Can you guys provide me the pros and cons of the Platinum and SL Trim? I am debating which trim I should go with.

 

This is what I used to compare specs:

http://www.nissanusa.com/cars/maxima...ersions.button

 

So the key differences are that the Platinum has premium leather interior, overhead camera view, driver drowsiness alert system and internally air conditioned front seats.

I am not a leather expert, so won't comment on the premium leather. I LOVE the overhead camera view. I can tell within an inch or so exactly where every part of the exterior portion of my car is. This enables me to easily clear the corners of my garage doors, center in a parking space, know exactly when to stop moving forward in a parking space (the front lip of the Maxima is close to the ground, and won't clear most curbs), etc. The driver drowsiness system is useful on long trips, as it constantly is checking our motions, eyes, etc, and alerts us if it suspects we are no longer fully alert. It can be a lifesaver. The internal air conditioning in the front seats is something my wife and I use in warm weather, especially on longer trips. By cooling our fannies and lower backs, we don't have to run the dash vents at such high speeds we freeze our faces.

In a nutshell, one can live just fine with the S, and that will be the preferred choice of many folks. But if the added price is doable, the Platinum certainly raises the bar in several areas.

 

Compare the best prices from your dealership, and see if the features are worth the difference in price. The only 3 things I would care for in the Platinum are the Around view monitor, Memory Seats, and heated and cooled front seats (but you get heated in the SL). Didn't really care for LED headlights, as I was able to easily switch the Halogens to HIDs (You can just as easily change to LEDs)

 

My SR came with the ac and heated seats. Is this uncommon?

 

Nope, all SRs come with Climate controlled seats (Cooled and Heated)

 

Thanks fellas. Looking to hopefully pick something out within the next 6-8 weeks. I currently drive a 2005 nissan maxima that is on it's last leg. lol

 

I'm about to buy a home, but as soon as that is done I will be looking for a Platinum White 8th Gen. I think the S is still a great value but I want lots more to enjoy. I plan on doing some long distance driving. I love the pano roof and heated/cooled seats! I wish the 19's were available for the Platinum.

 

SL is the best bang for the buck in my opinion.

 

I went back and forth on an Midnight vs. Platinum for months. The thing that really pushed me to the Platinum was the around view/360 camera system. I'm still getting used to it (I've never had a car with any kind of camera or sensors), but I think from a protection standpoint (not hitting any inanimate objects with the car), and from a safety standpoint (not hitting any people or animals), I definitely think it was a worthwhile investment.

Aside from the around view, I really like the memory seat function and I love that the seat and steering wheel move when I open the door (seat moves all the way back and steering wheel tilts all the way up) so it's easier for me to get out (moves back into place when I start the car).

I also love the cooled seats. Where I live it gets really humid and so far the cooled seats have really made a difference. I also like the heated seats for when my back is bothering me and I use it like a heating pad. Doesn't get as hot as my last car but still works pretty good and I like that I can control the intensity at least a little. I don't know what the SL seats look like, but I love the way the seats look in the Platinum.

It's more of a novelty thing that will likely break, but I think the rear window sunshade is cool (no pun intended). Anything to keep more sun out of the car is a good thing here.

I haven't experienced the driver alert yet, but safety was one of my biggest priorities for my latest car so while I hope I never need that, I'm glad it's there.

I also like that the side mirrors tilt down when I'm reversing, but I'm not sure if that will be irritating later.

The only thing I really dislike about the Platinum is the wood trim on the interior. I'm going to have to find a way to cover that up with a wrap or something.

I think the SL is a good deal, but the 360 view by itself was enough to sway me. I even went with black when I was determined not to get another black car, but it was the only color they had with the Platinum trim.

Good luck, hope that helps.

 

Thanks for the detailed advice. This is really getting to be a hard decision.

 

I'm on the fence also. I drove the SL and felt like it was a loaded car. I looked at the Platinum but I wasn't that into it to be honest. Now as I'm getting closer and the discounts vary so much Im not totally sure. However if the dealer did the numbers I wanted on the SL last year I would have bought it that day.

 

I drove the Sl for 10 months I always regretted not having the 360 cammera and ac seats I got luck and traded it in April for a Plat for $3000 they still have my SL for $31,500

 

I'm actually a bit disappointed with the way Nissan set up the trim packages on the 8th gen. Maxima. I currently own a 5.5th. gen SE TE. I realize the Maxima has never been a sports car, but I like the "sporty" look that the SE (and now SR) trim levels offer. With that said, I am also a sunroof freak. I just like the option of opening a sunroof and enjoying the sun and fresh air (weather permitting, I live in Florida). Also, the SR trim offers a somewhat stiffer suspension setup and paddle shifters, which can be fun on twisty roads. Again, the Maxima is no GT-R when it comes to handling, but it feels a bit more agile than the plush suspension of the other trim levels.

Well, here is my dilemma: if I get the SR, I can just kiss the sunroof goodbye because it is simply not available. The (panoramic) sunroof is only offered on the SL (no paddle shifters or sport-tuned suspension), or the Platinum (same shortcomings as the SL, plus a bit out of my price range).

I liked it better when Nissan made a regular sunroof standard equipment on the 7th gen. Maxima, and the panoramic roof was an option. Why couldn't they do the same with the 8th?

For ***** and giggles, I also researched the '16 Altima on this, and guess what? Same predicament!!! No sunroof offered on the SR (4 or 6 cylinder).

Nissan already announced it will release the 2017 Maxima with no big changes on their trim packages. Come on, Nissan!!! Let's see if you can re-visit this on the 2018 Maxima.

 

I agree- the sunroof on the SR would make it an easy decision.

 

Very easy decision. I never had a sunroof and vowed that my next car would have it.

 

I really dont understand no SR option on the SR. Its just plain stupid.

 

Yeah I am looking at the Platinum myself. One dealer has one for 35, 800K with spoiler and another has one with 34,800 K both 0% financing. Which is the better of the two? I have seen some as low as 32, 000 K but in another state. Thoughts???

My only concern is that I have been seeing the SL version for as low as 31K and just trying to justify if the additional 3-4K is worth it?

 

The SL at 31k plus the 0% is a nice deal for me- thats what I want budget wise. But I want to see the platinum in person again side by side to make the decision also have to see the dealer prices that day- things can change once you sit down to negotiate- depends if a car has been there a year etc. Im going to see both- and see what they say.

 

Yeah, I think I need to test drive the SL personally. I have tested the Platinum and it drives really good for me.
Yeah that 31K is nice with 0% finance. I was thinking the same, but I have heard some on here say they liked the 360 view on the platinum.

 

The 2017s look good too- but no incentives- but the difference is i see 2-3k off advertised online right away- last year didnt see anything like that.

 

Another thing. There are no shift paddles on the Platinum. Turns out that I do miss them

 

What are shift paddles?

 

The behind the steering wheel paddle shifters in most sport like cars- they are in the SR.

 

Thanks bro.

 

One peeve I have with the 2016 Maxima is that only the SR version has automatic engine braking. That was a feature we had on all gen 6 and gen 7 Maximas. I just spent almost a week on the Blue Ridge Parkway (and other steeper roads with sharper curves), and I had to use the manual override option of the shift lever constantly in order to have the engine braking I had gotten used to on my '04 and '09 Maximas. My wife agrees that having the engine braking built in made driving on twisty steep roads easier. She does not like having to constantly hit the shift lever, else constantly ride the brakes on long steep twisty downgrades.

 

I wasn't sure what that was- now I know- friend of mine drove my car and said the car seemed to brake when he took his foot off the gas- maybe I just got too used to it?

 

When I got my maxima in March, I was going to get the SR. Then they told me that it doesnt come with a moonroof. Once they told me that, I decided to go with the Platinum. I dont regret the decision at all.

 

Main Platinum advantages:
stitched seats
360 degree camera
heated steering wheel
cooled seats
power rear sunshade
LED headlights


The seats totally sold me on the platinum. Everything else is a bonus. I am dumbfounded that the platinum comes with the same 18" wheels as the base model.


I cant think of another modern car where the base model shares wheels with the flagship?

 

I contemplated all three trims: SL, SR and Platinum. I got the SR because of the following:

- SR pros: Better interior with the Alcantara seats and aluminum accent across the dash; sportier suspension tuning; pedal shifters (it is surprisingly useful in my previous car, so I feel that it is indeed a worthy feature); LED headlight; and price is about $1K to $1.8K cheaper than the Platinum depending on how your negotiation goes.

- SR cons: I would like the panoramic moonroof; the 360 degree camera on the Platinum which are not available on the SR (but I picked the SR over the Platinum due to the aforementioned interior details, pedal shifts and lower price out weighing these cons)

- One of the most important features to me was the LED headlight which is on both the SR and Platinum but not the SL, so even though the SL is more reasonably priced with mostly the same cons as the SR (no panoramic roof and no 360 camera), I couldn't get over the lack of LED. I understand there are many aftermarket kits available for HID or LED conversion, but my first hand experience with aftermarket HID was only so-so (the HID kit I installed on my previous car failed after 4 years, while it was acceptable but still a hassle compared to a typically more reliable factory HID/LED). SL also lacks the cooled/heated front seats that is on both the SR and Platinum.

 

The SL does have the pano roof and heated seats.

 

Thanks for clarifying, but I was pointing out that SR doesn't have the panoramic roof. But even then I still picked the SR over either SL or Platinum.

 

This is our family car and both me and my wife drive it. She is 1 ft shorter then me. Platinum is the only one with seat memory. I would have gotten the SR instead but we need memory seats.

 

How is the new maxima in inclement and snowy weather?

 

Drove my 16' SR through a nice snow storm across New Mexico a couple of months ago and even for a California boy who doesn't drive in snow at all it was a pleasure. No trouble at all from my point of view.

 

Lightonthehill - haven't talked to you a while on threads on maxima.org, but did have a question on your comments below.

I have the Platinum and when you mentioned the driver drowsiness system you stated that it is checking our motions, eyes, etc. I'm not aware of a camera in the car checking my eyes...unless I missed something in my Maxima. What I know is that the car monitors your motion, i.e., left to right movement and some physics with the vehicle. Is there something checking the cabin and the eye's of the driver?

 

What's the going price for the SL and Platinum 2016 models?? Just saw one that I am interested in for 34K

 

They vary depending on options.

 

Options like?? The platinum I saw had everything and I have not seen one at that price point. Also, I have seen SL models going in the 32-34K range. Just trying to see the better of the two options. Most on here like the Platinum, but don't see the major difference between the two to justify a 2k difference

 

Options like spoiler, lighting, rocker moldings, kick plates, etc.. IMO the SL is the best bang for the buck. But, as the 16's are being deeply discounted to move, you might be able to get a Plat for dirt cheap.