Well last month lots wrote off strong maxima sales as being mixed in with remaining 5th gens, but may sales are showing 9K+ units vs. 7K+ from last year. I'm sure some will say that may sales still include 2k3's, but the vast vast majority must be 2k4's.

Go figure, and most of this board doesn't like it.


Second point, Infiniti is flying. Sales for the g35 sedan are holding steady at what they sold last may, so you know its not just a fad. Even more surprising is the fact that they sold equally as many coupes as sedans. Impressive.

It seems all *new* nissan's are selling well, and one by one as they get rid of the old school stuff, they replace it with a better selling model.

GOOD: Maxima, Altima, Murano, 350z, g35 c/s, FX,
Bad: Pathfinder, frontier, sentra, q45, qx4,

 

You forgot m45 in the Good section, it looks like they are bringing back the import sole into the nissan-usa arena every year. Its a shame the maxima is getting bigger, but it doesnt look so bad. It went from seeing one a day to almost 3-4.

 

Yesterday was actually the first time I have ever seen one on the road, looked a lot better in black than the ghey burnt orange that I saw at the NY auto show. Im beginning to not mind it as much, still would never buy one though. Like gtr said, its alebit too big. Im glad to see that nissan/Infiniti is doing well though.

 

m45?? I've never seen one yet. They are selling strong?

 

I was kindof of iffy about the 6th gen. But that was b/c I only saw it on computer. Translation: I saw a 3d image in 2 dimensions. In real life the 6th gen doesn't look that bad. I've seen several in real life. In black, white, or silver, the 6th gen looks really hot


. . Of course the grille . .

DW

 

at first...I didn't like the 6th gen. But after seeing a couple comercials and couple on the street...they are alight.

I really like the commercial where the guy touches the poster of the maxima then touches the girl

 

The 6th gen has really grown on me. In traffic I saw a black SE from the rear quarter, and it looked really good

 

surprising strong for an ugly car.

 

I'm a huge fan of the 00-01 myself and the later 4th gens, hot looking front ends. Just my personal thing, the 6th gen is alright, doesn't look sporty enough for me, not slick enough standing still

 

i havent seen one on the street yet, but other than the pontiac lookin grill i likey... but id still much rather stick with my 4th gen

 

they're starting to get quite popular in NYC, i see atleast 2 everyday

 

Most new Maxs distibuted to dealers before full roll-out of 2k4 model were black. Guess Nissan thought it looked the best. I see a lot more new Altima's on the road, and that other Nissan SUV thing-a-ma-bob doo-hickey.
I saw 3 fully loaded 2003 Maximas discounted over $6K of MSRP on a lot in Medford, Ore. All were auto's though. Bet the guys who bought 2K3's a month or two ago, for full price, are ticked off.
Between the discounted price, drive off depreciation, and model year change, they lost close to $10K in value on their 2K3 cars in just a month or two. Ouch!

 

I rarely seen those 6th gen on the road, they are not quite something I would want to drive since they are big. They look too much like the Altima from the side of the car, but the rear looks great, that's the only thing I like about the car. It's starting to grow a bit on me but not so much with the front fasica. I think Nissan need to work on that grille and the bumper.

 

Most people on this board are 16-25, not over 50 like the typical Maxima driver.

Always remember the 2 concepts we learned in high school when you use statistics--reliable and valid. Unless your career is in Marketing of course!

Haven't we been hearing that real estate sales have been rocking for over 3 years now? Doesn't make us want to quit the firm and go into real estate now, does it? How many still want to rent apts or live with their folks, even though a 30-yr mortgage with 0 points is around 5%, lowest in 40 years?

When people have blown 2k3 motors and they're not covered under warranty, doesn't make me want to run out and get a 2k4 or 350Z. That's not very impressive.

 

There has not been that many units distributed to dealers so I don't think the 6th gens are that strong in terms of volume..

 

Crap, they're ugly

Frank is right as far as the majority of maxima buyers. I think I share the same feeling as some on here when I say the 6th gen has lost some more sporting appeal, but the typical maxima buyer probably a) doesn't notice and/or b) doesn't care.

 

i see a lot of murano's in my area, good looking cars, i knew they had to be selling a lot.

 

I have YET to see an M45 on the road here in NH. I'm shocked

-Chad

 

exactly!!! ahahaha I've seen like two

supposedly its selling better than the GS430 but it gets whupped whent he GS3 and GS4 numbers are combined

 

I saw an M45--I wouldn't say it's beautiful, but it was different, not in a bad way. The Q45 still looks good though it looks overweight or something. What I did think looked totally outrageous, even more so than the DB7 that I saw was a Porsche Cayenne S that cut me off heading for the Holland Tunnel. That thing looks good--I'd say it turns more heads than an M3 or Z4. I saw an 840 last night--classic. I don't understand why Nissan can't at least build good-looking cars even if they can't get the handling/road-feel thing down and insist on FWD to save money. Even if Korea doesn't build the greatest cars, they seem to be able to build good-looking stuff in a hurry. Nissan always has to put something ugly into the mix, like the ugly front of the 6th gen.

 

Per Autochannel.Com 6-3-03 news item: Nissan May sales numbers: In May 2003 Nissan sold about 6013 '04 Maximas. FYI, in April 2003 Nissan sold about 5428 '04 Maximas.

Take 9262 Maximas sold minus 6818 import cars sold plus 3568 Zs sold = 6012 '04 Maximas sold. Note, the import cars sold number includes 2002 Maxes, 2003 Maxes, all Z cars, but none of the (all imported from Mexico) Sentras.

Or take 31855 North American cars produced less 17288 Altimas sold less 8613 Sentras sold = 6014 '04 Maximas sold.

If my math or methodology if wrong, please correct me.

 

Ive seen most all on the road. The 6th gen is not growing on me, ive just learned to somewhat accept it. It looks ok from the side and the rear, but the front I cant stand. If it atleast got a grill-tech grill then it would atleast be satisfactory enough to think nothing of it. It just an alti on roid. my .02

 

well i like it, except that horrendeous altima interior and the honda headlights. They chop these off and put in the 5th gen dash and i'll buy 2. and that thing for a sunroof.. sky something that doesnt even open. they should remove it as an option. other than that i like it.. if i left something to like that is

 

Sunroof Clarification:

The skyview (non-opening glass) is standard on every 6th gen Maxima. Compare it to the plain steel roof on every 5th, 4th, and 3rd gen Maxima.

The optional moonroof is optional on every 6th gen. Compare it to the optional moonroof on every 5th, 4th, and 3rd gen Maxima.

When you look at it that way, the Skyview is pretty neat.

DW

 

There should be no "except" when you spend 35 grand on a car--that kind of coyne gives a person choices, and many. look at the photo of the 6th gen on this page--looks like a Jetta with a big chromed grill. Making bucket seats in the back would be nice if it were an S600, but it's a FWD family car.

6th gen is the "next" gen--it's gonna be one of those things again, when the next gens come out with the small Audis and BMWs, the 2k4 Max is gonna feel like it's 5 yrs old. And correct, they are NOT comparable cars, but I mention it because many people on this forum are not dead set on a big 4DSD and also seem to have lots of $$$$, so I will say it again. You are not snobby if you spend your $$$$ on something smaller, German, with good road feel. You're actually more savvy with your money imho.

 

More savvy? I wouldn't beleive it, but have you evr seen a driver driving a BMW like a BMW? Saviness doesn't apply to most BMW drivers. What about less practical? You pay more money for less of a car, that's also less reliable. Don't get me wrong, BMWs have their plus points, road feel being one of them. But I think you're being a bit harsh on the Maxima. Also, I'm sure you know that most people who buy BMWs, Mercedes etc are for the snob factor. They definitely have it. Can't deny it. Especially the Benz. Show up in a band new Benz E500 and I'll take notice.

DW

EDIT: I meant to say wouldn't, not would. I changed that

 

I don't see why you put the Pathfinder on the bad list. My Dad's got a 2000 and it rocks, for an SUV. I think the 6th Gen is starting to grow on me, but one problem is my parents like the way it looks. That doesn't do a lot for its coolness factor, especially on this board. Personally, I think the coolest looking new Nissan/Infiniti is either the G35 or the FX45. I don't normally like sport-utes but that FX is very, very cool. I think that new M45 is a wicked car and I think it reminds me of an old sixties "Hot Rod Lincoln" with its angular styling and honking motor. Personally I'd take mine in black because the dark side of the force dominates my destiny.

 

I'm trying to be serious about this issue, so I'll try to explain it and also to see the flip side. No BMW is cheap--you have to pay at least what, 30 grand for 175 or 185 hp which is peanuts in 2003. You got 300 hp cars on the market now for the same or less. So why would a 3-Series even sell any units at all? I know I shouldn't even compare it to a Maxima, because one is a RWD sports sedan and the other is a FWD family car. But because people on the forum often are very undecided, they are young, single, and have $$$, that's why I bother to compare. If the BMW winds up being a similar cost per mile but only much more up-front money, imho the BMW is a wiser, more SAVVY choice. You enjoy it more, you come across as upwardly mobile (stop calling it snobbiness) and educated, and you have a blast. Maybe you get some hotties that wouldn't give you the time of day otherwise, who cares (stop with the beauty is skin deep ****). In other words, with the bimmer you have a lot of fun. Oh, and did I mention road-feel for the thousandth time?

Again, it's like buying an ordinary house in a good neighboorhood, the real-estate addage, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. I can't afford a house in Rye, NY, a couple starting out with 20% down, 30 years and 5.375 interest has to pay around $5400/mo. for their mortgage. I'm busting my can at 2500/mo, I couldn't even dream of over 5 grand/mo. But if a couple works in Manhattan and have good jobs, they think 5.375 is terrific and they run to buy the house in Rye. The BMW or Audi represents an ordinary house in a good neighborhood. The Maxima represents an ordinary house in a questionable neighboorhood with a much smaller price tag. Maybe younger people cannot appreciate the get what you pay for concept. But it seems like there has been plenty of mention of Maxima resale. Again, keep the Maxima 7 yrs. and you can put depreciation to bed. Any shorter and you got burned.

 

I see what you're saying. The BMW is a more savvy decision because of it's image, better resale etc. I can't argue with that.

On the resale issue, I think the main reason that Maximas lose so much value is becasue there are so many out there, and they all have the same exact great motor. Now the 6th gen is out, the Altima has taken over the spot left by the previous Maximas Kinda sortof, and the 6th gen Max is trying to go uptown. Given that Nissan is reducing the output of Maximas, 90,000 a year, compared to Altimas, of which Nissan will produce around 240,000 every year, the reduced output and slight exclusivity factor of the new Maxima may help it's future resale value. Altimas will be a dime a dozen. Poor V6 Altimas are gonna suffer the most.

DW

 

IM speaking in terms of it being a replacement for the Q45 in some cases, as a good seller.

 

From a guy over 40: I like the rear of the new ones..it looks pretty good...but I still think the front of them are butt ugly. The additional HP is a tempting factor...but I also agree that they look too big..I think too tall. Perhaps that's why there is the 350Z at about the same price range!

 

I don't seem to understand why anyone would be surprised that the 6th gen is doing so well, everyone who buys a Max isn't only out for the performance part of it as most members seem to be here.

Many owners of the new Max were more than likely previous owners of past Maximas and they love the true qualities that all of us appreciate in the vehicle such as it's size, gas mileage, dependability and bang for the buck potential.

Many of the people I talk to say they think the new Max looks awesome and they always ask me if I'm going to get one. Other than the grill and the rear end<which has always been one of the many challenged features on most gens of Maximas, I really have no issue with the car.

It has excellent build quality, it's roomy, nice warranty and offers performance compatible to many other cars in higher classes (price wise)and let's not forget about the VQ engine.

If they change the grill plus the rear end and make the gearing more aggressive, I guarantee many members here would jump ship in a heartbeat.

 

bamaslammer: I don't think that the pathfinder is a "bad" truck, but it is still "old school" nissan. The truck goes back to the 96 redesign. Got updated in 99, and the 3.5 in 2000, but the truck is still the same. I love the look of them, but they don't sell squat compared to other SUV's even though it is every bit as good as them.

As far as being the "old school" nissan, look at how they've tightened the gaps on the inside. The new z, murano, max, etc all have nice tight lines in the plastic (look at the new radios and how precise the buttons are) even if in the case of the altima one may think that the quality of the plastic is low, but its put together really well.

As a side note, I think people mix up "build quality" and "quality materials". You CAN have a car that has poor quality materials but is put together nice and thight. And thats basically what the altima is right now.

Mike S.

 

Oh and Frank Fontaine: Am I missing something? Are 3.5Vq's blowing up left and right or did one owner on hear have a problem? The reason I ask is that you make it sound like the 3.5 is a "problem" motor and I don't really think thats true. Were going on 3 years of this motor now(came out in the pfinder first) and I think its just as solid as the 3.0VQ.

Mike S.

 

Yeah, I guess that's why my old man got such a good deal on his. I like the look, it reminds me of an original Land Rover with its squared-off flanks. I will attest, even though this is a Max board, that truck will haul booty and is good in the rough stuff. I always thought it was amazing that the better looking, but underpowered 4Runner always outsold it even though it is a smaller vehicle with less cargo space, a bigger price tag and an inferior 4WD system.