i hope you're talking about the 2007-2008 6th gen... b/c the 04-06 are hideous. but in reality, 2009 is REALLY REALLY NICE.. not better not worse than the 07-08 models.

 

Uhhh... the current and upcoming crop of Acura grilles may just be the ugliest ever produced... the front ends of the new MDX, TSX and RL are ugly beyond description. The previous versions were soooo much better looking (IMO - and more than a few others, I suspect, lol).

I can't wait to see how they fluck up the TL.

 

md or nva

 

I have just a quick questioin.Nissan states that the 09 Max has a estimated horsepower of 290 horses.Estimated?I thought 290 was 290.I have a 04 Max with 265 horsepower.Is that estimated too?

 

Well, it will obviously vary with air pressure, humidity, elevation, and a million other things.

And, actually, the way they rate horsepower has changed, so if you were to rate the 7th gen horsepower the same way that they rated it 5 years ago, it would be somewhat more than 290.

 

Nissan did the same non-committal thing before the GT-R was launched officially because they had to work out the actual production HP rating to cite in print media for differing markets.

That is probably what it's about. If it's approx "290" then it's in that ballpark, give or take 5 to 10 HP, prior to official press releases and dealer literature printing.


If Nissan is as well rating all HP from now on approximately at the wheels or hubs as is the case for the GT-R, then the net HP is actually much higher for the Maxima, closer to 320 or 330 netHP.

"480" HP for the R35 is really about 520HP net.

Most manufacturers cite the net hp and not the hub or wheel horsepower. That is rather unheard of. Nissan must be in the new policy of underrating their sports cars.

They did the same thing for most of the R35's benchmarks: they rate it going 0-60 at 3.8 sec (I think). But in reality, after journalists and race drivers conducted field tests, found that the R35 can actually accelerate to 60 in 3.3 seconds; in one case 3.2 seconds.

Nissan is smart to underrate so naysayers and haters will STFU.

 

Yep... "estimated" at this time means they probably have not completed and/or filed all the SAE certification testing and can't yet publish anything without a legal weasel word attached to it. I'm sure they know exactly what they want to rate it at... probably 290 as claimed.

 

next tl 300hp 3.7 v6 AWD

 

DConrad2004 - Under the old government regs that rated the '04 Maxima at 265HP, the '09 Maxima would probably be rated around 301 HP.

Under the new goverment regs that now rate that same '04 engine (still used in the '08 Maxima) at 255 HP, the '09 Maxima will be rated around 290 HP.

Either way, we have about a 35 HP increase with no change in MPG. I like that.

 

I agree, the new Acura's front ends are hideous. Nissan seems to hit it right on the .5 gens as usual, the 4.5. 5.5 and 6.5 all look better than the original models.

 

2009 Acura Front End




http://www.ee.duke.edu/~drsmith/cloaking/predator.jpg

 

i dont get it, finiti M35 still has 275hp, no wonder they dont sell.

 

There will always be overlaps in HP ratings. It's a cycle, model 1 may be overtaken by model 2 but then model 1 gets upgrades when it's time for a refresh. Repeat.

 

maybe this has been asked already, but how are the red-highlighted features "performance specs?"

also, what are "high performance wheels?" I find it hard to believe that they will put lightweight forged wheels on the 7th gen. And factory 19s will weigh in around 30lbs.....hardly "high performance"

 

Irish - OEM-wise, on an 'affordable sports-luxury family sedan', 18" and 19" wheels, when wide enough to properly wear either 245/45-18 or 245/40-19 'V' rated tires, are generally considered to be 'high performance'. We aren't meaning 'race car' performance. Non-high performance tire/wheel combos would have wheels designed for and paired with higher profile tires such as 50 or 55 or 60 or even 65.

Even if the wheel/tire combos on the '09 Maximas were not truly 'high performance', marketing strategy usually allows for some slight exaggeration. Such approaches as 'this sports-luxury vehicle is equipped with regular performance wheels and tires' may be straight-talk, but it won't sell cars.

 

I can't wait to doo doo all over the 7th gen in a G8 someday.

 

All they had to do is make it RWD. when will nissan ever learn?

 

Thats why they have the Infiniti brand.

 

actually the 5.5 gen 6mt does 0-60 in 6 seconds flat and thats stock

 

Actually C/D got an auto 05 Max to 60 in 6.1 sec in the July 05 issue and R/T got an 07 CVT in 6.2 in late 06 sometime...

 

Being that the Maxima was introduced to us as a RWD, Nissan REALLY should have made the new Max RWD (or maybe the 8gen in the future). I know "that's what Infiniti is for", but the Z was reintroduced in proper Z configuration, and I feel the proper config for the Max is also RWD, just as it used to be.

If the Max had always been FWD, say like the Accord, I would see no prob in it remaining FWD.

 

The only gen w/RWD is the 1st. However, you can count it out for the immediate/foreseeable future. It's too expensive and robs interior space. For a car in the Maxima's class, you want to appeal to the largest practical audience possible while still giving them a sporty package.

RWD would not do that.

 

I'm still holding out hope for an AWD version.

 

I got a 5.5 generation Maxi and I hate to say it but I think I am getting sold on this new 09. I love the interior and headlights. I do agree in other posts that the tail lights do look like the Camry's but I can live with that. Anyhow, does anyone know the base price for this Maxima? I am hoping they can keep it in the the high 20's to low 30's. If anyone has some link as to the base price it would be awesome. I see myself in a 09 Maxi in white with black interior! Only bad thing no 6spd. ughghg!

 

if that info was released yet, don't you think we'd have it posted by now?

 

You can bet it will be in line with the current generation Maxima pricing, possibly lower. They lowered the MSRP of the new Murano by $1.5k while upping the ante in terms of features.

 

Nissan's hands are sort of tied on initial pricing due to the very slow economy, as well as the fact gas will probably be near $5 a gallon very soon. Folks are buying bicycles and riding mass transit in numbers never before recorded.

I would bet the base '09 will be just under $30K MSRP, with a 'maxed out' Max being nearer $38k. That should give us a very nicely equipped version just under $34K MSRP.

But this is just conjecture.

 

That is all correct and there is a reason why there is no manual option on all of these upscale vehicles. It is very simple. It is the young crowd/enthusiast that is only looking for manual tranny (very, very small percentage). You will not have a CEO buying and S series MB looking for a manual tranny. Honda and Mazda decided to keep it because they are targeting young generation of ricers out there. No youngster (in general) is going to buy sub/over $30K car, it is that simple.

 

After reading this big debate about MT vs CVT... it really seems like the crowd that is crying and griping about no MT consists of the "true sports driving" crowd. in case you guys havent noticed, the maxima is a 30k family sedan. if you want a "real 4dsc" with a 30k price tag then get an sti or an evo... those are totally perfomance oriented 4dsc right? cuz they come with MT! i dont mean to bash on anyone but guys just deal with it. griping about it on a forum of maxima enthusiasts isnt going to make the 09 maxima RWD or AWD or MT or watever. it is wat it is, take it or leave it.

personally im looking forward to seeing how this maxima can handle. ive been driving a 95 AT maxima with minor suspension mods ever since i got my license (a bit over 4 years ago) and i feel that its not bad for a 4door sedan. i drive very spiritedly, especially on the twisty canyon roads here in so cal. i bet the nur'-tuned 09 maxima will be a beast in the corners compared to the likes of other family sedans of that price range.

as for cvt? ive driven my cousin's cvt altima... i must say im very impressed by that i4... it feels as fast if not faster than my vq30de powered maxima! >_< pretty darn good tranny if you ask me. a superauto if you will. i mean it wouldve been nice to have MT on the maxima but with all the traffic so cal has, i dont mind the cvt. =)

 

Or maybe it will. After all, a lot of the features on the '09 are direct applications of Nissan's study of comments posted by fellow .Org'ers.

 

I was looking at the VIN number of my Maxima the other day. Basically, it is like the 68,0xx car produced that year. I don't think there are enough enthusiasts here compared to how many cars are bought by average, non-forum attending owners for Nissan to listen or care.

It seems that most of the time, most models of cars (especially Honda and Acura!) are engineered with disregard for the passionate pleas of that model's enthusiasts (via forums). TSX for example, people were lusting for the turbo RDX motor. Honda didn't even throw them a bone, they just made the car heavier and they "refined" the current 2.4.

I am surprised Nissan didn't at least give the Maxima a displacement bump to 3.6 or 3.7L to at least "flagship" it above the Altima.

Heck, I'd even like to see the old SX come back. Maybe a 250SX?

 

haha yeh maybeeee. well quite frankly im happy with the maxima the way it is. 4doors, fwd, v6 =)

 

Alas, a limited-edition 20'th anniversary 3'rd gen remake was not in the cards.

 

haha yeh! bring back the sx! 240sx's are everywhere now... especially due to the 'drifting scene.' it was an affordable rwd 2door nissan... new silvia >_<

 

made in china - The new '09 Maxima DID get the 'bump' needed to move it above the Altima. It wasn't in a bigger engine displacement, but in two things far more important: HORSEPOWER and REWORKED AND STRENGTHENED CHASSI.

35 more big ponies (with no reduction in MPG) easily 'bumps' the new Maxima above the Altima (which is itself an excellent car), and I fully expect the auto mag testing to show the improved Maxima chassi/suspension makes it a clearly better handling vehicle than the Altima.

Nissan loves us.

 

Not sure if anyone posted this yet, but C/D tested the 09 Maxima and posted an article on it.

2009 Nissan Maxima - Specs

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
ESTIMATED PRICE AS TESTED: $37,000 (estimated base price: $31,000)
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 213 cu in, 3498cc
Power (SAE net): 290 bhp @ 6400 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 261 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
TRANSMISSION: continuously variable automatic
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 109.3 in Length: 190.6 in Width: 73.2 in Height: 57.8 in Curb weight: 3669 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 5.8 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 15.4 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 6.0 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.5 sec @ 98 mph
Top speed (draglimited): 132 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 175 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.85 g
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 19/26 mpg

Here is the whole article

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t_drive_review

 

Thanks for the update nitro!

Good numbers for sure.

 

I think it's only a bump of 20?

 

Nice find nitro, it seems to be a tad quicker than that 05 they tested that they referred to in the July 05 issue.

It did 0-60= 6.1 sec
1/4= 14.9@ 96mph
5-60= 6.2 sec

 

made in china - The 08 Maxima is rated at 255 HP (would have been 265 under government rating system in use till '07). The '09 Maxima is rated at 290 HP (would have been 300 under government rating system in use till '07).

Under either rating system, the increase is a very healthy 35 HP, clearly moving away from the Altima. The zero to sixty time of 5.8 seconds in the Car and Driver test just referenced by nitro230 (many thanks, nitro) might indicate Nissan may have even understated the 35 HP increase.

I would suggest the Altima as a super great car for my wife, my brother and my Sunday School teacher, but I'll take the Maxima, thank you.


edit - This may be an 'apples and oranges' thing. I'm talking about the 'bump' Nissan gave the Maxima above the '08 Maxima, and you may be talking about the distance by which the '09 Maxima passed the optional 270 HP Altima engine. We are both right, just saying slightly different things.