right now i own a nissan stanza and have been set on a maxima for over a year now. i'm pretty close to getting a maxima and i need help deciding what year to get. i know for sure i either want a 92-94 or 95. i need to know how reliable the 92-94 is because i've read on many accounts that the fuel injectors break easily because they are place too far into the engine block. also is the electrical issue with windows and stuff really that popular cause i know in my stanza i have the same problems with mal functioning windows, dash lights, etc.

if you guys could maybe give a quick rundown that would be sweet cause theres a 95 for 4000 and i know its gonna sell quick

thanks

 

Get the 95. No question.

 

4th gen. Easy choice.

SuDZ

 

Get a 94'....I'm biased though

 

97's have the highest reliability rating overall.

 

They also have the highest rattling rating overall

 

go with the '95.....

Best of luck of getting it...

Later..

 

i had a stanza too. now its a 96 max. so, get a 95!

 

Deezo That was not an option.







besides... 98's own you

SuDZ

 

weigh out the $$$......which one can you mod more!

 

oh yeah what i forgot to mention. i wanted to know if they have a big aftermarket or not. and i mean serious parts like performance cam shafts, etc.

 

There was a 5 spd 1995 SE with 200k hwy miles for $1900 obo. Check online used auto sites in Rhode Island.



- ßaller

 

and another thing i forgot to ask what problems does the 95 as far as reliablitity? by chance did they fix the poor wiring that all the 3rd generation owners are always talking about and that i also experience in my stanza

 

Baller!!!! Wassup? where did you see that car?

 

dont know what "poor wiring" you're talking about for the 3rd gens
the clock and occasionally the door lock timer will go bad due to cold solder joints but that's easily fixed basically for free

the window regulator is a bit of a problem, but for $60, you can get a new improved one and replace it yourself

I haven't heard of many injector problems for the VE engine. There is the VTC problem though.

3rd gens have independent rear suspension instead of the 4th gens beam
3rd gens (92-94SE) have the VTC problem which 4th gens dont have and 4th gens have a little more torque
many 4th gens have poor build quality which causes lots of rattles and noises
3rd gen is older but probably cheaper
if both are in good condition, they'd be a pretty even match

personally, I prefer the styling of the 3rd gen over the 4th gen so that's why I have a 3rd gen
if you do get a 4th gen, at least get a 97-99

 

VE 5 speed. No question.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=165366
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....threadid=43640
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....threadid=13601

 

get a 5spd 95 maxima!

 

Werd. But after two bags of air conditioner foam weatherstrips applied to the dash/a-pillar and other rattling interior parts then the 4th Gen oWnZ j00.

 

I second that.

 

Get a 95 5-speed, convert the front and rear end to a 97-99. So you have the heart and soul of a 95, but the good sexy looks of a 97-99......

 

i blew up my 3rd gen tranny.

















3x

 

so how does the aftermarket compare for the 3rd and the 4th? is it easy to find stuff?

 

It's waaaay easier getting parts for 4th gen's, as opposed to 3rd gen's. But that's just because you're trying to look for aftermarket support for an 8-to-13 year old car (89-94), as opposed to something no older than 7 years.

But as far as deciding on which generation car, that's purely objective on YOUR part. We can give you all the recommendations in the world, but it's up to you, bro. Everyone here on the org is likely objective<cough>3rdGen<cough> about a particular gen. Me, included.

 

oh yeah one last thing. when they changed the engine from the vg30de to vq30de i noticed there was a 15 ft/lb increase in torque. it that for all models (gle, gxe and se) or just some. www.autotrader.com says that its just from gle and gxe but i think they're wrong as they sometimes are.

 

In the 92-94 Maxima, you have 2 engines;

The 190 HP VE motor, exclusive to the SE
The 160 hp VG motor, in the GXE and GLE


In ALL 95-99 Maximas, they have the same 190 hp VQ30DE.

Here's where it gets a bit confusing; the VE motor has just about the same power as the VQ motor. The VQ motor is better. Why? The VQ does it without variable timing or a variable intake manifold. The VE does it with all the enhancements. If you get a VQ, you can add a variable intake later and make it even faster.

Also, the VE motors have had a reliability issue, the variable timing seems to fail often.

The VG motor is probably Nissan's most reliable motor ever, but, they are the least powerful too.

Having said that, get a VQ

DW

 

Actually - there is no GLE model for the 3rd Generation Maxima...the GXE served as the luxury model, and the SE was the sportier model.

 

I have driven both a '93 VE 5spd (mine) and a 96 SE 5spd (dealer test drive with 2 friends). I didn't have my 3rd gen at the time of the test drive, but I didn't think of the VQ motor as all that powerful. It has good torque but runs out of breath at the upper end. Now, with my 93 SE with the VE, after I have fixed everything (new VTCs, O2 sensor, knock sensor, TPS etc) this puppy SCREAMS. It keeps winding up higher and higher until the redline. Sure, the VQ has more low-end torque, but that's why you get a 5spd

Plus the 3rd gen looks better and is more solidly built. Just look at this!

 

get a white 97 5spd GXE or a Sterling Mist 98 5spd SE

 

A-fukin-MEN!





j/c: your on stock springs right? and what kind of tires you have on those 16s?

 

Get the 95 just because 4k for a 95 is a great price, if it's in decent shape that is.

Besides that,
As good of cars as 3rd gens are for their time, they are getting old. It is harder and harder to locate one in decent shape. 3rd gens are less reliable than 4th gens. 4th gens are lighter, the VQ motor is more smooth, they are roomier, generally faster, unless you are lucky enough to get a good condition 5 speed 92-94 SE and still a 5 speed 4th gen would be likely be quicker although close enough to be determined on drivers skills.. 3rd gens handle better stock though and the interior quality is better, a good % of 4th gens experience rattles and squeaks in their interior.

 

thanks for all the help i really appreciate it

but i think you misunderstood me. i meant in 1995 when nissan changed the maxima engine to the vq. do all the 95's (vq30de) have 205 ft/lb of torque? or do some of them have 190 like the 94's and below?

what i should just ask is is there anydifferent in engine between the 95 gle, gxe, or se?

what exactly is the 0-60 and quarter mile time of a stock 5spd 95 maxima? i keep hearing different things.

thanks again

 

Every 1995-1999 Maxima, be it a GXE/SE/GLE, have the same motor, the VQ30DE. The VQ30DE motor is rated at 190 HP and 205 lb-ft of TQ.

DW

 

92-94 SE 5-speed

 

Hope this helps. 95-96 are the fastest stock Max's since the 3.5, 97-99 had tighter emission regulations. Put CAI and a Y-pipe on this car and you won't believe the performance.

Awards: (For 95)
Motor Trend Import Car of the Year February 1995
Automobile Magazine All-Stars List February 1995
Car & Driver Ten Best Cars January 1995

Motor Trend, February 1995
One of the technical high points of the '95 Maxima is its new V-6 engine, which is standard in all models. This new VQ powerplant is similar in configuration to the VG-series it replaces: Both are 3.0-liter 24-valve DOHC 60-degree sixes. But that's where the parallels end. The revolutionary VQ is smaller, lighter, cleaner, cheaper to build, and easier to maintain. It also makes more power and torque yet delivers better fuel economy."

Ward's Auto World, January 2001 - For the seventh year in a row, Nissan's VQ motor--which powers the new Pathfinder, Maxima/Infiniti I30 and the new Z--was named to Ward's Auto World's "Ten Best Engines of the Year" award list. The VQ is the only engine in the world to receive the award every year since the list has been compiled. In speaking of the VQ, Ward's said, "We've said it before and we'll say it again. There isn't a better V6 in automotivedom--regardless of price." Joining the VQ on the list were powerplants from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Honda, Toyota, Ford and GM

Motor Trend, Road Test, June 1994
"The test gear must be screwed up. Zero to 60 in 6.6 seconds? No way!" It took nearly a dozen acceleration runs, two sets of fifth wheels, and three drivers to confirm what non of us could believe: This demure-looking family car is the quickest Japanese sedan available in the States."

Ask us, and we'll tell you how the Maxima SE will whip the Nissan 300ZX, Integra GS-R and Taurus SHO in 0-60 mph and quarter-mile acceleration-and how it challenges or, in some cases, exceeds their handling marks, too."

"Our tester, a five-speed SE version of this fourth generation of Maxima, produced a blazing 6.6-second 0-60-mph time, a 15.2-second, 92.4-mph quarter-mile run, 0.83g skidpad cornering power and a 65.1-mph slalom run. That tops the Taurus SHO five-speed in every category. The new Maxima shows no mercy on its Nissan stablemates: It'll stomp the normally aspirated 300ZX, and drivers of automatic-transmissioned 300ZX Turbos best not be snoozing when the light goes green."

Automobile Magazine, September 1995 - Four Seasons Test
"The Nissan Maxima has one of the world's truly great engines….There are few cars that I will unhesitatingly recommend to someone who is looking for a new car. I put the Nissan Maxima into that category the first time I drove one. After our four-season experience, it is still in that category."

Automobile Magazine, 1995
"We were not ready for the Maxima SE. It just knocked us out. We expected refinement and maturity that come with a freshly redesigned car, but we weren't expecting greatness."