they don't need the 3.7 on the fwd but if they were to add a awd model then the 3.7 should be applied there. i understand that 290hp is all that is needed on a fwd car. but my whole thing is that to stay competitive with other companys that have cars compareable they should add the awd option with the 3.7. with the murano having an awd option and they are built on the same platform it should work. but all in all these are just possibilities got to let the 7th gen play out for a lil while so see how many can be sold and if it becomes a big enough hit then the awd will be the best bet to me. to bring in more customers. all of the other companys have a awd sedan in there line up but nissan. with this new maxima its time for them to come up with there own

 

I don't get what the fascination with AWD is, AWD is just a false sense of security, you only need to pass a body shop after a snow storm to see all the 4wd/awd sitting on the lot waiting for new bumpers, it's great but no one is pushing their car to the limits to even benefit from it

My Maxima does fine in the rain, I probably drive faster then my friend in his A4 with Quattro AWD,

I like it and want it but do I need it really, my brothers 300C has it but even he said if you get one, get it without the AWD, I can see the need for it on luxury vehicles cause really what do they have left when it comes to options

I think the Maxima is more then fine the way it is an Nissan is doing an excellent job of separating the 2 divisions, the Acura TL with FWD will have a base price of 34k and the AWD model will be 42k, people are all ready getting upset the Maxima has an MSRP of 36-38k fully loaded

 

It's because we all drive high-mileage fourth gens, with old craptastic nearly-blown front suspensions, and rotted motor mounts, so attempting to do a WOT launch, you wheel hop like a *****. The logical assumption is that if you're roasting the front tires and bouncing the front end with 190hp, if you want to put down 290hp, it will be even worse.

So, the next step is to assume that RWD/AWD will solve all of those problems. You can put a lot more power down in RWD than FWD, due simply to the nature of torque and weight transfer, and anyone who has ever gone sideways in a RWD car in the snow knows that you want at least some power to the front in bad weather.

AWD, and to a lesser extent RWD, makes a big difference in the launch of the car. That's why there are some Subarus and stuff that could toast a Max from a dig, but from a 30mph roll, the Max will kick some ***.

But, how many people actually drag race a Maxima? It's obviously not meant for drag racing. For the price of a 2k9 Maxima, you could buy a 87 notchback foxbody, drop in a LS1, and run 9 second 1/4 mile all day.

At higher speeds, AWD loses its advantage over RWD (Nascar, Formula 1, etc. are all RWD). From 30mph, up until triple digits, the 290hp FWD Maxima can run a similar weight, lesser HP, AWD car.

 

and both or them are neptunes blue.... but yea the awd doesn't have to be the fastest normal driving wise the plus i just want the maxima to be better then the TL there i said it
http://www.leftlanenews.com/acura-tl-review.html
the tl is looking good on paper but ugly compared to maxima

 

AWD sounds nice, and folks living in the Blue Ridge Mountains go for AWD/4WD because it becomes important on mountain roads during winter weather. I would consider AWD if I lived in the mountains or way up north, although I try to stay off the road when it is covered with snow and ice.

But for driving in Charlotte or Atlanta or Dallas or Los Angeles type weather, the negatives of AWD outweigh the positives. It adds a chunk of money to the original cost of the vehicle. It can cost a chunk of money to repair. Almost every vehicle Consumer Reports tests that is available in both 2WD and AWD gets better MPG with 2WD.

I personally would not be interested in an AWD Maxima, but understand why some folks would be.

 

yea to tell the truth i think that the fwd is fine since thats all i have driven. but i guess being a true die hard maxima fan all ways like to see the maxima on top vs any thing you put up against it in its class. i live in the south (nc) so fwd is all that is really needed. but spent the summer in conecticut in the mountains and finally saw the fuss about awd. those mountain road had my max struggling climbing the hills sometimes even having to put it in 2nd or 1st gear to get up. if i had the awd i would have had no problem and the snow they was telling me about up there and you still got it get where you go b/c is regular i want the maxima to be able to handle that. all i saw up there was 4x4 and mazdaspeed6's and subaru's. if a madza 6 and taurus and 300 can all have a awd option the maxima should have one i think nissan needs a awd in there lineup other then the GTR and if they really want this to be the 4DSC they ethier gonna need the manual or the awd. or both and the mags will have nothin but praises to report. and it will be on top of the game where it should be. like it was with the 3rd gen and 4th gen the game has change and with out one of the two the maxima will always be the outsider. it still has potential, get better with each (most changes) change. but it always leave room for things to be desired. Nissan need to just add these options and cash in. then they well sell them like they were with the 4th gen.