I got curious before the holiday weekend so I went down to the local Nissan dealership in my area and sat in the 2k2 Maxima and Altima.

The Maxima
As much as I love the Maxima, I just don't fit well enough in it to buy one. It's that damned "swept" center stack and console that gets in the way of my knee and kills all of my right leg's movement freedom. Paul6speed let me take his 2000 auto for a spin once when he still had it and it was fine just for that, but I do a lot of travelling and I'd probably get extremely cramped up after awhile in the Maxima. I just can't fit in the Max well enough to get one. And damn that 2k2 is SWEEET !!!

The Altima
Compared to the Maxima, damn this thing has a TON of front passenger space. With the separated center stack and console my right leg had plenty of room, more so than in my Accord even, and comfort would never ever be an issue, and the powertrain is awesome too, although I didn't drive one. It's too bad that I couldn't get past the cheapy interior. The whole center console/armrest was so flimsy that the whole thing shifted when I rested my arm on it, and it looked as though with a little effort I could actually rip the whole thing out. And some of the buttons on the dash seriously looked like they were from a $20 walkman design. The Maxima, and even the Accord interior is definitely much higher class, and a little luxury is important to me so no Altima for me either

So Nissan won't be getting any of my money in the near future. It's too bad too, because the 2002 Max is awesome, and you can even get Nav with it. Dammit.

Gen6 Maxima ???

So when is this thing coming out again? I've heard 2003, as in the next model year, but maybe they mean it will be released in 2003 as a MY2004 car?? I'm confused. Anyways, I'll be the first in line at the dealership to check one out when they come in. Hopefully Nissan won't screw it up too badly, LOL.

I definitely want some more power and class (IMO, Maxima is definitely a bit classier than the Accord V6), but I can't sacrifice driver comfort :-(

 

Its alright Steve.
I only get uncomfortable on long trips.
But then again its like that in every car...
Just keep your options open and good luck man

 

Sorry to hear that Steve. How tall are you?! I am 6'0 and I really do not have problems with the Max sitting comfortbly at all in it. I had a friend drive my car, he is 6'9 and he had my seat all the way back and didn't have any problems. The only issue he had was the roof, so he had to open my sunroof to get his head to fit better .

 

I guess people are all built a little different... I am 6'2" or so and have no problems.... oh well tho

 

Take out the driver seat and sit in the back seat.

 

Or learn to sit pimp style?

 

Hey wait a minute, though. Is it possible to have the seat tracks unbolted and then moved back an inch or two or however much you need it for people with extra long legs to fit? I think I've heard of places that do this sort of stuff...

 

Sorry to hear it Stevo

 

If your as big as you have led me to believe I suggest an Excursion.

 

I'm big, but not that big.

I have a football player build. The only pants/shorts/khaki's I can wear are Eddie Bauer Relaxed Fit, Long Rise and all of the clothes I wear are "Tall" sized which pretty much restricts me to EB clothing since they're the only ones that make a lot of it, LOL :-) My pants are 40x34 Relaxed,Long, but most people with a 40 waist line are "fat" and not tall so most places just make a 40x30. I'm not exactly fat, but rather just HUGE in general everywhere.

This is good with the ladies, and for not getting picked on, but it sucks when trying to fit into cars

I fit in a 2002 Camry, 2002 Altima, and 98-02 Accord. But I don't fit in a Gen4/5 Maxima, and not all that well in a 97-01 Camry. All of those cars have that damned swept stack/console design that kills me. The Acura TL, on the other hand I do actually fit into without much of a problem and that DOES have a swept stack/console design. I guess it's not swept enough to really cause a problem.



There are a lot of things where being big is cool, but fitting into cars sure as hell isnt' one of them. LOL :-)

 

I have that same problem dude! I am 6'4" 240. Bu the max fits me fine. I do have drive w/ my leg on the e-brake though. I wear a 38 but the 40x34(what i prefer) is so hard to find!

 

I'm surprised you fit into a TL, the main complaint I've heard about those cars is the lack of headroom. Doesn't matter to me, I'm 5'10", but I guess it's all in how you're built.

 

I am 6'3.5" and 350 and had no problem fitting into a 2002 Maxima GLE.

 

im sure its possible. pro basketball players have to fit into their SL 600s somehow. i say look into it then buy the max i may sound like im being tongue-and-cheek but im actually serious. if thats the only thing you dont like about the max you might as well see if its possible.

 

SteVTEC,

I hear ya. 6' @ 215 LBS, I find the maxima a bit tiring for the long roads than my accord. I always feel that there is more headroom in the accord.

I still cant believe the edmunds review placing Maxima at the top! for head/legroom !!!!

 

what about the G35...you can wait and check that one out in a while(march)

 

Well actually on second thought it's not ready legroom (length wise) that's the problem. It's the damned swept center stack and how it limits my side to side leg room that's the real culprit, so I don't even think getting the seat rebolted back a few inches would help. The proper fix would be ripping out part of the center-stack/console, or a steering wheel that tilts up more and/or telescopes to free up some knee room.

Now you're talkin

I definitely need some Crustang GT killing capability in my car, all while still having 4 doors and plenty of room.

 

I'm a shrimp compared to a lot of you guys posting, but I thought I'd share my Max's comfort. I'm 5'08" 195. I never did like power seats that when you changed the seat height only the bottom of the seat moved (as compared to the whole seat) but I'm getting used to it. About the only thing I really don't care for is the steering wheel seems just a tad bit too far away from me and is a little slippery. I feel like I have to move the seat forward too far, and bend my knees, so I can be close enough to the steering wheel. Oh well, I'm getting used to it and have taken it on a few 300-mile trips and haven't been too uncomfortable. BTW, the best car I have driven for LONG trips was my '97 Prelude. I could drive that thing forever and never get restless. My two cents.

Tony