I took the Max on its longest trip thus far, 1800 miles total down highway 85 & 65. It was a joy to drive, it rode so smooth and had plenty of passing power on the highway. I actually averaged 29.2 mpg on the trip and I was using between 87-93 octane. This car was awesome!! Even with its flaws I still love it!!!!!

 

Driving the mile, driving the mile, driving the mile...

Great gas mileage though and yes that is a pretty long haul.

 

Chernmax have you sold the stock wheels yet?

 

A guy in Richmond just PM me about them, however I have no firm deal yet, PM me for details if you like...

 

Long Haul?

My new Max went around the country and stopped at all the sights. Except for Yellowstone which I will be going to this March! Here's the thread. I figure total Mileage had to be somewhere around 5500 miles total.

My Max performed perfectly! Except for the inferior Halogens (I don't have HID)

Glad you enjoyed your road trip! I know I love traveling in mine!

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=391173

 

I really liked the looks I got from fellow commuters, they gave me the "head nod" for "nice ride". I actually got some nice commenst from people at the rest areas I stopped at. Even some guys in the older generation maximums were giving props, and my car is stock.

 

Majestic Blue

 

I just came back from Florida a couple of weeks ago and put over 4000 mile3s on the car. I drive down there every 3 months. I am going back down in Aug. for 3 weeks. Your manual states only use 93 . I always use 93 octane. I love to drive my car. Later Warren

 

Big Mike,

Nice trip! You came within four miles of my house. We make the journey to Mobile (via the same 85/65) rather frequently.

You mentioned using 'between 87 and 93 octane'. I hope you weren't switching octanes. It takes the onboard computer on the 6th gen between two and three tanks to completely adjust the engine setup for maximum performance when the octane changes. The word from Nissan about two years ago was that it was important to not be changing the octane in this Maxima.

After much board discussion at that time, we decided it would be fine to switch twice a year between hot and cold seasons, knowing the engine would not be at its best for a tank or two after switching. But, despite outwardly seeming fine, this Maxima performs best when kept on the same octane.

Like you, I thoroughly enjoy driving the 6th gen on lightly traveled open roads (such as I-65 between Montgomery and Mobile). If you got by Atlanta without spending hours at a standstill on a freeway closed by a major traffic accident, you truly beat the odds.

Heres to many more happy trips in your Maxima!

 

Lightonthehill,

Thanks for the info in regards to switching octane, I usually use 91-93 but when the price goes up I use 87-89 and I can tell the difference. I am from Greenville, Alabama, just South of Montgomery. I am going back in a couple of weeks, I took my daughters to my mother's house for a Summer break. I will stick to the higher octane levels for optimum performance. The weird thing is that I used different octane levels but still averaged 29.2 mpg. Happy motoring!!

Mike

 

The Max is excellent on road trips. I made a recent trip from Omaha to Colorado Springs and I got about 29 mpg going up, and 31 mpg coming back running 89 octane and going 85 mph. I imagine I got better gas mileage coming back because the trip was more downhill due to coming out of the mountains. Nonetheless, I was really impressed.

 

Big Mike,

We always stop at Bates Turkey in Greenville. Wonderful food! And a very pleasant restaurant. When they are closed, the service station next door has a little food section where they also sell very good turkey sandwiches.

We looked at properties in Davenport and in Highland Home (both near Greenville) last fall, and considered retiring down there.

I'm not surprised your gas mileage did not vary greatly between octanes. I have always felt the major difference would be the higher octane might keep the engine slightly cleaner, and might give the car just a tad more pep in acceleration. Plus, if the car has feelings, it would feel more loved with high octane.

Sometimes folks compromise and use the middle grade all the time, and that is perfectly fine. But the key is to find an octane and stay with it. Best for the engine.

 

I went on a 5,200 mile trip this summer with my 4th gen and averaged around 23 mpg...I was impressed for a 99 with 133,000---gotta love the max

 

Lightonthehill,

I was born and raised in Greenville, lovely place with some good people. The food is excellent at the restaurants too!!! I have a couple of years left in the military and then i retire, I am thinking about buying some land in Greenville to buid a Summer home or future retirement site. The place doesn't change to much and there is a lot of good fishing places there, I love it!!!

Mike

 

BigMike - I hope you didn't see the pics on CNN showing the buildings destroyed in Greenville by Dennis.

Land in that area is still very reasonably priced. The nearest Maxima dealer is probably 45 miles away in Montgomery. I always want to live fairly near a Nissan dealer.

I 65 between Montgomery and Mobile is a road built for the Maxima. At least as soon as the hundreds of downed trees are removed from the roadway. Ivan crossed I 65 in that same area, downing thousands of trees.

Friendly advice; if you ever plan to live there (or in any hot climate), consider lighter colored Maximas. The lighter color really helps with the heat. I realize many don't like rain shields over the windows on the Maxima, but they are very useful when the car will be parked in the blazing sun for hours. The windows can be cracked a full two inches with no rain getting in. Practical.

 

just completed a 1200 mile round trip to tennessee, only got 24 m.p.g. on my 05 se. hopefully mileage will improve with time.

 

with 93 octane gas, I get 27~29 mpg on highway and 16~17 mpg city.
I'm very happy with highway mpg numbers, and city mpg numbers are
bit lower than advertised 20 mpg, but I can't complaint b/c of the power
that VQ makes.

 

Lightonthehill- I didn't know that Dennis destroyed a building there, I talked to my mother and brothers and their houses were intact, no damage. Last year's hurricane damaged my mother's neighbors house. As for highway driving I agree the roads were made for some spirited driving. When I am home I go to Montgomery alot so I get a chance to push the max a little, just a little.
The climate is quite hot in Alabama, I have lived away from home for almost 19 years and I have a hard time with the heat when I'm home visiting. The majestic blue does retain alot of heat, especially those leather seats.

 

VTmax- Your city driving MPG seems really low, I get about 23 mpg even when I use 87 octane, I can get a little better than 24 on 91-93. I guess I am lucky!!

 

i'm about 1/2 through my 2nd tank of gas and with no god road trips on the max yet,... with about 50/50 city and highway on her the trip says only 20.1. The usual trip is about 30 miles highway and 20 miles city as a round trip -- just about 7 days a week.

Both tanks have been 93 oct.

Is this a bad ?

 

that's b/c i have a little bit of a lead foot around the local roads, my right foot just loves to pound on the gas. I really enjoy torquey VQ from 1st gear
to the second...then i am little easy after that..my best city mpg was
only like 20 mpg, i just can't resist.

 

No, it's not bad. Get used to the car and drive smart in city, the next light is probably red.

 

please stop playing the hi-low octane game. whaen you knock sensor and /or anything else goes due to over loading trying to reduce your ping, retarding & advancing your timing... you will lose way more than the pennies you saved switching around.

pick one and stick with it please.
I figure I enjoy driving and pay more for BP Ultimate than what I can get at work for $.20 less than everywhere else.
yeah, you're not driving fast enough

 

I was trying to be nice and responsible, but

 

Well, i am trying not to run her into the ground before i hit the 1k mark. I think i just need a nice long.... fast driving road trip. -- I think i need a vacation anyways -- planning a Hotel & Casino Grand opening is a bit stressful

va va vooooooommm

 

I pushed my Max. from Oak Harbor Washington to Jacksonville Florida and a lot of citys in between, in October 03 two months after purchase (4200 ml). It ran great!!!! And I believe my gas milage was something like 27-29. I made the trip twice in a month. Once in my other car, flew back and did it again in the Max.

I also enjoyed the looks and questions, since not many people had seen the 04 Maxima enough in 03 to know what it was. I love the car but hate Nissan.

Anyone else having bumper and body color fades?(Plastic & Metel). Nissian says it's normal on lite colors of all makes. I told them it was unacceptable and I have a White 99 Volvo with a plastic bumper and all the paint matches.

 

I was unaware of the octane sensor situation you describe above. I switch octanes all the time, typically alternating between 89 and 93. I'm curious and anxious to see if I get a performance and/or mileage boost sticking with just one octane rating, which I will try (likely go with the 93).

Thanks for the information, I missed this in perusing threads previously.