it's official--a new Max
 

Well, it's Maxima number six for me! Traded the '04 for an '07. Picked it up last night, and it rides like a dream! Considered stepping up to the next level for a moment but, in the end, I felt that you can't get a bigger bang for your buck than the good old Max. Now, what to name her???

Cvt Ftl...:slant:

congrats on the new ride! way to stick w/ the Max.
good luck

Maxine. :)

Come on now, play nice! I'm not a huge fan of the CVT either, but that wasn't the topic!

Congrats on your new purchase!:mardi:

Name? Good question. Let us know what you decide.

:worthless

:rotz: what do you expect from a 4th genner.... pfffttt...

Ouch, that one hurt! I've noticed a lot of hate from the other genners here. I wish it wasn't that way, but that's my observation. My girls and I were just talking about this very topic today.

I told them that all you hear about is 'boat, big, heavy, one even called us a pig-*%^'. I told them that almost all of those things are true, equally correct though is our kickin' motor and hp with it's screaming tq. All those in other gens that bash us, fail to mention that we have the motor they so desperately drool over. We are heavier, but we have the nice .5 liters over the older gens (except the 5.5 of course).

I love you Swee! :D

And not to start anything in here, but I did see a 6th genner bashing on the 6.5 gen a while ago... :snap:

To the OP: You're one loyal owner! 7 maximas? WOW! Hopefully the next gen won't disappoint you. :chuckle:

I agree with you LA02Max,

Nothing but love for you too dear. I didn't mean to say 'all other folks', just the ones that respond similar to the fellow above.

I personally have my favorite gens. Actually with most of them, I have favorites and some dislikes. But I don't say the things others have. It's just a dividing factor here sometimes.

We certainly aren't as nimble as the 5th (One of my absolute favorite gens BTW). We haven't totally proven our bullett-proof 3.5, like the 3.0 has in it's history. And again, major irritation with Nissan regarding dropping the 6-speed manual, because I was headed there next. But bashing because we are larger is just lame.

Thank you for being kind enough to have a lively chat without it being a gen-any gen- bashing thread!

Good to see you also!
Swee

Yea, show some pics. Does it seem as fast with the CVT tranny?

Post some detailed engine bay pics.

I could never disparage any Maxima generation. I have loved them all.

I suppose my fave might have been the 2nd gen, because I owned two 1985 Maximas, and drove one (my all-time car love) 206,000 wonderful miles. Broke my heart when I finally let her go. I called her Freida, because the warnings in that car came by a voice that sounded like my neighbor Freida.

The first gen Maximas ('81-'84) were a tad low-slung and cramped inside, but they were still a clear break with the mediocrity I generally found in the auto world at that time. One of my close friends owned an '82, then traded it in on a gen 2.5 '83 in order to have a diesel (yes, 1st gen Maximas could be had with a diesel engine). By '83, the name Datsun was being replaced with Nissan, and few current Maxima owners realize the Maxima actually began as a Datsun. I was driving a '78 Datsun 200SX at that time.

The 2nd gens ('85-'88 models) were a huge step up, as they were not as flat to the ground and had more room inside, etc. I thought that was the nicest looking car I had ever seen. But the BIG steps for the 2nd gen were the move to front wheel drive, and the incorporation of the 3.0 VG engine right out of the 300Z, with 152 HP (a lot of HP in a small car at that time). Nissan had to turn the engine transversely (sideways) in order to fit it into the Maxima, which left the oil filter jammed in between the engine and the firewall.

The 2.5 gen ('87 and '88) raised that to 157HP. The only major styling change was replacing the 'turbo' wheels with 'slicks'.

Heck, I'm only up to gen 2.5, and rambling. I must make this very brief.

Gen 3 was perhaps the cleanest and most classic shape of all Maximas. Gen 3.0 ('89-'91) had 3.0 VG engines with 160HP and more room inside.

For 3.5 ('92), the GXE kept the same VG with 160HP, while the SE got the 3.0 VE engine with 190HP.

Gen 4 arrived as a '95 model, and brought a restyled body with the new VQ30 190HP engine.

Gen 4.5 arrived as a '97, and other than very minor front facia tweaks and the narrowing of the band around the rear of the trunk from 2 1/2 inches to 1 1/4 inches, was virtually indistinguishable from gen 4.0.

Gen 5 arrived as a 2000, with major styling changes (but still easily recognizable as a Maxima) and a 3.0 VQ30K 222HP engine. There was a special 01 anniversary edition with 227HP.

Gen 5.5 arrived as an '02, with a 3.5 VQ 255HP engine. For some folks, this was the zenith for Maxima. As far as all-out performance and maneuverability, this is probably true.

It was around 2002 that Nissan finalized their decision to take the Maxima gradually up to luxury level, and replace it with the Altima as their four door performance leader.

Gen 6 arrived as an '04 with the 3.5VQ 265HP engine, completely restyled, looking nothing like previous Maximas. This was the first step toward moving the Maxima to luxury class. Some long-time Maxima fans do not like it. This very long-time Maxima fan loves it. Such is life.

Gen 6.5 arrived as an '07 with a more attractive front, with fogs down where they belong, and a redone and improved interior. Same engine, but rated 255HP under the government's new way of rating.

Gen 7 arrives in spring of '08 as an '09 model. It will be heavier, plusher, and firmly place Maxima in the 'sporty' luxury class, with performance fine in straight-line driving, but will not be in the old Maxima's class for maneuverability.

Yes, there are drawbacks with this move by Nissan, and there are those of us who will feel left out. But as long as the nameplate says 'Maxima', I will put my hopeless 'wishes' (such as 6 speed auto and 7 speed manual trannies) aside and love it.

Have I mentioned the 2014 gen 8 Maxima yet? Wow!

Such experience Light!