How is the dual panel roof working so far? I really don't like the sitting on top of the roof look.

Can someone post pics of it open? How does the car handle?

I'm asking because of the latest edmund's review where they don't recommend the sports pkg.

 

There's quite a bit of wind noise when it's open, the deflector isn't really adequate IMO. Personally, I prefer the shades open with the moonroof itself closed; I love the open feel the front and back panels provide. I definitely think the Premium Package is a good value for the money. Here are some pics.:

 

Just as I don't have my power moonroof/sunroof open at speeds over 45 MPH (just too much wind noise, no matter the shape or size of wind deflector), I don't expect to ever have the double-panel roof open at speeds over 45 MPH when I get my Premium '09. This double-panel thingie will be neato for cruisin' down Main Street past the Big Boy Burger or the Sonic Drive-In or the Malt Shoppe. Definitely not for freeway use.

 

Bobxx, that is the exact same car that I am looking to pick up in 6 months or so (Blue with premium packages and cafe int.). Do you mind taking some more pics of it so we can see the whole package. Thanks.

 

Great pics!! I glad that there is a track that it can follow in the back. That adds some security for me that the glass is not just sitting there on the roof secure at one end and loose on the other. I might just consider it. I STILL prefer the inside the body look though.

We'll see!

 

Sure thing. Here you go:

 

Sorry the pics are so crappy, my driveway's full lol...

 

Wow, that car is nice. Thanks for the pics, I cant wait to get my hands on this beast.

 

At least you have ONE in YOUR driveway!!!

 

Thanks. It was a real pain finding a blue/tan one with the premium and tech package. There are supposedly only like a dozen for sale on the entire east coast. Luckily, this one was only an hour away. The navy blue color really looks awesome out in the sun. Good Luck!

 

Well, with a '04 TL, '01 MDX, and '97 Max crammed outside, the '09 ends up getting trapped in the garage!

 

How does the 09 max compare to your 04 TL?

Nice Choice I was never a fan of tan interiors but that interior looks first class from the pictures. (luxury car status) Perfect interior for the dual panel roof, not so hot on the rump on a sunny day. On a side note i never liked white cars either but the 09 max has changed my view on that also.

 

Wow good pics, I like the new body style but I don't see myself paying 40k for it.

 

You won't pay $40K, nobody will pay that unless they pay thousands more than MSRP... I paid less than $35K for one with Premium / Nav / Mats / Splash Guards.....If you want one you can negotiate with most dealers now and if not surely in the late fall.

 

Well, the Maxima has more power, a smoother ride, and overall is just a more comfortable car to ride in. I like the large nav screen and plethora of voice commands in the TL, but Nissan's new system (harddrive-based) is faster, has a better resolution, and allows you to say the address rather than manually type it in. In terms of interior capacity, their numbers are roughly the same. However, the Maxima feels roomier and its trunk size is a lot larger. The rear sports seats are nice (only on premium and sport pkgs), they're nice and supportive. Hopefully the Maxima turns out to be more reliable than the TL, it's been back to the dealership over half a dozen times in the span of the 40k miles it now has on it. I'm still getting use to the CVT, but the paddle shifters are fun to use. The '09 Max was a much better value than when the TL was purchased new back in '05.

 

The sticker on mine was $38485. That's as loaded as you can get from the factory without dealer accessories (spoiler, pin stripes, etc.), and most dealers will come down anywhere from $2k-$4k.

 

BobXX

If you don't mind me asking, how much were you able to talk them down from the $38485 sticker. This is the exact same package that I am looking at except mine will be white with the tan interior.

 

The car handles fine at 70 mph with the top open. To cut down on the wind noise open the back windows till it cuts down on the noise. I have a 09 black/ black, prem. pkg, teck pkg, fact. spoiler, splash guards, and mats with almost 6,000 miles on it. I picked it up 6-30-08. I could have had it on 6-26-08, the first day out but the dealer wanted to drive it on the week end so I let him drive it, he gave me a great deal on it plus big money for a 06 Max with 67,000 miles on it. The car has been great no problems with it.

 

Your dealer wanted to drive your brand new car for the weekend? Am I missing something here?

 

I have purchased alot of cars from him and he has taken very good care of my service needs, out of warrenty repairs, excellent deals on cars, a Z to drive when car is in service, had fact. chrome rims on my 06 Max., they pitted and rusted and he got a new set of rims for me when the car had 40,000 miles on it. I figured 4 days of he and his wife driving it wouldn't hurt, he only put 179 miles on it and I already have almost 6,000 miles on it, it didn't matter, I am a high mileage driver.

 

$36.5k OTD (with tax, tag, doc fees)

 

i talked my dealer down to 34,5 out the door on a precision grey premium package. they will work with you

 

Good to know Gents! Thanks for the honest feedback.

 

I guess the dealing has begun!! He is an email I received today from a dealer in Annapolis, MD.:

"We have a 2009 Nissan Maxima 3.5SV with a MSRP of $35,930.00 your e-price is $33,584.00. The color is winter frost with frost interior the options are, bluetooth, floor and trunk mats, tech package, xenon head lights. We also have a 3.5SV with a MSRP of $37,565.00 your e-price is$34,992.00 the color is precision gray with frost interior the options are, trunk organizer, floor and trunk mats, sport package, sport tech package. Both of these vehicles are on our lot for you to test drive. Please let me know if you would like to come in. Have a nice day."

What do you guys think?

 

drakutis - Both those offers are better than I have been able to get so far. Both are approximately $2500 below MSRP. I would anticipate a better deal than that early next year, maybe even by Thanksgiving, but I will be surprised if you can do much better than that anywhere within the next month.

 

You should be able to do a little better than that. The dealership I bought from initially quoted me $3200 off, and I was able to get them to go lower. You should be able to get ~$3k off, simply counteroffer them. Of course, it all depends on the dealership, the ones I contacted were fairly high volume, so they were willing negotiate quite a bit. Hope you end up getting a good deal. Good Luck!

 

dont complain at all. at least it doesnt open up to where it sits all high just like the scion tc that is just ugly. it looks nice on the max

 

I just test drove both a Sport and a Premium back to back in that order. I wanted to see how the ride compared between the two and I did notice a slight difference in the road feel. The pre had everything but the navi. It absorbed bumps better but still handled the same. The climate controlled seats caught me by surprise, but were very nice. As was the rear sun shade. I must admit that the dual panel roof was not that bad in person. I tugged on it and it didn't move a bit. Seemed really solid. And it closed so smooth and effortlessly. The wood trim isn't bad looking either.I was surprised that it came with the backup camera too! I could definitely live with it and be totally happy with those features. The only downside is I would sacrifice my color choice of Winter frost and Frost interior on the Pre. I have a decision to make!!! The frost is right up my alley because it's not too dark and the latte is a little TOO lite for my taste.

The Sport fully loaded was 38k and they were offering 35k for the deal which I think is not to bad. My concern is the negative on my 05 Xterra. I don't want that rolled over to the MAX, so I'm THINKING of inquiring about a small personal loan to put to the negative and repay that separately from the car loan. I would pay that off quicker than the car anyway. I'll investigate that one. I will also talk to my credit union about a loan and the APR.

Speaking of my truck, I found it hilarious that everyone was asking what year it was and comparing it to the '08 as far as the condition of the truck. It's garaged kept and I only drive her once or twice a week.

I plan on getting the Maxima by the end of the month. Once I come back from vacation.

Wish me luck.

 

drakutis - Best of luck! I am glad you will have your own '09 Maxima to play with. Everyone who has one seems to love it. I also have a color problem in that the frost interior is not available with the Winter Frost exterior on the Premium, so I am 'settling' for cafe latte interior.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

I am selling my 09 maxima sport wheels.19" Anyone interested PM me.
Nice pictures looks a lot like mine

 

I went to the credit union today and they gave me some great news. The personal loan thing is not gonna happen because the APR was just crazy. But I do feel confident that I will be the proud owner of a 2009 Maxima before the end of October!

 

Light...

You aren't "settlin" for winter frost with cafe latte interior. I had it on my '04. Loved it. Currently in the blue with cafe late in my '07. Will return to the winter/cafe on my 2010!

 

My dual panel moonroof is working fine... I couldn't own this car without the premium package. It be just like any other car, IMO.

MM1

 

I'm not sure I have seen this specifically addressed before, but the Premium and Sports packages include an awful lot of goodies, and it is those packages (plus maybe the tech package) that move this '09 Maxima from a very good car to maybe the best-equipped FWD sedan anywhere near its price range.

And those who don't find the body shape attractive, muscular and athletic while just walking around this car must be taller or shorter than I am, and are seeing it from a different angle.

But then maybe I have just drunk the Maxima Kool-Aid . . .

 

The sports package would only be a sports package if it gave the car a rwd configuration. Perhaps I'm a bit biased, but the handling modifications just won't cut it. I'd rather think of this as a luxury sedan, with a few sporty highlights, not a sports sedan with luxury highlights. So I opted for more trinkets.

Having to scroll the wheel on an iPod, as well as find some place to put it blows ***. How many cars have regular moonroofs? How many cars have dual panel moonroofs? Auto up/down windows, rear seat controls, cooled driver seat etc. were a must. Check that as an option and you've got a car that's more than just a V6 camry/accord- you've got a car that turns heads and makes people say "that's a Nissan"?

MM1

 

And when you get to be my (ancient) age, you will add the heated steering wheel to that list. I use it from late October to the end of April.

You and I think alike, which is why the Premium package became a 'must' for me as soon as I read about it back on March 19th.

 

These things are why I have an 09 on the way (Due for delivery on 9/26!) Being a female myself, I have already named her "Sassy", and something tells me she will be turning heads Anybody else name their cars besides me?

 

Great minds think alike. Hell, I forgot about the heated wheel. I plan on using it a lot, as long as the wife's not driving my car all the time since it's an AT now.

Meh, when I was younger maybe. I've always felt like automobiles were male, not female (for male drivers) They are comrades, not lovers.

MM1

 

Always. But I usually don't tell anyone outside my family. I named my '49 Studebaker 'Black Pearl' (can't believe it was 59 years ago I was tooling around in that neato black beauty). Among the other dozens, I remember 'Gray Ghost' ('66 Olds Delta 88, named after the famous Guy Sharp, aka 'Gray Ghost', who was a TV weatherman in Atlanta for what seemed like three lifetimes). I named my silver '78 Datsun 200SX 'Silver Belle'. I had two '85 Maximas, and my wife named the one she drove 'Frieda' (because the automated voice that was always speaking to her sounded like her tennis partner Frieda), and I named mine 'Esmeralda', because I felt that was an appropriate name for a woman that never shut up (the automated voice in the car). I named my '00 SE 'Robin', because the smoke blue color reminded me of the soft blue color of robin's eggs.

My dozens of other cars had names also, but that is trivia . . .

 

I feel that car, ships, boats and planes need feminine names. Individual parts may be male. For instance, tires are male, because they are often overinflated, and usually go bald.