I currently have an '04 Max SE. Other than the "busy" ride which has driven me NUTS, the only other thing I find unacceptable is the TURNING CIRCLE. After reading ALL the posts in a thread on Edmunds, many others seem to agree.

One poster said that he has an '07 and the turning circle is improved, but the actual spec is conspicuously absent from the '07 brochure and website. According to Edmunds, it is 40 ft. which is the same or worse than my '04.

Can somebody with an '07 comment on this? I had written Maxima off in my search for a new vehicle, but if Nissan has improved the ride and turning circle, with that beautiful new interior it might be up for my consideration.

I'm very leery at this point about the Toyota 3.5 powertrain and NAV systems, otherwise they would be at the top of my list.

 

While not an '07, I have an '06 and the turning radius absolutely sucks. It's my only complaint so far with my vehicle since buying it 5 months ago.

I have been behind larger cars making a U-turn where they could make it ...and I had to actually back up to swing the turn.

I'm curious to know, technically, why the 6th gen Max has such a pitiful turning radius????

 

yeah i hate the turning radius on my 06. my 3rd gen's radius was so much smaller compared to it. but i have to admit i've gotten used to it.

as for why...my guess would be the large 245 tires we have up front. wouldn't wide tires limit the turning radius? (i mean before stuff starts to rub the tire and what-not)

 

Our engines are horizontally mounted, which is the main reason why the turning radius is so pitiful. I can't see where nissan would improve this in the '07 model unless they gave the car a wider stance and revised suspension components...something I doubt they would do for a mid-model update

 

It's bad at first....but it's something you can get use to and accommodate.

It is far worse then my 04 Tahoe Z71, but i'm use to it now, and can u-turn.....on wide enough streets, without having to break into a K turn.

So get the PRACTICING!

 

I agree that the turning radius is absolutely ridiculous in this car. Even more so coming from a integra to the maxima. I literally had to bust an austin powers coming out of a parking lot in downtown la today.

 

Thanks for the responses and commiserations. (Still haven't had an '07 owner chime in, yet).

What's really killing me is that when we got our first ever minivan ('04 Toyota Sienna XLE with 17" wheels) I naturally assumed it would be more of a challenge to deal with in tight spaces.

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! It turns on a dime and every time I do a U-turn or pull into a tight parking space with little maneuvering room, I just think "I'd NEVER be able to do this in my Max."

It's a shame because the combination of features in the 6th generation Max - awesome/reliable/efficient powertrain, bi-level xenons, heated steering wheel, FWD, <3,600 lbs., and fold-down rear seat just cannot be found in ANY other sedan.

 

I can attest that the '07's turning radius is poor. However, I just traded in a full size pickup for my Maxima so it's an improvement from what I'd been driving!

I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

 

I traded my 04 SE for an 07 SE and the ride is significantly improved. However turning radius is still as bad as the 04 was.

 

To be quite honest, I never thought twice about any turning circle deficiencies in my '07. I know its not great but I guess I've just gotten used to it - the '00 & '03 (both were SEs with 225/50-17s) were about the same as the '07 and my Volvo (S60 T5 w/ 235/45-17s) is as bad or worse than any of the Maximas.

Regarding the ride, my biggest beef with the '07 is, by far, that the ride is much too soft and floaty - its way short on rebound damping. I could understand that someone (not me) might call the ride on my 5G SEs "busy", but the '07 is far from it. Whether that's a change from earler 6Gs I cannot answer.

 

The 4th gen turning radius is pretty ****ty too. The 06 Murano has a better turning radius I finnaly made a U-turn I was never able to make before.

 

Actually it hasn't changed so you're right on the money. The 5th and 6th gens have a 40ft turning radius....

 

you just gotta get used to turning the wheel fully b4 even rolling to make a u-turn and you probably will make it. just my experience with it on tight streets

 

The turning circle for the 04 and 07 is the same, 40 ft. Absolutely horrible.

 

Yeah, I am most disappointed about the turning radius. I traded in a 740il that turned better.

 

Even staid bland Consumer reports has complained about the 6th gen Maxima turning radius. And nothing that was changed on the '07 Maxima should have any effect on the turning radius. I compensate by planning my turns much more carefully in my '04 than when I'm driving my '00.

The harsh ride of the '04 SE I test-drove almost four years ago (March 2003) refocused me to the SL, and I absolutely love the way my '04 SL rides. Of course me being nearer age 100 than age 40 also enters into this ride thing.



Edit - And we need to remember that the Maxima wheelbase went from 108.3 on the 5th gen to 111.2 on the larger 6th gen. That is quite a large jump, and very definitely affects the turning radius, which was already a tad unwieldy.

 

Turning RADIUS, is the only complaint?

 

Who makes U-Turns now-a-days anyway??? Pffft!

 

I don't remember my old 89 SE having a large turn radius. but with my current 00 it is huge. Hard to believe that it is even worse on the new cars.
For this kind of money the car should not turn like a dump truck!

 

yep, the 3rd gen's turning radius is pretty decent. if only my 06 turned like my 89...

 

It could turn like the '89 if it had the same pip-squeak wheels & tires. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of wheel-well room with a transverse FWD power train. The stops have to be set to keep those big fat tires we all want from rubbing.

Also (I'm just speculating here, but...) with the higher output engines we now have, Nissan may be trying to limit the stress on the CV joints. Most sane people wouldn't floor the throttle with the wheels cranked all the way over, but somebody could and Nissan has to consider that.

 

Its not just u-turns, I even have trouble parking the car in regular parking lots. if I dont give myself enough space to make the turn, I have to reverse and adjust. It sucks

 

My friend drives a dump truck, and even ITS turning is BETTER THAN OUR CARS!!!

 

Yeah... tight indoor/underground parking garages are a bïtch.

BTW, thanks everybody for reminding me of something I had come to accept and stopped thinking about 7 years ago when I got the first 5G Max!

 

hello guys, I'm a proud owner of the 2007 Nissan Maxima Black 3.5 SE. honestly, i love the car but when it comes to parking, it's a *****. just like killah kane said - i have to always adjust the car a 100 times before i can park it properly in tight parking spots and my friends think it's me and think i suck - previously any car i drove - i never had a problem in parking - it's just with the maxima - U-Turns, i'm fine with those, my car turns sharp. I might install a FSB and a RSB in future for those sharp cornering turns.

 

I park out at the end of the lots to prevent door idiots from nailing my baby.
It's nice because I don't have to worry about 'perfect parking'. Only once in a great while will I park in a crowded lot. And it's usually because I am in a hurry and won't be long.

Psst: Welcome Trance, funny seeing you here!

 

lol, thanks Swee

just hoverin' around....thanks for your help once again.

 

Not so much on u-turns but in tight parking lots is where it kills you. Turning radius was my only complaint 3 yrs ago when i got the max and its still my #1 complaint today. So, i guess im doing pretty good huh?

 

hey i was wondering if you guys knew anything about SPRINT performance suspensions and some advices about it..

 

thank god its my first car, so i cant really compare it too much. cant say ive made too many U turns during test drives haha

 

You bet Sweetie! Anytime!!!

 

Indeed! LOL

My 06 is just a little better than my 2000 was, not much, but it seems a bit better.

 

I have an 04 SE. The turning radius, like all of you have said, is terrible. My 95' F-150 has a better turning radius than the Max. I think that is sad.

Nissan should address these issues in the next-gen max.

 

nissian says 40 ft turning radius but its really 44 ft after reading other books. My 97 grand prix has 40 ft and turns way better then my 06 maxima but i knew the specs before i bought it.

 

I def agree, I think this is one of the key things that stood out for me, but hey Its one minus vs so many advantages.