Inches away from buying my first Maxima, I have a new 2004 SL 4- speed for a 24 hour test drive and am experiencing 3500 RPMs at 70 mph. Is this typical?

 

I dont think so, I dont even hit 3000 at 80 mph..... Make sure you dont have the car in 3rd gear, since that gear is directly next to Drive when you shift from park, i did that accidentally during my test drive when i was getting on the freeway, wondering why the engine was straining so much... the drive indicator shows in the gauges... should show a D

 

I have a 5th gen so my comments may be worthless, but AFAIK that is unusual.

With my 4spd Auto, 70mph is below 3k rpms. (80mph is at 3k). So 70 at 3500 is on the high side.

 

According to CarTest, 3rd gear at 70 mph is right around 3500rpm. So it sounds like you had it in 3rd by accident. 4th @ 70 should be around 2400 rpm.

 

What kind of price have you been offered?

 

3rd gear, huh? Could very well be. I'll go check it out. I noticed that the gear shift was awkward. Thanks much.

In terms of price...SL with preferred driver's package, floor mats, doc fee of $100 (we split the baby on a $200 fee): I'll end up paying $28,600, $29,600 with VA tax and tags.

 

If i'm not mistaken, the doc fee is pure BS. You shouldn't have to pay any part of that.

 

Yup, it's BS. When I saw my friend about buying mine, he brought out the pricing sheet, and the "Dealer Processing Fee" of $295 was printed into the final price, I told him to go ahead and cross it out, and he did

 

Thanks to all...I confirmed that I was in 3rd gear. From my vantage point I was in drive, but clearly the dash indicator said 3. Kind of awkward shift positioning but I've already gotten used to it. It hummed at 2400 at 70!

I agree about the processing fee, but I had already extracted a 100,000 mile warranty and free mud guards from the dealer, so I'm okay with it.