Let me preface by saying that I love my car, and the handling in general I find to be very good. However, the huge turning radius can be a real pain sometimes. I can no longer make u-turns that I used to easily make with my Explorer. I pretty much have to avoid u-turns in most cases unless I'm sure I'll have time to back up and give it an extra turn. How come it turns so widely though?

 

I know what you mean. It is truly the only complaint I have with the car.

I can no longer make the U-turn I usd to make in my 5th gen when I leave work. I now have to go around the block which adds 10 mins to my drive home in heavy traffic. I'd do anything to tighten this up. It's not like there's not enough room in those wheel wells, lol.

 

the turns are wide do to a big rim and tire package. can't go too far with it. altho I don't know how close it comes to the wall when turned fully to one side...

 

Even the 5.5gen turning radius is somewhat big. I find myself turning to the right before turning left to make the U-turn. I need to get some extra space sometimes. I don't let it's larger turning radius stop me from making u-turns where I want to make them, just be very careful when doing so.

 

Comming from a 2001 Stratus Coupe the Maxima's turn radius is fine with me.

 

like i said in one of my prev posts, it has the turning radius of a jumbo jet.

 

Jumbo eh. I guess my last car turned like a aircraft carrier.

It was such a b|tch pulling into parking spots.

 

damn, jumbo jet? its not that bad........

 

my previous car was a STS, so this is great. if you want a better turning circle, get a sentra...lol

 

This has been an unfortunate trait of the maxima since the 3rd gens. My 3rd gen was brutal, my 5th gen is worse. I can't really speak for the 4th gen, but I imagine it's not stellar.

 

Actually I think my 4th gen was ok.. I don't mind!! Funny thing, my dad has a Yukon denali and it has a better turning radius then my car.

 

Since the roads are covered in ice and show here, I just do a parking brake turn to swing the car around in the roadway. With due caution. Usually when there's nobody watching. Though I do have to admit to doing a lovely parking brake slide into my driveway at home each night for the general amusement of my neighbours.

 

4th gens are the smallest/lightest maximas ever made, and the only ones to be under 3000 pounds.

 

4th gen, best maxima ever.

 

I have to say that I was taken back the first time I parked the thing. Compaired to my 96' 4Runner the turning radius blows ****.

 

the g35 is not as bad, even huge mercedes dont have this problem.

my moms passat tdi does not have this problem either

 

I agree, the turning radius is not one of the 6th gens strong points. I know exactally what you mean. You figure with the large amout of front wheel gap and space in there, they could have worked it better. Sucks when you hit the end of the wheel and that is it. The car is not a big battle ship, but when you have to park it, sometimes feels like it.

 

Regardless...the thing turns like a Dodge Ram.

 

May even be worse than a Ram. My dad's 6th gen and my 5th are equally as bad. I think my full size Chev 4x4 may be a little better.

 

thank you sir. i appreciate the correction

Exterior (inches):
Wheelbase...Overall length....Overall width...Overall height
111.2............193.5..............71.7..............58.3

I know that some insurance co. determine a vehicle's rate according to wheel width. (mother works for one). Well the Max is wide enough for me to be denied coverage from one company making it a "High Performance Vehicle."

 

LoL, that's pretty funny because my dad's toyota sienna has better turning radius.

 

I just wanted to air out about our car's turning radius. Compared to my previous 4th gen, I really do notice the difference in the slow turns. Does anyone agree with me? Especially to those who owned a 4th gen. I don't know about the 5th gen, but I wouldn't be surprised if their turning radius > 6th gens.

 

It's inevitable that you'll have a terrible turning radius with FWD. The 6th gen wheelbase is a few inches longer than the previous generations, so it's bound to have a bigger radius (even though it's just a couple of feet).

And just for reference, from what Nissan says, 4th gen & 5th gen had the same turning diameter (35.40 feet).

 

I agree. But you get used to it, because you know that you can't make those tight turns.

 

5th Gens have the same problem. It's actually quite embarassing sometimes trying to turn into a parking spot and having to stop, back up and try again.

 

It's actually pretty disturbing when my next door neighbor whips the u-turn in front of her house with her 2005 explorer in one solid motion, while i have to make a k-turn out of it. -=/

As far as it being an FWD thing, I had a 97 cadillac eldorado before the max and the radius was great.

Don't get me wrong one bit though, my new max is still my baby -=p

05 SE AUTO, 18 inch chromes, no resonator, Berk intake in the mail.

 

I agree, the turning radius stinks in the Max. I have had other FWD cars and even test drove the latest generation Avalon, and it turns tighter than the Max, even though the wheelbase is slightly longer. I still have not gotten used to it, but its not enough to detract from the graeatness of the Max.

 

This only bothers me when parking. I also have a 4th gen that is still worse than market with regard to the turning radius, but my new 6th gen takes the cake. Good thing it only bothers me when trying to park.

For an extreme turning radius, check out Jeep's new project vehicle, the Hurricane. All four wheels turn OUT, which means it has a turning radius of zero.

 

Actually the Avalon is longer than the Max, but they're very close wheelbase-wise. The Avalon is 197.2 inches long with a wheelbase of 111", while the 6th gen is 193.5 inches long with a wheelbase of 111.20. But yeah it turns tighter.

 

THE HELL WITH THE AVALON.....MAXIMA BABY!

 

get some rims, so you look good when you have to do a 3 point turn or so..

 

Yeah. The turning radius is 40 feet. That's a little big, but not bad. If it makes you feel any better, the Altima, Acura TL, and 5th-Gen Maxima also have a 40 foot turning radius. The G35 Sedan 6MT is close at 38 feet. (Oddly, the G35 auto is slightly smaller.) However, the 4th-Gen was 34.8 feet. That is noticeably smaller. I had a '95 SE and agree that it turned tighter.

FYI, a Ferrari Enzo is 40.5 ft, a Lamborghini Murcielago is 41.2 ft, and a Porsche GT is 42.3 feet. What can I say, we all need to swing a little wider when parking it tight spots.

 

The upgraded factory chromes are just fine....in fact, i like them better than than the ones in that pic.

+
There waranteed for 3 years along with the tires and I keep the ride of the car.

 

I know EXACTLY how it feels. It has happened to me a few times. I'm now learning to drive this thing like a truck.

 

Good point. While I'm making my K-turn, I guess the viewer's focus can be on the rims..

 

what, my sig? are you nuts! the factory chrome don't look better than the ones on my pic..

 

My old F150 (92) had the same turning radius.... I am just happy that when I am driving on the roads doing lane changes and such, it still feels like a sport compact! This is when it matters... Now I back into EVERY parking stall as it seems easier then trying to nail it in one fluid motion. Then nobody knows it turns like a boat they just think you have more style in your parking skills.
Taylor

 

case closed.

btw
ooooh!

 

......

 

not knockin em, just not my style.