We picked up or 2006 Maxima SE DPP 6-speed on Thursday from CARMAX. We were a little disappointed that it had been smoked in despite CARMAX assurances to the contrary, but it's not worse than we can live with it. We're taking it in Monday for some desmoking treatment. It only had 14,200 miles on it, so it hadn't been used much. Runs great, and it feels good to row a stick again. I spent a good part of the morning cleaning, claying and waxing it. Looks almost like new! A bonus was that it had the satellite receiver already in the car, so all I had to do was to activate it. Probably won't be doing much modifying, although I do like the Nissan chrome wheels. Dug out the interior cabin filter--hadn't been changed ever! Took it for a ride in the hill country yesterday, got about 30 MPG indicated running about 65--pretty good. Anyway, will be checking here for helpful hints.

 

Welcome to the addiction!

 

there will be many tips here, it has already helped me. Congrats

 

The cigarette smoke smell sucks. I bought some leather Recaro seats for my Maxima and when I got them, the storage place they were in had been smoked in. It took a long time to get rid of the smell. I employed several methods for removing the smell. I cleaned the leather with leather cleaner and conditioned it a lot. I also left Bounce fabric towels under each seat. The seat cushions absorb the smoke oder so its really hard to get the smell out from there. I also kept my windows and sunroof cracked open whenever I wasnt in the car in order to ventilate it. It seems very cold air is good for removing odors. Anyway, after some time, the smell just went away. People comment about how my car smells new and it has over 90,000 miles and is almost 5 yrs old.

 

I love RECAROs, I bought a couple for my 1988 CR-X, but the old seats won't work with new cars that attach the seat belt anchor to the seat, so I'm using one as an office chair--sitting in it now, as a matter of fact. Heat is nice in winter!
The car is not real bad,but the wife has a super-sensitive nose. I'm going to try the Bounce idea--thanks!

 

The dealer where i purchased my max had 2 of them, and the one i originally was the smoke color. I test drove it and it had a hint of smoke smell too it. The salesman was like well we have some equipment that will suck the smell out and I was like sure whatever. So we got back and I told him I wanted to stick my head in the silver one, and it smelled new. It had less miles too, so i was like i'll take this one. I didn't even drive it.
Enjoy your max. It seems like it should be in great shape with those miles. The mod bug will eventually bite and you wont be able to do anything to stop it!!

 

I forgot that I also put cake pans of baking soda under the seat since baking soda absorbs odors. I got my Recaro sear brackets made at Wedge Engineering in Long Beach. They did a great job and made them in a couple of days.

 

Congrats on your purchase!

All my life of owning cars, I have always been driving Camrys. From my first 92 Camry to my last 03 Camry. I loved them for reliability and cheap maintenance. But when I decided it was time for something with more power and performance, I couldn't help it when I test drove the Maxima. What really happen was I went to Mike Calvert looking for a used 07 or 08 Camry V6. They diappointed me and tried to play tricks on me with the price and everything. As I was leaving the dealership, I decided to stop next door at Baker Jackson, drove a Max and I swear, I felt hooked! And at the price of the used, I asked if I could negotiate on BRAND NEW! They couldn't help much, so, I called all Nissan dealerships around and they started harrassing me with prices and quotes.

I easily picked my baby, brand new, at a good price and I have been hooked to my Max ever since. I will probably own Max for life!

Congrats on your purchase. You would love it.

Hey, where do you live? I have heard a lot of nice things about the Hill Country with its winding and twisting roads. I would love to go there for the scenic view and the ride.

Tell me more if you know a lot about it.

 

We live in San Antonio--Leon Valley on the west side, actually. There are a lot of nice rides out of here, to Bandera, and out--Lost Maples is a nice state park to go on hikes, and Fredericksburg is a nice tourist attraction.
I had a 96 Maxima I put 145,000 miles on before I gave it to my stepson, and he put another 40,000 on it--it was just bulletproof. Hope to get similar service out of this one.

 

Thats a good deal. and smoke smell SUCKS. itll either wear off or youll get use to it haha.

 

One time a few years ago in my old station wagon, I was tailgating. I was grilling, and I put out the fire with water, but I left the grill and all the ash in the back of my car.

BADDDD idea... it was weeks before I could drive with the windows closed, and this was in December! It was either deal with the cold, or have such a strong smell of smoke that I gagged.

So, I feel ya, man. Hopefully changing the cabin filter will help a little bit too, cleaning the air as it re-circulates. If possible, you should leave the windows down when you park it, if you're at home or somewhere where you can keep an eye on it. When the car is all closed up, and the inside gets hot from all the sun, that's when the smell is the worst.