DOM

This is my first Maxima I ever owned or been in. So far it seems like a good car minus some little minor problems (RPM dip, creaking noise inside right, touchy brakes when cold, hard studder when cold). I guess what I am asking is, when was the best generation for Maxima considering stock goodies, build quality, and performance? I know this more than likely will be an opinion poll, but still I would like to hear what you say. I thought Maxima was kind of a upper classy car when in reality, in my case, it isn't (problems). I expected no problems for what I payed for.

Has the quality gone up over the years?
Gone down?
Or hill shaped?

Maximamike

92-94 SE's. Quality has definetly gone down.

Nick97SE

iTrader: (14)

IMHO, the '97 SE!! I want one so bad!!

DOM

Does anyone have any worthy reasons why other than choosing the cars they want? Forget about looks

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

Need you ask?

<img src=http://wwwcsif.cs.ucdavis.edu/~chin/images/Maxima/kit4/6a.jpg>

<img src=http://www.geocities.com/jane97se/Car/mycar.jpg>

Chris91SE

iTrader: (1)

well kev...i vote to throw the 4th gens out the window...poor paint and too many interior rattles to handle ....the 5th gens are too early to tell...although many people are complaining about interior rattles already...why is it that us 3rd gener's don't have this problem

max95q

iTrader: (10)

hehe!

wharper

For interior construction, fit and finish: 3rd gen (my 93gxe)

For powerful engine: 4th gen

I haven't driven enough 5th gens yet to pass judgement.

plrod Black 95 SE

I've had a 2nd gen and now a 4th; would voter for 4th if they'd kept the independent rear suspension; my 2nd gen would develope a huge howl at speed above 95 or so; the aerodymanics weren't there. i'm happy with my 4th because it is a fast car for the money; drove a 5th gen rental and it felt completely different than my 95; felt like a bigger car which I didn't necesarily like; didn't feel as tight as my 95, felt a wider stance though. no experience with the 3rd gen but suspect it would get my vote just because of the suspension.

Enough bickering about 10 bucks already. PLEEEEZ Get a life.

NissanFreak

Well, Ive owned a 2nd('87GXE) 3rd('89GXE) and 4th('97SE) gen Max. Iv'e gotta say that while the 3rd gen had a little better build quality, the 4th gen packs a much more serious punch! On a sentimental note, my '87 was the best couch on wheels that I ever rode in! A real classic.

CandiMan

iTrader: (1)

3rd gen for handling
4th (95) for power/speed
5th was not too impress with the GXE model

Sith

iTrader: (1)

Overall i think the 3rd gen was the best. Better build quality, good looks, better handling, and some power to boot.

Each gen has it's advantages but overall i think the 3rd gen takes it.
My opinion.

buss95max

95/96 <<< is where its at..

**rattles in the interior?..yeah but who cares, thats what the stereo is for.

**non independent rear? yeah but im not touring racing.

**cheap paint job?..doh! yeah..but its not like it falls off.

**i love my 95 maxima..why?...roomy, great looking car, powerful engine(can easily hang with the newer cars), reliable like a ****, and its pretty much a different kind of car to modd up...i wouldnt get a 5th or 3rd generation over a 95..just my opinion..

96sleeper

iTrader: (4)

on paper the suspension of a 3rd generation is a lot better being independent. But I dont really know if it is all that better in the real world. My family has a 93 maxima and my 96, and I would say that mine handles and rides a lot better. I dont know if it is really as big a difference as everyone makes it. Just my opinion.

RosenKen

I've test driven a 4th gen SE both stick and auto, and also a 5th gen GLE. I liked them all of course. But man, the style of the 3rd gen just grabs me. Especially in black, you just feel dressed up in a tux wherever you go!

anyway, my vote goes for a 3rd gen with a VQ engine. Preferably the 222hp one Or hell the 3.5L 240hp pathfinder engine would work too!

Victim64

I think one person voted for a generation that they don't drive. If you want everyone's opinion, just check their sig. you will get about the same answers.

ArcticMax

I have a 5th gen, but my favorite is the 3rd gen.
I used to have 4th gen. too.

3rd GEN. LOOKS AWESOME.

3rd gens. have that awesome stance, with the wheels strteched to the corner, kinda like a BMW.

The killer combo would be the 3rd gen. with the updated interior, and the new VQ.

Johnny

There is no doubt that when the 3rd gen came out, it was extremely nice. But by late 1994, the best Maxima was available. The model year was 1995. Just think, it was 6 years ago--at that time the VQ motor was seriously kick-****, and the car was ahead of its time. How do you know? Because a Maxima in late 1994 cost the same as it does today, yet most other cars have gone up in price. Car and Driver put the max on its 10 Best list. There you go, the 1995 Maxima was the best. It's quite astounding to see there has been little improvement to the car since then. I doubt that a Nissan will ever make the 10 Best list again, but priorities change.

maxima561

I know this sounds bad but I wouldnt trade my 88 max for any other max except for maybe a 92. After the gen 4's i dont really like how the back end looks. Besides my 88 still looks very good and drives very smooth and pretty fast.

Jose

but I really liked my 2nd gen better. In 87 maximas were the kings of the roads they handle pretty good and they were pretty quick at that time. Lets not forget the looks body kits enki rims and rag tops. Yep the 2nd gen started it all.

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

been in a 5th gen, the 3rd gen is one of the best overall cars ever made for the $$$, let alone the best model Maxima. The build quality alone of the 3rd gens kicks every other generation's butt, plain and simple.

I do have to disagree with Maximamike about the 92-94 SEs....the VTC problem kind of takes them out of the running IMHO.

jw82

most people will probably say the year that they have just because they have it, im sure if they were offered a newer car theyd take it

Keven97SE

I think the best generation Maxima is the 5th gen. Yes, I understand it has it's faults, but nonetheless, it is very reliable like the 4th gen but with significantly more power (32 HP more - even if it is only at higher rpm), the handling has been improved over the 4th gen, and although it still doesn't handle stock like the 3rd gen, is easily upgradable to be comparable. Interior of the 5th gen is very nice. In terms of reliability, power, handling, interior comfort, etc, I think the 5th gen is tops. Not by much over the previous gens, but still I think it wins the overall compromise. The 5th gen fixes all the gripes about the 4th gen...lack of high rpm torque/HP, handling, etc.

I am not considering style in my argument. That's way too subjective. I actually think that the 3rd gen SEs are maybe the best looking, with the 97-99s a close second and the 5th gen a close 3rd. I really like the 3rd gen styling except for the big butt rear...drops it to 3rd favorite due to that. The overall contours and front end of the 5th gen I really like, though.

davis449

Don't get me wrong, I love all Maximas, but I would say the 3rd Gen. Not just because I own one ('93 SE 5spd) but because I would agree that the build quality is better. The VTC is a pain in the a$$, yes, but as far as I can tell, it's the only thing wrong with it. I definitely think it's the best body style. That BMW type bodystyle is killer and it just looks plain mean! Nissan made a bid mistake taking away the independant suspension. I am speaking mostly on opinion since I have never driven any other generation except a 2nd Gen SE. But I have sat in the driver's seat of every generation and I would have to say that the interior of the 5th Gens is the best by far. 4th's are nice but not as good as 5th's. The steering wheel, however in the 3rd Gens with airbags are the best by far. Overall, according to the blue books, 3rd Gens have held their resale value the best. Blue book on a good condition 3rd gen is still $8500.

kratz74

Depends on what you like. FOr speed 4th and 5th gen rule. For build quality sounds like 3rd gen by a smidge. But if by size of car, hp and handling the 5th win followed closely by the 4th and 3rd gen folks. All are good cars which I would love to drive. (I have a 95 5 speed and it has a couple rattles -especially in this cold weather, but it's fast as hell and has 100k with never a mechanical prob except 02 sensor.).

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

WHAT VTC problems??? Muhahahah!

I have to say, my ve is still pulling right into the redline. The VG and VQ(mostly stock) didn't do that.

Put it this way, back in 89-94, Nissan actually had $$, by 1995, Nissan was hurtin'. I think this fact showed in the 4-gen quality. Nissan is now digging itself out of that fact w/ the 5-gens.

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

this wouldn't be much of a discussion...

But, since Nissan decided to sacrifice some quality to save a buck the 5th gen models had to refocus on the quality issues, which still don't sound resolved to me....

straight six

1st gen was really old when I got it, college car already had over 150K, no opinion on that one. My 3rd gen 89 SE 5-spd was the best car I've ever owned, it was as quiet inside as just about anything on the road at triple digits and build quality was excellent. It was also the most distinctive Max I have owned. I now have 4th gen 98 GXE Auto, this is a very quiet car at low-moderate speeds but it get much noisier at triple digits and I do hear creeks and rattles at times. It is a much faster car than my 89 was though. I feel 3rd gens were the best built probably because there was no US plant then . I have no experience w/the 5th gen but when she gets the 3.5, i'm inkin up baby.

delerium75

I personally love the 2nd gen car because that generation set the familiar "maxima" face with its short, wide headlight/corner lamp/grille treatment that was around until the 5th gen. appeared...especially the 87-88 years. And I love the detailing of that car. I can't nail why I like that body style so much but it *looked* expensive, it *felt* expensive (especially in loaded up GXE form) relative to similarly priced cars of the time.

Krystian

iTrader: (1)

I would have to vote for 3rd. More twoards the sohc for overall engine durability(not performance , dohc is faster) But with the 92-94 SE the engines go bad, I blew two, and have heard of others. Most dohc I seen have a pinging/knocking noise coning from the lifters/cams. The sohc run forever.

amax935

that was actually very civil,

but we all know that accords rule

Chris91SE

iTrader: (1)

PUNK!!!

well being that ive had my car above 100 for long periods of time i think it would suffice as going "fast enough"....many of the 4th gens ive been in rattle an 65-80...

Weasel

iTrader: (2)

I drove a rented 3rd gen before I had my 4th gen... The 3rd definitely handles better, no question, but you just can't ignore that VQ motor in the 4th gen. You can improve the handling of the 4th gens, but it's a lot harder to get the older engines to feel as sweet as the VQ. It's one of the "10 Best Engines in the World" for like 5 years now.

Chris91SE

iTrader: (1)

hmmm...from reading through this thread again...i believe the 3rd gen's are ahead in this one...

BrokenMotor

4th gen baby! besides the OBDII deal.
1997 SE 5-spd

Phil02E46

i'd have to say the 6th gen is the best.. ummmmm woah wait a sec.. dohhh okay.. nevermine.. is the answer b? or was it 192.33234.. ooooohhh boyy.. someones gotten into the limes again.. muuwhahahahhahahahaha

Chris91SE

iTrader: (1)

do a head stand! do a head stand! now drink!

hehe...btw...i got more guiness

Phil02E46

chris.. head stand is for guinness.. wit corona do the mexican hat dance.. then ummmm yeahh where was i againa.. ohh yea.. u put ur right foot in ur put ur left foot in.. u say bush won and u laugh it all abouta.. ahahha okay.. chris.. u better be doing them headstands when u porr.. i knw ur a true beer engthusiast

Chris91SE

iTrader: (1)

and i know you're drunk!

AntGVR4

Best overall car 3rd gen ..
problem is they have NO power..
don't tell me they do cuz i drove 92 GXE and i know what it feels like..
i've also owned two 1985 max's ..
95 i'm startin to get rattles but hey i beat on the car and it's got 101K miles..

Ant