I am asking this from a perspective that if we can really elaborate on what attracts us to the Maxima, hopefully there will be some feedback to Nissan to help them keep on track with what sells the Maxima to customers. I chose to post this here so we can perhaps provide feedback to Nissan on where we would like to see them go with future Maximas, and 7th gen owners have the most current perspective, although other gen owners are certainly welcome to contribute.

I first got involved on a coworkers recommendation. When I looked at the 96 Maxima, I was impressed with the room compared to Accords and Camrys, as well as fit and finsh and performance. A Motor Trend article cited the car as being rock steady at 142 MPH, although I have to admit I never got it up to that speed.

Magazine reviews of the Maxima have been mediocre, so we are seeing something in the Maxima reviewers somehow miss. Let's help Nissan tell the story!

 

Well, for me it all began in 1986. I fell in love with Maximas way back then and ever since all I ever wanted to drive was a Maxima.

I've own a 2k, a 2k3 and now a 2k9 Maxima and Nissans have been with me since I bought my first one (Altima) in 93 when they first released them.

I've owned 3 Altimas one 93, a 96 and currently a 2k4, to me it is obvious for me to not drive any other brand.

What attracts me to this version of Maxima is first how it looks, this thing just literally snaps necks, when I'm rolling down the street I've seen ppl speed up from behind me just to get a look at my car.

I've had ppl stop me in parking lots or different places to ask what type of car is it, but it really goes beyond the looks for me, it is what you get for what you pay in comparison with other cars.

I like FWD so not having RWD or AWD isn't a showstopper when it comes to buying a car, this car doesn't look like anything else on the road, it's pretty good on gas mileage (my car keeps doing better each time I take a long trip), it has all the amenities (some of which you don't find on even more expensive cars), it has great reliability (my other Maximas are still good to go and well over 200k and 100k (all original motor/trans), it has room for 5 but I usually carry no more than 4, the trunk is a decent size, it has that can't live without Thigh Extension, bluetooth, Nav and the list goes on and on.

This car just fits me too, the engine is more than powerful enough to run with and hang with cars with far more HP and TQ, it highly moddable and the CVT is versatile enough to shift as a manual (not a traditional one) and give you better control over a regular automatic plus it stays in gear especially when in DS Mode.

I've driven plenty of cars in this class but for me none of the other FWD cars handles as well as this car does, this thing does carry the "sports" tag so I didn't expect it to ride soft like a Lincoln or a Buick and that's ok with me.

The stereo sounds crisp and refined and the interior is on par with Audi's, to get another car that fits what this car has in its' top trip with all the bells, goodies and whitles you'd have to spend 10's of thousands more.

The next time you ask this question don't be upset when I tell you that you do not have enough room for me to write a book

 

Well my 2k9 is my first Maxima. I have been a hyundai driver for the last 12 years. Owned an elantra then 2 sonatas. Never really been a car guy. First saw some pics of the new Maxima last fall and it looked real interesting to me. Saw one in person in March and REALLY loved the looks. So when i went to look at new cars, Maxima as top on my list. I want FWD due to New England winter and many hills in my town. I LOVE this car. It looks fantastic and I am very surprised to find (for a non car guy) how much I love the feel of the car. It just handles so smoothly. It comfortable and has more toys than I could ask for. But the initial thing I will say is the way it looks. Just sweet looking.

 

I went with the 09 Maxima because of the comfort of the seats first. I have enough back issues and no matter how nice, cool, fast, etc a car is, if it aggrevates my back, I don't want it.

Next after the seats, it wasn't a "me too" car. Every 3rd car you seem to see on the road is an Accord or Camry. Nothing wrong with them, I had an Accord, but the new Max wasn't nearly the "me too" car that everyone else has.

 

i started dating my nissan maxima () in 1997. owned a 97 se, then 00 se and now just purchased an 09 SV. the car is reliable, sporty, classy, and worth every penny. i love the comment above about people speeding up to see what it is. today i was watching 2 guys in my mirror using their hands to describe to each other in the car regarding the "flares" on the 09. i LOVE driving this car. Ive driven my friends 08 BWM 5 series, another Mercedes C class, and lexus IS, this car blows all of them away, including in the price. my 09 SV has every option you can get and i will pay about 10k less than any other 4DSC (4 door sports car) on the road.

I would rate it so far a 9.5 out of 10, just how i like my women. i only say 9.5 bc there is no such thing as a perfect 10, or at least i havent met her yet.

 

I have been a huge Nissan fan for many years. It all started with my 93 NX 2000 and went from there. I have have had Pathfinders, and Altima's and Sentras and 1 300z but this is my first Maxima. I was looking at the Maxima and love the new body style. It looks mean and different from the "me too" cars that are out there. I was originally going to get a Murano LE but the availablilty and price made me "settle" for a 09 SV prem instead.
Best settling I have ever done!!!!

 

My 2K9 Max is my second Nisaan. I also own a 1987 Nissan 200SX XE which I bought brand new. It currently has over 281,000 miles. I bought my Max for several reasons: the history of my 200SX, but mostly style, the combination of bells & whsitles, how it feels when I drive, but mainly I can fit into it. Being 6'7", I can't into everything.

 

I was going to get a Murano also until I figured out that the Max has more head room when both are equipped with a sunroof.

 

Why did I buy a Maxima?

Because obviously I'm a sadist and love to have people constantly nagging me with stupid comments like "don't you miss the manual transmission" or "don't you wish it was RWD" or "Why did you buy a Nissan, Honda/Toyota is so much better"

LOL

 

^ But you already have that, RWD, manual, toyota/honda beating car, its called the three seventy zee

 

Uh huh but this isn't the 370Z forum... I love my Maxima for what it is and I love my Z. Their like kids except I got to spec them out..

 

Good comparison lolll, i see what you mean.

 

I too, have had people pull up next to me to see my car. I've had several comments, questions, and long looks. I have walked out of restaurants to find people standing near and discussing my car. It's pretty funny to me.

Why I bought it, it definitely had more bang for the buck. I love the power, the looks, the amenities. It is the best car in its class and it is really close to the luxury cars. I think if they had put real wood trim in the car, and RWD, it could be on par with Infiniti. Just my thoughts.

Best purchase I've made since my house.

 

Up front - I've owned a 2nd gen (170,000 miles or so) and currently own a 5th gen 20AE (90,000-ish).

Except for the period immediately following ownership of the 2nd gen, Nissan (and Datsun before that) have generally had at least one model on my "short list" since 1970-ish. The 2nd gen had one serious, continuing problem (transmission input shaft bearing self-disassembly, times three) and lots of little ones (instrument panel switches), so Nissan was off the list for all of the 1990's.

Before the question comes up as to why I've only had two Nissans over almost 40 years, my car-buying cycle has ranged between six and eight years. That's significant, as one of my criteria for purchase has been an affirmative answer to the internal question "will I still be happy enough with this car after the loan has been paid off to keep it?", and the biggest part of that comes down to "is it that much fun to drive?", with externally-oriented matters of projected image, style or being seen in it being irrelevant. That's just me.

So in the case of both Maximas the answers to the above have been 'yes'. Even in the case of the 2nd gen, the fun factor still outweighed the repair inconveniences by enough to keep the car (side note: transmission repair really can be done on a DIY basis and it is entirely possible for DIY work to outlast both the OE build and the shop work, at considerably less expense and about equal down time).

Maximas have traditionally had slightly more 'sport' built into their character than comparable models from either Honda or Toyota (or most US domestic alternatives, for that matter). I truly think that Nissan needs to keep this in mind as it's a significant part of what has differentiated them from the others. I would not like to see this dulled by overly aggressive electronic interference in the driving experience (think intrusive levels of stability control, brake assist, etc., here) or "refined" out entirely. Bland = no basis for actively choosing.

I agree with the statement made previously about the lukewarmish press that the Maxima has received, contrasted against what the current Chevrolet Malibu has enjoyed, for example.


Norm

 

Back in the late 1970s, I was driving a Datsun 200SX (Datsun changed its name to Nissan in the 1983-84 period), and aspired to move up to a Datsun 810. Then, in 1981, Datsun changed the name of the 810 to 'Maxima', and a close friend of mine bought one (he chose the diesel version). Having already been hooked by the Datsun 810 years earlier, it was easy for me to fall hard for its newer version named 'Maxima.'

At that time, I had a kid in college, and a kid about ready to start college, so it was late 1984 before I made the move. I ended up with two 1985 Maximas (one was my wife's, of course). My '85 Maxima was easily the best car I had ever owned (I had been driving since 1949), and is still my all-time favorite vehicle. I put 206,000 miles on that car before trading it on a newer Maxima. I saw my '85 Maxima still tooling around town about four years ago, so it evidently had a lot of good miles left when I traded it in.

I decided back in the 1990s that, instead of buying my Maximas in a random fashion, I would buy a new Maxima the first year of each generation, and so bought a 2000, a 2004 and a 2009. I expect to buy a 2014 Maxima in summer of 2013.

Before one assumes I am automatically buying Maximas, that isn't totally true. If I ever decide the Maxima is not the best car for the money for me, or doesn't meet all my needs and desires, or doesn't move me stylewise, or isn't reliable, I will switch. So far, I haven't had to contemplate such a change.

All my Maximas have been very good to me, and it has hurt emotionally to part with every one of them. My '09 is a marvelous vehicle, and will be very difficult to let go when the 8th gemeration Maxima arrives.

 

8TH Gen is going to have some serious styling and other cues to make me think about giving up my 09, something tells me that this car will end up holding it's timeless beauty as a throwback classic as the years passes by.

The only car I can see giving up my 09 for is a Corvette....YUM!

 

So they'll have to pry this nice '09 from your cold dead hands, eh?

I think this '09 sold very slowly last summer because, in photos, it looks like just another car. But once folks began seeing this '09 on the road, they saw a very different, and very beautiful vehicle. As a result, sales of this '09 have improved considerably in recent months. if the 8th generation Maxima styling is radically different, this 7th gen could indeed become a desirable classic.

Corvette? Obviously you usually travel light. A Corvette is not the car for anyone with a flock of beautiful grandaughters, or a family that takes weeklong trips frequently. For such situations, only a Maxima will do.

 

I bought it because there was nothing out there that could match the combination of styling, features, performance and price. The nav and audio are top notch, the dual pane sunroof is really slick, and it even gets good mileage. I was shopping for a Lexus, Infiniti or BMW, but I could not get past having a payment that was easily $150 more per month on a lease for a car that was only marginally better than the Maxima. 2 Months, 2200 miles, no regrets.

 

My 06 Altima SE-R was coming off lease and I thought I was going to go back to a GTI since Nissan no longer offers the SE-R option. Then I saw what would become Captain Janeway on the showroom floor and had to have it. SV+sport+tech. Love it.

 

My relationship with nissan started in 90's, my grandfather had an 86 (car spoke to you, lol) and my uncle had another 88, which I bought from him and my brother had a 93. My grandfather's car had about 180K on it and it never died on him he took great care of it. the only thing was rust on those cars he finally gave the car to one of his nephew's to this day the car is still in service. Since then this is my 3rd maxima (88, 98, 08) Our family has been a nissan family for a long time. so to answer the question of why i would say RELIABILITY, QUALITY, CLASS, STYLE, PERFORMANCE. Nissan just made a great car in the maxima. I do plan to buy another once this one has served me or until i get tired driving it, which is no time soon

 

My story begins in 1986. At the time I had been a Toyota Celica driver. After a rather unfortunate accident totalled the car, the husband of one of my employees recommended the Maxima (of course he was the salesman). After one test ride, I was hooked. She was a black '87 five speed and she handled like a dream. Since then, I have had five other Maximas. I am currently in a '07 but will be moving into a new one this November. In the meantime my wife has had two Pathfinders and is currently in a 350Z. We have nothing but praise for the Nissan product. You simply can not get the quality and features that Nissan offers at this price point in most other lines. They are reliable, fun, and economical vehicles.

Note to dealer...please keep this in mind when I come knocking this fall!

 

I figured since my last Maxima has lasted me 15 years, a new replacement should last 15-20. Honestly, I think these cars are the new Honda when it comes to reliability. Plus, for the money nothing else even compares to it. Finally, the styling of the new body style is just awesome.

 

HP + wide tires + sedan = kickA55 commute car

 

quality and dependable vehicle

Willie
www.djwillie.com

 

I had a 91 240sx that sold me on the reliability of a Nissan, and I wanted/needed a family car that is anti buick century.

 

Second Max i have had 5th Nissan Best performing bang for the buck.

 

I had a pathfinder and went to the dealer to trade it in for a Titan. Of course all that changed when i was walking through the show room floor to meet the sales guy who had the Titan out front and seen the Maxima on the floor. We never even looked at the Titan had him pull the Max out of show room floor drove it and bought it. Love this car, and it is my first Maxima. Having a feeling it wont be my last.

 

Like many on here - my purchase of the '09 Maxima has its roots going back many years.

My earliest memory of having a 'favorite car' was the Datsun 280ZX. I was 8 years old when it came out. This was the beginning of a lifetime love of cars.

Years later, when my older sister purchased her first car, at the age of 16, the only car she could afford was a used (model year 1976, I believe) Datsun B210. This car was technically 'totaled', and it had a slightly bent frame. She got it for $400.00. A couple of years later, when I got my driver's license, I inherited this POS and drove it for another couple of years. As much as I hated this Datsun B210, it was still from the same manufacturer of my much-desired 280ZX, and Datsun was my first car...so Nissan has had a nostalgic flair for me throughout the years.

My second new-car purchase as a 2000 Nissan Frontier. With this pick-up, my appreciation for Nissan grew. And funny as it sounds, I became convinced that nobody made a better A/C unit than Nissan. The one in this Frontier was cold and powerful. Living in AZ, this matters.

My next new-car purchase was a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. A total step up in comfort from the Frontier, and my appreciation for Nissan grew – and my belief that they make the best damn AC in the industry. In a fit of temporary insanity, I got rid of this Pathfinder in ’07, and I’ve been kicking myself ever since. It’s quite possible that getting rid of this Pathfinder will be the car transaction I complain about from now through my old age.

My next new-car purchase was an ’06 Honda Odyssey. Nice family car – we’ve still got it – but it’s a mini-van. And its AC unit further convinced me that nobody can touch Nissan in this area.

Next, I purchase an ’07 Honda Civic Hybrid. Drove it for about a year until I couldn’t take it anymore and then gave it to my in-laws. Finally, I bought the ’09 Maxima as my replacement for the Honda Civic.

With the ’09 Maxima – my belief in Nissan being King of the Hill regarding their AC units remains validated.

So, returning to the original question, “Why did I purchase this Maxima?” This car was a dream-come-true for this former 8 year-old boy that used to fantasize over the Datsun 280ZX. It is the perfect combination of the features I was looking for in a car (had to be 4-door, for example, as I have two small kids), had to have a degree of luxury, and had to have the right combination of performance & looks. Had to have an automatic transmission (or CVT), as my wife can’t drive a manual and she drives this car often. And the car had to be justifiable based on what I would get for the $$.

For its price range, I think the Nissan Maxima offers the best value out there. It is truly one analogue clock away from an Infiniti badge on the front, and it’s a blast to drive.

I’ve had it for over a year now, and I’ve never regretted the purchase for a moment. I suspect I’ll own Maxima’s for years going forward, if they continue to deliver in future generations what they delivered with this one.

 

lightonthehill reads vagabundo94's post twice, and sits back with a big smile on his face with memories flashing through his head. (light came to Nissan from Datsun also).

 

I like the unique look of the car.

 

I read yours with a smile, as well!

 

I wish the car had more torque.

 

Ummm. Maybe a tad slow off the line, but from 40MPH to 80MPH, there may not be another family sedan with the features and class of this '09 Maxima, and at its price, that can keep up. I don't even need all the torque this thing has. For highway driving, I can think of no situation where more torque is really needed.

If you're headed for the track, a near-luxury 3600 pound FWD CVT vehicle was never designed for that.

 

That is because there is more hp than torque. If there were more torque then it would have more power off the line.

 

Lol, indeed There is a few more factors involved in getting the car off the line quicker. Most of which the 09 Max is not capable of handling at this moment.

 

I suspect that there's a WHOLE lot more to in than just the quasi-static advertised torque and HP numbers.

Engine torque is (crudely) a function of engine efficiency and displacement. Engines are most efficient at or near the rpm at which peak torque is developed, and the efficiency progressively falls of as you move further away from that rpm in either direction. HP is a function of torque and RPM. It's almost that simple (for the purposes of this discussion anyway).

Perhaps you're referring to the actual amount of low-rpm torque? A 3.5L engine, normally aspirated can only put out so much torque at rpms well below the rpm at which peak torque is developed simply because it doesn't work as efficiently down there.

There's more.

Rate of throttle opening (it IS a drive-by-wire throttle, right?). What happens at the throttle plate(s) is not necessarily in lock-step with what your right foot is doing. It can be made to behave either faster or slower.

Rate of change in the effective CVT ratio. This may be an issue of perception, as CVT's tend to "motorboat" a bit which bothers some drivers more than others (engine revs up but road speed does not rise proportionately, may feel somewhat disconnected or "out of step").

I'm not that familiar with the newer generation PCMs, but there may be some torque management going on as a durability measure. Seems like it would be easy enough to add a transmission ratio variable as a correction to the fuel and ignition mapping once the tranny is under electronic control anyway.


Norm

 

Why do you plan towing a boat?

 

Got that right, may as well call me Clint Eastwood, LOL!!


Yes, Corvette!! I luv Vettes and I'm going to get me one when I retire from the Army, I know it isn't the car for a family or for long trips but I'm glad I don't have any Grandchildren yet (knock on wood) which is exactly why I want this car.

I want to enjoy the car before the mid-life crisis ends and the Grandpa stage kicks in, I told my daughters that I didn't want to be a Grandad until I was at least 50.

As far as long trips though, I still have my 03 Maxima that is in excellent condition and can still satisfy my Maxima sweettooth. he he!

 

Hi all, first post here! New owner here and thought this would be a good place to start.

This is my third Maxima. I owned a 1995 and a 2001. I liked the 95 a lot, but was not crazy about the '01, and had no intention of buying another. I drove a fairly extensive list of cars including all the usual suspects.

- Cadillac CTS
- Mazda 6
- Mazda CX9
- Honda Accord
- Hyundai Genesis
- Hyundai Sonata
- Mercedes E350 (used)
- BMW 535 (used)
- BMW 335/328
- Lexus G350
- Acura TL
- Acura RDX
- Infinity G37

And some others. I'm not going into detail on all of them, but out of this list, the only one I felt was a truly better car was the V8 Genesis. It was also a LOT more money and RWD only, and there were no incentives on them at all to soften the blow. The Mercedes left me cold, but was a nice solid car overall; just not worth the premium even in the pre-owned market. The 5 series BMW's were just too much money for the what I was getting (IMO) and the 3 Series was just too compact. The TL was nice, but the styling concerned me, and I didn't get along well with the local dealer. In the end, it came down to the G37 and the Maxima (which seems to be a reoccurring theme around here...). As I mentioned before, this was never about money - I set a cap of $40,000 and vowed to work within that range, as tempting as it was to push it to $50,000 - 50K seems to open a whole new door in the low millage pre-owned market that intrigued me, but I didn't give in to temptation

The G37 was a fabulous car in almost every respect. From purely a performance perspective, it was the better car. From a comfort and convenience perspective, I liked the Maxima. I have 4 kids (triplet boys and a daughter) so interior space was important to me. I felt that the G was just a little to cramped, especially on those (admittedly rare) occasions when I have to cram three in the back. I also liked the exterior styling of the new Max better. The fact that the Nissan dealer was fantastic to work with helped seal the deal, although the Infiniti dealer was pleasant enough for the most part. The real killer is that there is only ONE Infiniti dealer in the my area, and its about an hour away on a light traffic day. They are thinking about opening a service center closer to me, but it would still be 30-45 minutes away. For some, this is not an issue, but I had this problem with my Saab and vowed to never put myself in that position again: it was a real nightmare. Note that I used VPP for this purchase, so a lot of the haggling was already done. I might have been able to negotiate an even better deal, but they threw in some things to sweeten it, and with the rebates being offered, I decided to keep it simple.

Things I like:

- CVT: I thought I'd hate it, but as I use it more and more, its pretty slick. I always have torque the instant I need it - no need to downshift. The paddle shifter logic is also pretty good and "shifts" are fast and smooth. When I'm bombing along on back roads, its nice to be able to hold a ratio (synthetic as it may be) and fire out to the next corner. I'm surprised the media has been so harsh on it. I a day where we're staring to 7 speed transmissions, at what point do we ackowledge that CVT might be the better way? 8 ratios? 9? 10? Yikes....

- Engine: 290HP is enough HP for me with this car. 300+ would be better, but torque steer would likely become an issue. As it stands, I can feel a little wiggle when I really hammer it, but it is always controllable. As it stands, things a quiet and smooth under the hood, with just enough noise to keep it interesting.

- Bose: I've had good luck and bad luck with Bose audio. I wouldn't own Bose in my home system, but they seem to have done a nice job tuning it for this car. The iPod interface is excellent, and having seamless access to my 30gig library is really nice. Bear in mind I came out of a WRX that had the worst stock stereo I had ever experienced in a car, so that may cloud my judgment, but I remember the stereo in my Saab 9-5 Aero being good, and Bose in the Max blows it away.

- Suspension: I didn't get the sport package. I usually make that choice and then regret it so this time I passed on it. I'm glad I did. The stock suspension seems to do a commendable job controlling body roll and provides enough feedback to be highly entertaining without the drawback of a harsh ride normally associated with a firm suspension. In case your wondering, I got the premium package only - no nav.

- Vented Seat: Not much to say other than this feature always seemed superfluous to me until I had it. Now I get it

- Bluetooth: How did I ever live without this? Every car should have this standard.

- Seat comfort: Although I could live with a little more side bolstering, the seats are very comfortable and well finished. The leather quality is very good and matched most everything else I drove.

- Glass Roof: I never used the sunroof much in previous cars, but even if I just retract the covers, it gives a really nice view out and really helps open things up. My daughter loves it, BTW.

Things I don't like:

- No AWD: Not an option, but it was the one thing I really hated to give up in the G37. Ultimately, I don't drive a lot in the snow, but AWD isn't all about foul weather; there are performance benefits as well.

- Its "only a Nissan": I could actually also put this in the "Likes" column depending on my mood. Generally, I'm not here to impress anyone, and I never have to feel uncomfortable saying "I drive a Nissan" to anyone, nor do I have to apologize for it. Its simply a great car. Still, I'll admit to having a vane streak and say that it would be nice to flaunt a badge from time to time.

- Some trim bits: I'm really nitpicking here. Overall the interior is very nicely finished, and there there hasn't been a time when I thought "wow, that's really nasty...", but there are a couple of VERY minor areas where I would have liked to have had a better tactile experience. The faux wood trim (plasti-wood) looks OK, but if they would have simply selected a different hue with a richer grain, it would make a lot of difference visually. How hard/expensive could that be?

- The price: OK, so I'm contradicting myself on this point. On the one had, I think the car is a bargain for what it is given the features and performance, and it could easily wear and Infiniti/Lexus/Acura badge with pride with some minor trim revisions, but it still hurts to spend this kind of cash on a Maxima. I suppose its just a sign of the times, but the Max I bought in 1995 was similarly loaded and out the door for, I think, around $27,500. For some reason, that car felt like more of a bargain, but obviously that was close to 15 years ago. It probably stung just as much then, but I suppose we remember the good times more than the bad.

The only negative dealer experience was the zeal with which they tried to shove the extended warranty down my throat in the F&I office. In the past, this has been a 10 second "do you want it/no" discussion but this guy REALLY pushed. After we got through that, he was fine. My sales rep was great through the entire process, and she really did know the product well. The fact that they basically gave me the car for a day to drive and get my wife's/kid's approval was also nice. As much as I like to make selfish decisions in a vacuum, those days are behind me for the foreseeable future

Clearly, I'm happy with my choice. I really like the car as does the family. Millage seems good but its too early to tell. I'll report in with some numbers after I've got some real miles on the car. The only thing I worry about is reliability; not so much because its a Nissan but that there is just so much "stuff' on the car. All that technology makes me a little nervous, but nothing I drove could be considered crude, and in this respect at least the "Nissan" badge might have real benefits compared to, say, "Mercedes".

I hope this review/novel helps some shoppers. I will say that if you're looking for more performance and don't need the space, look hard at the G37 - simply a fantastic car. If you're looking for more luxury and a killer bargain, take at look at the Hyundai Genesis - it is fabulous and it scares me how far the Korean company has come in such a short time. If you would like a little fun in your drive but your budget comes up a little short on the Maxima, drive a new Mazda 6 with the V6 engine - it is a very impressive car for the money (IF you get a deal on it, otherwise its pretty close to Max money) and only interior trim detail and fit and finish let it down. If you need a LOT of room and like to drive, I don't think there is a better SUV on the planet than the Mazda CX-9. Somewhere in between lies the Maxima, and it works for me

 

thestumper - Very well worded, and not much there that I would see very differently than you do. I greatly enjoy reading a thoughtful and detailed opinion explaining how and why a person chooses a Maxima, and yours was an excellent explanation indeed. Welcome to the ORG!