I think that's what it was. Picked up the mag in a store the other day and was browsing through. They complained like mad about the torque steer as well and said all the tires did was spin in 1st and 2nd.

I know it's just mag racing, but so far this car is only trapping at 95-96 mph in the mags, which is off a good bit from the solid 97 mph that the 02-03 6spd's were trapping at in the 1 or 2 mags that tested them.

In going from the 99SE to the 00SE, Nissan added 32HP, 12TQ, but also 200lb of curb weight and larger/heavier 17" rims with much more inertial drag. The result was a slower car.

Now look at the 03SE to 04SE transition. Now we have a car that has only 10HP (rated) more, 9TQ (rated) more, but the same 200lb of added curb weight, and even larger 18" rims that probably add a ton more inertial drag.

It looks like Nissan has once again made the latest and greatest Maxima SLOWER than the model it replaced.


All I can say is

 

Yeah, but that car is friggin SWEET anyway
Besides, we all know that a good driver can do the 1/4 in about 14.5 at 97-98 mph anyway.

 

I don't know that it was HLSD as the car they show in the picks (Radiant Ember 6-speed w/ elite) doesn't come in HLSD. Don't know of any 04 with navi that have HLSD. Could be wrong, but that's my observation.

-Ed

 

Slower '04 keeps my '02 Value HIGHER!!!

g.r.

 

NOT

 

Slower '04 keeps my '02 Value HIGHER!!!

g.r.

 

That is the most absurd thing I have heard this year! (i.e. NOT!)

 

Give it a few minutes and Jake will be here to say something so absurd that you will forget all about what g.r. said

 

Hey - yo...that smarts guys!

I'm trying to stay positive over here....dang that 04 looks better every day.

Now gimme the Brembo Kit and it's sold!!!

 

I doubt the perfomance numbers for the 04 over the 03 will hurt the sales or the 2004 credability. The 2004 still has it's advantanges over the 03. I don't think people willing to buy the New Maxima would care about the slight difference in performance. This is coming from a 02 Maxima owner mind you

 

Given the "target market" for this car (40/50/60+) no, I don't think they would care.

But I'm 25.

Eh, I know they're just mag times. I know the ET's will get a lot better when people take the car to the track and practice with it, but the traps will not and that's what I'm disappointed about. The low traps (95-96 vs 97) mean there isn't enough extra power to handle the 200lb of extra curb weight and all of the extra inertial drag from the 18" vs 17" rims.


It's 1999 => 2000 all over again.


Maybe this means I should wait for the 2006? 2006 = 30th Anniversary Model.

 

I think you meant:
2006= 25th Anniversary Model
2011= 30th Anniversary Model

 

oops...you're right. My bad.

 

Jake wrote me a private message that asked if I had compared the Max to the G35 so I sent him the link below and explained that the car I want costs more than $5k less than a comparably equiped G35. Jake just likes to be contradictory.

]Max vs. G35 (with the options I would want...nothing more)

If Jake only desires a model without all the options then it is not my problem.

 

LOL

Classic 04 hater...


On a different note, I think it is time for me to hijack this thread. Who here, that owns a maxima (6th gen or otherwise) actually fits the target market?

I am 29, married, no kids... so I guess I don't.

 

I am 30, no kids...I don't fit the demographic either.

I am going from a 2001 BMW 330i to the 04 Max because I hate the way the 04 5-series looks and I can not stomach paying $20k more for a BMW.

 

I'm 24, about to get married, no kids. I think demographic targeting is stupid. Honda was saying they were targeting the Element to Gen Y people. I don't know a Gen X or Y that would be caught dead in one of those. I saw one in person the other day

 

28 Single and definitely no kids.

-Ed

 

oh, yeah, thread hijacking. i'm a lot closer to the demo, 33 with 2 kids. love the bucket seats in back. just need to get the dvd into the backseat.

 

Hmm, yeah that takes a lot to go from BMW to Maxima. I would never be able to do it. I like Maxima, but come on it doesn't compare to BMW.
Overall feel of the car, you just can't duplicate. BMWs just feel so natural and well put together.

But I agree BMWs cost so much it is crazy. Maxima definetly great value compared to BMW, but not the car.

 

I have to agree that BMWs are so solid. Everything about them feels so right when you drive them. I would have purchased the 330Ci if I could afford/justify the extra 10K.

I will say that I would take a Maxima over a 4 door 3 series (ie 330i) I am only 6' tall, but I have broad shoulders and my shoulder hits the pillar between the doors. Not comfy.

 

You know, I've been grappling with that question myself ever since a test drive in a 330Ci and today I have come up with an two ways to justify the cost:
1. You get in on a SICK lease deal (they have these from time to time)
2. You purchase, get a decent deal, low APR, big downpayment (all that equals more manageable payments). In 5 years with 65k miles on it the car will sell for $22 and the Maxima (same year, same miles) will sell for $12k if you're lucky. There's your $10k.

 

R&T always has the slowest times for any car listed. motor trend has the best mag racers.

 

That is a good point. A lot of people on this board have posted that they don't care about the resale value, which isn't very bright in my opinion. I tested your theory. A 98 328i with the most common equipment fetches $18,950 retail from KBB, where a 98 GLE Maxima gets $13,800. So you aren't going to get the entire $10K back, but you will get about half back.

That being said, I think you will be more likely to get closer to the retail value with the 328 than you will with the Maxima.

 

If they're saying the tires kept spinning in 1st and 2nd gears,....

what does that tell you guys???

Tires = crap (as usual) .. and it pulls a slower time..

Slap some Nitto's on that badass and you'll be in the low 14's for sure after 5000 miles of a break-in.

 

Yeah, so they can put on some skirts, tint the 18" rims gold, offer perforated leather and perhaps red paint? Well, it might be worth the wait IF and only IF they simply make HLSD and the rear wing standard on the 6 speed SE. Try optioning in on those now and you get slammed with leather, BOSE and a whole bunch of other stuff.

DW

 

HLSD is definitely worth getting. I'm so happy that I have one with it. Can't imagine how it would be without it now. I do agree that they shouldn't make you get so much stuff just to get it though. I hope that changes so those who don't want all the extras can get what they want.

-Ed

 

I don't, but am getting close:

37 and 1 kid and a 3rd gen SE..

Love the looks. Planning to get the wife one soon..