Just took delivery of a 2012 SV with Sport / Tech packages in Dark Slate grey. Only about 60km on the car and I absolutely love it so far.

I traded in my 2008 SE-R SpecV, which was a great car and a lot of fun, but the SV is on a whole different level.

Initial driving impressions are that the grip and handling are phenomenal. Lots of power although I'm being gentle. Really like the CVT; acceleration comes on almost like forced induction, it has a wonderful build to it. I also enjoy being able to hypermill, idling around in traffic is great. The feedback in the Ds shift mode is completely videogame-y but also fantastic, it sounds and feels great.

Goodbye to the SE-R, will miss that ride:


Hello SV:


Love the new tail light design and the 19" sport rim, was a major selling point:


Parked:


4DSC:


Love those pipes:

 

Here is something that bothers me, the three spoke steering wheel. Anyone go from the four spoke steering wheel on the 5th Gen maxima to the three spoke steering wheel on the 7th Gen have anything to add? One of those You'll get used to it things?

 

Car looks great, really dig the taillights and grille, the wheels look nice too

 

The added bonus is you can put the 2012 Maxima's tail lights onto the 2009+ I believe.

 

Ok, after driving the car for a couple months I have a list of things I would change. These are all minor but that just shows how well thought out this car is from a design standpoint. So here goes:

1. create a more intuitive (read simple) way to make phone calls. The voice commands with the menu system takes way to long without continually pressing the phone button to skip each menu item. My wife's Equinox has a far superior phone calling system with phone book integration.

2. Make remote start a standard feature instead of aftermarket. This feature is becoming standard on many cars these days and with half the country in a cold winter climate, I think this is a great featureto have.

3. Include a higher resolution touch screen for any car with the monitor package(i.e. Premium\Technology pkg or Monitor pkg).

4. This ties into 1 and 4, by making a more intuitive on board information system. Make it so that it takes little to use while driving, and allow for high customization for personal menu selections.

5. Next, instead of having a button on the dash behind the steering wheel, have a button ON the steering wheel or on the turn signal stalk to scroll through the dashboard functions. In an effort to simplify things, even make a button to just scroll though the options on the stalk and have the scroll and reset buttons still on the dashboard. It just is an awkward place to reach while driving if you want to switch to a different display.
5. Lastly this is just a personal preference. Show the ambient temperature permanently in a location to easily see. The most obvious place is in the upper part of the radio screen, possibly next to the time on the monitor display. Remove it from the scrolling option in the dashboard stack.

Any thoughts on this?

 

I agree on 1 & 4. My 09 Mercury Sable had 1st generation Sync and it was light years ahead of the 2011 Maxima on ease of making phone calls and the voice commands in general.

Also agree on 5 & 6. Again my 09 Sable had those buttons on the steering wheel. Also the outside temp was always on display regardless of what screen you were displaying info on.

Just to reiterate a few of my earlier observations:
1. Cruise control lights when you turn the cruise control on but it should change color when it is actually engaged.
2. Nav should have auto zoom for the map display. Zoom out at highway speeds and zoom in once your on local streets.

 

Hey folks, im new hear and im probably asking a dumb question but i have a 2009 SV fully loaded, missing a remote starter and navigation. any ideas on quotes for the starter the dealer service dept told me it starts at 450 i thought this was a little steep

 

Hello Maxima.org !! Just registered after lurking for a few months, been hunting my Maxima through out the winter months and finally bagged him, 2009 Maxima S, base options, 40k miles, one owner lease, CPO, and said good bye to my 02 Altima 3.5. Sweet talked the dealer into adding the rear spoiler and splash guards to seal the deal, so those are coming next week. If you had or have a white Max, I know all about you, believe me, I have a folder of stuff I'm saving as inspiration !! Probable first mods will be tints and debadging. I will put up more pics this weekend as the sun comes out . . . thanks for having this forum, great resource !!

 

Once you get the spoiler and splash guards it will look identical to mine. I STILL get compliments from coworkers and I have had the car for 2 months now. I really am loving this car more and more and wish I had a longer commute lol. I get 22 mpg avg so far and I can definitely live with that.

 

Mseals,

Nice, how clean a look is this white? It's eye catching and subtle at the same time, my first white car ever !

Parts will be installed 2/7, then a trip to the tinters most likely !!

 

I love the white, this is my 4th white car, and by far my favorite one. My last 4 cars have been black and I have lived at the car wash. This car is crisp in white and it looks so clean that it has changed my wife's perception of white cars which she use to call "marshmellows on wheels". I think the slash guards and spoiler just finish the look off and since I have the Premium the entire root is blacked out with glass .

 

Hi guys this is my first post. I just bought a white 2010 maxima sv. Since i got it used i dont know what package i got.

Heated front seats & steering wheel
LED screen no nav
leather seats
back up camera
wing
shifters on steering wheel
18in wheels
but no led turn signals


any ideas ?

 

Heated seats, steering wheel I think is the cold weather package. The sports package adds 19 inch wheels, if I recall.

 

Thanks after i bought the car i did know there where so many options for this car.

 

I've owned my 2011 White Maxima SV Premium w Tech package for almost four months now. Overall very happy with it. Here are my comments:

Good:
- Gorgeous styling, exterior, and especially interior. Still makes me excited to get into and out of.
- Silky smooth highway riding car. Great power for passing.
- Nice heavy, plush ride. Feels nice in riding over bumps and potholes.
- CVT transmission is very smooth. Works as advertised.
- Braking is perfect.
- Steering is easy (love how it adjusts based on speed), and can corner effortlessly.
- Seats are adjustable and very comfortable. Just a super comfortable riding car.
- Technology features are just great
- The look of the driver's "cockpit" is exciting.
- Heated. Steering. Wheel.
- Dual moonroof rocks. I get compliments on it all the time

Not so good:
- The engine is relatively loud, especially when cold, and even in low speed street acceleration. My wife's Honda Accord V6 is much quieter when it accelerates, even from cold startup.
- While passing power is strong, I've been a bit disappointed with 0-60 type power. Maybe its because I tend to drive with a light foot, but somehow I was expecting even more pure power.
- CVT can be a little weird, like keeping RPM's high a few seconds AFTER you take your foot off the pedal. Sometimes the CVT can adjust even when rolling, which gives an odd feel.
- The car is a little bulkier than I would ideally want, and gives the feeling of driving a "big boat" when in a parking garage.
- Gas milage, particularly in suburban / city driving has been a tad disappointing. I usually get around 20-21mpg, and that includes some highway driving. When pure highway driving at high speed, I usually do get around 24-25mpg, which is OK.
- Need to use expensive premium gas.
- The NAV system often has a hard time finding addresses. Sometimes my wife and I get frustrated, and just use our iPhones which work better!
- The monthly payment. This is an expensive car to not have a luxury brand. You bump up into G37 territory. If the Max could be priced about $5k cheaper, I think the case for it would be much more compelling.

Wow, I ended up writing a lot more about the negatives, even though I am very positive overall on the car! Not a whole lot of these on the road, and given how nice the car is, I'm surprised there aren't more.

 

- The engine is relatively loud, especially when cold, and even in low speed street acceleration. My wife's Honda Accord V6 is much quieter when it accelerates, even from cold startup.

Well it's meant to be on the loud side. It's marketed as a sports sedan.

- While passing power is strong, I've been a bit disappointed with 0-60 type power. Maybe its because I tend to drive with a light foot, but somehow I was expecting even more pure power.

One of the fastest cars in it's class. I can't complain.

- CVT can be a little weird, like keeping RPM's high a few seconds AFTER you take your foot off the pedal. Sometimes the CVT can adjust even when rolling, which gives an odd feel.

Have you tried driving in sport mode?

- The car is a little bulkier than I would ideally want, and gives the feeling of driving a "big boat" when in a parking garage.

- Gas milage, particularly in suburban / city driving has been a tad disappointing. I usually get around 20-21mpg, and that includes some highway driving. When pure highway driving at high speed, I usually do get around 24-25mpg, which is OK.

Might improve as engine breaks in more

- Need to use expensive premium gas.

Premium is recommended but not required.

- The NAV system often has a hard time finding addresses. Sometimes my wife and I get frustrated, and just use our iPhones which work better!

- The monthly payment. This is an expensive car to not have a luxury brand. You bump up into G37 territory. If the Max could be priced about $5k cheaper, I think the case for it would be much more compelling.

I only paid $36k for mine brand new, fully equipped. I think I got a lot of car for $36k

Wow, I ended up writing a lot more about the negatives, even though I am very positive overall on the car! Not a whole lot of these on the road, and given how nice the car is, I'm surprised there aren't more.

 

I have a Amp installed in my 2012 Maxima. The amp is installed directly on the speaker box in the trunk. The problem is monthly I have to tighten the screws holding the amp in place. I'm reminded of this when I can hear the vibrating noise of the loosen amp on the speaker box. I had the amp installed a stereo shop and was going to take car in but, wanted to ask the forum for advice.
If the solution is to move amp off of box, where is a good location to mount the amp? Also is there a better spot to position the box so the sweet spot is at the driver position? Current position is driver side trunk with the box as far back as it will sit in trunk. I'm trying to maximize trunk space.

Rockford Fosgate Amp with 10 in sub.

Thanks for any info
CC

 

I have my amp on the back of the back seats.

 

This question should be posted in the "I'm new here thread" or if you can in the audio subforum where you'll get better replies.

Use a bolt, get some rubber washers (one under bolt head and one under the nut) and use that to tighten the component.

 

Hey guys I need a little help. I'm new to all this car deal and I need some advices and answers to my stupid questions lol.

Tomorrow morning I'm getting a 2012 Nissan maxima w/Limited package but I heard that the 7th generation is not that fast because of the CVT, so because of all that I'm very confuse, my best friend owns a stock 2007 nissan maxima would I beat him ?? Would I beat a Mitsubishi Galant V6 ??? ,lol that's my other friend ??
Thanks guys

 

The new maxima is fast... so far the fastest and most powerful maxima yet.. The CVT in reality makes the car quicker in comparison to your regular six or five speed.. but then are you really buying the car just because you want to smoke a 2007 maxima and a galant... im sure the new maxima will beat them, but that shouldnt be the least bit of reason of why your buying the car....

 

Wow, I'm so happy now men, hey thanks so much.
I always liked the car, however I'm a very competitive person and my friends were always saying we are going to smoke you, so I was a little ...however last Friday night I rode the car and I fall in love with it, but I wanted to make sure I can smoke them lol.

Thanks again.

 

DAMN dude, I'm getting mine tomorrow morning, and it's just like yours.
I'm nervous already lol... I owned a 2010 Honda civic but I always loved the Maxima and this one, the day I went to the dealer it catch my eye so my mom is picking it up tomorrow yeahhhh. Nice ride

 

Thanks for info, I can't post on other areas yet??

 

Just wanted to update , had this car about 3 1/2 years since it came out (7th gen) and 18k miles later, its an AWESOME car. I have ZERO complaints about it. Everyone who gets in it says wow..this is a really nice car.how much does it cost? I truly feel I got my moneys worth, got a couple trade in offers from dealers that were actually good for a 2012 when I was getting an oil change, but I'm def holding onto this for a while!

 

Whats up everybody. First time posting. I have had my 2012 Maxima SV with Premium package for about a month now and I am extremely pleased with it. Slate Grey is a headturning color and the Bose audio is freaken sweet. Absolutely the best car I have ever owned. Such a smooth ride and I love the double sunroof. Great site going here, looking forward to reading all the topics.
-Planephlyer

 

[quote=DubbedQ45;6550022]OK guys, I have been away for a couple weeks. I poked around some of the threads and have seen a couple people picked up 09's.

What do you think of them after a couple real miles not just a 10 minute test drive?
Any mods right out of the box?
Even though its a brand new car, how was the dealer with pricing since the auto industry is in the tank?

Throw up some pics!

Thanks guys,
Q[/quote

 

I bought a 2010 max and am highly impresed the power band and handling stock is great but when I get done it will be a tad bit tighter believe its worth purchasing

 

i bought a leftover 2011 SV a few weeks ago, replaced a 2005 CTS that disappointed me with its reliability. The Maxima is growing on me daily, i like the size now and have always liked the engine. This should be with me for at least 150,000 miles where the CTS made it to only 89000 miles.

 

I love my car, wouldn't want anything else. No buyers remorse for this guy!

 

I'd agree with all of this (save for the NAV section; I don't have one). I'd also add that my particular 2010 Max has been unusually repair-prone. It has 20K miles. Every time I've been to dealer for an oil change, I've had them fix two or three unrelated problems. Weird noises are common. The CVT has more vibration than an automatic. Anything that can possibly rattle will, including the headliner. My front end creaks with significant suspension compressions. The right mirror started whistling and had to be replaced. The sunroof wind deflector cracked and also had to be replaced. The car won't track straight most of the time. It's been aligned by Nissan three times to little effect. The OEM battery has failed more than once. And as of three months ago, I started getting RPM dips at idle that suggest the AC compressor is seizing up. That's just the stuff I can remember off the top of my head.

My dealership has sent me notices saying they want to buy the car back and trade me up. I'm afraid to do it. I've had so many fixes done to the existing car, I feel like I'd be back at square zero with a new one.

When everything works and it's not making noises, I really like it. The rest of the time, I wonder if I should have chosen a G37.

 

I think you just got a lemon and the chances of getting another would be very small. I've read forums of different brands and Nissan isn't the only brand that has made "problem cars". I've seen it with Lexus, Acura, Buick, VW, Dodge/Chrysler, and so on.

 

I've owned my 2011 SV since March and the only complaints i have with it is that the a/c seems lame on hot days, i know it gets cooler if you put it on circulate but in my previous car that was not needed except on extremely hot days, this one it is needed on any hot/warm day. I also do not like how twitchy the steering wheel is if you jump on it. My '96 Maxima never did that. That being said i like the Maxima a lot.

 

Hello Everybody! Greetings and Salutations!!! Just got my 12 Metallic Slate SV with Premium Tech Package. Love the car so far even though I had my eye on a Black 12 SV w/Sport Tech. I loved the wheels and smoked headlights on it but I chose the smoother ride over sporty ride. Anyways, only complaint I have is the sound system. It's decent, but owned a 06 Charger R/T with the optional Sound Group 2 System which was very nice! It kills the Bose system in the Max! But hey, much better car all the way around.

 

Congrats. Adding a sub will improve the sound a lot.

 

I see a lot of people mention, GPS, Technology package, Voice commands, iPod/music, files storage.........and maybe may way of thinking is too simplistic (or cheap) but I purchased the 2009 max s... and I have a lil something called an auxiliary headphone jack

Where I use google maps navigation for GPS WICH IS FREE and always works great and up to date automatically with new maps.. also

With google + and GPS it offers restaurants and gas stations continuously

All my music/ playlist are already on my phone so I get continuous playing ... I don't even use my 6disc cd changer...there no point...

I use google voice for just about any voice command....

Use my phone to talk while driving as it uses the car speakers...

Like I said.. maybe I'm just cheap like that but I feel like its a waste of money to get all that extra technology whenit probably does less of what u already have it in your phone..

I actually didn't even notice an aux jack on the SV... Is there one?

 

^Good points. But to me, it's simpler to have those features built into the car. That way, my phone never has to leave my pocket or waist.

 

Once you use an in-vehicle GPS navigation system you'll see how much simpler it is. However the safety features make it a pain to use when driving solo.

 

Just got my 2012 maxima white with charcoal interior premium package, and technology package. I really like the car. I'm still debating if I like the navigation. Before I bought the car I was using a garmin which I loved. I am still trying to figure out a way to get the voice controls to work with less steps.

 

That's a good question. I'd like to just press the button on the steering wheel and say "Call home", but there does not seem to be a way around the 4 or 5 commands you have to say to get to that point.