Great review, jcalabria. Would like to hear more down the road. I was impressed with the SE I drove. Like the CVT.

 

Actually, according to a test i saw that involved a Ford 500 w/ CVT showed that a CVT will actually make the most of the vehicle's available engine power, holding the revs at the sweet spot in the powerband and constantly changing the ratio to take advantage of it. So, in theory, if the cars weigh roughly the same, a CVT-equipped vehicle should have better overall and midrange acceleration. What gets me is that usually the specs i see on CVT vehicles show a deficet in fuel economy (when shown alongside traditional automatic-equipped cars of the same make and model) and a monotone exhaust note is almost horrifying for me mentally. I like an engine's characteristics and song change as it climbs through the revs, so I'm VERY hesitant towards the CVT. As far as the rims are concerned, i think they would look perfect with a little shadow chroming a la 03SE Ti (like Mine )

 

Congrats on the new purchase.

 

Ok, my not too technically minded wife (love her dearly) is getting freaked out by the car's "features":

• She really freaked the first day over the power tilt/telescope wheel moving around when she opened the door.
  
• She's not too comfortable yet with the whole intelligent key / request button thing. Thinks she's gonna get locked in/out or it's not gonna start.
  
• Today she called me flipping out because the outside mirrors dipped when she put it in reverse. Said she found a parking lot and just kept going back & forth to make it do it.
  
• She doesn't have a bluetooth phone, but when I have mine in the car she just shakes her head when the car talks back.
  
• She's thinks its "just damn weird" that the trans doesn't shift.
  
• She's scared to heck of the rear sonar... soon as it starts to beep she just stops and refuses to believe she still has 10 feet to go or that she can go until the tone goes solid (~10").

Of course, none of these are real problems and, overall, she loves the car - just about won't let me drive it.

 

damn, i really like your car, i'm tempted to trade my 01 SE for the 07 but i'm not quite ready to part with mine, since i am holding out to see what the 09 would look like. kind of put me in a rock and a hard place

 

While picking up my Murano from servicing, I had a chance to checkout the 07s and compare them with the adjacently parked 06s. Thumbs up to Nissan. I am digging the 6.5G. (If only it did not have that CVT.)

 

Congrats JC- while at the dealer yesterday for service, I fell in love with a 2007 SE. It was black w/ 19" Nismo wheels- hot, hot hot! Drive it in good health.

 

so she's impressed?

 

Thanks!

Were the wheels the ones that there is just a glimpse of on the Nissan website? They look good in that pic but I'd like to see on a real car.

 

Yeah, she's impressed.

After she went to bed last night I took the car for a little midnight run. It was a nice cool night, turned off the AC and the stereo, rolled down the windows and just tuned into the car.

• It's solid as a rock... not a squeak, noise or rattle from anywhere.
  
• I don't have any extended experience with an earlier 6th gen for comparison, but the ride is practically plush compared to my 4th & 5th gen SEs. It's more "european" in feel... softer springs but firm damping. Definitely doesn't have the stiff-legged feel the 5th gen SEs had.
  
• Doesn't feel skittish in the back on washboard surfaces like the 5ths did - a result of the return to IRS, no doubt.
  
• I get less and less apprehensive about the CVT every day. I just can't seem to make it do anything stupid.
  
• Realized an interesting thing about the CVT when in manual mode. Unlike any other autostick I've driven, if you punch it the tranny will still kick down to a lower gear. I was cruising along at about 50 in 6th and and tried a few throttle roll-ons to see how she pulled. The first few times I was fairly impressed with how strongly it pulled. Then I did one with the foot to the floor and.... the damn thing downshifted to 2nd(!) and took off like a bat out of hell. I was a little surprised that it didn't just hold the selected gear, but was impressed with the results nonetheless. You'd think a 4 gear kickdown would be a dramatic event, but it wasn't... just dropped down and PULLED. Makes you wonder a bit if the 6 "gears" are truly fixed ratio selections. I'm not complaining... just trying to understand the nature of the beast.
  
• The exhaust note with the CVT is... almost inaudible. The exhaust has a nice "burbly" sound at and just off idle, but when you are driving you just can't hear much of the exhaust at all.
  
• I don't know if its the engine breaking in, or the possibility that the dealer had filled it up with regular gas (very likely), but 300 miles and a tank of premium gas have it feeling much stronger. Much closer (but probably still not a match) to my '03.
  
• Each previous generation seems to have made incremental steps in seat design and comfort, but these are a big leap over anything that came before. The side bolstering is just about right, but most important the depth of the lower cushion has increased to where there is actual thigh support. I can actually get far enough away from the pedals, too. I think they finally have layed out the interiors with American bodies in mind.
  
• This may not be new for 6.5s vs. 6.0s, but the sculpted plastic pop-up wind deflector in the sunroof is very effective. I'm used to getting my hair (what's left of it ) sucked out the sunroof... there was no turbulance whatsoever and it looks much cleaner than the smoked plastic external deflectors on the 4th & 5th gens.

 

Yes, the 10 spokes that come in SM or GM. I couldn't find a good pic of them online- only that one that shows 3/4 of the wheel that u saw already. I'm actually a fan of your 07 SE rims- I think they resemble the wheels on the 2005 545i w/Sport Pkg.- 7 spoke rims look great on the Max If you do plan on replacing wheels/tires, I'd definitely be interested. Those Nismos's are nice but 4 large (2800 rims, 1200 tires) for 4 wheels is more than I'm willing to spend for that mod. Anyway, good luck, bro, and enjoy the ride!

 

jcalabria - Thanks for another very comprehensive report on the '07.

I understand the disappointment of tranny control fans with the CVT, but I am feeling better about it every day. Your experience so far only reinforces my feelings.

Mitsubishi ran a controlled test between a set of vehicles with 4 speed auto trannys and a similar set with CVTs and found the CVTs gave 20% better fuel mileage. The savings will not be as great over 5 speed autos or manuals, but will still be measureable, especially as the CVT control units are gradually improved. Mitsubishi was so impressed they have decided the '08 Lancer arriving next spring will have a CVT tranny.

Nissan did a better job this time of getting the official brochures to the dealers at the same time the '07 Maximas began arriving. For those who want to examine the optional silver or gunmetal 19" X 8.5" aluminum alloy 10 spoke Nismo wheels, there is a picture of one (not on a car) on the second from last page of the '07 brochure. It is a very nice-looking wheel, and is compatible with the '07 Maxima tire pressure monitoring system.

jcalabria - we look forward to any further info you may have to report on the performance of the '07, especially the CVT.

 

We finally got the 07's where I am (Northern VA). I saw them yesterday. They had four SL's and four SE's. Each car was with DPP and one each with DPP and Nav with sat radio. The highest priced one was a SE with everything and the sticker was $36,000. They are selling them for a grand under MSRP. I couldnt deal like that and traded my manual 06 in for a Auto 06 with DPP. I really like the 07 more than the 06 but no way was I going to pay that kind of money when I could get a G-35 (07) for an identical price with more features. Once Sept arrives, they will be selling them for invoice with a $1000 rebate. I dont trust that CVT, I will wait another year to see from my fellow org members what if any problems have developed. People here will drive them hard and mod the Max, the Murano users normally wont do that. The true test will come here in my opinion. As for the wheels, the SE rims dont look as bad in person as they do in the picture, the SL wheels do

 

Excellent and congrats...

 

That's exactly how I felt... I guess I just got lucky and caught my dealer at the right time desperate to make an end of month quota. I'm not sure I expected under invoice, but I knew it was just a (short) matter of time before they at least got to invoice. That's the main point of their TV ad campaign - all Nissans at invoice pricing.

That's true, but I figure the Murano has a heavier curb weight plus they usually carry around a few rugrats and their gear all the time - that extra weight has to be a handicap for the Murano.

Only time will tell... hope I don't regret getting a lease a year longer than the warranty!

I wasn't sure what to expect from pictures, but the SE wheels are really growing on me.

The SL wheels are about as bad as they could be... What were they thinking???

BTW... Congrats and good luck with the new '06.

 

Has any of the test drives noticed any shimmy ? I am in the market for a replacement for my 04 SL .. Looking at the 07 Max as well as the Lexus ES and IS or maybe an Acura RL or TL ...

If the shimmy is still there no way will I buy the Max. Enough is enough !!!

John ..

 

Haven't noticed any yet (I'm usually very sensitive to it), but only two brief runs on the Interstate so far up to about 70.

 

JSUGGS- If you can afford the TL or RL do it. I love the Maxima but there really is not a comparison with the TL in my opinion. I owned an 04 Maxima and the performance was comprable to the TL but the TLs ride is so much smoother. It is unfair to even compare the Maxima to the RL.

 

Don't think I'm bashing the Acuras... I'm a big TL fan and was very close to jumping ship for one, both in '03 and now. (I may still end up with one if I decide to trade in my Volvo S60 and GMC Sonoma along with the Lincoln Town Car my wife recently inherited when her dad passed away. Probably an even 3 for 1 swap... save a bunch on insurance, too, considering that the GMC and the Lincoln just sit all the time.)

Anyway, compared to my '07 SE I found the TL to ride MUCH harsher. Maybe this reflects a change in the '07 vs. the '04-06'... I really can't say because I never had a 6.0 gen.

Best thing to do is check them all out and decide for yourself... I think they are all great cars. Throw the G35 in the mix and you are bound to find one you will enjoy.

 

I love the TLs but for the price point I'd rather get a Rear Driver and keep that Lusty (I'm totally in love with the VQ) engine. although the M45 engine tempts me with it's titanium valves and just as lovely exhaust note.

sigh. . .guess i'll keep dreaming since insurance will totally kill me. . .

 

if u hold the stick up n floor it, it will not shift to second or any other gear. it will just stay there on watever gear you are on. otherise like u said it willl down shift and congrats on the purchase.

 

this "manual mode" is totally different than the auto. so that is unliekely true.

during my test drive, it stayed in 6th even to a complete stop, w/o even touching the shifter. I began to accelerate and it was still in 6th, had to down shift every gear.

so i'm surprised that if you floor it from 6th it downshifted. but sounds promising you can get to "level 2" that quickly for real power.

 

Mine drops itself into 1st just as you come to stop. In fact, once you come to a stop you can't be in anything but 1st. Would have been nice to be able to start in 2nd or 3rd for winter driving. Other manumatics I've driven allow that. Maybe its a heat issue with the CVT.

From the '07 owners manual:I hate to suggest it, but maybe the car you test drove was not functioning correctly.

 

your right but what i meant was it wont shift down or up until u let go of the shifter. like if u keep it in the up position pressed it will not shift out of tht gear. u have to press the shifter up in order for it not to change gear in your case out of the sixth gear.

 

Anyone ever notice the 07 interior with the Navi is carbon copy of the 2003-2005 FX35 center console? =P

 

Went for an extended run around the interstate outer loop late last night. Not a trace of any vibration, at least not up to 75, which is as fast as I took it.. the local & state cops were in full presence last night.

Definitely feels like the motor is getting stronger as it breaks in (now has ~550 miles).

Other than that, not much new to report.

In the interest of fair and balance reporting, here are a few nit-picky things I have found that I don't like:

• The high beams are just plain awful. Appropriately named, but still awful. They light up a huge arch in the air... great for looking for raccoons in the trees or maybe reading some overhead signs, but they do not penetrate much deeper down the road than the low beams. The low beams seem pretty good with the cutoff in just the right place. I'm assuming that there is no independent aiming of the beams since they are in the same projector housing... correct?
  
• Speaking of high beams... the blue indicator light in the dash will just about blind you its so darn bright.
  
• Having the AUX IN on the radio is great, but it really should have been in the glove compartment or console so the cable didn't have to hang out of the middle of the radio.
  
• I initially thought that the power outlet buried below the console liner with nice little cabling notches to run cords out of was a great idea for cell phone or ipod power... then I realized that it is unswitched (counter to every non-American car I have ever experienced). I will have to find a switched power source to rewire it to... it makes me very uncomfortable (I'm an electrical engineer) leaving a power adaptor on all the time buried in a non-ventilated space deep inside a hot car. It's so buried in there that unplugging it is not a practical option. BTW, the outlet on the dash is switched as in past Nissans.
  
• I really wish that the manual gate on the shifter was toward the driver rather than away... I have very long arms and it's still an uncomfortable reach. I hate to keep comparing things to my Volvo (which despite costing over $10k more when new is far from the perfect car), BUT it has the manual gate toward the driver and it falls in a very handy spot very close to your right thigh.
  
• Don't care for the chrome trim around the shifter... doesn't fit with the rest of the aluminum trim and looks like it will be subject to wear/scratches.
  
• The orange spotlight in the overhead console that is supposed to be a flood light for the console is both distracting and uneccessary... despite how bright it looks it doesn't really shed much light on the console -- not that I ever thought I really needed that in the first place.
  
• I looks like the fake suede door panels will be a problem... they get scuffed looking pretty easily and it doesn't brush out.
  
• On the dealer side, they are still trying to sort out where my owners manual and mechanical keys are (I only received one mechanical key - the owners manual refers to at least the two in the remotes and the packing slip in the trunk indicated that that "three keys, two remotes and the owners manual" were packed in the bag".

That's it for now... told you they were nit-picky things.

 

Great writeup......

 

hopefully I can shed some light as to why certain things are, or atleast were for the 6.0

• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]
• [*]

good luck on finding the keys/manual. that is a must.
i'm very nit-picky myself. thankfully i have a dealer that accepts/expects it from me

 

Thanks for the response!

Unless I missed one, I only have two... third one would be in the rear console if I had the Elite package.

One thing I thought I checked but I will double check is if the outlet in the console stays on with the retained power feature. I thought I opened the door to shut it all down but I will check again.

I though the '07s had a new material...

 

should be one by passenger's left foot under glovebox.
as long as your key is out of the ignition, none should supply power.

 

In my case I just plain hate the manual shifter in my new Camry XLE '07, it's toward the driver's seat, and I simply can't manage to get used to it, I like the Maxima's style better.

 

I guess its a matter of personal preference and the exact location in a particular car. I know in the Volvo it falls just about straight ahead of my normal elbow position (not overly close to my leg). I haven't sat in an '07 Camry - maybe it is too close there.

The other thing with the Max CVT shifter is that every time I wanna go from D to R or P, I end up pushing it into the manual gate. There's not much of a detent or spring load, so it pops over there with the even the slightest outward pressure. Doesn't even feel like your pushing it outward at all. I'm not that much of a spastic, just have to get used to it, I suppose. The gated shifter in the '03 took a bit of time to get the muscle memory ingrained, then it became second nature.

 

From the manual:



Well, the console outlet is definitely unswitched. No mention of passenger footwell - I will double check when i leave work.

I also like the comment about not using the outlets when the A/C or headlights are on. With an auto climate control that can turn the compressor and/or fan on at any time, I guess that means "never".

 

Definitely no outlet in the passenger footwell area on the '07

 

interesting. changing stuff all around then.
atleast u have options then center console always powered, dash ACC dependent, though your correct. It would make a lot more sense to have it the other way around.

04 has center console and passenger side, both ACC.
05-06 added one by the shifter I believe also ACC.

 

contrats man
i wasnt feelin the interior at first
but now am really starting to like it

enjoy it

 

Right on ! My thoughts, exactly. I'm hoping they will realize their mistake and bring back the 6-speed as an option. They certainly have them still available (with a VQ 35) for the Altima.

 

I love the new '07's. I would consider purchasing one except they don't offer the 6-spd manual. I was actually disappointed when the dealer told me they didn't have a manual anymore. WHy Nissan??

 

Nissan eliminated the 6 speed manual from the Maxima at the end of the '06 model year because they are taking the Maxima to the luxury level. The 7th generation (arriving as an '09 in spring of '08) will be larger, plusher, and have no tranny but the CVT with manual tiptronic override.

The manual tranny has a few advantages that are important to some drivers. But, as the CVT improves, it promises to be more efficient at both accelleration and fuel economy.

Vehicles in the class to which Nissan is taking the Maxima (think Toyota Avalon) do not have manual transaxles as an option. The Altima, as Nissan's volume-leader sedan, will make almost every option available, including manual tranny. But the 7th gen Maxima will be a more prestigious and more highly appointed vehicle with a more limited production run (well under 100,000).

Speaking of the CVT, I TiVoed and rewatched another '07 Maxima ad tonight. A man and woman (both sickeningly attractive) approach and enter a black '07 Maxima. As they pull away from the curb, the woman holds a lipstick a few inches away from her lips, waiting for the tranny jerks to end before applying the stick to her lips.

The Maxima surges forward, the engine burbling with power, and the rpms gradually increasing. The woman waits. The man begins humming along with the engine, his eyes sparkling with happiness. The camera switches to the tach, which is climbing with no shift break. The burble of the engine takes over the ad. The woman finally realizes there will be no tranny jerk, and smiles as she applies her lipstick. End of ad.

I emphathize with those who have loved the Maxima 6 speed for years, but I understand the manual tranny does not fit at the level the Maxima, for better or worse, is headed. The style, room, plushness, solid suspension and sporty feeling will still be there. But, other than the manual tiptronic override, not the manual tranny.

 

How about those of us who want a near luxury sedan with "style, room, plushness, solid suspension and sporty feeling" and a manual trannie? Nissan will still be offfering Infiniti's with 6-speeds. Why not the Max? Just some dumb marketing decision. If the engineers were in control it would still be available.