I Just picked up the slate grey on friday super sharp. This is my first Max and I am hooked Great looking car, and drives great

 

Congrats jetman712! If you can bear to get out of your beautiful new Maxima long enough to read these boards, you will find things to check or watch for with your new Maxima, as well as getting help with most questions you may have.

Welcome to the ORG!

 

Just ordered a Winter Frost with Premium + Tech. I'm excited to pick it up next week and look forward to utilizing this forum for info. Have been with Lexus for the past 7 years and I'm hoping I won't regret leaving the so-called "luxury market".

 

Your car will be an exact duplicate of mine, color-wise and option-wise. You will LOVE this car.

I see lots of Lexuses on the road, and they just don't seem to move me. Don't misunderstand me; the Lexus is a very fine car to drive to church or PTA or the hair stylist or the supermarket. But those are exactly the places I think about when I see a Lexus, and that is because those are the places where the Lexus concentrations seem thickest.

 

Thanks for the welcome.

I'm looking forward to a more engaging driving experience but I wanted luxury features and the practicality of a 4 door car, since I'll just have one vehicle. The Max was the perfect fit and Nissan is running aggressive programs here in the northeast. I'm thinking maybe I should have held out for a '10 based on rumors I've heard but I probably would've paid for it.

Funny thing about the color- I had ordered a blk/blk sport + tech and just happened by the dealership last week and saw the white one. It was love at first sight. The contrasting roof really sets the car off. Counting the days till Friday the 21st

 

After a bit of research I believe that the amenities that are available in the Maxima for the cost, is a superb deal. Considering the Maxima is compared to the BMW 5 series (45-50,000+), Acura TL which is a 45k+ and the Cadillac CTS. Now the performance difference between the BMW the Caddie and the Maxima are really uncompareable, the "luxuries" are, and for 10k less in most cases. I have a Sport Pkg, everything about the interior reaks luxury.

Enjoy!!

 

It's been one week to the day since I picked up my Silver SV and must say its an awesome car, my first Nissan. It drives excellent and feels rock solid. I've gotten more compliments then any other car I've owned. I lucked out on the car as it was still on the truck when I was at the dealership, so I'm the only one to have driven it, that's a first for me. I really thought I would get dark slate or gray, but the Siver w/ black interior was perfect.

 

Anyone have issues with the finish on the paint? i have noticed many small scratches that really show all over the car. I mean the thing is only 3 months old I have at least one 3-4" visible scratch on every panel on the car. And I have been doing my best to baby the thing. Its very discouraging. I think my 4 year old sonata has less visible scaring.

 

I joined the Board in 2004 - just prior to buying my first Max - 2004SL. Lurking ever since. Got a 2006SL three years ago and am getting the itch to get into the 09. I currently have ten months left on the lease. Called my dealer to see what type of deal I'll get and he's checking into availability. Thought this would be a great time to consult with the experts on this Board on two things:
a) Is the 09 in short supply with the 10's out soon?
b) Should 09 pricing be better this late in the model year?
c) Will the dealer rebates/incentives (currently 1.9%) make much difference or should I wait a bit longer?

Thanks!
Rob

 

My two nearest dealers still have around a dozen or so '09 Maximas each, and the '10s are just beginning to arrive. I would say that this next month to six weeks might be a good time to get a good deal on an '09. But the choices of colors and options will gradually lessen as the supply of '09s dwindles.

'09 pricing has been good this year (especially when compared with the prices dealers were asking last summer). As the stock of '10s begins to build up (this will happen at different times for different dealers), I would expect dealers to let their leftover '09s go for well below invoice. Be persistent, yet patient with your sales person, and I would bet your price will keep edging down.

Incentives are touchy, as they often apply to only one region of the country, and come and go at Nissan's whim.

 

Thanks Lightonthehill! We're just north of Toronto Ontario - I can do a search of area dealers to see what their current inventory status is.
Makes sense that prices should be competitive but the real wildcard will be the buyback issue on my present lease with ten months remaining. Guess if the price isn't competitive I could always hang on and get a 2010 next year......a good problem!

Rob

 

Wow! I didn't realize you live in the Arctic. The supply of '09s depends greatly on the size of the dealer. Smaller dealers may keep half a dozen in stock, medium size dealers would have a dozen or more, while large dealers could have several dozen. I remember checking Regal Nissan (Roswell GA) in March of 2004, and finding over SEVENTY '04 Maximas on their lot. Of course this recession has all dealers cutting back on inventory.

I have never leased anything, so can't help you there.

Although the price of the '10s will probably be somewhere not far below MSRP the first month, this will drop very quickly to invoice, because, other than a slightly different shade of silver on the wheels, there is no visual difference between the '09 and the '10.

 

I traded in my 1998 Black Maxima GLE for an 09 SV+Premium (Blue / Cap) on Saturday and could not be happier.

Although my 98 was a great car, the new technologies (blue tooth + voice, iPod connection, video screen, rear view camera) are wonderful. The extra 100 horses makes for an even smoother, more responsive ride.

I plan on keeping this one a loooong time.

 

Picked up my Winter Frost Premium last night- disappointed already. There is some kind of liquid (grease color) coming from each of the wheels and it's stained the wheelwells. Took it to the service Dept and they can't get out the stain and have no idea what it is. Have to wait for a regional Nissan rep to take a look at it. Awesome

 

Sh*t I will be pist too,sorry to heard that bro, they will get you fix, well I hope the do.....Good luck man....

 

My wife had that happen with a '92 Ford Ranger truck we ordered special built. The dealer's service department said the stuff was cosmolene, and would eventually stop exuding from the hubs. It did stop after a few months, but that was annoying. I don't know if what you are seeing is the same thing.

Of course if the leak you are seeing can't be stopped, you should have a new Maxima exactly like the one you bought. And if the leak is stopped, but the wheels can't be cleand completely, you should get four new wheels on Nissan's tab

 

that sucks, But what do you mean you have to wait for a regional rep? Is this some kinda special person from nissan, im abit confused

 

I'm a bit confused myself. It's not the service Manager, but someone above him. I guess they're going to decide whether to replace it or paint it. Whatever it was, it doesn't seem to be a problem anymore but the wheelwells and part of the rear bumper are still stained from it. It looks as if it was some kind of hot oil or grease which scalded the paint, because nothing we've used has taken it out. I'll try to post pics later.

 

That actually seems like it's exactly what it is. I can see it on the wheels oozing out of the hub piece. I can't get it off the wheelwell and I've tried everything. I'll see what they say on Tuesday but, needless to say, it's unacceptable.

 

Hello all, I just leased a new 09' Sport in Mystic Jade. Let me tell you, this color is awesome! It is like a color changing color, gray in shade and suttle green in sun. I was a litttle hesitant when I first got it but we absolutely love it! I have been getting 26 mpg around city and over 32 mpg on hwy. Although, that changes quickly when you use the paddle shifters. This car rocks! Corners like it is on rails and is very responsive. The CVT is conservative until you get on the throttle. Torque steer is a little much when driving one handed. I have been having some issues with the tire pressure monitoring system. THey have corrected the leaking seal around the valve stem on one and I think it is happening on another one. Overall, I would not give this one up for anyhthing but an Infinit G37 convertible.

 

Yes, the Mystic Jade is unlike any paint I have seen. Not specifically the shade, but the fact it looks different from different angles, lighting, etc. I saw my first Mystic Jade almost 14 months ago, just after the '09s were released, and it spooked me. I kept looking back with an uneasy feeling. I felt it was trying to intimidate me with its chameleon act.

Be sure and keep at least 33 psi in your tires. I keep 36 in mine, because 33 results in the shoulders of my tires wearing faster than the center of the tread. I have had no TPMS issues, and hope they are able to fix yours quickly.

 

I have been driving my 2009 Maxima for two weeks now - (SV+Premium in blue with cap interior).

I really think it's an amazing vehicle. I love the way it drives, and that I could get all the high tech features I wanted (blue tooth, backup cam, iPod interface, XM, etc.) without having to purchase the Nav system. Every other car I test drove required the Nav to get a backup cam.

I had been driving an older Maxima (1998) and still really enjoyed it, but felt it was just "time" to upgrade, esp. as things began to need replacing at inconvenient times (esp given young children).

I had test driven both a Genesis and the new LaCrosse, and while I liked both, they just lacked the Maxima's sporty feel.

Honestly, I could have spent twice as much, but I can't imagine liking anything twice as much, or even substantially more.

Only issues - I find visibility a little diminshed from my 1998 given that the rearview mirror seems to come down a little bit more and the beams are much thicker. In addition, the flared sides add 4 inches of width, making it a little harder in city driving / parking.

In all though, I keep my cars and long time and am confident I will be happy with my 09 for years.

 

Welcome to the 7th generation! Actually, in your case, welcome to the third millenium!

As to your issues, yes, the view to the rear is not as good in this '09 as in previous Maximas, but the back-up camera offsets that for me. My wife and I have been exploring unpaved roads in the area in which we live, and there are many, many unpaved roads in this county. Wednesday afternoon, we ended up around 300 yards down a very narrow trail that dead-ended at a locked gate with no way to turn around.

I backed up 300 yards without ever turning my head around; the back-up camera was all I needed. The camera displays guidelines in the view that tell me exactly where the car is going, even to showing the lines curved if the steering wheel is turned. There was nothing but a wall of woods on either side of the road, so I did not have to worry about anything coming from the side.

I am impressed that this back-up camera is able to focus clearly on both a bug crossing the pavement a foot behind the car and an approaching vehicle a hundred yards behind the car. That is impressive.

When I first sat in this '09 over a year ago, I was at first intimidated by not being able to see where the sides of the front fenders were. But now I never even think about that. Of course, both our garage doors are ten feet wide. If they were the standard eight feet wide, I would definitely have a problem getting this car in without brushing against something.

But I have had few other issues with this beautiful car.

 

No problem with the a/c, cools very good even in +100 degrees weather. Also no problem with wind noise, it is very quiet at any speed.

 

I just picked up an '10 in blue with Premium + Tech and LOVE it! I use to have a '97 mirage with no air conditioning... and I live in Las Vegas.

I'm not a showy kind of guy, but I wanted something like a CTS. For this reason the Maxima is perfect for me. I love that when people hear I got a maxima they are kind of like "so how much did you pay, 19k?" They do not recognize it as a luxury car... until they see the inside.

I use any excuse to take it for a drive.

I also like how there are not that many on the street.

I feel like I'm driving the bat mobile.

 

Post sum pics of the 2010 Max!!

 

Welcome to the '10 Maxima club, kLAcK! Your new ride sounds sweet. I know having AC in your car makes a huge difference in Las Vegas.

It will take a few years before the general public understands the Maxima is no longer positioned price-wise where it traditionally has been. But then this '09 Maxima is totally unlike any previous Maxima. It is truly near-luxury.

 

I have tried to start a new thread but cant for some reason. I have quite a few questions about the CVT and Maxima in general. My parents are looking to purchase and Im the guy that does all of the negotiating and so forth but we have to narrow things down. I have not read all of this thread but will when I get time.

I saw the first Maxima tonight and was stunned how good it looked. They had a 2001 I think that got trashed in a wreck. It was not totaled but was never ever right after that and they got rid of it quick. Hopefully, the admin can tell me what I need to do to start a new topic. Thanks.

 

I think the 'stickies' at the top of this board say something about requiring at least 15 posts before we are able to start a new thread.

You will gather the info you need by looking through threads here, but REALLY SHOULD either get a Maxima brochure from your dealer or check out all the Maxima options/prices on http://forums.maxima.org/7th-generat....nissanusa.com.

In a very abbreviated nutshell, the '09 and '10 Maximas are almost identical (no significant changes we have been able to pin down). The base Maxima is the 'S', with MSRP around $30K, selling for around $25 to $26K (more for the '10, since it has just been released). A better equipped Maxima is the 'SV', which costs about 2K more than the 'S'. With the 'SV', you can also step up further by adding either the Sports package or the Premium package.

The Tech package (navi, backup camera, etc) can be added to the 'SV', to the 'SV' with Sport or to the 'SV' with Premium. It costs around $1800 to add to the Premium, about $2K to add to the Sport and about $2200 to add to the 'SV'.

The top of the price range is the SV with Premium and Tech, which has an MSRP just under $40K, and can usually be obtained for under $35K. The Sport can be had for just over $1K less than the Premium.

Your parents should be aware the Maxima has been moved considerably 'upstream' since their 2001, and is now marketed as a 'near-luxury' vehicle. When equipped with the Premium and Tech packages, the car actually is as well equipped as many luxury vehicles selling for between $40K and $50K.

But there are far too many details to cram into one post. You need to read this board, and check out nissanusa. The list of options included within the Sport and Premium packages are very very important. Find out what options are important to your parents. Specific questions can be posed here in what seems to be the appropriate thread.

Good luck.

 

Was looking around for something to replace ML 320 CDI. After 3 German cars, I'm tired of all the trips to the dealer for services ($350.00 each). I also put 20 - 25 thousand miles per year on my cars, and hate to own a German car out of warranty. I went to Lexus and found the selection boring. Likewise for Toyota. The Infinity Coup was awesome, but where's the trunk? The sedan felt small and cramped. Than I spotted a Maxima on the road and decided to check them out. I used to have a Maxima back in the 80;s, but this car is far superior. It seems much bigger than the Infinity (although the numbers do not show that). I had driven a CVT car (Audi) before and absolutely hated it, so I was expecting the worst when I took it for a test drive. The car is amazing. Smooth, fast, handles nicely, and is extremely comfortable. I am 50 years old and this car has the perfect combination of comfort, sportiness, and technology for me. I ended up with a Premium / Tech car, and after 2 weeks, I can find nothing about the car I do not like and that's after owning Benz's, BMW's, and other high end Luxury cars. My neighbors like to give me a hard time about the MAX, but I have the last laugh.

 

Thank you for the information. The older Maxima they had they really liked. They are considering a Fusion Sport and Taurus SHO. Problem is, out local Ford dealer has no cars literally for them to drive. The C4C deal wiped them out and all they have is F150 trucks and a few Mustangs and that it it! Its pathetic and I was at the lot last night.

They are partial to Toyota in general having good luck with them in the past but Ford and Nissan is on the radar. No GM or Chrysler products are even in consideration regardless of how good they may be do to my Father swearing to God almighty to not help the bailout companies. Now, Im a Ford man but the 3.5 Nissan engine is a sweet piece. That older Maxima would really run like a tall Indian. I have a feeling this is what they will want but they do want to drive them all which is smart imo. The Taurus SHO is a hot ride but Im not sure they want a car that big.

Anybody that has one with the CVT can you give me your driving impressions and real world gas mileage please. I wonder how durable this tranny is. The 3.5 is dang near bullett proof from my understanding. Then its a matter of quality control on the rest. I remember the old Maxima has a couple of problems one being the navigation system had to be replaced but our local dealer and saleman are excellent and took care of everything right away with no questions asked. It makes a world of difference to have a good dealer. I can also say the same for our local Ford dealer as well. The Toyota people are just terrible in our area.

Sorry for such a long winded post.

 

Like you, we are a Ford family, in that there has never been a time in the last 25 years when we did not own a Ford truck. Ford has pulled well away from both GM and Chrysler in product reliability. If I had to buy an American passenger car, I would buy the new Ford Taurus. Maybe the SHO, or maybe the top of the line non-SHO Taurus; I would have to look before choosing. The Fusion is also a far better car than most folks realize.

In case you may not know, ALL Maximas built in model years '07, '08, '09 and '10 come ONLY with a CVT. No other tranny is available. There were a few folks on the ORG who were not totally happy with the CVTs of the '07 and '08 Maximas. But most folks here seem very happy with the completely redesigned CVT of the '09/'10 Maximas. This new CVT is, by all accounts, clearly better than previous CVTs. I know I love it.

Many are still wondering about CVT reliability, but so far, I don't think I have seen a single problem reported here with the '09 Maxima CVT. The CVT fuel efficiency doesn't seem to be much better than the manual or automatic in city driving, but seems to be clearly better on the highway. Several folks here have reported between 30 and 32 mpg on long freeway trips, which, with a 3600 pound car with 290 HP, is very impressive. Those folks still hating on the CVT are now pretty much reduced to folks that would not like ANY CVT even if it spit out $20 gold pieces in their lap every mile.

Happy car hunting!

 

OK, this is about as clear an example of a paid testimonial as I have ever seen on the ORG. How much did Nissan pay you to say all the right things, covering every base, and dispelling every anti-Maxima myth out there?

I could have written what you did. But then I partook of the Maxima 'Kool-Aid' 25 years ago, am blind to anything else, and cannot be trusted to be impartial. But for someone who has been driving other vehicles to say the things you said clearly reeks of payola. Did your bribe check come directly from Nissan, or did a man in a black suit slip you an envelope under the table at Greasy Joe's Diner? Or maybe a cute young thing delivered it to your doorstep hidden in a box of Girl Scout Snicker-Doodle cookies?

Whatever the agenda, I loved hearing your thoughts.

 

 

Where's my bribe?!? It'd sure help make the car payments.

 

Thank you for your opinion. We too are pretty much a Ford family. My Mother is in her mid 70's and drives a 06 Mustang GT Vert as her fun car. She loves the thing. The only problem with the car in over three years was a dead battery that came out of no where but the dealer put a new one in. Ford truly has come a long way in quality. I have personally owned a few crappy Fords and Chevrolets from back in the 80's and they were terrible. Both have gotten better but I think Ford is way ahead of GM these days overall.

Right now they have a 03 4runner that has been flawless in over 6 years. They have only put front brake pads on it and spent zero on other repairs. Its has been as good as you can get. Its a great truck and the only downside it that it drinks gas like you would not believe. Its a 4.7 V8 AWD so its expected. Toyota is not quite this good now a days imo. They are showing signs of getting too big and have had some quality issues. Ford is really on their heels.

I have not kept up with Nissan over the years so Im here reading. One of my close friends has an Altima and has had really good luck with it. I just love the 3.5 Vq engine. I have a feeling when its all said and done this is going to be what they want. While looking it appeared to me the new Maxima was smaller than the older ones. Its closer to being Fusion sized.
I have not had time to research everthing so maybe somebody could shed some light on that. Its good to hear that there are no problems with the CVT transmission also. I am going to have to drive one to see what I think about this.

Are there any known issues with this new Maxima we need to look for? Soon, when the Ford dealer gets some cars we will go and drive them all. We have great people at both dealerships who we know and have delt with in the past. It will come down to product and bang for the buck. Truthfully, I dont think they could go wrong either way but its their money and I want them to get what they want.

 

Ford Fan9 - My wife drove a '92 Ford Ranger STX from January 1992 until 1994, during which time it was T-boned and turned over by a Suburban driven by a driver on a cell phone who crashed a red light. She gave that Ranger to our son, who is currently driving it to work in downtown Atlanta. It has well over 200,000 miles on it. Reliability!

Toyotas are reliable, or at least they were for many years. But I could not stand their TV ads, and never felt comfortable on their dealer lots. To me Toyota is the Japanese epitome of 'mass marketing.'

The 6th generation Maxima ('04 thru '08) was the roomiest of any generation Maxima. But many folks felt it might have gotten too big (bloated). However I know I loved my big trouble-free 6th gen. The 7th gen ('09-'10) is shorter and wider than the 6th gen. It may not be quite as roomy inside, but the room that is there is well-placed. Being wider, and having a quicker steering ratio (and smaller, sportier steering wheel), the 7th gen does well in the slalom, and always feels planted to the road. It has a turning radius that is 4 feet smaller than the 6th gen, so is much easier to turn.

Nissan's overall reliability record took a hit with the Quest, the Titan, the Armada, etc, but the reliability of the Maxima is still fine. You will find reported problem areas by perusing this board. Folks are having a little problem with the 'service Engine Light' coming on when a problem does not seem evident. A few have had noises from their front struts. One poster has tried without success for many months to get his spoiler to stay tight against the car. One poster had paint problems. Several have had trouble getting a smooth ride (vibrations). A few say their buttocks leave depressions in the seat leather. Some folks say their passenger seat vibrates when driving with it empty. Perhaps the most frequent problem is a driver seat that 'rocks'. Quite a few folks have reported this. You will find other problems by reading the board. But I would guess many here (if not most) are like me, and have had zero problems from day one.

 

Been living with our new Max for about a month now. Just turned 1000 kilometres (600 miles) so still a bit early to tell. Happy so far. We are discovering something new about the car just about every day and hope we can avoid some of the problems that some owners have noted in other parts of the forum. While the build quality on our SV Premium in Ebony is excellent, I wish the plastic wasn't quite so "plasticky", particularly as it is in black. This is one Max that will not see snow or salt. I'm retiring next month so will only really need one vehicle for winter work which will be our '08 Pathfinder. If I take away anything from the various forums (fora?), it is that if you have a good dealer, you'll do just fine. A dealer that doesn't care and you're out of luck my friend. Now it probably helps that I purchased the Pathy and Max from the same dealer. I got an excellent price on Max, 2500 litre gas card (20 cents off per litre), five free oil changes etc. etc. This Max will have an easy life I think.

 

my mom bought an 09 and ive driven it quite a bit. WOW is all i have to say. the sport mode is sick and the paddle shifters are fun but I wish it was a true MT though.

B

 

Thanks again on what to look for. It sounds like mostly minor issues. Im sure as they go along Nissan will work out any problems. If you want to see a new car launch that has gone bad look at the new Camaro. They have tons of quality control issues. Its down right sad. I am a Mustang owner so I keep up with what is going on in that segment of the industry. To GM's credit they are taking care of things but they have had serious issues like broken transmissions, oil leaks, and a whole host of minor issues. Everything from loose spoilers to interior pieces falling off to just about anything you can think of.

Glad to hear of your good luck with the Ranger. Those little trucks are tough as nails. I have had the misfortune of owing 3 s10 trucks. I had a 89 with the 2.5 iron duke that would not get out of its own way but was a good truck save for poor fit and finish. Then, I got a 91 with a 4.3 and it did not drive as good as the 89 because it was so heavy on the front end and I must have put 5 alternators in that thing. They just would not last now matter what and the mechanic told me to get used to it as they were all like that. Now, I have a 96 GMC Sonoma with a 4.3. Its a low mileage truck at around 70K but has already had an alternator, a water pump, and now the starter is acting up. The 4.3 is a bullet proof engine but all the stuff around it is not made to last. Its always something. This one is fairly rare in that it has a posi rear end and I think the clutches are going out because of how it makes a jerking feeling for a lack of better term when you take off. I would love to have a stripped down 4 cylinder Ranger. There is not a doubt in my mind they are better trucks. I simply hate the new Colorado. Personally, I will not buy a Toyota because I want to help an American company and my dealership is full of arrogant people who thinks the sun rises and sets because of Toyota.

I am sorry to get off topic but I really like cars and trucks in general and love to talk about them. I also like to hear from other people who have had experience with other brands and so forth.

I really think at the end of the day my parents will want the Maxima. They are kicking the idea around pretty hard but their 4 Runner is just like new. It eats gas but they love the thing and its paid for so they are having a hard time thinking about getting rid of it. Its also handy to put their dog in (105 lb Black Lab named Casey) and take him to the vet ect... I told them they can use my truck for that sort of stuff. But, they dont need the 4wd and all of that stuff. It has rarely ever even seen snew and it has never been off road. They stay put when the roads get bad unless they have to go somewhere.

I will keep reading and I really thank you lightonthehill for you honesty. Some forums are full of fanboys that think xyz company can do no wrong. Thanks again and keep me posted on the Ranger. By the way, what engine does it have?