Well ok, normally when I'm looking for such an answer to an easy question like mine, and stumble upon a forum like this one, I always go to the search function first, before asking.. but its disabled so...

I'm considering getting (well, pretty much decided) a maxima.. the one that i've looked at and will most likely buy by the weekend, is an 01 with 29k miles.. blah blah blah. My question is, is there a sure-fire easy way to tell what trim the car is? GXE, SE, or GLE. The GLE's are easy because they're loaded and have everything. The ad for this car i'm looking at, and also the tag on the keys for it, says SE. However, it almost seems like its the GXE from the way it rides and it does not have a spoiler. It does have 16" rims though, and the steering wheel controls, and a few other std SE options that are optional on the GXE package. There's been a few other dealers around here who have mislabeled thier maxima's also, SE when it was actually a GXE, and the salesman just said thier manager is an idiot

So anyway, if anyone could help me out to know what I'm actually getting here, that would be sweet. I tried carfaxing it but it just says GXE/SE/GLE/20th instead of which -one- it actually is, lol.

Thanks.

 

SE's have painted exterior door handles and white gauges.

 

it has the chrome door handles and white backlit guages.. So I take it that means its an SE eh?

Thanks.

 

if it has body color door handles, white gauges, body painted grile, 16" alloys it's an SE...

 

Most likely the car you are looking at is a GXE. Like what HSVMaxima says, "SE's have painted exterior door handles and white gauges." But let me help elaborate.

During the day when you look at the guages:
GXE: have BLACK background with WHITE numbers.
SE: have WHITE background with BLACK numbers.

For door handles:
GXE: Chrome color handles.
SE: Painted handles matching car color.

And based on what you described on your car, here are other clues as to if its GXE vs SE.

1. "does not have a spoiler" - SE have spoiler as standard
2. "does have 16" rims though" - for 2001 SE have 17" stock alloy rims with P225/50R17 tires.


Hope this helps and good luck on that car. You made a good choice. And welcome to the Maxima.org community!!!

steve...

 

ah, thanks for elaborating steve . Cool.. yeah I really like the maxima my uncle has, which is an 02 SE with almost all the features a GLE has (minus heated package and traction control). So when it came to upgrade my piece of junk, I started looking at used maximas. Definately a fun car to drive!! Great accelleration (even with the smaller 222 HP engine) and great handling, I love it. The dealer's been letting me drive it the last 2 days, so I'm already spoiled by it.

I'll be lurking aruond these forums alot.. lots of good info in them, especially since i'm a huge noob, and this is my first REAL car that i've bought.. Finally getting rid of the '84 mercury i've had for like 6 or 7 years (my first car), now that i have a job after college and can afford it :

 

Heres how to tell for sure. Open the hood and look at the plate right of the VIN plate on the far back of the engine bay.