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What would you change about your 8th Gen Maxima, if you could?
Now that you've driven your new 8th generation Maxima for a few weeks/months/years, I'm curious about what you would change about the stock features of your car if you could. Either interior, exterior, handling, or under the hood dislikes.
For me, my #1 pet-peeve is the chrome door handles. Unless you have silver, I just think it really stands out and takes away from the overall euro/import styling that you would see on a higher priced car.
The typical non Maxima (or current) driver complaint is obviously going to be the CVT or no AWD or RWD options, but I'm hoping to hear what other owners think about their current rides the way Nissan offers it. Who knows, maybe a Nissan marketing rep. or engineer may get a hold of this and implement some of our ideas in the 9th Gen.!
Going with the obvious here. 8 sp, awd, 400 hp would be perfect. Can't get the power it has now down with fwd. Past that, thinner a pillars, 3 more inches in the back seat, and standard high output headlights.
1. I wish Nissan would actually update its Infotainment System. I'm not even asking for free map updates - just fix bugs, and add minor features (like Carplay Turn by Turn in the VID). I shouldnt feel like I'm missing out on a month old car when they release a new model with software updates (like when the 17 introduced car play and they wouldnt upgrade 16s to it)
2. I may be in the minority, but I'm not a fan of the D-Shaped wheel. It's not as comfortable for long drives as a circular wheel
3. ICC works well for me (unlike what others have said about it being jerky), but it's really annoying how when the person in front of you comes to a complete stop, it disengages and rolls forward. Seems like a huge safety issue if you aren't expecting it. I would love for it to stay stopped, and resume following them when the start moving again.
4. Related to 3 - Would love it to incorporate lane following for a semi-autonomous car. That would be awesome!
After 10 months of ownership, the only thing I can see causing me some concern long term is that I wish Nissan used a higher quality, thicker paint. I've noticed a few small paint chips on the hood from small rock strikes. My previous vehicles (VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry) have all had much more robust paint that held up to minor road debris strikes better.
On my wish list would be AWD. Like others have said, the FWD can't handle the power. When I go to pass a car and hit the gas at 60, it still spins the tires and I have to fight the initial torque steer. I understand why they don't offer it though as it would start to cannibalize sales of the Q50 & Q60. I would have purchased a Q60, but the Maxima has a much nicer interior, IMHO. For whatever reason, I just don't like the center stack of the Infiniti's.
1. The blind spots, trying to look over and around the rear view mirrors.
2. Tires wide enough to protect the rims from slight curb touches. Or recess the outside of the rims 1/4" less than the outside of the tires.
3. Ditch the sunglasses holder design in favor of a more usable space, such as sunglasses enclosed in their protective case. Can't do that now unless the glasses are out of the case. Not good for expensive glasses.
4. Ditch the manual shifter and use the cost for something else, say a rear diffuser (at a minimum) at no extra cost to buyer.
5. Dang brighter led "mood lighting". You can barely see the LED strip. My wife's 2014 Malibu LTZ mood light strip is much brighter and has a wider range of adjustable brightness.
6. The rest of the car is __mn near perfect!!!
Make outside mirrors power folding.
Make front passenger seat height adjustable.
Updated maps with navi system. Mine don't show roads built 8 years ago.
Tire/wheel combo that doesn't scrape every time I get within a foot of the curb.
1. While the 3.5 is solid, the 3.7 would be nice with around 360 HP, along with AWD More HP is always better, but as others have said, the Max has a hard time putting the 300 HP to the ground with FWD only.
2. Passenger seat height adjustment, really Nissan, come on.
3. Better LED accent lighting, better adjustment for brightness and color.
4. The SR is supposed to be the Sport version of the Max, differentiate a bit more from the other models. More aggressive wheel option, slightly different spoiler, front nose etc. It should look a bit more aggressive.
I am quite happy with the Max overall, those things would have been nice to have seen on the 8th Gen.
Make outside mirrors power folding.
Make front passenger seat height adjustable.
Updated maps with navi system. Mine don't show roads built 8 years ago.
Tire/wheel combo that doesn't scrape every time I get within a foot of the curb.
lightonthehill,
Add the weird shaped steering wheel, no music box option, and these are the exact reasons why we decided not to get a new Maxima and went with the QX50.
Make outside mirrors power folding.
Make front passenger seat height adjustable.
Updated maps with navi system. Mine don't show roads built 8 years ago.
Tire/wheel combo that doesn't scrape every time I get within a foot of the curb.
Have you zoomed in on the Map I was driving "in-space" until i zoomed into 1/8th mile.
I second the "The blind spots, trying to look over and around the rear view mirrors". Originally bought the Max for my wife who is only 5'. She really had a hard seeing around the outside mirrors. I'm driving it now...darn the bad luck
3rd on the blind spot with the mirrors. I am only 5-4 and they are blocking the view especially with left turns. Also wish they were power folding. Also I don't like the extending panel on the drivers seat. With it sticking out further the corner of it digs into the back of my left leg,even when pushed in all the way. Starting to get used to it now that I have had the car almost 2 months.
1. Lane departure warning with steering correction as a bonus.
2. LED fog lights That really gets me with this car not having those. They put on these amazing and incredible looking led headlamps only to have halogen fogs. HERP DERP Nissan!
3. Height adjustment on passengers side
4. Front pillar blind spots are really BAD
5. Headlamps automatically coming on at night when heading to the car per set timer. How in the hell did Nissan drop the ball on this? I REALLY miss that feature. Ground lighting came pre-installed from the factory but its still not enough. I want to see in front of me coming out the back door of my house. Yet they managed to do just what I am saying when you EXIT the car only. Makes no sense to me.
6. Oil life indicator cant believe it does not have that!
Last edited by FattiesGoneWild; Jun 6, 2017 at 06:30 PM.
After 10 months of ownership, the only thing I can see causing me some concern long term is that I wish Nissan used a higher quality, thicker paint. I've noticed a few small paint chips on the hood from small rock strikes. My previous vehicles (VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry) have all had much more robust paint that held up to minor road debris strikes better.
On my wish list would be AWD. Like others have said, the FWD can't handle the power. When I go to pass a car and hit the gas at 60, it still spins the tires and I have to fight the initial torque steer. I understand why they don't offer it though as it would start to cannibalize sales of the Q50 & Q60. I would have purchased a Q60, but the Maxima has a much nicer interior, IMHO. For whatever reason, I just don't like the center stack of the Infiniti's.
Gawd, you can spin your wheels at 60mph. I can't do that in my 426 hp Vette, unless I am on rain-slicked roads!
I will second the lane departure with steering correction and just say it would be good to have full autopilot, like a Tesla. Also, like a tesla, they should provide infotainment/computer updates via wifi for free!
I would like to be able to zoom in and out of the maps and nav using the wheel on the console. Havingo reach and touch the screen to zoom is ridiculous in my opinion. If there is a way to do this, I haven't found it.
I would like to be able to zoom in and out of the maps and nav using the wheel on the console. Havingo reach and touch the screen to zoom is ridiculous in my opinion. If there is a way to do this, I haven't found it.
Yeah I agree, I feel like they botched the design with the controller - it's almost worthless. BMWs have a similar controller, but it's the only way to interact with the screen and it works really well as its integrated and not just an afterthought. They even have a touch area on top with handwriting recognition so you can draw letters when typing. I wish the Maxima has a better system like that.
I would like to be able to zoom in and out of the maps and nav using the wheel on the console. Havingo reach and touch the screen to zoom is ridiculous in my opinion. If there is a way to do this, I haven't found it.
You can use the rotary **** on the center console when you turn it it will zoom in or out.
3rd on the blind spot with the mirrors. I am only 5-4 and they are blocking the view especially with left turns. Also wish they were power folding. Also I don't like the extending panel on the drivers seat. With it sticking out further the corner of it digs into the back of my left leg,even when pushed in all the way. Starting to get used to it now that I have had the car almost 2 months.
Dang I thought it was just me! I have complained about this since I first got the car. I have lots of trouble seeing to make a left turn, and also making sure no one is in a crosswalk coming from the left hand side. I'm 5'5". Raising the seat helped a little, but now I feel like I'm sitting up really high
Certainly the passenger seat adjuster for height and tilt along with a lumbar support just like the drivers seat.
Interestingly Nissan did de-content some features that existed on my 2010 Premium such as auto up and down rear windows, hidden trunk hinges that did not intrude in the trunk area. My 2010 even had radio and heater controls in the rear seat arm rest.
Another vote for height-adjustable passenger seat. We test-drove a 2016 model and it had this feature; why would Nissan delete it in the newer model?
Other wishes:
Android Auto, or Nissan Connect Apps (with more apps than currently advertised). I was surprised that Apps is missing from my car, because it is a Platinum.
Lane departure warning.
A way to turn off the daytime running lights with a switch on the dash.
