I was sitting around thinking about the 2002 Max. I plan on getting a 2002 6 spd with the HLSD when it's available.

Seems to me all the 2002 owners are going to get screwed on aftermarket mods. The car's only going to be made for 1 year. That's not a whole lot of incentive for Stillen or anyone else to make aftermarket parts. Most of the 2001 parts don't seem to be compatible with the 2002 and it just doesn't seem all that likely that people will be making parts for the 2002.

Hopefully I'm wrong, but I'm not seeing it any other way.

Stereodude

 

I think Nissan will keep it around for at least two years.

 

After seeing a CD-ROM that the sales person gave me the Altima seems more appeling. I wonder if the new maxs steering columm comes out to adjust to the drivers postion. Pretty neat feature. maybe it will be on the 2003 model.

 

We already know that it's being redone in 2003. They're going to sell it through Dec 2002. The 2003.5 or 2004 will go on sale in Jan 2003. It will also be made in the USA.

I'm buying my Max before they screw up the car. The new max is going to get larger since the Altima is already bigger than the Max. That means we'll end up with some land-yacht Max with a little more power that's even bigger and less sporty. Add in the obvious sticker price hike of like $5-8k and you'll have a new Max. Oh yeah and we can't forget that the quality has to drop since they'll be making it in the US. Hopefully since the UAW isn't in Nissan's plants yet the quality won't drop too much.

Stereodude

 

Thats a real good point..thats the same thing I thought when I heard that the maxima was gonna change in 2002-2003. but luckily the 2000-2001 max has the same engine as the 4th gen max so alot more parts are compatable/similar.O well, Im happy w/ my 2000..for now anyways!

 

Good point, I still don't think the 6th gen max is going to be a boat but no one seem to believe me on that one. I was considering holding out until the 1st of 2k3 before trading my 98 just so I would have a choice but after seeing the price range that the 2k2 Max and Alti are falling under, I am now only looking at the 2k2 SE, the reason is not the potential size of the 6th gen Max, it will be the price. The Maxima is a helluva bargain for a sporty V-6 powered 4dr, you can get a nicely equipped 2k2 right now for mid twenties but with both the Max and the Alti knocking on the 30K door, I know the 6th gen is gonna be in the mid 30s, its not that I would not be able to afford the car but if I am going to spend 30K or above on my next car, then the Maxima is no longer at the top of my list of potential new cars....however its a stil the best thing going while it remains priced in the 20s.

my .02

 

Any mods limited to the engine bay area should not be a problem I would think. The 3.5L VQ engine will be on the Altima and the new Z car. How about cams of the Z car or a turbo/SC designed for the Z car. Maybe a clutch designed for the Z car could be used on the Maxima. It would seem that quite a number of mods will be available as long as they are restricted to the engine area.

 

The new Maxima will be a 2003, and will be out in fall of 2002. It will be built on the same platform as the new Altima but of course it will have more HP. And yes.....it will also have the tilt/telescoping steering wheel. They would have kept the Maxima the same for one more year(Nissans usual model run) but....it'll never hold up against the likes of the new Altimas excellent chassis. Without throwin' the baby out with the bathwater (Always loved that one), just wait til you see the new Maxima!! There...I said it, and probably said too much. It's WELL worth the wait !

 

How do you know what is and is not compatible with 00-01 and 02? As far as I can tell almost every 5th gen mod will fit the 02 except clutches/flywheel nad SC. I would not be suprised if the Y-Pipes/ intake etc all fit fine because the engine is the exact same shape and size. I will be getting my 02 with in the week and I am going to examine the exaust system and see if stuff fits or not, I will also see infmy UDP is the same size etc. I am willing to bet all aftermarket 5th gen exaust stuff will fit{Maybe some minor o2 sensors issues}. We also have plenty of supension options, and body kit options. The only body kit piece that won't line up is the front lips. Please think about this stuff before you post it .

BTW, I may be putting my headers on my 02 I will let you guys know how that goes!

 

Umm.. no, it's not going to be out in the fall of 02, try spring of 03. BTW It goes into production supposedly in January 03 in the USA.

 

Also, no offense dude but were do you get off saying all this stuff? You don't even have the correct release date.

 

Seems to me like the 2001 owners are screwed, at least the ones that keep it stock. Hell, 2002 has 33 more HP, Xenons, and a ton of new features that the 2001 doesnt have, and for basically the same price. Im not lookin to mod too much anyway, so Im perfectly happy with the 2002. I sat in the Altima too, the inside was cheap to me, and the Max had a lot more features for the same $$ really.

 

Gee...why so hostile folks? There is no "release" date for the 03 Maxima as of yet. It's set for the fall of 2002 as a 2003 model. Its' facilities are set on the same prodution line as the new Altima.
There are currently three pre-prodution models already built, although its' HP ratings will come down slightly from those.
I'd love to tell you that "I know my job" but, dates do change, releases can be held so, anythings possible at this point. The new 350Z is the only new Nissan ever to be a spring release so...I'm sure the fall of 02 will be accurate. Again, I can't guaranty the exact date but...the car will be all new for 03, and most likely be released next spring. If for some reason, as in the 350Z, it's held til 03 as an 04 (The Z was supposed to be out already), I'll be very surprised. Ease up folks..I'm only giving out the info we get...nothings ever written in stone.

 

This is one of the reasons I bought an Accord V6 instead. I would have loved to wait for a 2002 Maxima with all of these upgrades but I needed to buy last spring and didn't want to get screwed like this.

Ah well...maybe next time around

BTW, I don't know why people think that just because something is going to be built in the US that the quality will drop.

Honda Accord's and Toyota Camry's have all been built in the US for years and haven't had any drops in quality just because they were built in the US, and studies have been done that prove this. I don't think you guys need to worry. Being built in the US is a good thing because it means more jobs for American workers and lower prices since it's cheaper to build cars in the US for the US market.

 

Sorry if I seemed hostile . That was not my intention. I do however get a bit annoyed by people spreading rumors who seem to have no knowledge. BTW I am not refurring to you, just lots of people in general. If you don't mind, could you confirm approx. how much the base price is going to go up on the 6th gen max? I am getting a 02 max this week so I would be pretty ****ed off to find out that something way better is comming out for the same price in a few months you know.. Ohh yeah, if the car is only a few months away from production wouldent we have seen pics of the car by now? I would think that it would be in lots of car show's and stuff by now.

 

I just re-read your second post and noticed you were reffering to the 350Z as comming out next spring so I am retracting my comment about seeing the max is car shows . BTW I wish I could see some pics of the 6th gen!!

 

I understand, no offence taken.

There has been nothing said in the way of price but, I would imaging any price hike would be quite minimal. I say this because the $1200 price hike from the 01 to the 02 was warranted by quite an addition of host features..namely the new 3.5 with its' variable valves, drive by wire throttle, HLSD, HLSD and other upgrades. Seeing as the new car will have much the same features, and will share an already in production platform, I'd have to bet on a less increase than the above noted.
For quite the same reason nobody has yet seen the final prodution release of the new 350Z, you probably won't see anything on the new Maxima until next year.
And please....like I said in my earlier post, don't hold me to dates. I'm simply conveying information I've recieved recently and thought, without giving anything away, the Maxima forum would be interested in the information. Nissan has a habbit of changing complete vehicles...let alone release dates. (The new Altima was supposed to, at one time, be built on the current 5th gen. Maxima platform...and the Maxima was to be all new for 02 using...yep...the new Altima platform...which would have made the 5th gen. Maxima the shortest lived new design.)

 

Ok. Let me get this straight.

The news release says that Maixma production will move to the US in January 2003. The new Max will be built on the Altima platform. The new Max will be released in the fall of 2002 as a 2003 model. But the Altima production line is in Tennessee. How can the new Max be built on the Altima platform on the same production line when US production won't come to the US until 2003?

 

Easy. The new Maxima is moving production to the states in August of 2002 at the same plant that the Altima is produced. There was, at one time, talk about either moving the current Altima plant or, building another plant just for Maxima production. Again, it's my understanding that because the Altima take over the 5th gen. Maximas platform, this was no longer needed. Is this the real reason ?.....It's anyones guess at this point but, I can't remember seeing anything about production starting on the new Maxima in 2003 as a 2004. Is that at all possible ? well.....did we bring back the Z ?

 

3.5L =

-2K2 Altima
-2K2 Max
-I35
-G35
-New Z
-Pathfinder

The aftermarket will be there for sure! Customization is always an option..

What mods do you want to do?

 

The Altima has not taken over the 5th gen Maxima's platform. The Altima is on a whole new platform.

If Maxima production starts in August 2002 then those cars must be built in Japan because US production does not start until January 2003.

 

Sorry, the line SHOULD have read:

Again, it's my understanding that because the Altima didn't take over the 5th gen. Maximas platform, this was no longer needed.

As for production dates in the US, our information seems to clash. Production is set to start August 2002 on the 2003 Maximas. Not January of 2003..The new Maxima is should already be available by then.
Where did your information come from BTW ? Curious

 

A REDESIGNED MODEL of the Maxima, Nissan's top-of-the-line car, is set to roll off the assembly line in January 2003, the company announced Thursday.

Nissan moving production of Maximas to Tennessee
http://www.msnbc.com/local/wsmv/m97229.asp

 

Geez...Very interesting. Thanks for that link. I want to check into that info further. It says something completely different than the info we were given. Now I understand your questioning !..lol. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

you can get a 2002 GLE for $22,680? thats how much was paid for my GLE back in july.

 

Now you know why I sounded "hostile" .

 

for all we know the next Sentra will have 350hp and will be larger than the New Altima... I mean, thats the way they do it right? :/

 

Bleh you guys suck.
Just wait and don't always belive in rumors.
Have a nice day.

 

You're prpbably right about waiting, since Nissan changes things so much but damn...the "suck" comment....was that needed to get your point across? Think about it.

 

I've been driving Maximas for 10 years (3rd & 5th generation), and I plan to get a 2k4 when my lease runs out. I assume '04 will be the second year of the 6th generation Maxima. But if it's any bigger than the current Maxima, I'll look elsewhere--perhaps an Acura TL-S or Lexus ES300. So, Nissan, if you want my business, don't grow the car into some large monster.

 

Don't plan on a new Maxima that's too much bigger. It'll only be slighly larger than the new Altima, which currently has one more cubic ft of interior space than the Maxima you're driving.

 

Ok...the info on that site is incorrect. There's a possibility that Maxima production may not start until January of 2003 (slated for fall of 2002) but, they will indeed be 2003 models. Sounds a bit strange to have such a late production date but, as I was reminded, the new Sentras were also released that late. The later production date was put in place in case those last few months of 2002 are needed for Altima allocation.