Nickjx A member at altima.org

My Altima and Maxima theory

I was giving some thought to the possible fate of the Maxima and came up with this theory. Right know and for the last several years the Maxima was the top of the line at Nissan after the retirment of the 300zx, but now there is an interesting problem which I think Nissan North America has allready figured out. With the reintroduction of the Z series 350z there is no place for the Maxima why? because the Altima is such a versitale car. The range between the 2.5s and the fully loaded 3.5se is as much as $12,000 bucks. I have seen 2.5s Alty's going for 16,900 and I recently saw a 3.5se loaded go for over 29.000. A loaded 3.5 is as much or more car for the money as a loaded Maxima se. You allmost have to consider the 2.5 and the 3.5 two different cars like compairing the '01 Altima to the '01 Maxima. Lets face it the Maxima is not a true sports car (no offense I had a '90 Maxima) and the 3.5 is capable of taking it's place. Car manufactures don't have emotional feelings to the product, just the bottom line. So I think the new line up for the Nissan car divison will be The Sentra, Altima(2.5 and 3.5) and the 350z. The only hope the Maxima has is if Nissan changes it to a slightly cheaper version of the Infiniti G35.


WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

 

I don't think he knows anything about what Nissan intends to do.

What part are you upset about? That Nissan cares more about the Altima? they do.

That the Maxima isnt a real sports car? It's not.

He bought an Altima.. obviously he saw the value there. But anyone who truly likes the Maxima won't think that Altima can replace it without an interior upgrade.

I pity anyone who buys a 29K Altima. Face it, any car with that much room between the base price and the fully loaded price is going to be a resale nightmare. But then again, Nissan doesnt worry about that kind of stuff.

 

The Maxima model name has too much 'heritage' for Nissan to just dump it and have it replaced by the more inferior Altima. Same goes for the Z-car. There is noway they can't just totally abandon the name; sure they can discontinue making the Z-car, but they have to revive it sometime in the future. Nissan lost ground in the 'Camry-Accord' battle so the best thing to do with the Altima is upgrade to a more potent engine and restyle the body, and place the Altima where the Maxima was at.

Unless we all work @ Nissan NA, no one knows the Maxima's fate. Either the Maxima is pushed futher up to another class or is discontinued completely.

 

Don't fail to forget that Nissan has more cars in their line-up in Japan alone than here in the US and it's been a while since i last heard of them dropping a model.

If it does get dropped here in the US, it's still going to be selling in other parts of the world.

To an extent that guy is correct that the Maxima will no longer have a place in the current market segment - where the Altima takes over. Why? Because that was Nissan's plan all along. To "up" the Altima to take over the Maxima's place (and thus be a direct competitor to the Cam-Cords).

The Maxima, in return, gets bumped up one more class to compete with the Avalon's of today.

 

His opinion seems to be more far-fetched than others. I don't agree that the Maxima's only life is to become a cheaper version of the G35. Far more likely is for it to become a lower-scale Q-series vehicle giving the Nissan line a full-sized sedan. Making the Maxima a G35 clone makes the mid-sized sedan market even MORE confusing for Nissan.

 

Maxie, I test drove both the Altima 3.5 SE and the Maxima SE on three different occasions...in each case, the Maxima won hands down. Heck, my Vette rides smoother (even with the Z51 suspension) and handles so much better than the Altima. I kept hearing the road in the Altima and lots of wind noise. When I drove the Maxima SE it seemed to ride much better and the noise level went dramatically. Like they say, you get what you pay for...and yes the Maxima is a bit more expensive...but that's the difference.
Oh, and this Maxima is my first import in owning over 30 American made cars in the past 32 years I've been driving.

 

Nissan is pushing the Alti hard but the Maxima has been around a lot longer. The Maxima is still a very good seller so it cannot just be dumped. When Ford dropped the Thunderbird it was mainly because sales were so low and the car had lost its appeal.

 

first of all..i think whoever said this is an idiot with too much time in his hands trying to pretend he's the head of Nissan. second, i don't think he's aware of the fact that Nissan may 'upgrade' Maxima with bigger body and bigger engine(there's been a rumor that a de-tuned version of the new Q45 motor may be used in next Maxima). and third, i think the Altima owners are getting too cocky these days...they just don't remember that even the motor used in their 'proud' 3.5SE are 'borrowed' from Maxima. and now that they get a V6 motor, they think they rule...
it is true that Altima has very diverse line-up than the Maxima. Altima offers more engine and trim choices than Maxima, which has nothing to do with which car is better. just because there are more choices, that doesn't mean the choices given are always better.

oh..btw...the cheap version of G35? that'd be the Altima not Maxima...

 

I read, and then also talked to my service advisor from Nissan, and from what i can gather, they want the Maxima to be in the class of the Avalon, LS430, and such. The new Maxima will have a de-tuned Q45 engine. Personally, the move by Nissan is a bit gutsy IMHO! I like it.

 

Preach On Brutha! Amen! Can i get a whoa MAXIMA...?

 

Is somebody mad cause they couldnt afford or lease or purchase a Maxima? Awwww is that why your trying to put us down. Well I gots new for you ITS NOT WORKING!!!!!

 

 

I think they planned to raise MAxima to the next tier. They are testing a larger engine in maxima and considering it if it could evolve into a bigger sedan. I think just having Maxima as a top of line sedan is not enough to compete with other manufacturer,...esp domestic sedans.

Just like Acura makes Legend into RL......

 

ive loved the maxima for years but i wouldnt buy another maxima if it got bigger than it already is. i love the idea of the q45 motor in it, but if the car is as big as the ls400? no way! then even more people are going to say that the maxima is a granny-mobile and id have to concur (although right now i disagree, hehe).

if the maxima gets bigger i'll have to go and get that m3/m5 ive been having wet dreams about.

 

Personally I dont even think they will change the engine look how long it took them to change the engine from a 3.0 to a 3.5 and what you think they gonna keep changing it every year now? Expect more horsies but a new engine i think thats a no no.

 

Thats my point ! Ive been a die hard V8 Muscle guy since I was 16 ! I test drove both cars.. and I LOVED the Maxx. It gave me the power on the launch, I liked. It gave me the luxury that I was looking for. The decency of a classy Sedan. The price was awesome too ! I must admit, I am not an import lover. I still subscribe to Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords. My Maxx is GREAT. I also test drove the Altima. The interior was CHEAP, the Leather was CHEAP... all around a " CHEAPER" Nissan Product. If you want to RAG on the Maxx, that is stupid altima boy ! Hope I meet you on the street one day....

 

Lexus has the ES300 and the GS300/430. While the new ES is bigger and less expensive than the GS the GS still appeals to a diffrent group of people. I know the ES is a front drive and the GS is rear drive, but the ES offers more refined equipment and cost thousands less than the GS. So even if Nissan keeps the Max the same size they could just switch it to a rear driver with a standard V6 with the option of a detuned Q V8. With the next redesign the I35 will be gone since Infiniti will have rear drive cars only, so Nissan wont have to worry about stepping on the heals of that car.

 

Someone posted a link over at Altima.net to this thread, so I followed. I have a loaded 3.5 and the thing does have some serious quality issues inside and out. I was blinded by the looks and never even drove the max, which was probably a mistake. I could have gotten the max with better finance and for about the same price. If I were able to do over, never another Nissan. I have never seen such poor service depts. as I have with Nissan. There are so many Idiots repairing Nissans, it's very disturbing. I will post some stories when I get some time. The VQ is one hell of an engine and that is the Alti's saving grace along with it's room inside. Good luck with repairs guys, fortunately, you should not have too many.

 

TRUE!

 

SUCKER!!