As some of you know, I have been a long fan of Nissan and Infiniti products. I have a 05 FX35 and now a 10 Maxima SV.

Way back when I got my Infiniti and the salesman there asked me what other cars I was looking at and I mentioned the Maxima and Altima he said to me, "Oh you don't want to go with those. Having a Infiniti is like eating at a fine dining restaurant, while having a Nissan is like going to McDonalds!"

That is a direct quote from the Infiniti salesman. I got kind of annoyed at what he said and I replied with, "I'm surprised you would put down your parent company like that because if it wasn't for Nissan, Infiniti wouldn't even be in existence and since Infiniti has Nissan parts all over the place, you really are putting down Infiniti's products as well."

Long story short, that Infiniti salesman turned me off from getting my FX from him and I went down the road and got it from another Infiniti dealer that gave me a much better price .

I was at that same local Infiniti dealer last week, where the salesman made that snarky remark about Nissan all those years ago, because I was looking at several of the new M37s they just got in. I walked into the showroom and low and behold there was a brand new 2010 Maxima SV next to G37 and one of the new M37s. I looked at it and they had it all cleaned up so I went up to one of the salesman and asked him what a Maxima was doing in a Infiniti showroom?

He says to me, "Well, our sales manager was owed a huge favor from the Nissan dealer down the street so they gave him this new Maxima . He drove it around for a few hundred miles and he liked it so much and felt it looked more like a Infiniti that he wanted to showcase it off to people when they came in." I still am surprised they did this because I never saw a different makers vehicle in someone else showroom but it just goes to show you that this new Maxima is really something! To the point that a Infiniti dealership felt so great about it to put it in their showroom! I was surprised they kept the Nissan emblems on the car, didn't rip them off, and replace them with Infiniti emblems and try to pass it off to some stupid avg Joe off the street as a Infiniti rather than a Nissan!

Just goes to show how stupid and wrong that Infiniti salesman was about the Maxima all those years ago. The jokes on him with this new Maxima because it looks a hell of a lot more sporty/aggressive in body style then the current G37 does.

Just thought you all would find this story interesting!

 

Most sales people at dealerships are noobs anyway. We know more than them and they are the ones selling the product! lol

 

Your are 100% correct in that assessment! I remember when I got the Max last year, EVERY SINGLE QUESTION I asked about the car, the salesman either didn't know that answer or had to look it up. I mean it got to the point it was ridiculous. I knew more than him and then he really tried to be a nobb and say, " oh well not many people coming to Nissan can afford the Maxima so we don't get to deal with it as much as the others." excuse excuse excuse

Nissan has been selling between 4-6k Maxima's a month since summer of 2008 so there are plenty of people buying them. Just another nobb excuse.

 

Try talking to a Mazda dealership about the RX-8. For that to be their flagship vehicle, they were absolutely in the dark about it. There were times when I was there getting service done and had salesmen asking me about how I liked the car and ended up educating them on it.

 

thats funny haha i remember the nissan dealers i went to didnt know anything about the car one sales man just said that "the sport package made it sportier" and "the premium made it more premium" and he pulled out the brochure to read us the specifics
by the way how was the m37 in person?
i personally like the maxima better then the g37
i just want the g37 powertrain in the maxima...

 

lol when I went to test drive the 7th gen coughabusecough, they told me it had 270 hp lol. When the guy saw my car, he was like...Is that a Maxima? V6?

Definitely a face-palm moment lol.

 

That guy was feeding you lines too! They are always wanting to sell cars. lol

 

of the Maxima in the Inifniti showroom

 

We probably need to see things from both sides, and maybe cut those salesfolks a little slack. After all, most of them were probably selling Subarus or Suzukis a year ago.

Probably the most important factor is that we show up at the Nissan dealership very interested in Maximas. We have already read about Maximas, and know all the essentials. By the time I head to the dealer, I have 'lived' Maximas on the internet for weeks, or even months. I would be absolutely stunned if the salesperson knew as much about Maximas as I did.

But then that same salesperson knows FAR MORE than I do about Altimas, Armadas, Cubes, Frontiers, Leafs, Muranos, Pathfinders, Quests, Rogues, Sentras, Titans, Versas, Xterras, 370Zs, etc, etc.

Fair is fair, and I don't think it is fair to expect a sales person to be an expert on every one of Nissan's endless lines of vehicles; especially one that represents only a small fraction of Nissan's overall sales.

After all, most automobile salesfolks are souls who were poorly qualified for any other job. We need to keep that in mind. I tend to cut them slack also because I know how tough it is to have a hungry family at home, and spend the day waiting at the dealership window praying even one customer will show up that day. It is a really tough life.

 

Normally I would agree with you light and give the guys some slack but I mean it was ridiculous at times. He couldn't tell what color combos were available, or what packages had what components to it. I'm talking the basic stuff to the car. What more frustrating is Nissan's complex option packages which some cancel or eliminate others and if the salesman don't know then how the hell are we suppose to?

 

What possible reason would I have to make something like this up??? I'm so sorry I didn't have my digital camera with me to take a picture. Like that is really something I carry around with me when I go look at cars on Sunday.

 

Its funny cuz the Maxima and G35 used to be the ugliest cars in their class. Most ppl would buy them because of the "bang for the buck" factor. The new ones, however, are both near the top in terms of looks and features.

Nissan/Infinti and Ford are both my favorite non German brands rite now

BTW we have alot of joint Nissan/Infinti dealerships in Canada. By that I mean they carry all the Nissan and Infinti products in one dealership and the staff is trained to handle both brands...

 

I agree with you smarty but you must admit it would have been nice to post a pic with the story. Funny story thought. That person was probably just waiting for the first chance to use that smiley. I can halfway agree with him, but not worthless just would have been funny to see it to.

 

I do not know anybody who goes to car showrooms with a camera. But everybody carries a cell phone and everybody's cell phone has a camera. Doesn't yours have one? I hope you know how to use it, don't you?

Since you find locating a Maxima on an Infiniti showroom floor to be such a big deal that you start a new thread in this forum, I wonder why you wouldn't take a photo of the same big deal situation.

If someone had told me that he saw a Nissan GTR on an Infiniti showroom floor or a new Maxima for sale in an Infiniti lot, I would have believed him. But a Maxima on an Infiniti showroom floor is just too much to believe for me. Thats why I said I have owned two Maximas since 2007 and have used all smileys available in this forum wayyy more times than kids like you or Flip2cho are waiting/planning to do in the near future.

Everybody wants to feel good about his new purchase, be that a house or car or even a purse -- that is human nature. Your wanting to feel good about your purchasing the 2010 Maxima can be ample reason for starting this thread. Anyway, to me

 

I'm willing to take smarty's word for it. I'd seen it happen a time or two during the year or so that I was working in a local new car dealership. No, it isn't a very common occurrence, but it does happen. Hell, I've seen Mustangs in one Chevy dealer's "Corvette corner" or whatever cutesy name they gave it.


Don't know if I'd post a cell phone picture taken inside a dealership showroom without their approval even if I had the presence of mind to sneak a pic in the first place - there's just something about doing that that sounds unethical.

Not to mention I'd then have to learn how to get said picture off the phone to someplace more useful, if in fact my phone even permits that to be done. Long way of saying "Don't expect everybody else's high-technology strengths to match yours". Hindsight can always be 20-20.


Norm

 

Take it easy friend, don't get the wrong idea. I didn't mean to offend you with the smiley comment and I appologize if it came across that way. I was only trying to make light of the situation. I tried to make that clear by agreeing with both parties. To be honest I do like that smiley and If I saw the perfect opportunity I know I would use it. My comment was not meant in any way to be derogatory and I didn't even think it came across that way untill I read your some what angry post and realized you might have taken it the wrong way. Just remeber I did agree with you. Smarty666 was just sharing a story and I think the impression he got was that you were calling him a liar since he didn't have a picture to prove his story. That is why I was trying to turn that to another direction with my comments implying that you really meant "Nice story, wish we could have seen a picture so we could laugh just as hard." Again I appologize if my comment was taken the wrong way, I really meant no harm.

 

Your a real nasty person you know that? Its people like you who make people who posts something regret even saying anything. I did not do anything wrong. I posted nothing but a little harmless story I thought some of you Max owners might have liked. It was suppose to illustrate how great the Maxima is and I guess you feel inadequate, who knows, but that doesn't excuse you to be rude and nasty. If you don't like the story then don't post anything and move the hell on. Get a life!

Yes I have a camera on my cell phone. Its only 1mega pixel and it sucks for taking pictures. I haven't used it in years because of how lousy and unclear the pictures and if I took a picture with it you'd ***** about how you can't see anything, etc. I wasn't trying to make it out to be a big deal, its just something you don't see everyday. I'm sorry I don't carry my 8 mega pixel camera around with me every where I go like a God damn photographer.

 

i leave for one day and a fight breaks out with in this post
psh
i believe you smarty

 

Where does a person who does not even have a cell phone fit into this conversation? Never mind. I'm leaving before I get my feelings hurt.

 

Does everybody HAVE to believe what you say?

I still have nothing against you (or your post) even though you have already called me , "real nasty person", "feel inadequate", "rude and nasty", "move the hell on", and not sure what else you have in store for me. But having driven the 09 Maxima SV + Prem for more than 18 months and 20k miles, I do not think it is good enough a car to compete with any vehicle in the Infiniti lineup with respect to luxury or sportiness or looks. So I do not believe any Infiniti dealership will put it on its showroom floor. Many people might have a different opinion and believe in what you posted.

I cannot understand what about me (or my posts) is making you so upset. Again, does everybody HAVE to believe what you say? I don't think so.

BTW, here is a photo of an Inifniti showroom floor taken by a member like us using a cell phone: http://www.freshalloy.com/forums/sho...&postcount=263

 

I used that I'm with stupid symbol because your acting incredibly stupid about this whole thing, and turning a harmless story and blowing it up into nothing its needs to be. Telling someone they are deceptive and lying or making a story up is a really crappy thing to do. Trust me, I have better things in my life to do then to come on here and make stuff up.

A great example of you making something out of nothing is that fact I never said that the Maxima was on Infiniti level or better than Infiniti etc. All I said was, how my local Infiniti salesman trashed talked the Maxima and now they had one in the showroom. I find that highly hypocritical on the part of that jacka$% salesman. That was all I was saying. Nothing more, nothing less.

I explained why I did not take a picture and its still not good enough for you. You don't believe what I saw, I really don't care.

 

Can you please tell us the name and location (city and state) of the Infiniti dealership you have been referring to?

 

Its in central, New Jersey. You going to drive up from Florida to take a look?

 

Yes. The name please.

 

I have no problem at all with either one of you and I enjoy discussing and getting feedback when reading post each one of you leave. Dont take me the wrong way when I say just give it up and burry the hatchet now because it won't be long of the arguing going back and forth before some one steps in.

and might I add.... Lightonthehill you don't have a cell phone??? Wow man... Must be peaceful!

 

God your a real piece of work. Here it is Flemington, NJ. Here is a link to the actual car they have in the showroom. Now what??

http://infiniti.flemington.com/preow...AA51EX9C800508

Actually, I made one tiny mistake, it was a 2009 and not a 2010. Guess that was another lie stated by the salesman. You can't believe anything they say.

 

Oh and bb, if your serious about the road trip, let me know what's up because I would love to ride up there with ya, not to see the dealership but to see central new jersey cuz I've never been. I'm great on road trips cuz I don't pee a lot, I can sing road songs and I'll help out a little with gas.. come on guys let's laugh...

 

Thanks.

Just drove from FL to NJ, checked it out, and drove back to FL; now posting what I saw It is not a 2010 Maxima as smarty originally posted. It is not even a new Maxima, it is an used 2009 Maxima with more than 30k miles on the odo. My Maxima is newer than that. I talked to Joel Woodes and asked him: "Why would you have an used 09 Maxima on an Infiniti showroom floor, especially when the new 2011 M37 and M56 are beginning to roll out of the trucks?" He replied (I quote): "Because the Maxima is in showroom condition." That is as lame as it can be.

I now believe in smarty's post. However, to me, that does not say much about the quality of our Maxima, it says a lot about the pathetic condition this Infiniti dealership is in. And the bull that the salesman gave smarty and the bull Joel gave me a few mins back just confirms what kind of people work there.

 

Sorry, your proposition came a little late. I am done with the driving back and forth

 

I had to use an animated smiley at least one time in this thread...

 

Do you have two 2010 Maximas?

 

Couldn't make up my mind on what trim level I liked best...I wish I had it that easy bb... But it actually showed up like that and I don't know how to change it. I looked around to see where I input my car and it only has the one that says sv tech. I just gave up. I did wonder if anyone else would ever notice.. If you tell me where I can find the first one I do wanna correct it.

 

Sorry, I don't. But you can contact our moderator Compusurf and he might be able to help.

 

Actually, my wife and I have matching cells (nothing fancy; no camera, etc), but those are so our security company can reach us if one of our alarms goes off. I have used my cell to call 911 between one and two dozen times in the last eighteen years (witnessed traffic accidents, drunk drivers, fires, breakins, suspicious behavior, etc), but for very little else. We are retired, our kids work, our grandkids are in school during the day, and we are home most of the time, especially at night, so simply use our land line when chatting with them in the evenings, because we can both be on at the same time.

You are correct that we work very very hard to maintain a peaceful life. We let all land line calls go to the answering machine unless caller id shows it is a close friend or relative calling. Even relatives have commented on how hard we can be to reach. But that is just how we are; very private.

Our greatest peace of all probably comes from never having wasted a single minute watching any TV 'reality' show of any type, any time, anywhere. Those things are the furthest thing from 'reality'. A Chopin piano etude or Haydn symphony and a good book are far more relaxing and enjoyable.

All that may sound 'very oldish' to today's youth. Well, I AM very 'oldish.' Just an unfortunate chronological fact that eventually overtakes us all.

 

Now you know the kind of crap I dealt with back then when shopping for my FX. When salesman like that talk out of their a$% I just move on and go to a different dealership. To put down the Maxima like they did and then put one in their showroom just pisses me off to no end. I don't know how you don't think it says something about the quality of the new Maximas? It must have a high enough quality that they were able to put it into their showroom next to a G37 and a NEW 2011 M37 and not worry about it. For someone who has two Maxima's you don't seem to give the Maxima enough credit, especially the new bodystyle.

 

Smarty, This is my second Maxima. If I did not love Maximas (and Nissan in general), I would not have bought a second Maxima. I was disappointed with the handling of my 07 Maxima though I really loved many things about that car. Before the 09 Maxima was released, I read a lot about how Nissan worked hard to improve the handling of the new Maxima, how they used light weight materials and tuned the suspension by testing in the tracks of Germany to make it a true sports sedan. I liked the body shape, the rear (but not the front) and the white color with dual moonroof combination and bought it. Now that I have driven my Max for over 20k miles, I feel it handles better than my 07 but much worse than a BMW 5-series sedan (comparing to the 5-series because it is of similar size to our Max). I know a 5-series costs much much more and I was not expecting the handling of a 5-series but I was expecting more than what I got and I feel Nissan created too much hype than the car really is.

In contrast, I absolutely love the handling of the Infiniti EX35 and everything else about it except mpg. If it got the same mpg as the G, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Hoping that will happen soon because the 2011 M's have got a significant rise in mpg. Till then, I will live with my Max

 

Surprisingly, despite are little tiff earlier I agree with pretty much everything you just said about the new Maximas! It definitely handles better than a Lexus or Toyota but it definitely does not have the crispness that a BMW or Audi has when it comes to handling but it is enough for what I use the car for, but others, such as yourself it might not be. I really like the new M and to be frank, from certain angles the Maxima shares a couple of curves and lines with the M enough people have mistaken my Maxima several times for the new M, if that is not a complement I don't know what is. I do love the new M37/56. Everything on the car is an improvement and I love that they got rid of that boxy/bloated rear end that the current ones have! If money was no object I probably be in a M37 or A6. I personally have never cared for BMW's exterior/interior styling choices (yes, I know, highly subjective of course!)

I did like the EX35 and G37 when I test drove them, but the G37 rode a little bit to firm for my taste and it is the narrowest in in its class. Don't get me wrong, the G37 has a good amount of leg/headroom, but because of its width, I felt cramped and did not want to live with that, plus the mpg thing was a issue too. The EX35 was really nice inside and outside, but the rear seat was to small for my taste and the lack of a power tailgate put it over the top for me. When Nissan offers it on the Murano, there is no reason Infiniti can't offer it on the EX35 and FX35/50! When you have a spinal fusion like I do, little things, like a power lift gate make or break a deal. I am paying for it with my FX35. That back lift gate is a heavy as hell to lift up and pull down.

The biggest mistake Nissan made, as you eluded to, was in the marketing of the Maxima as a true 4-dr sports sedan. The combination of the CVT with FWD make it drive more like a family sedan than it does a G37 or 3-Series. I'm find with that because I wasn't looking for a sports sedan. The problem is, the Maxima's exterior body style looks so sporty/aggressive that just from the outside everyone thinks it is a sports sedan where as it doesn't drive like one. Don't get me wrong, 290HP is more than enough to do 110-120 easy on the interstate if you wanted to, but will I ever drive that. no. If I want a crisp handling, sports car like ride, feet etc, I'll take my FX35 out for a drive! The new Maxima is a great upscale family sedan that is great for long road trips. Plus you can't go wrong with the mpg!! Love the mpg on this car! Hopefully, Nissan will improve on the Max for the mid life refreshing but that won't be till the 2012 model year. It will be interesting to see what Nissan does with the Maxima, especially if Infiniti comes out with the rumored G25!

 

Good job guys! I'm proud of both of you. If there was a smiley with a big smile and a happy tear in it's little eye I would def take the opprotunity to use it right now! see the good conversations that can be had w/ both of you

 

Well it did take him calling the dealership and finding out I was right and how much of a jacka#$ the salesman are there! But anyway, I got a good kick out of your post! lol

 

I too felt the G37 steering too stiff and the same in Lexus GS and BMW 3-series. I have heard complaints about the unavailability of the power liftgate in the EX/FX. However, I had no idea they are that heavy. I have tried the liftgate (not power) in a Versa hatchback and it is pretty light. Anyway, after buying a few cars, I have understood that no car (as nothing in life) is perfect. But probably, my next car will not be a Maxima.