Is the Maxima a good college car?
#1
Is the Maxima a good college car?
Hey, next year im going to be college full time, and working part time... work and school are on opposite sides of town, and im going to be putting a lot of miles on my maxima.
I own a 96 Nissan Maxima 5 speed with, Cat back, Y pipe, and Intake. I was just wondering how reliable is the maxima? Ive never had any problems what so ever with it, and I pound on her a lot when I have my occasional street races and take her to the track. I love moding and I had future plans of doing more, but now im puzzled if I should or not. Does moding reduce the relyability of the car? you think its a good idea to be using the maxima for college and work, when its boosted?
Please leave some feed back and opinions on weather I should just leave her alone, or if I should just drive her boosted/modded till she dies.
Thanks
Chris
I own a 96 Nissan Maxima 5 speed with, Cat back, Y pipe, and Intake. I was just wondering how reliable is the maxima? Ive never had any problems what so ever with it, and I pound on her a lot when I have my occasional street races and take her to the track. I love moding and I had future plans of doing more, but now im puzzled if I should or not. Does moding reduce the relyability of the car? you think its a good idea to be using the maxima for college and work, when its boosted?
Please leave some feed back and opinions on weather I should just leave her alone, or if I should just drive her boosted/modded till she dies.
Thanks
Chris
#2
Re: Is the Maxima a good college car?
Originally posted by MaxSpeedSE
Hey, next year im going to be college full time, and working part time... work and school are on opposite sides of town, and im going to be putting a lot of miles on my maxima.
I own a 96 Nissan Maxima 5 speed with, Cat back, Y pipe, and Intake. I was just wondering how reliable is the maxima? Ive never had any problems what so ever with it, and I pound on her a lot when I have my occasional street races and take her to the track. I love moding and I had future plans of doing more, but now im puzzled if I should or not. Does moding reduce the relyability of the car? you think its a good idea to be using the maxima for college and work, when its boosted?
Please leave some feed back and opinions on weather I should just leave her alone, or if I should just drive her boosted/modded till she dies.
Thanks
Chris
Hey, next year im going to be college full time, and working part time... work and school are on opposite sides of town, and im going to be putting a lot of miles on my maxima.
I own a 96 Nissan Maxima 5 speed with, Cat back, Y pipe, and Intake. I was just wondering how reliable is the maxima? Ive never had any problems what so ever with it, and I pound on her a lot when I have my occasional street races and take her to the track. I love moding and I had future plans of doing more, but now im puzzled if I should or not. Does moding reduce the relyability of the car? you think its a good idea to be using the maxima for college and work, when its boosted?
Please leave some feed back and opinions on weather I should just leave her alone, or if I should just drive her boosted/modded till she dies.
Thanks
Chris
![Cool](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/cool.gif)
#3
Re: Is the Maxima a good college car?
i personally thinks its a great car, i've had the max for 3 years while at college and haven't ran into any problems. Its a good car to go clubbin with too
....we piled about 12 people in my max from birmingham all the way to tuscaloosa (our other ride left, that bastard)
anu
![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
anu
#4
Re: Re: Is the Maxima a good college car?
Originally posted by patel_anu
i personally thinks its a great car, i've had the max for 3 years while at college and haven't ran into any problems. Its a good car to go clubbin with too
....we piled about 12 people in my max from birmingham all the way to tuscaloosa (our other ride left, that bastard)
anu
i personally thinks its a great car, i've had the max for 3 years while at college and haven't ran into any problems. Its a good car to go clubbin with too
![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
anu
#5
Maintain the car well and it will last 4ever. We have a member here with 140K miles on his 97 5spd and he runs 13.9 NA. Fock ye the maxima is reliable. I look at a maxima with 100K miles the same way I do at one with 20K.
#8
yea, reliable, fun, roomy and cheap transportation..
what else can you want in a college car?
I got mine in august with 115k miles, from sept to december, i drove 800-1,000 miles a week. 180 mile round trip to school, and a lot of driving to work and back. It was my work vehicle, my primary transportation to work, school, hang out, have fun, my closet, my bookshelf and even my moving car.. I hauled a trunk and interior full of stuff 95 miles to my new apartment and i managed to fit in everything i needed short of a bed..
and it didn't give a single problem during the course of the semester.
I wouldn't even think of owning anything else unless i tripped over a large bag of cash.
what else can you want in a college car?
I got mine in august with 115k miles, from sept to december, i drove 800-1,000 miles a week. 180 mile round trip to school, and a lot of driving to work and back. It was my work vehicle, my primary transportation to work, school, hang out, have fun, my closet, my bookshelf and even my moving car.. I hauled a trunk and interior full of stuff 95 miles to my new apartment and i managed to fit in everything i needed short of a bed..
and it didn't give a single problem during the course of the semester.
I wouldn't even think of owning anything else unless i tripped over a large bag of cash.
#9
I'm not boosted, so I can't really answer the question about the reliability of a boosted Maxima, but I can give you my impressions of the Maxima as a college car...
I went from a 93 Corolla to the Maxima, and the maxima has been better in that it has a lot more room for stuff, it impresses the ladies (not talking like oooh look at his 350Z impress but some dig the maxima, and it looks classy anyways) and it's generally better to drive long distance as compared to the Corolla, which was so buzzy on those long trips, and the bass rattled every part of the car - without a sub.
But still (after 1 1/2 years with the max in college) reliability wise, it hasn't held up as well as the corolla, it also sucks a lot more fuel, which bugs me because all my paychecks go to either food, gas, mods, or the Nissan dealer. Which brings me to another point - I was never tempted to mod the corolla, thus saving money. I've dumped more money than I can count into modding the Maxima.
I still like it as my college car though.
I went from a 93 Corolla to the Maxima, and the maxima has been better in that it has a lot more room for stuff, it impresses the ladies (not talking like oooh look at his 350Z impress but some dig the maxima, and it looks classy anyways) and it's generally better to drive long distance as compared to the Corolla, which was so buzzy on those long trips, and the bass rattled every part of the car - without a sub.
But still (after 1 1/2 years with the max in college) reliability wise, it hasn't held up as well as the corolla, it also sucks a lot more fuel, which bugs me because all my paychecks go to either food, gas, mods, or the Nissan dealer. Which brings me to another point - I was never tempted to mod the corolla, thus saving money. I've dumped more money than I can count into modding the Maxima.
I still like it as my college car though.
#10
Re: Re: Re: Is the Maxima a good college car?
Originally posted by Fosgate Fan
damn, 12 people?! and i thought i had a lot with 7
damn, 12 people?! and i thought i had a lot with 7
![Big Grin](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
im in college and people love the max and especially the leather. its a great college car except when people steal 1 windshield wiper.
![Mad](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif)
#16
cant say im a true college guy yet (still in high school, senior), but i do take college classes. I bought the car because of its rock solid (engine wise) reputation. Ive onwed it since december and it hasnt had any problems, save for a loose alternator belt. That aside shes been great. Oh yeah, and the fuel economy isnt bad, i get about 22mpg. Not to shabby for a car which gets floored alot. If i choose to baby it to save gas, ive reached as high as 25mpg.
This car is bigger in every way over my last two cars (weight, motor size, etc etc) and still gets better mpg....
eric
![Nod](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/nod.gif)
This car is bigger in every way over my last two cars (weight, motor size, etc etc) and still gets better mpg....
eric
#18
I think Maxima's are great cars. I'm in the Navy and do a lot of driving - I've taken my car on many long trips and haven't had any major problems. I've driven from Chicago, IL to Pensacola, Fl (once) from P-cola to Virginia beach, Va (about 8 times now). The biggest problem so far is the one I have now and that's changing the Engine coolant temp sensor. My maxima's been very reliable (107,000 miles)
#19
It's a great college car... low cost, tons of space inside, pretty much completely reliable, and good mileage on the highway. The downside is the less-than-great mileage in the city. My Max has moved me into apartments, handled the nastiest roads I could throw at it, and has never left me stranded (dead battery doesn't count) or with any kind of repair bill over $250. I don't think I could recommend another car... no, really, I don't recommend anything else. For the money these cars can't be beat.
#21
Originally posted by NYCe MaXiMa
It was my work vehicle, my primary transportation to work, school, hang out, have fun, my closet, my bookshelf and even my moving car.. I hauled a trunk and interior full of stuff 95 miles to my new apartment and i managed to fit in everything i needed short of a bed..
It was my work vehicle, my primary transportation to work, school, hang out, have fun, my closet, my bookshelf and even my moving car.. I hauled a trunk and interior full of stuff 95 miles to my new apartment and i managed to fit in everything i needed short of a bed..
![Big Grin](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#22
For all you college students:
If you're in college and have a Max, consider yourself very lucky. I can only wish that I could have been in your shoes while I was in school. I'm 2 years out of school and I consider myself lucky to be driving one now.
For the record, my college cars were some size 10 timbos and a $150 mountain bike.
Hell yeah, the Max ia a great college car. Its a great car period.
If you're in college and have a Max, consider yourself very lucky. I can only wish that I could have been in your shoes while I was in school. I'm 2 years out of school and I consider myself lucky to be driving one now.
For the record, my college cars were some size 10 timbos and a $150 mountain bike.
Hell yeah, the Max ia a great college car. Its a great car period.
#24
I had my 93 se back in college. I beat the **** out of it and drove about 130 miles a day from school to home to work and back home every day. Man full time student and full time 2nd shift killed me but it all payed off
![Smilie](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
#27
I think Maxima is an "OK" car for a college student, the two main disadvantages is that it needs premium gas and if something goes wrong it's pretty expensive to fix (as far as OE parts go at least).
The advantages are it's large comfortable car that is fun to drive...
The advantages are it's large comfortable car that is fun to drive...
#28
Originally posted by slavik'sMAX
I think Maxima is an "OK" car for a college student, the two main disadvantages is that it needs premium gas and if something goes wrong it's pretty expensive to fix (as far as OE parts go at least).
The advantages are it's large comfortable car that is fun to drive...
I think Maxima is an "OK" car for a college student, the two main disadvantages is that it needs premium gas and if something goes wrong it's pretty expensive to fix (as far as OE parts go at least).
The advantages are it's large comfortable car that is fun to drive...
![Mad](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif)
#30
Originally posted by MaxiPad96
That is the one thing about having a car at college. Dont expect to NOT get door dings. People will back into your car, ding your car, smash your car like its nothing and there isnt jack you can do about it. I have multiple door dings, and even got smashed in the rear quarter panel at a frat party cause about 2k worth of damage, someone saw it and didnt even come get me. I was ****ed. Also college town roads usually suck to so expect a bumpier ride than normal if your lowered.
That is the one thing about having a car at college. Dont expect to NOT get door dings. People will back into your car, ding your car, smash your car like its nothing and there isnt jack you can do about it. I have multiple door dings, and even got smashed in the rear quarter panel at a frat party cause about 2k worth of damage, someone saw it and didnt even come get me. I was ****ed. Also college town roads usually suck to so expect a bumpier ride than normal if your lowered.
Thats why i dont wanna take mine to college. My car has maybe one ding in the body molding and a veeery small dent in the roof from the neighborhood kids who like to kick their ball in the air and not care where it lands
![Mad](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif)
![Frown](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/frown.gif)
-Steve
#32
Re: Re: Is the Maxima a good college car?
Originally posted by Frank Fontaine
My opinion is that the Max has a lot of annoying things that need attn--I guess my latest is the leaking power steering rack because the fluid is now low.
My opinion is that the Max has a lot of annoying things that need attn--I guess my latest is the leaking power steering rack because the fluid is now low.
#35
Re: Is the Maxima a good college car?
Originally posted by MaxSpeedSE
Hey, next year im going to be college full time, and working part time... work and school are on opposite sides of town, and im going to be putting a lot of miles on my maxima.
I own a 96 Nissan Maxima 5 speed with, Cat back, Y pipe, and Intake. I was just wondering how reliable is the maxima? Ive never had any problems what so ever with it, and I pound on her a lot when I have my occasional street races and take her to the track. I love moding and I had future plans of doing more, but now im puzzled if I should or not. Does moding reduce the relyability of the car? you think its a good idea to be using the maxima for college and work, when its boosted?
Please leave some feed back and opinions on weather I should just leave her alone, or if I should just drive her boosted/modded till she dies.
Thanks
Chris
Hey, next year im going to be college full time, and working part time... work and school are on opposite sides of town, and im going to be putting a lot of miles on my maxima.
I own a 96 Nissan Maxima 5 speed with, Cat back, Y pipe, and Intake. I was just wondering how reliable is the maxima? Ive never had any problems what so ever with it, and I pound on her a lot when I have my occasional street races and take her to the track. I love moding and I had future plans of doing more, but now im puzzled if I should or not. Does moding reduce the relyability of the car? you think its a good idea to be using the maxima for college and work, when its boosted?
Please leave some feed back and opinions on weather I should just leave her alone, or if I should just drive her boosted/modded till she dies.
Thanks
Chris
#36
The Maxima fockin sux for a college car.
1) its supposed to be reliable, but theres certain ones that are unreliable. And the repairs can be expensive. Namely the differential carrier bearings in a 5 speed transmission. A few other crippling potentials include the crankshaft position sensor (mine failed). Stuff that can break and is expensive to repair: coil packs (bout $80-100), leaky rear main seal (rare, but it happened to mine), transmission. Oh yea and the darn Bose radio's CD player tends to be a bit flakey.
2) Since you are in college, you arent yet a family man, so dont buy a family car. Get something thats more suited for your age= 2 doors, removeable top, etc. This may or may not be a consideration, but you arent gonna pick up too many women with a Maxima. Personally, I dont want a girl to date me because of what kinda car I drive, but its a consideration.
3) Check the insurance rates out. For me, the maxima was expensive as ***** to insure. To put it in perspective I now have a C5 Corvette. I am 21, young male and not married. With the same coverage, the only variables being the car and the addition of a good grades discount, the maxima ran $1500 /year, and the Corvette is $1600/year. Go figure. So either a) a C5 corvette (one of the most deadly cars) is relatively cheap to insure, or b) the maxima is expensive to insure.
4) if you get a 95-96, since you are in college theres a high probability you will crash. Be forewarned that the 95-96's are flimsy as ***** and did really poor in crash test ratings, high and low speed.
5) if you do alot of night driving which I'm sure you will as a student, save the $ to get a HID kit, or a better car. The 9004 headlights are horrible. They are so dim that you cant see a thing.
1) its supposed to be reliable, but theres certain ones that are unreliable. And the repairs can be expensive. Namely the differential carrier bearings in a 5 speed transmission. A few other crippling potentials include the crankshaft position sensor (mine failed). Stuff that can break and is expensive to repair: coil packs (bout $80-100), leaky rear main seal (rare, but it happened to mine), transmission. Oh yea and the darn Bose radio's CD player tends to be a bit flakey.
2) Since you are in college, you arent yet a family man, so dont buy a family car. Get something thats more suited for your age= 2 doors, removeable top, etc. This may or may not be a consideration, but you arent gonna pick up too many women with a Maxima. Personally, I dont want a girl to date me because of what kinda car I drive, but its a consideration.
3) Check the insurance rates out. For me, the maxima was expensive as ***** to insure. To put it in perspective I now have a C5 Corvette. I am 21, young male and not married. With the same coverage, the only variables being the car and the addition of a good grades discount, the maxima ran $1500 /year, and the Corvette is $1600/year. Go figure. So either a) a C5 corvette (one of the most deadly cars) is relatively cheap to insure, or b) the maxima is expensive to insure.
4) if you get a 95-96, since you are in college theres a high probability you will crash. Be forewarned that the 95-96's are flimsy as ***** and did really poor in crash test ratings, high and low speed.
5) if you do alot of night driving which I'm sure you will as a student, save the $ to get a HID kit, or a better car. The 9004 headlights are horrible. They are so dim that you cant see a thing.
#37
Originally posted by ericdwong
The Maxima fockin sux for a college car.
1) its supposed to be reliable, but theres certain ones that are unreliable. And the repairs can be expensive. Namely the differential carrier bearings in a 5 speed transmission. A few other crippling potentials include the crankshaft position sensor (mine failed). Stuff that can break and is expensive to repair: coil packs (bout $80-100), leaky rear main seal (rare, but it happened to mine), transmission. Oh yea and the darn Bose radio's CD player tends to be a bit flakey.
2) Since you are in college, you arent yet a family man, so dont buy a family car. Get something thats more suited for your age= 2 doors, removeable top, etc. This may or may not be a consideration, but you arent gonna pick up too many women with a Maxima. Personally, I dont want a girl to date me because of what kinda car I drive, but its a consideration.
3) Check the insurance rates out. For me, the maxima was expensive as ***** to insure. To put it in perspective I now have a C5 Corvette. I am 21, young male and not married. With the same coverage, the only variables being the car and the addition of a good grades discount, the maxima ran $1500 /year, and the Corvette is $1600/year. Go figure. So either a) a C5 corvette (one of the most deadly cars) is relatively cheap to insure, or b) the maxima is expensive to insure.
4) if you get a 95-96, since you are in college theres a high probability you will crash. Be forewarned that the 95-96's are flimsy as ***** and did really poor in crash test ratings, high and low speed.
5) if you do alot of night driving which I'm sure you will as a student, save the $ to get a HID kit, or a better car. The 9004 headlights are horrible. They are so dim that you cant see a thing.
The Maxima fockin sux for a college car.
1) its supposed to be reliable, but theres certain ones that are unreliable. And the repairs can be expensive. Namely the differential carrier bearings in a 5 speed transmission. A few other crippling potentials include the crankshaft position sensor (mine failed). Stuff that can break and is expensive to repair: coil packs (bout $80-100), leaky rear main seal (rare, but it happened to mine), transmission. Oh yea and the darn Bose radio's CD player tends to be a bit flakey.
2) Since you are in college, you arent yet a family man, so dont buy a family car. Get something thats more suited for your age= 2 doors, removeable top, etc. This may or may not be a consideration, but you arent gonna pick up too many women with a Maxima. Personally, I dont want a girl to date me because of what kinda car I drive, but its a consideration.
3) Check the insurance rates out. For me, the maxima was expensive as ***** to insure. To put it in perspective I now have a C5 Corvette. I am 21, young male and not married. With the same coverage, the only variables being the car and the addition of a good grades discount, the maxima ran $1500 /year, and the Corvette is $1600/year. Go figure. So either a) a C5 corvette (one of the most deadly cars) is relatively cheap to insure, or b) the maxima is expensive to insure.
4) if you get a 95-96, since you are in college theres a high probability you will crash. Be forewarned that the 95-96's are flimsy as ***** and did really poor in crash test ratings, high and low speed.
5) if you do alot of night driving which I'm sure you will as a student, save the $ to get a HID kit, or a better car. The 9004 headlights are horrible. They are so dim that you cant see a thing.
![Wink](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif)
eric
#38
Originally posted by ericdwong
[B]The Maxima fockin sux for a college car.
[B]The Maxima fockin sux for a college car.
Anyways, I'm not sure the max makes for an ideal college car (insurance, mileage), but if you happened to have one in college, then you should be pretty pleased. Treat the car decent and you should have great reliability. If you have friends, the back seats come in handy. If you don't have friends, you can lavish attention on the intake manifold. Nothing can beat a max for a roadtrip. Play your cards right and the max *will* get you chicks. Keep the appearance stock and save money on speeding tickets. Wear your baseball cap with the bill facing *forwards*. Spend your money on beer rather than mods, and your max should hold up just fine. Assuming you don't mix the beer with, um, the max
![Stick Out Tongue](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
theLoon
#39
Originally posted by superloon
Spend your money on beer rather than mods, and your max should hold up just fine. Assuming you don't mix the beer with, um, the max
theLoon
Spend your money on beer rather than mods, and your max should hold up just fine. Assuming you don't mix the beer with, um, the max
![Stick Out Tongue](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
theLoon
![Big Grin](https://maxima.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)