Buy 2k5 or keep 2k2??
 

I'm really considering the 2k5. Test driven a couple of them and they are really nice. Initially I didn't care for them, but they have grown on me, and I really like the (as does the wife....so thats a plus). I just wanted to get some opinions on this move, since I have seen posts really liking the car, to several looking at Lemon laws and such. Here are some of my main concerns. Is the quality still the same now that it is made in the US? One pet peeve is rattles and squeaks. Are the 6th gens subject to paint chipping as easily as the 5th gens? Is the handling and ride that much better with the IRS? I have been hearing MPG is less, but that is not as big an issue as some of the other things, like the shimmy and strut issues. I guess I feel lucky, in that I'm in a win win situation, as if I hear that the 2k5s aren't really worth considering, I have a car I am happy with anyway. Thanks!

I'll leave it to the 6th gen guys to address the rattles, squeaks, paint chipping, shimmies and the like, but all I'd say is hold on to your 2k2 for another year. The 6.5 gen next year is 100% sure to be getting some hp boost, and most likely they will do something about the front grille. Either way you'll be out of some money when you trade your Max, you might as well get a 6.5 gen with even more goodies.

why not buy a leftover 2004? I have NO problems with my car. I have been reading posts about all of the problems, and I must say that I haven't experienced any of them. Except the one about 6 spd envy. That one I will say I have :sadwavey:

Haha, we all have this one. Why didn't you get a 6spd? I catch myself envying every darn old clunker out on the street that is stick.

I couldn't find one, and my dealer told me that I would have to wait 5 months for an ordered one. I wasn't looking to wait 5 months. I would've gotten it Oct 1st if not later if I did that! I am very envious, though.

Take the plunge!! I had an 01 and picked up an 04 just last Friday. Night and day, the 04 is a much more refined. If you loved your 02, you will adore your 05,

I owned a 2K2 for two years before i traded up for the 2K4. I have now had the 2K4 for 1 year, and i really miss the 2K2. :( I havent had any major problems with the 04 (didnt have any with the 02). Overall i like the look, ride, feel of the 04 and alot of people compliment on the ride. But I still think that the 02 was and is a better looking car, i like the fact that on the 02 the foglights arent integrated into the headlamps like on the 04. I also liked the projector style headlights on the 02. The gearing on the 04 is shorter so i find the need to shift sooner and the 02 felt a bit quicker. I find myself admiring any 02 or 03 i see on the road, and i have some regrets of trading up to the 04. I also think the build quality on the 04 is down, i have noticed a few minor details that bug the $hit out of me, but i wont say that the 04 is a bad car at all. I like it, i just miss the 02. It's kind of like when you have an ex girlfriend and you reminisce (sp?)about her, how she did things for you that your new girlfriend cant or wont :naughty:
You say you are happy with the 02 so maybe you can keep it or if you do get the 04 you wont be dissapointed it is still a Maxima. :thumbsup:

I traded an 03 SE (silver/black leather) for an 04 SE (silver/black leather) and never looked back. :thumbsup:

Bob

actually the 04 has projectors, not sure what the 02 are called, but 6th gen HIDs are far superior being hi and low.

i'd keep the 02 until I saw what the 25th Ann. 06 has to offer. the 5th gen owners upgrading to 6th seems to be increasing. just funny since so many hated the 04 at first.

paint still chips, MPG is more, and my SE suspension feels better than most lux. cars i've ridden in. all issues so far are easily fixed under warranty many more are like me w/o any problems. By 06 model, you should have no worries with more features but along with more price.

Maybe it's just me, but when buying my first new car I planned on keeping it no matter what (except for lemons of course). there is always going to be others to come out. unless you find the exact one you want, wait. If I find another car I really want, I'll wait until I can afford both cars.

I would keep the 2002 considering the jump to an 2005 is not really that great from what you have now. I was in the same boat a couple months ago and then I realized that I have the same engine, most of the same amenties and sportier looking Maxima than the new car. Plus when I brought my Maxima I recall saying the 2002 was much better than the 2000 and 2001 so the 2006 Maxima just might be that much better than the 2005 so just wait and see! What do you have to loose?....

Good feedback everyone. THANKS! Yeah, I am pretty sure I'm going to just keep the 2K2....in fact I just ordered new tires for it. Waiting for the anniversary edition, might not be a bad thing. I am just hoping the $$$ doesn't go up too much! Thanks again!

But an 02 and 01 are night and day moreso persay an 02 vs an 05, they changed the heart (3.5) and some other things for 02. If I had an 01 still I would much more be willing to part with it vs an 02 for an 05.

i really dont think the hp bump is going to mean anything.. i think they are just gonna say the real hp... i think the 04 max has more like 275 280 hp already. just like the g35 sedan, 03 and 04 had 260 now it has 277.. it always had 277 if u ask me..

mm7759 - The '04s and '05s are almost exactly the same. But we know the '06s will get the usual third year (of any Maxima generation) revamp. The front and rear will be retouched, and, in view of the performance of the new Altima SE-R, the HP of the Maxima will have to be taken at least to 280, if not higher.

There are several threads here discussing possible new goodies we expect on the '06. Keep in mind that we will know all the changes for '06 within nine or ten months. We will probably begin to get many details within six months.

Yes AND no. All that the 5.5 gen has is <<33 hp and about this much more torque plus HID headlights: all of this is achievable with 2-3 grand tops on any 00/01. Other than that, the interior changes are not all that significant. The big difference between the 5th and 5.5 gen is the 6MT IMO.

Compare this to the 6th gen: yes, the same heart :bowdown: and this is the heart my next car will have too. But the 6th gen has less torque steer, handles better, has independent rear suspension and HID projectors, both of which the 5.5 gen doesn't come with, much brighter gauge cluster lighting, manumatic mode with 5AT (an extra gear here too), dual zone automatic climate control, the Bose system has gone a long way, and the options list goes on. The 6th gen just went more into the luxury direction and one can't say that the 01 and 02 are "day and night" different and the 02 and 05 - not as much. It's more like the other way around.

So maybe we'll get a revamped front grill. That is one of the few things that I've really had to "force myself" to get used to. It has grown on me though. I'm not sure how much "revamping" will happen, but there are a couple of changes that I would reall welcome, along with the front grill. Wider truck opening, and maybe a slight center console redesign. Too many buttons. Again....these are pretty minor things, that I could easily overlook. I'll just keep my ears open for the "expected" changes for 06, then decide on a end of 05 deal, or wait for an 06.

I have an 02 and also like the looks of the 6th gen. I'm waiting for a few reasons:

1)the tooth
2)AWD (its coming, Ford already has it on their 500)

i still can't believe the complaints about the grille. yes it's love or hate, but everyone knew and now know that a/f grilles are available. this is the smallest factor in a car and easiest to modify. the trunk opening seems larger than most cars...
But I agree your best bet is wait until the 06 comes out and choose between the new specs or large savings for 05. you have plenty of time to wait your 02 is still an awesome car better than most still coming out.

Well you really can the 02 offered just alot of things as does the 05 a lot more key things than they did in 01 to move it upscale, actually 02 was the 1st year Nissan started moving it upscale 05 it is near complete. The 02 offered Nav, Memory seats,auto entry,in dash 6disc, better seats, gated shifter, HID's projector or not HID's,trip computer, heated steering wheel and few more things not offered on the 01 and the 05 upped it with afew more goodies. Less torque steer naw about the same without traction control, handling 6 gen is better on rough surfaces cornering actually the beam does quite well. Also you may be able to make up the horsepower but the torque is another story! The Maxima has always been a tweener car that sits above Cams and Accords and slightly below say an ES300 and probably always will be despite what Nisan does to it in upcoming years.