I know there are a lot of 4th vs. 5th gen, but this one is very specific. For those that know (not just assume based on hearsay), comparing a 1997-98 Maxima SE automatic (black on black leather, and stock) to a 2000-01 Maxima SE automatic (black on black leather, and stock).

Which is faster?

Which do you think is better looking?

Which is more fun to drive?

Which is more comfortable?

Which is more reliable?

Which gets better gas mileage?

Which has more interior room?

Would you rather spend $3000-4000 for the '97/8 or $5000-6000 for the '00/1?

 

Search!

 

Of course, I already have. Every 5th gen vs. other comparison thread just turns into "get the 5.5gen with the 3.5!!11one", so I'm looking for specific comparisons that I've been unable to find elsewhere.

-Evan

 

wow threadfailure

 

I would say that 95 stock 5 speed would take a 00 or 01 5speed! It depens on your taste on look which is better! some people may like 2nd gen better than 5th gen its all your taste.

 

It's only been up for 30 minutes... give it two seconds so the people on this forum that care to be helpful have a chance to post.

Yeah, I guess I'd like to get the general consensus, or just a sampling of peoples' opinions.

-Evan

 

Well your in a 5th gen forum so I'd imagine most of the answers you're going to get will be pro 5th gen but here's my opinion:

Which is faster?
5th gen

Which do you think is better looking?
For me this depends on the color of the car for instance I like a white 5th gen over a white 4th gen but I think the black 4th gen is sexier than a black 5th gen.

Which is more fun to drive?
5th gen

Which is more comfortable?
Pretty much the same. Now the 5.5 gens have improved comfort over both the 4th and 5th gens

Which is more reliable?
Just about the same in reliability.

Which gets better gas mileage?
Should be almost identical.

Which has more interior room?
Should be exactly the same.

Would you rather spend $3000-4000 for the '97/8 or $5000-6000 for the '00/1?
Neither - I'd spend $10K=13K for 5.5 gen.

 

Haha, you cheated. I only have $6k max.

Thanks for the thorough response though!

-Evan

 

As far as looks go... I would be kinda stuck between the white AE 5th gen and the red SE-L 4th gen.

 

Heh, unfortunately, I hate white cars. I'm a black, grey, silver, or gold guy.

-Evan

 

what a pointless thread

 

... what a pointless post....

 

if this forum was maintained the way it used to be....this thread wouldnt have lasted 30 minutes

 

Huh, I guess people don't understand what the purpose of a forum is. I didn't realize how good I had it over on bimmerforums. I guess I took the helpfulness and sense of community for granted over there.

If this forum was maintained like bimmerforums, your pointless, derogatory posts wouldn't have lasted 30 minutes.

 

so who are you again that you think you can come in here and run your mouth

please go back to the other forum

 

Quite frankly I never [run my mouth] on forums. I'm just a little irritated that you come in here, offer no help at all to a maxima newbie, and just insult a thread that I made. Who are you that you think you can just be rude to someone? I don't care if you have 10 posts or 17,000 posts, that doesn't make rudeness okay or productive.

I apologize for letting my irritation translate into back-talk. That's just dumb. But please, if you have a problem with this thread, maybe PM me and respectfully explain why my post isn't okay - that way it doesn't happen in the future, and you don't have to deal with future threads that you think are pointless.

I mean no offense, and your post count implies that you are generally very helpful, so I don't mean to take that from you. I just don't see how your approach in this situation was productive at all.

-Evan

PS) If you'd like to PM me about why this thread isn't cool, I sincerely would like to know. I know there were noobies over at bimmerforums that were annoying, and I don't want to be one of them here.

 

there is a certain way this forum works to keep it operating well. you need to learn that.

1. you could have found the info by looking around
2. since you are talking about two generations, this belongs in the "general maxima" section
3. you could always post common questions in the newbie thread.

but since you are new, you dont realize this is a common question. thats why you need to read all the FAQs and stickies. new people should spend weeks reading posts before they start a new thread. that way you can see what common questions are and also learn how the forum works.

 

my answer to this thread in that i had a gxe 4th gen and a gxe 5th gen, ...............
MOD FOR MOD-the 4th gen FEELS faster but the 5th gen may have a better timeslip,
LOOKS- i love 4th gens but a slammed 5th gen with a lip kit, and an evo 2 jumps out to me
RELIABILITY- same to me (whole lot of problems)
GAS- 5th gen ate more gas idk why
FUN-4th gen
COMFORTABLE-5th gen
ROOM-same
PREFER-i would get a 3.5 but to choose, rather spend the extra for what i like...
bottom line both are nice cars, but like somebody said earlier, there thing is color, mines is body style, and if you look at the sig then you'll know my favorite

 

1. 5th gen but barely
2. 4th gen
3. both handle like boats stock
4. 5th gen leather seems to be a bit better
5. 4th gen
6. both should be equal
5. the 5th gen should have a negligable amount more interior space.

I would spend 6k on a lower mile cali/florida 4th gen manual...but thats just me.

 

agree. some ppl here think that .org should be like a library. as for bimmerforums... that place is WAY frendlier, for starters.

 

respective.......

 

i like the CF hood and trunk look on a 5th gen more than a 4th gen... maybe im just got tired of my 4th gen

 

....I own a 4th gen so yea....

 

4th gen, cause it's lighter

You will get biased answers, being you posted in the 5th gen forum. This belongs in the General Maxima forum like soonerfan said. Plus, these questions are a matter of opinion, not fact. Test drive one of each and determine this for yourself.

In most of your threads, you show a common theme of asking a lot of questions that are a matter of opinion, not fact. Do you not trust your own judgement?

 

5th gen's are faster.

4th gens have frame strength issues
don't you deny it 4th gens

In the end both are maxima's, so why start a war about which is better?

 

haha u wanna see handles like a boat,
my old caprice felt like u were actually on water!
that was a boat haha

 

lol i owned a 4th gen

 

which should make my first post factual in that i have both

 

I got a 5th gen b/c I like it.

Which is faster?
It really depends on which engine and gearbox.

Which do you think is better looking?
It almost depends on personal taste.

Which is more fun to drive?
It definitely depends on what you are expecting.

Which is more comfortable?
It obviously depends on what kind of people.

Which is more reliable?
It basicly depends on who is owning the car.

Which gets better gas mileage?
It actually depends on who is driving.

Which has more interior room?
It clearly depends on how big the driver is.

Would you rather spend $3000-4000 for the '97/8 or $5000-6000 for the '00/1?
It certainly depends on how much money you have.

So....I spend five minutes using my poor English on your questionx. Even that won't help you so much. Now, are you happy?

 

You're just odd.

Thanks to everyone else who has been helpful!

-Evan

 

Go to the dealer and test drive both of them, ok?
We are not for doing this..

 

Okay, that's fine, if you're not for doing this, then don't. No need to clutter the thread up with nonsense.

-Evan

 

I used this info that the OP provided
With that info I decided the 5th gen is faster...98ish 4th gen is about 3100 with all the options where as a 5th gen with all the options is about 3300...Both have the same automatic tranny. The 4th gen has a power/weight ratio of 16.32 lbs. The 5th gen comes to a power/weight ratio of roughly 15, thus making the 5th gen marginally faster.

 

I have driven multiple 4th gens and 5th gens including mine and my friends 00 gle...i prefer the 5th gen...it feels bigger on the inside still plenty of power to spin the tires when necessary. I do like the look of a 4th gen lowered, stillen lip, murano rims... but to me nothing looks like 2000 SE black.. just a sleek car...I say go with the 5th gen...i never had one problem with mine

oh and i smoked a 95 5spd...got him by 2 lengths

 

so did you decide?........... downfall to 5th gen = no ECU

 

IIRC TS does 01+ ecus....

 

thats what i thought when i bought mines, it's a typo on the TC website they only do 3.5's, spoke to a rep.

 

Based on what you have to spend, why not get a low mileage 4th gen and use the left over money for mods and any repairs you need down the road.

What I would do personally is put $4000 down on a 5.5 gen and finance the rest (which should get you payments under $300 a month easy on a 36 month loan). Put the other $2000 you have into savings.