Hi i am new to the forums and new to cars in general. I am planing on buying me a car and so far through all the search i have done, i decided to go with a nissan maxima as my first car.

Most of my friends that drive have nissan maxima 5th and 6th gen, i've sat in both 5th and 6th and i like them both. Personally i would want newer generation just because it is newer. However i am debating. I currently have $4,000 CASH to spend to buy a car.

I was thinking to buy a car around 100,000 miles, however i do not know if it is a right decision. I need all info i can get about this car and where to look for one. I currently live in new york city and i am looking to buy a car that is not from the city and preferably driven by a grandmother that maintained the car in a dealership ! how ever it is highly improbably since i have been searching craigslist for about a month and haven't found a deal that seems appealing to me.

I was doing search on this forum and haven't found much information besides how to install parts and etc. Didn't see much pricing information and part pricing, maintenance, and life expectancy for 5th and 6th gen in particular.

Also there are different maximas such as SE, GLE and i am not sure if there is any other ones, if any one can tell me differences please. I heard that SE means sport package however it was a drunk conversation and i'd like to hear from others as well.

Waiting for reply, thank you guys !

 

bump

 

You going to need more than 4K if you want a decent 6 gen.
That out of the way, first off, if getting an auto; 6gen 5 speed is terrible and has ALOT of issues with the valve body. There has been like 4 revisions of the valve body. If its not replaced in time, it will take your whole transmission with it.

Second problem that every 6gen face is the timing tensioner problem. The tensioners that are at the secondary timing chains, they wear out causing a rattling noise. They go within 60K miles. This will run you about 1.5K to fix at the dealer, labor alone, parts will run you extra $400.

There are other issues, i listed the most common ones that occur.

 

#3 well how much in your opinion i will need to get me a decent one. what are other issues you can tell me. BTW i found a 2004 maxima however it needs transmision, how much does it cost to but and then install one ? which revision should i look for. should i look for 2004 SE or SL ? i want automatic. waiting for reply

 

#3 well how much in your opinion i will need to get me a decent one. what are other issues you can tell me. BTW i found a 2004 maxima however it needs transmision, how much does it cost to but and then install one ? which revision should i look for. should i look for 2004 SE or SL ? i want automatic. waiting for reply

 

Well if you only have 4k theres no point in buying that max at all. Ideally you could get a new trans in there and KNOW that its good, but it will still cost probably around 4k or more getting a new one and putting it in, which means youll need 8-9k in the end.

For the money you have get a 5th gen, i upgraded from a 2000 to my 05, i do like the new one much better, but i also paid 11k for it vs the 3.5k i sold my 5th gen for.

 

Get the 2002-2003 Maxima. They have the same engine as the 6th gens minus 500lbs making it much faster. It also has a lot less issues the the 04-05 maximas. You could probably find one in good condition for around 4k. If you're looking for automatic than I would only get an 06-08 which is going to cost you more than 10k. I have an 04 6 speed manual and love it because it has a solid transmission but it does suffer from the oil consumption as well as the tensioners issue.

 

i agree w/ getting a 5/5.5 get over a 6th gen. thats not because i'm selling my 5th gen, although i am...but i just would. 6th gens aren't bad, if i was a nissan guy i'd get one.

 

My 6thgen is a 6spd manual SE,panoramic sunroof,265hp,executive package with the rear center console and leather seats. I'm glad I choose the 6thgen as my first nissan. But if you find a 5.5gen with the same engine an 6spd you should be nice.

It's a lighter car so that power would be crazy.

 

OP specifically says he wants AUTOMATIC. How will a 6 spd help him?

 

^obviously reading > him

 

$4,000.00 will get you a 4th gen.

anything newer you will be settling for a major problem, or even worse, a dealer who got the max at an auction realized it has a major problem and prices it real low to sell without telling you the buyer.

i never suggest buying a car priced lower than retail if its all the money you have, its a risk you can't afford. bargain cars are for those of us with expendable money and can afford to lose a few grand in case it turns out to be a lemon, which happens more often than not. good reliable cars are sold for the KBB price.

a fourth gen maxima is an amazing first car man. it was my first car and i had a blast with it. its still faster than most cars on the road and it has a good interior. they are build like a rock, i beat up on that car like it was a punching bag and it took it like a champ. didn't skip a beat. i'd forget 5th and 6th gens unless you have 6-10k to spend. you can't forget about tax, fees, DMV and all the money to get it in your name and road legal.

 

The 6spd is an option dude. They have the same things in a automatic

 

 

 

OK man, whatever you say.

OP wants a tranny that will SHIFT FOR HIM! His options are PRND321. That's it. Well I suppose that's a 6 speed in your view? Wait, that's a 7 spd if u count Park.

 

PRND4321, for the 5AT.

 

With a $4k budget do NOT buy a 6th gen. It's way too risky with the problems that have plagued the 6th gens (transmissions, timing chain tensioners, motor mounts, etc.).

06's are no different, I have an 06 and have had the same issues as 04-05's.

 

DUDE! That's a freakin' 8 speed!

 

An 8 speed with 5 forward gears.

 

 

you re guys are awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!! so far i am thinking about nissan maxima GLE so there it goes ! I'll be back to the forum when i find a nice car for you guys to decide if you think it is worth it ! however if you got more tips pls post i ll check everyday here

 

Well i sold my 2000 max for $3500 last year, it had 243k KM on it, so about 150k miles. It really had no issues with it, that was just what it could be sold for in my area. It still drives rock solid as well with that owner. Just try and find a good deal, dont jump on the first one you see and take it for a thorough test drive.

 

granted i understand looking at mileage as high, but there is no intermediate w/ these cars, either they run good or they dont, people try to give me the run around cuz it has high mileage..but if i felt like driving cross country in that car i would w/o question

 

Doing a quick online search for used cars here in Ohio, $4000 will put you in a 2000 Maxima with 258,000 miles; 2001 Maxima SE with 132,000 miles or a 1996 Maxima with 150,000 miles. Thats all there is per Auto Trader and a 200 miles search radius of Cleveland, OH.

 

I mean i bought my 04 with only 4K after all fees, DMV all that stuff.
However, bad engine and a list of other problems along with some body work needed.

You cant buy a decent 6gen for that money. Save up or go down the food chain.

 

Hate to be the bad dude, but my first and last Nissan will be the 6th Gen Maxima. The car has too many issues...As other have explained auto trans sucks, timing chain ramps that need to replaced at 60k (WTF) I just replaced 3 motor mounts (BTW dealer said $900 to replace 2 mounts, did it for under $200 elsewhere) thinking the 6 speed shifting would be fixed...Worst shifter ever...Research the car first before you buy, had I done that I would have never gotten this car...period...

 

timing chain at 60K?!?!?!??!?!? why'd you have to do that?!

 

Sorry I meant timimg chain ramps that are made of crap plastic good old Nissan wants you pay $$$ for a $20 piece

 

timing chain ramps lmao.. they are called guides man

 

Good morning all,

I had to reply/post since I am new and this is the closet thread I could find for my need. I have $11,500 or so to spend on a car and have decided I really want a maxima, probably a 6gen. I am looking for as many sugggestions/advice in buying because i would like to avoid as much repair cost as possible. I am open to automatic or manual transmission. Any and all advice would be great. Thanks

 

Read the thread.

 

I paid 11k for my 2005 with 52k miles on it, havent had any issues yet although i think i am starting to get the issues with the timing chain guides. Im also in canada, and had to talk the guy down from 12.5k. Your best bet may be to look at ones with 100k, and take them for a test drive and look for all the known issues. Chances are at that amount of milage all the major issues will have been repaired, or will be very obvious as you are driving. Youll also get the car for less in most cases.

 

4k budget?

Buy a corolla ?

I have a 04 with 160 000km, works fine.

 

Lol wtf a corolla.... I'd rather buy a civic

 

About the same class, you get the point.

 

I prefer the 6th gen mostly because of it's looks over the 5th gen (I think they are ugly). 5th gens are lighter, but I think the 6th gen looks richer. Under the skin, they are virtually the same. The 6th gens are definitely more expensive.

 

2004 maxima. I have 100K miles. Original transmission, 5at, no issues. Change ur ****ing oil once in a while maybe?
No chain rattle. Regular synthetic oil changes maybe?

 

It's going to be difficult to find a good 5th gen for that price. $4k is more 4th gen territory. I've seen 4th gens in good shape for under $4k.

 

Agreed. after cars depreciate to about 5-7k they start holding onto their value. You won't see a 6th gen maxima worth buying at 4k for at least 5+ years. i'd never try and buy "new-ish" car for 4k, you have better odds of catching a winner at a casino. you should be looking into something made in '95-'98 with "low-ish" miles if you want to be safe, or save up another 3k and start looking for a 5.5 gen.

don't get me wrong there are deals out there and I just snagged one last month. I bought a 2003 altima with 82k miles for 2 grand. It was my buddies car and that was the trade in price the dealer gave him. luckily i went with him and when he agreed i said HELL NO! if your going to let your car go for 2k at least let me buy it. so i did. the salesman was not too happy but he can just turn that sideways and... But if 4k is all you have and you don't have a reliable car already, chances are if you actually find a car made after 2003, its going to be a lemon and an additional 4k is what you will be looking at in repairs, before you know it you will have run up all your credit cards repairing a car that literally isn't worth the money because you have no choice. thats my 2 cents, hope you take it. I've seen many people get "a great deal" only to find out there is a reason it was sold at a "great deal." No reputable car dealership will sell you a car under its kelly blue book unless they find out something is wrong with it, have their mechanic patch it up as best as possible, and try to rid themselves of it to an unsuspecting buyer who doesn't know the game.

@ T_Behr: lol I like your sig quotes