Hi Guys,

I'm still deciding which car to get. I had a 1989 Maxima GXE Silver on Black cloth, fully loaded that I had to get rid of 2 years ago. Now, I really miss it and need a replacement. Not to mention that I'm tired of driving my old '92 Toyota Previa Minivan around everywhere, even though it's great for work (hauling things and people). So, the contenders are a 1992 Maxima SE VE5 (~$1000), a 2003 Maxima SE 6spd (Silver on black cloth, no Bose, no Sunroof, no HLSD) (~$5500), and a 2004 Subaru WRX Premium Sedan (Black Pearl w/ 5spd, AWD, turbo 2.0L, Harness Bar, upgraded BOV, Sunroof, etc. for ~$9000). I am partial to the '03 SE but wish it had a sunroof and Bose. I'm not sure if those features came with a cloth interior since I don't like leather very much. But the WRX is a nice car and easy to upgrade, just a little small for me (6'2") and I don't like black as much as silver. Anyway, what do you guys think? Either way I could have my payment be less than $200, so it's doable. Thanks.

Mark

 

Ever thought about a fourth gen? You should be able to pick one up for not much more than the 92 you mentioned. I've never had a 3rd gen but I've had a fourth and a fifth gen and LOVE(D) them both. I guess all I'm saying is don't shy away from the fourth gens unless there is a specific reason you're not looking at them.

Stay with a Max though. You won't regret it.

 

Thanks for the input, but I just don't like the 4th gen styling. I want a newer car. The 3rd gen I mentioned is only if I can't get financing. Then it has to be a cash car. But I prefer the 02-03 SE Maximas for the power of the 3.5L engine and 6spd trans. I actually want a AWD Manual turbo ER34 Skyline Sedan, but since those aren't available here I have to get the next best thing! ;-)

 

If you don't know the previous owner of the Rex, I get it checked out thoroughly before considering.

 

I'd have to agree with this, I was doing the exact same comparison shopping and a lot of the Rex's I looked at were driven pretty hard and at higher mileage you run the risk of valve cover gaskets leaking, the turbo going out, timing belt replacement, and other small issues that plagued earlier the early years of the Rex. It's a fun car no doubt, but you get similar straight line performance with both he 5.5 gen and the '04 Rex from the factory.

 

Why not just keep shopping around for a nicer 5.5 gen with more options? There's plenty of them out there on the used car market.

And not really related, but basing your car purchase on what your monthly payment is going to be is the wrong way to go.

 

search around for a better 5.5 6speed... I didnt and ended up getting a automatic... i still love my car tho, i personally think that the 5.5 was the best looking maxima ever until the new new came out.. hence why i got it... and yea VQ>VG all day

 

you might be able to find a 5.5 gen with an LSD, but out of the 3 choices I think its rather easy...the 3.5L Maxima is what I would get. Wrx is OK, but small. Maxima is bigger (I can fit BOTH my congas in the trunk) and a total sleeper. If you buy WRX everyone going to be trying to race you....cant drive the thing in peace. But with Maxima people just have no clue whats under that hood and you can drive the thing in peace without every freaking Honda pulling up to you trying to race. You can also have lots of fun with it, especially if you plan on fully modding and tuning it. Total sleeper......

 

Not sure if it's different where you live but more people try to mess with me in my Maxima then when i used to have my Mustangs or DSM cars, It's kind of annoying sometimes until you punch it and take off and make them think twice about the next max they try to roll up on To the OP i would go with whatever you think best suits your driving style, Me id stick with the max because im so familiar with them now and enjoy owning a sleeper.

 

get the 5.5(6spd onry)

people still pull good times without HLSD- didn't Sparks throw a 12.6 with no LSD?

Options add weight- you save a few lbs that way >.>

Also, I love the "sleeperness" of the 5.5 6spd. It's a real nice looking car, without the "look at me" styling of other cars and 13's are a bolt on away.

 

5th gens aren't exactly "new" but out of the options you listed a 2002-2003 is a no brainer for me.

 

What's the mileage of the 5.5 and WRX you are mentioning in the OP?

 

If you feel the WRX is a bit too small just from a test drive, imagine how small it will get when you own it and drive it every day.

DW

 

The 5.5 gen I'm looking at is 101K miles, the WRX is only 47K miles, and there's another Max I just found with Sunroof, etc, but it's a 2001 5spd with an I30t motor in it with a turbo (113K miles on chassis and ~85k on engine), guy says around 300hp. Hmmm....

 

Keep looking I see them around. Go with the 5.5. WRX won't make it to 200k without major work. I got 234k on my 5.5

 

Well I just found the perfect car. It's a Silver on Black Cloth 2003 SE 6spd w/ HLSD, sunroof, Bose, and only 87K miles. The only couple issues are the dealership that has it is asking $7995 and it's about 1000 miles from me. My Dad and/or Brother live a couple hours from where it's at, so maybe they could help me look at it/ pick it up, but the car closer that's only $5500 w/ 101K miles seems like it may be a better deal even though it doesn't have the few features (HLSD, Bose, Sunroof) that I'm looking for.

Maybe I should buy the close one, sell it for a profit, then use that money to get the one I want that's farther away. Hmmm.....

But you guys are right, stay away from the WRX for now. My brother wants a car like that but I'll just have to help him get one in future after I take care of my own needs.

So, there is still that 2001 SE 5spd with the turbo. It's dark blue on black leather, which is my second favorite color although I would want to swap out the leather for cloth, but should I get a VQ30 w/ turbo already on it or get a stock 3.5 and do a turbo later if I want? Of course the issue later would be $$$. The blue turbo car is $6k.

 

I would be careful of a turbo or SC added onto an engine. It may have hurt reliability. For example, do you know how much it would cost to replace head gaskets on our timing chained DOHCed V6? It ain't pretty.

The way I see it you really only have 2 choices, your perfect car but you pay for it, or sacrifice Bose and Sunroof. You can't add them later (yeah I know of course you can but it would be very difficult, not worth the bother)

I just picked up my 4th gen in september and when I was shopping I had to have bose, sunroof and abs in a 5 speed. Basically a fully loaded 5 speed. Trust me when I say that fully loaded manual transmission cars are rare. They are. I'm sure the 5th gen is no exception.

DW

 

between the 2 ill say 5.5 and just buy the small things and install yourself . after all that you still spend less than the wrx

 

If you're not in too much of a hurry, I'd say wait and get a 5.5 gen that fits your liking. I'd def stay away from the turbo 01 5spd, a car modded that much probably wasnt driven to the grocery store and back, i bet the turbo saw a lot of use... stay with the 5.5 gen just keep looking. i know that cloth came with a sunroof but i dont know about bose but you should def replace the stereo, even if its a bose, theres a reason why a lot of people call it blose
oh and +1 on the max being a sleeper, it really is a 4DSC

 

this is a no brainer. id take a wrx over a maxima anyday.

 

Well, it looks like I'll have a couple more months to decide. The ol' FIL, who is the co-signer on my loan, wants to wait another couple months. Anyway, I'll probably at least get the '92 SE with VE5 and LSD. It does have Sunroof and dark cloth interior. It just needs an upgraded stereo and a dashmat to cover the cracks in the dash. I'll ask over in the 3rd gen forum, but do any of you know about getting replacement dashes for 3rd gens or any other car? Anyway, the car is only $700 and has a professionally installed lower mileage engine (~100K), so it should be reliable despite being 20 years old. I never really wanted to get rid of my old '89. At least this one is already an SE with the DOHC motor, 5spd LSD trans, rear disk brakes, plus all the SE suspension stuff and independent rear suspension... I'll keep you guys informed when I get it and you can come over to the 3rd gen forum to drool! ;-)

Of course, I'm still holding out for the perfect 5.5gen. IT WILL COME!

As for the WRX, it's a nice car. I finally test drove it, but the power to weight ration is not that great, and not better than a 5.5gen Max, I think. Of course, it already being turbo and AWD has definite advantages when modding it for more power and performance. But who does AutoX much anyways? Straight line performance and cruising speed are where the Maxima reigns supreme! After I build up my credit I'll help my Bro' finance a nice WRX. They're too small for me.