Im going thru another phase of regretting of buying my car. I'm only 19 yet I am driving a damn family sedan. Most people dont buy these cars until they get married AND have children. I overpaid for my car too cause I was blind and pretty much bought the first pretty car that I saw (well I did drive about 2 dozen other cars but at the time I couldnt drive a stick). Looking in hindsight, I really regret buying something that people "aww" about who are twice my age. My goal is not to impress anybody, but rather to impress myself. Being that I still live at home, I have a 98 Camry and a minivan at my disposal, I can afford to get a really impractical car. There are 4 cars in this family, for 3 drivers and I am also getting a motorcycle soon as well so I can also afford to drive a not so reliable car. I am seriously considering trading in my car, if not very soon at the latest when it hits 100K. By that time i'd sure be sick of driving the car and after that magical number of 100K is when depreciation really sets in (even though the maxima has lousy resale anyway) cars usually turn into a POS after this. My last car I drove from 110K to about 178K which was a 90 camry. Then after finding out that a 97 Z28 costs only $200 more per year to insure then the Maxima that really got my juices flowin. I'm on spring break so I'm gonna start car shopping once again.

 

Just get your little rice burner and call it good. IMO it would be DUMB to get a Z28 and a bike since you will need reliable transportation in the winter months that doesn't slide off of the road at the sign of the first snowflake. While your at it, get a better bike than the little CBR. If you like Suzuki get a Hayabusa? The CBR is for kids....

 

Well, I'd just like to point out that I am only 22 and I just purchased a Max and I love it. That's not to say that my feelings won't change, but I'm at the point where I enjoy going out and bringing my friends with me, and that is pretty hard to do in a 2 door sports car. Just my 2 cents.

 

i'm only 21 and sometimes I feel the same way... but there is something to be said about owning a very fast car that car seat 4 people comfortably on long trips or just around town. If I was you I would think about doing what I am: keep the maxima for a few years then once you have it paid off, go crazy and buy something very unpractical: this way you will always have the max as a backup / winter / lots of people car...

 

I also getting very sick of being the group driver. No matter where we go I ALWAYS wind up driving. Time for something 2 seater and very impractical. If I do need to transport people theres always the 98 Camry v6.
Well the car is already paid off, I bought the thing in cash. I wont mention how much I paid for it cause I got ripped, damn Carmax. I do admit it is a rare car being completely loaded except the auto, but no ones gonna want to pay anywhere remotely near what I paid, especially since its got a stick transmission.

 

Do what I am going to do soon (but I'm keeping the Max). Get a 427 Cobra replicar. Here's why. (1)It's very cool, and will get more looks than any Max will be able to. (2) You have other cars in the family you can use on stand-by. (3) You will have a hobby building the car. (4) You can tell girls that you built the car yourself. They will be impressed. (5) You will never be labeled a rice-boy driving this car. Last but not least, it will be very fast (0-60 4.6 sec, 1/4 mi 13.5 sec @ 100 mph) with an NA engine. Deduct 1 sec (3.6, 12.5@112) with optional supercharger!

I'm doing it because I do not want to dump in around $18K souping up the Max and not get anything out of it at trade-in. Whereas I will get almost all of it back with the 427 Cobra kit. On cold and rainy days, soft top or hardtop available for shelter. Did I mention the sweet exhaust note?

Have I gone over the edge, or is this a great idea or what?


P.S. You could always get the new Z for around $30K, when it comes out!

 

Hey I bought my max at 18 and I love it.
It's pretty quick, it's comfortable, it's roomy, it's reliable. Nothing wrong with being practical.

While I could use other cars (family cars) for the practical stuff, I don't see the point. Why bother getting my own car if it can't do what I need it to do?

Not gonna go borrowing other cars anytime I need to do anything but go for a joyride..

 

when I was 17... age doesnt mean **** if you like the car.. Who care's if older people drive it?? My car's roomy and still ****s on all the little *** riceboys in my school

 

You wanna drive a ricey 2 door maybe because you're only 19, but trust me, Maxima is a cool car dude! I admit the Maxima is not a GS400, but if I had the money, I'd get the GS400 over any 2 door rice mobile. I'm not saying that all 2 door cars are ricey and the drivers are rice boys, but my point is that there is just that "something special" about drivng a 4 door sports sedan. It's got class and that special "presence". I especially dont wanna ride 2 doors because I'm asian too and I dont wanna look like one of those million asian young kids driving civics and integras and stuff. but I'd drive a prelude because I like the prelude very much.

 

im 17 right now... and im having thoughts on getting another car.. i dunno maybe cuz im 17.. but i like my maxima too.. i like the roomyness but i always get suckered in to driving places.... i really want a 2 door tho.... i wanted what i was gonna get int he first place, a VR4, those things are sweet. But the max was the practical choice.... no i want something that looks coool....

my max looks so plain.... i dont have any money to make it look cool... i mean the max is fast.. but it screams.. "old person".... everyone always think its my parents car.... even tho its mine.

and i could never drive a civic or integra.... i'd rather get a prelude... bot those cars are too small.. the VR4 is big...its just right

but i still like my max tho...... oh well

 

There's just something about a four door car that's sexy.

 

I've always liked sleepers. And to me the maxima is the ultimate sleeper. And it's comfortable and practical.

With that said, I know how it feels to be the group driver. There's always one in every group of friends. In this case it's not me but a friend of mine. He'd always complain about it so for his next car he deliberatly bought a smaller car which happend to be an is300. Ironically though, he's still the group driver. Call it destiny, but no matter how small your car is, if it has seats, there will always be situations where people will ride in the back no matter what. It'll just be more annoyin gettin in and outta the car for both you and ur back seat passengers.

just somethin to think about.

al.

p.s. "enjoy the ride"

 

you guys are crrrrraazzzy I LOVE staring at my Maxima...I have absolutely no regrets... it looks like its going 80 mph when its in my driveway..it took 2 body kits and tinted windows but I couldnt be happier..well maybe if i had a 5 speed i would be but that'll change with the PTS

 

I didnt get my max till I was 18 after graduation about 3 months after. And its an 88! I like my car its the best I think of most of the 88's I ve seen and is in Immaculate condition. Im 19 now about to be 20 in May and still have it! It may be four doors AND I was suckered into driving my friends but atleast I had the space to when they didnt. They had lets see 99 mustang (high school), 93 scoupe, 67 mustang, 87 Honda, 99 F150, all in High school and I had nothing. Until after I GRADUATED. Just think though, You have mad room to splack in the back seat and they have well...... Nothing! I am purchasing or will be this June Hopefully a 4th gen. Max so I will be joining the crowd of newer Maxes. And my car still may be an 88 but everytime I get out I look at my car walking away and am marvelled at it thinking to myself.... "My Car is the best Car Ive ever seen."

 

I agree you guys are all pretty lucky. I'm 22 just graduated college and bought a 97 SE. I literally fell in love with this car on the lot. Just because it has four doors doesn't mean a thing.... it's the most sporty 4 door I've seen for the price... besides the fact that it kicks a$$! Maybe people always think it's your parents car because you are only 17-18 years old and are driving a car that originally cost 25k or so. When I was 17 I was driving an 84 oldsmobile cutlass ciera only because daddy was good enough to buy another car and pass it on. Leave something to shoot for... there's plenty of time to get that dream car.