Maxima - CNNMoney 2004's most disappointing ride
Maxima - CNNMoney 2004's most disappointing ride
CNN's Money magazine has voted the 2004 Maxima one of three "2004's most disappointing rides." The other two of three were the Saturn Ion (Maixima's 2004 cousin) and the Porsche Cayenne.
The below excerpt from the article states about the 2004 Maxima:
2004's most disappointing rides
Unfortunately, these three vehicles fail to live up their hype.
November 18, 2003: 6:58 AM EST
By Lawrence Ulrich, Money Magazine
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - This year, three cars in particular stood out for failing to live up to all the hype.
Nissan's hot streak of winning models includes a $30,000-plus luxury sports sedan that looks great, performs better and has won too many awards to count. Alas, that car is the Infiniti G35.
The latest Maxima also easily tops $30,000, even though it shares a chassis, engine and suspicious number of parts with its Altima sibling -- a perfectly fine sedan that costs a good $5,000 less.
Despite the upscale price, the Maxima couldn't carry the Infiniti's tie rod. It's by no stretch a luxury car, performance is unrefined, it carries a year-shorter warranty, and you'll seek service at the Nissan store instead of a pampering Infiniti dealer.
Sorry, but there's no room on Nissan Island, and it's clear which model can't pull its weight. The Maxima finds itself surrounded and set adrift by its own tribe. Can it float for long?
Saturn Ion
It took Saturn more than a decade to deliver a replacement for its original import-fighting compact. The resulting Ion ($11,975 to $17,450) is such a letdown that GM is already back at the drawing board. The name may describe a tiny particle, but the gulf between the Ion and the best small cars is as wide as the galaxy.
Porsche Cayenne
In its defense, Porsche's controversial first SUV objectively outperforms any SUV, including the BMW X5. But why Porsche decided to make the Cayenne an off-roader besides is an act of sheer hubris.
By skipping the mountain-man skills that few owners will experience, Porsche could have chopped half a ton off the Cayenne's elephantine weight and perhaps $15,000 from the Turbo model's $90,000 price, and ended up the SUV king of the (paved) road.
Okay, it still would have been homely, but that's a whole other story.
Okay, So I flipped the picture of the Saturn Ion......but.....ahhhhh.....well.....it would load to the page right. Okay! Yeah, that's my line and I'm sticking to it.
The below excerpt from the article states about the 2004 Maxima:
2004's most disappointing rides
Unfortunately, these three vehicles fail to live up their hype.
November 18, 2003: 6:58 AM EST
By Lawrence Ulrich, Money Magazine
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - This year, three cars in particular stood out for failing to live up to all the hype.
Nissan's hot streak of winning models includes a $30,000-plus luxury sports sedan that looks great, performs better and has won too many awards to count. Alas, that car is the Infiniti G35.
The latest Maxima also easily tops $30,000, even though it shares a chassis, engine and suspicious number of parts with its Altima sibling -- a perfectly fine sedan that costs a good $5,000 less.
Despite the upscale price, the Maxima couldn't carry the Infiniti's tie rod. It's by no stretch a luxury car, performance is unrefined, it carries a year-shorter warranty, and you'll seek service at the Nissan store instead of a pampering Infiniti dealer.
Sorry, but there's no room on Nissan Island, and it's clear which model can't pull its weight. The Maxima finds itself surrounded and set adrift by its own tribe. Can it float for long?
Saturn Ion
It took Saturn more than a decade to deliver a replacement for its original import-fighting compact. The resulting Ion ($11,975 to $17,450) is such a letdown that GM is already back at the drawing board. The name may describe a tiny particle, but the gulf between the Ion and the best small cars is as wide as the galaxy.
Porsche Cayenne
In its defense, Porsche's controversial first SUV objectively outperforms any SUV, including the BMW X5. But why Porsche decided to make the Cayenne an off-roader besides is an act of sheer hubris.
By skipping the mountain-man skills that few owners will experience, Porsche could have chopped half a ton off the Cayenne's elephantine weight and perhaps $15,000 from the Turbo model's $90,000 price, and ended up the SUV king of the (paved) road.
Okay, it still would have been homely, but that's a whole other story.
Okay, So I flipped the picture of the Saturn Ion......but.....ahhhhh.....well.....it would load to the page right. Okay! Yeah, that's my line and I'm sticking to it.
Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 41
Originally Posted by Brockster
CNN's Money magazine has voted the 2004 Maxima one of three "2004's most disappointing rides." The other two of three were the Saturn Ion (Maixima's 2004 cousin) and the Porsche Cayenne.
The below excerpt from the article states about the 2004 Maxima:
2004's most disappointing rides
Unfortunately, these three vehicles fail to live up their hype.
November 18, 2003: 6:58 AM EST
By Lawrence Ulrich, Money Magazine
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - This year, three cars in particular stood out for failing to live up to all the hype.
Nissan's hot streak of winning models includes a $30,000-plus luxury sports sedan that looks great, performs better and has won too many awards to count. Alas, that car is the Infiniti G35.
The latest Maxima also easily tops $30,000, even though it shares a chassis, engine and suspicious number of parts with its Altima sibling -- a perfectly fine sedan that costs a good $5,000 less.
Despite the upscale price, the Maxima couldn't carry the Infiniti's tie rod. It's by no stretch a luxury car, performance is unrefined, it carries a year-shorter warranty, and you'll seek service at the Nissan store instead of a pampering Infiniti dealer.
Sorry, but there's no room on Nissan Island, and it's clear which model can't pull its weight. The Maxima finds itself surrounded and set adrift by its own tribe. Can it float for long?
Saturn Ion
It took Saturn more than a decade to deliver a replacement for its original import-fighting compact. The resulting Ion ($11,975 to $17,450) is such a letdown that GM is already back at the drawing board. The name may describe a tiny particle, but the gulf between the Ion and the best small cars is as wide as the galaxy.
Porsche Cayenne
In its defense, Porsche's controversial first SUV objectively outperforms any SUV, including the BMW X5. But why Porsche decided to make the Cayenne an off-roader besides is an act of sheer hubris.
By skipping the mountain-man skills that few owners will experience, Porsche could have chopped half a ton off the Cayenne's elephantine weight and perhaps $15,000 from the Turbo model's $90,000 price, and ended up the SUV king of the (paved) road.
Okay, it still would have been homely, but that's a whole other story.
Okay, So I flipped the picture of the Saturn Ion......but.....ahhhhh.....well.....it would load to the page right. Okay! Yeah, that's my line and I'm sticking to it.
The below excerpt from the article states about the 2004 Maxima:
2004's most disappointing rides
Unfortunately, these three vehicles fail to live up their hype.
November 18, 2003: 6:58 AM EST
By Lawrence Ulrich, Money Magazine
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - This year, three cars in particular stood out for failing to live up to all the hype.
Nissan's hot streak of winning models includes a $30,000-plus luxury sports sedan that looks great, performs better and has won too many awards to count. Alas, that car is the Infiniti G35.
The latest Maxima also easily tops $30,000, even though it shares a chassis, engine and suspicious number of parts with its Altima sibling -- a perfectly fine sedan that costs a good $5,000 less.
Despite the upscale price, the Maxima couldn't carry the Infiniti's tie rod. It's by no stretch a luxury car, performance is unrefined, it carries a year-shorter warranty, and you'll seek service at the Nissan store instead of a pampering Infiniti dealer.
Sorry, but there's no room on Nissan Island, and it's clear which model can't pull its weight. The Maxima finds itself surrounded and set adrift by its own tribe. Can it float for long?
Saturn Ion
It took Saturn more than a decade to deliver a replacement for its original import-fighting compact. The resulting Ion ($11,975 to $17,450) is such a letdown that GM is already back at the drawing board. The name may describe a tiny particle, but the gulf between the Ion and the best small cars is as wide as the galaxy.
Porsche Cayenne
In its defense, Porsche's controversial first SUV objectively outperforms any SUV, including the BMW X5. But why Porsche decided to make the Cayenne an off-roader besides is an act of sheer hubris.
By skipping the mountain-man skills that few owners will experience, Porsche could have chopped half a ton off the Cayenne's elephantine weight and perhaps $15,000 from the Turbo model's $90,000 price, and ended up the SUV king of the (paved) road.
Okay, it still would have been homely, but that's a whole other story.
Okay, So I flipped the picture of the Saturn Ion......but.....ahhhhh.....well.....it would load to the page right. Okay! Yeah, that's my line and I'm sticking to it.
Do not believe everything you read....
Dyno plot says I have the most area under the Administrator curve
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,064
....
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 92
Originally Posted by Brockster
CNN's Money magazine has voted the 2004 Maxima one of three "2004's most disappointing rides." The other two of three were the Saturn Ion (Maixima's 2004 cousin) and the Porsche Cayenne.
All these articles are slanted to achieve the desired effect of the writer. Looking at the three images you would think these three cars only come in silver. Is that an attempt to associate silver with a negative review?
ps. is it true CNN is sometimes referred to as the Communist News Network?
Dyno plot says I have the most area under the Administrator curve
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 7,064
Clinton News Network back in that era 
Anyways,
.
I don't need some idiot automotive columnist to tell me what I should think about a car because I'm perfectly capable of making and forming my own opinion for my own reasons.
Anyways,
.I don't need some idiot automotive columnist to tell me what I should think about a car because I'm perfectly capable of making and forming my own opinion for my own reasons.
Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 41
Originally Posted by SteVTEC
Clinton News Network back in that era
Anyways,.
I don't need some idiot automotive columnist to tell me what I should think about a car because I'm perfectly capable of making and forming my own opinion for my own reasons.
Anyways,
.I don't need some idiot automotive columnist to tell me what I should think about a car because I'm perfectly capable of making and forming my own opinion for my own reasons.
3.5 SE 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
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Edmunds.com Review
Summary
What Edmunds.com Says
Although it's now more upscale than ever before, the Maxima remains one of the best combinations of performance, luxury and value in the midsize sedan segment.
Pros
Roomy interior, lots of upscale options, sweet V6, available with a manual transmission.
Cons
Some small, oddly arranged controls.
What's New for 2004
The Maxima has been fully redesigned for 2004. It now rides on the same underpinnings as the well-received Nissan Altima. This year's Maxima is longer, wider and more powerful than the previous version.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,282
Originally Posted by KDLMax
If you take a look at the Communist News Network's ratings you will see that CNN is very close to becoming extinct. Gee I wonder why?
The fact that Brockster thinks that the Ion and Max are similar shows us his inability to decipher fact from fiction.
I love how the guy in the article blows past the upgraded interior, styling, and suspension and basically says that it is the same car as the Altima for 5K more...
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 28
What a load of shat. My 2k1 is in the repair shop b/c of a girl that "didn't see the red light or me" and I have a 2k4 rental. Nice car, plenty of power, and I'm driving it like I stole it. So far I really like some of the features (skyview excluded), I might trade in the 2k1.......
Originally Posted by gmc74
Yeah, the Commi News Network is about as reliable as that moron from Toronto...
The fact that Brockster thinks that the Ion and Max are similar shows us his inability to decipher fact from fiction.
I love how the guy in the article blows past the upgraded interior, styling, and suspension and basically says that it is the same car as the Altima for 5K more...
The fact that Brockster thinks that the Ion and Max are similar shows us his inability to decipher fact from fiction.
I love how the guy in the article blows past the upgraded interior, styling, and suspension and basically says that it is the same car as the Altima for 5K more...
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25
What a bunch of bull...
We absolutely love our '04 Maxima - it's great looking, spoil-you-rotten comfortable, and goes like stink in a windstorm (it's our second one, too!).
AND our youngest son and his cutie-pie wife have a brand new Saturn ION - and it's a GREAT CAR for them (goes forever on a teacup of gasoline, provides good protection for our one-and-only grandbaby, and mucho inexpensive maintenance), heck, it even has decent accelleration!
CNN's "reviewer" is full of it
We absolutely love our '04 Maxima - it's great looking, spoil-you-rotten comfortable, and goes like stink in a windstorm (it's our second one, too!).
AND our youngest son and his cutie-pie wife have a brand new Saturn ION - and it's a GREAT CAR for them (goes forever on a teacup of gasoline, provides good protection for our one-and-only grandbaby, and mucho inexpensive maintenance), heck, it even has decent accelleration!
CNN's "reviewer" is full of it
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,282
The thing that these guys don't ever mention are the nice creature comforts like the power telescoping wheel, the way the seat and wheel move when you remove the key, and other assorted goodies.
When I buy a car, I buy one that has a high comfort factor, and I know a lot of others do as well
When I buy a car, I buy one that has a high comfort factor, and I know a lot of others do as well
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5
Ulrich's article was inaccuarate and way off base. I sent a reply to CNNmoney (for what good it would do..)
Here was my response....
Lawrence Ulrich's article on the most "Disappointing Rides" is "Disappointingly Inaccurate". He apparently did not check the Nissan price lists before making his ridiculous claim that a Maxima costs $5,000 more than an equivalent Altima. If he would have bothered to check the real pricing he would have found that the price difference is $1,500-$2,000 and that is not counting the extra features such as dual climate control and upgraded interior which are standard on the Maxima.
In addition the average Maxima ships off the lot for less than $30k with discounts.
So much for the credibility in the article....
Here was my response....
Lawrence Ulrich's article on the most "Disappointing Rides" is "Disappointingly Inaccurate". He apparently did not check the Nissan price lists before making his ridiculous claim that a Maxima costs $5,000 more than an equivalent Altima. If he would have bothered to check the real pricing he would have found that the price difference is $1,500-$2,000 and that is not counting the extra features such as dual climate control and upgraded interior which are standard on the Maxima.
In addition the average Maxima ships off the lot for less than $30k with discounts.
So much for the credibility in the article....
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 125
Originally Posted by fishergmn
Ulrich's article was inaccuarate and way off base. I sent a reply to CNNmoney (for what good it would do..)
Here was my response....
Lawrence Ulrich's article on the most "Disappointing Rides" is "Disappointingly Inaccurate". He apparently did not check the Nissan price lists before making his ridiculous claim that an Altima costs $5,000 more than an equivalent Maxima. If he would have bothered to check the real pricing he would have found that the price difference is $1,500-$2,000 and that is not counting the extra features such as dual climate control and upgraded interior which are standard on the Maxima.
In addition the average Maxima ships off the lot for less than $30k with discounts.
So much for the credibility in the article....
Here was my response....
Lawrence Ulrich's article on the most "Disappointing Rides" is "Disappointingly Inaccurate". He apparently did not check the Nissan price lists before making his ridiculous claim that an Altima costs $5,000 more than an equivalent Maxima. If he would have bothered to check the real pricing he would have found that the price difference is $1,500-$2,000 and that is not counting the extra features such as dual climate control and upgraded interior which are standard on the Maxima.
In addition the average Maxima ships off the lot for less than $30k with discounts.
So much for the credibility in the article....
Jaeger
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,720
The writer probably couldnt appreciate some of the 2k4's more positive attributes (18" wheels, 265hp/255lb-ft, comfortable yet supportive seats).
However, I just cant look at that body style without being repulsed. Oh well! One year down, three to go for the 6G.
However, I just cant look at that body style without being repulsed. Oh well! One year down, three to go for the 6G.
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