maf problem (I think), part of tranny replaced, and various other little things (new airfilter, wheels, etc.))

I know there are loads of issues (coils, maf, stock wheels/struts, etc) so why does everyone put up with them versus buying some honda and not screwing with all the problems?
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 07:20 PM
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Coming from a Subaru that had 2 tranny's replaced, head gaskets replaced twice, and a dozen other major problems, my 03 Maxima is a breath of fresh air. I've only had mine for a month and have experienced zero problems, knock on wood. Except for maybe the awful mileage.
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 07:25 PM
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cause honda's are **** and your insurance will go up and you won't be anle ro make your payments. Second Honda is just a brand name..even though their cars are good.

I love mine cause she is beautiful...what else
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 07:28 PM
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How many miles are on your car?

The Maxima has great power, and a great value. Do you think you could get comprable Honda that will take off like a Max at the same price? I dont think so. If you dont like the car sell it, or give it back to the dealer for a trade or something.

Besides, parts are cheap compared to German cars, and the Max is easy to work on. Just fix it. The car will last 300,000+ miles if you treat her good.

You are right that some things do go bad on a Max and Hondas have a better reliability but can a Honda go 0-60 in 7 seconds (stock)?
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 07:38 PM
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I hate to hear that you hate the Max so much... maybe you should have bought the BMW you were born to drive.... You should be doing something to repair it and make it the machine that it could be instead of just being negative.
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 07:39 PM
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The Max was the best choice for me in terms of styling, potential, maintenence (easy), and cost... an almost luxury car for less than $30,000 with one of the best V6 engines out there that packs a nice punch... can't ask for anything more... not for now...

Coming from a VW, this was so much better looking, had so much more in terms of options and features, easier to maintain, cheaper to maintain, and much more power to play with...

Plus, the 6 speed, leather, HLSD, etc all make it a nicer experience...
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Anarchist
don't get me wrong I love mine
It's not that I have anything against them... but just reading the "you know you're a 5th gen owner if..." and all the complaints etc made me wonder.
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Anarchist
It's not that I have anything against them... but just reading the "you know you're a 5th gen owner if..." and all the complaints etc made me wonder.
That's just because no one is ever really satisfied with anything... we can always do or have better... besides, there are little things that can be a pain with the Max, but overall I think its a great car and those things don't really get to me... esp when I know that other people share the same problems...
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 08:17 PM
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because its an great looking car..it's got go..and its got much less problems than some other cars..and its higher in class than a lot of other cars..plus i love nissans and the VQ engine
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 08:39 PM
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I've always like the max. I bought a brandnew 87 maxima and it never gave me any kind
of trouble. Lasted up to 142k miles until I traded it in for an 02 max. I hope to keep this
car for 15 years and 200k miles.
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 08:49 PM
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all cars eventually have problems. some more than others. i've replaced all my coils and my powerseat drivers motor. i still love my max like the day i got her.
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 08:59 PM
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also, prior to 2001 the maxima offered a rare option: 5spd + v6 for affordable pricing. The accord v6 and camry v6 at the time did not have this option.
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 10:45 PM
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i guess its the horsepower. and the little bit of luxuryness. for this price range, i dont think any other cars can mess with the max. well, maybe some..
i still love my max though...
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 11:39 PM
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I do think Honda has it in the bag for reliability, however, it can't match the soal and character of the maxima, not to mention its power.
Old Mar 16, 2005 | 11:57 PM
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I love my Max, but I have to say that for what you get I think they're a little over-priced. When I purchased mine it had every option except for navigation, plus it was an AE, which all added up to around $31K I believe...mind you this was also over 3 years ago.

Having said that though, I don't plan on getting rid of it any time soon. I'm pretty attached!!!

Tony
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 12:29 AM
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Wow I didnt know the 5th gen's got up that high...thats what I paid for mine.
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 08:26 AM
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Hang out around any car forum, and I promise you will see a handful of very common complaints about any car. In addition to the fact that no car is perfect, the kind of people who hang out in car forums generally mod their cars or drive them harder than average. We break things more often.
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 08:27 AM
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Originally Posted by 04BlackMaxx
Wow I didnt know the 5th gen's got up that high...thats what I paid for mine.
When the 5th and 5.5th gens were new, they were easily $30k cars if you loaded up on options.
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 10:45 AM
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ask any married man about problems they have with their wife(or girlfriend for that matter). A lot of guys would go on for hours. then ask them why they're still with them.

who knows really??

all i can say is... i love my max. ain't no maf problems gonna keep us apart.
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by 04BlackMaxx
Wow I didnt know the 5th gen's got up that high...thats what I paid for mine.
But 5th gens were actually worth that much, as one got what one paid for. 6th gens are overpriced, considering the styling and the fact they're not made in Japan.
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 11:11 AM
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I'm sure if you bought a Honda, you'd be on a Honda forum with some kind of complaint. No car is perfect. You just bought the car and you have these problems so I'm wondering why you didn't notice some of them before signing on the dotted line? Just curious.
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Anarchist
do you like your maxima so much?

To start off, don't get me wrong I love mine, but I've only had it for a month and haven't really had anything but problems so far, so I'm not sure why I like it so much. (heated seats went out, maf problem (I think), part of tranny replaced, and various other little things (new airfilter, wheels, etc.))

I know there are loads of issues (coils, maf, stock wheels/struts, etc) so why does everyone put up with them versus buying some honda and not screwing with all the problems?
God damn liberals comparing a maxima to a honda
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 02:03 PM
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Why? Because I've owned manual Maximas for the last 4 years and have always driven them hard. The worst problem I've had in my last four years is my flakey Bose. I swear my 5th gen seems bullet proof and with the sound of the VQ35, I never feel guilty running it to redline.
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by housecor
Why? Because I've owned manual Maximas for the last 4 years and have always driven them hard. The worst problem I've had in my last four years is my flakey Bose. I swear my 5th gen seems bullet proof and with the sound of the VQ35, I never feel guilty running it to redline.
plus 10
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Larrio
But 5th gens were actually worth that much, as one got what one paid for. 6th gens are overpriced, considering the styling and the fact they're not made in Japan.
6th gens have a much more sophisticated suspention system, esp in the rear, Derived from the structure of the skyline's. I dont even wanna get into this anyway, but I dont think 30k was too much...theres plenty of 30k cars that cant keep up with the max, and personal taste is just that.
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by spiromax
When the 5th and 5.5th gens were new, they were easily $30k cars if you loaded up on options.
my 02 6spd every opt but nav sticker was 30,800. I payed like 26.5K out the door
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted by 04BlackMaxx
6th gens have a much more sophisticated suspention system, esp in the rear, Derived from the structure of the skyline's. I dont even wanna get into this anyway, but I dont think 30k was too much...theres plenty of 30k cars that cant keep up with the max, and personal taste is just that.
actually, please get into this on how your 6th gen has a suspension derived from skylines.
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 04:47 PM
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3 words..luxury sports sedan
Old Mar 17, 2005 | 05:16 PM
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I bought mine for 4 simple reasons over the Accord and Camry.
1. Sexier
2. 255HP
3. Unique
4. Great Value
Old Mar 18, 2005 | 12:48 AM
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I love the look of the Maxima, the overall drive of it, the power of the VQ and most of all that no other family semi-luxury 4 door sedan can match what a Maxima has or can do.

Overall if you dont LOVE your Max get rid of it - there are plenty of us out there who do and someone would love to have your car!
Old Mar 18, 2005 | 06:01 AM
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Originally Posted by mikelly
I've always like the max. I hope to keep this
car for 15 years and 200k miles.
me too....
Old Mar 18, 2005 | 06:10 AM
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1.) It's quicker than anything I've owned so far, and way quicker than I need it to be. 2.) It's a nice car. I don't wanna be another 20 yo girl in a Cavalier or Celica. 3.) It's different. I hardly see any of them in my neck of the woods. Seriously. 4.) It's been more reliable, and a better car to me than my previous car, which is a great improvement.
Old Mar 18, 2005 | 06:42 AM
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1) Its an awesome car!

I bought my 2000 GLE used for 13,000! For that price, what other Well-designed RELIABLE car offers a POWERFUL engine (makes my friends smile everytime they ride with me, and they always want me to drive!!!), PLENTY of space, Leather, Bose (works for some, not for others), woodgrain, Automatic Temperature Control, heated seats, sunroof, fogs (rarely use them), and so much more! Its a beautiful car... even when its dirty! My Brother got in the car the other night and said "Wow, must be nice to have everything automatic and V6 power too".

So.. Go figure!
Old Mar 18, 2005 | 07:00 AM
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Pretty silly question.... if you spend a little more time here you'd see why people love their maxes. I've owned Datsun cars that dated back to 1976 (1976 280Z, 1981 280ZX Turbo, 1989 Max, 1997 Max SE and my current 2003 Max SE) and have ALWAYS been pleased with the performance, maintenance and value. Either you bought one or were given one, every car has it's issues. Luckily there is a place to go to learn about these issues and get feedback from a lot of experienced mechanics and modders. I try to look for related posts befor I ask any questions.
Old Mar 18, 2005 | 01:20 PM
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Great car for the value. Excellent reliability, plenty of power, easy to work on, and way too many mods to add. The car for the price is an excellent value over many cars in its class. It is enjoyable to drive and my kids (8 and 6) would rather be in the MAX then the Yukon SLT. There are some problems with Maximas but try to find a car that doesn't have any problems. 255 horsepower with 19-26 mpg and has a classy look to it.......I would deal with the problems, perhaps fix them yourself with some help from the org members and you will probably be glad you kept your car in the long run. Sorry to hear your having problems with your car.
Take Care
JIM
Old Mar 18, 2005 | 03:50 PM
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I read the thing about the Skyline/6th gen suspention in a car mag (dont know which, but it was R&T, C&D, one of the big ones) But Ill look for the info, while im at it, post a picture of the suspention of the 5th gen vs 6th gen. I bought it for the way it looks mostly though, i think the 5th just seems dated thats all.
Old Mar 18, 2005 | 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Larrio
actually, please get into this on how your 6th gen has a suspension derived from skylines.
" (2004) Maxima’s agile and responsive handling comes from a suspension design adapted and improved from the Japanese-market Nissan Skyline supercar. It consists of an innovative rear multi-link independent suspension, which offers outstanding stability by minimizing camber change during cornering. The rear shocks and springs are separated for reduced friction and the shock is in line with the center of the rear wheels, providing better damping and less harshness."

If you're going to compare to an '01, the VQ's higher displacement is a big plus too. Cars just keep getting more powerful over time.


http://www.nissanhelp.com/Models/200...escription.htm

Read this, this is where Skyline and 6th gen are used in the same sentance, discuss among yourselves.

Of course, this article does not get into technical specs, or explain what exactly is the same about the architecture. But just so you know where I got this from, and you cant deny that automakers constantly strive to improve cars and be more competitive.
Old Mar 18, 2005 | 04:28 PM
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Maxima is a good car to have especially if bought 2-3 years. Brand new cost too much and they depreciate like hell!! If i feel like driving my car normally, i do feel sluggish, whereas my accord is always eager to rev...but when you step on it in the max...there is no stopping it...thast what i like about it.
Old Mar 19, 2005 | 06:48 PM
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Originally Posted by 04BlackMaxx
" (2004) Maxima’s agile and responsive handling comes from a suspension design adapted and improved from the Japanese-market Nissan Skyline supercar. It consists of an innovative rear multi-link independent suspension, which offers outstanding stability by minimizing camber change during cornering. The rear shocks and springs are separated for reduced friction and the shock is in line with the center of the rear wheels, providing better damping and less harshness."

If you're going to compare to an '01, the VQ's higher displacement is a big plus too. Cars just keep getting more powerful over time.


http://www.nissanhelp.com/Models/200...escription.htm

Read this, this is where Skyline and 6th gen are used in the same sentance, discuss among yourselves.

Of course, this article does not get into technical specs, or explain what exactly is the same about the architecture. But just so you know where I got this from, and you cant deny that automakers constantly strive to improve cars and be more competitive.
in that case don't all hondas and toyotas running rear multi-link indepedent suspensions derive from skylines also?

the maxima gets more powerful over the years and also heavier, which offsets the gain in horsepower.

2005 maxima SE curb weight - 3432 lbs (265 hp/ 255 tq)
2002 maxima SE curb weight - 3224 lbs (255 hp/ 246 tq)
A supposed 10 hp bump with a 200 pound weight increase also.
Old Mar 19, 2005 | 10:00 PM
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Just justifying a point...perhaps so? But the cabin on the 6th gen is alot bigger, it is worth the extra weight to me. But we were talking about handling here, not power...but for the record, stock vs. stock, manual vs manual or auto vs auto the VQ 3.5 in a 6th gen will most definately beat any prior year maxima, c'mon now this isnt something you dont already know though.

But don't you have a 2001? I said 01, not 02, Different engine. 3.0 227hp in an '01...so 265-227= 38hp increase...
And theres a laundry list of other improvements also, so quit hatin on a 6th gen!

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