Hey Guys,

I know that past models of Maximas have not had the best resale value. Just curious if you guys think that the 8th gen will be any different, based on all of the amenities? I have a 2010 4Runner SR5 that I bought new for 33k OTD (63k miles) and the dealer is offering me 26.5 for it... Crazy how much these 4runners hold their value.

I know that no one has a crystal ball but just wanted some input :-)

 

It really depends on what your objectives are; my take on it is that the Maxima is by far the most fun to drive of the cars in its class but for some reason does not get the best resale value.

Just had the debate last week about this with some buddies about Maxima vs Avalon. When I buy a car, I'm in it for the here and now and not thinking about the resale value because I typically drive my cars until fail unless a steal of a deal comes along. It's no secret that cars are a depreciating asset, and, for me, if the differences across the board are minimal for safety, reliability, etc etc from one car in its class to the next, then I'm going with the one that will provide the most enjoyment while driving.

 

Thanks for the reply and great answer. I typically switch cars out every 5-6 years. I wish I had the patience to stick with a car to 100K+ miles but I just get bored. We are a two SUV family and my wife now takes the bus to work downtown. So, I wanted to have something fun to drive with decent gas milage as a DD. Test drove the '16 Platinum Maxima and fell in love

 

I agree, well said!

 

I don't think 2016 Maxima will break the general Maxima trend. If you look at residual value for 2014 Maxima you will get an idea how much the car depreciates. Personal attachments aside Nissan is not particularly known for making solid trouble free cars, in the way Honda or Toyota "used to be". Notice "used to be", because I don't honestly believe Honda or Toyota are any better now a days. But its all about general perception.
I also keep the cars for a long time, so I am not concerned about residual value.
Perhaps leasing is better for you, this way you will know exactly what the bottom line is after lease is over.

 

A lot of variables here. I have been seeing new 2014 Maximas for sale in the Atlanta area for almost EIGHT THOUSAND bucks below MSRP for almost six months. I would imagine anyone trading a 2014 Maxima in would get even less money than $8K below MSRP. That is not a very good result. In fact, it is a BAD result.

At the other extreme, I have a white 7th gen (premium and tech) built in Sept 2008 with 51K miles, no dings, perfect condition, fully serviced by my dealer per Nissan's schedule. I got it new for $34.5K ($5 below invoice $39.5K), and it is looking as if I will get around $18K for it toward a 2016 Platinum. That is not a bad deal.

Maximas are not as valuable in trade-ins as many vehicles, especially some SUVs, etc, but are far better than some vehicles that have very little trade-in value.

 

Thanks for all of the feedback, guys. I realize I'm comparing apples to oranges, with my 4Runner vs Maxima trade in value. Just wanted to hear from some of the longtime Maxima drivers, if there was ever a point in time where these vehicles held their value. I really feel like Nissan has made a stride in the right direction with the 8th gen... Hell, it swayed me from looking at a used 2014 E350. With the combined performance and cabin luxury of the new Max, I thought maybe resale value would surpass previous models.

 

Its a long tradition of the Max since the 4th gen, 2nd and 3rd's seemed to have held their values a lot better comparably. I have said this for a long time, the Max is a good car to by "new used" meaning 1 to 3 yrs old. You get a practically new one for much much less than a comparably competitor ex. Avalon, TL due to the higher than expected depreciation.