I can't help but thinking that the new Maxima is overgrown and a bit odd looking to my unexperienced eyes. The new Maxima looks more like a luxury vehicle, while the Altima has developed into a sweet sexy looking sporty sedan. I believe the Altima has also a VQ 6 and it's closer to the price range of the earlier Maximas.... who holds the same chassis-suspension guts? The Altimas dimensios also seem closer to the earlier Maximas. Sorry if this an old subject, new here.

Cheers

 

you are absolutely correct.

All along the Maxima was the v6 answer to the Camry and Accord
and the Altima was the I4 answer to the Camry and Accord

so like the Camry and Accord, they made the Altima with I4's and v6's.

the maxima moved to a higher more luxious class, i guess thats why the Infiniti I series has disappeared.

The interior features of the 6th Generation Maxima also carrys alot of features never in a Maxima before, features you would find in a Lexus, Acura or an Infiniti.

 

Thanks, thats interesting info. I wonder what this forum members will do when faced with the decision.... will they go for the Maxima or Altima? Is going for a new Altima a lateral move, or even downgrading> doesn't seem like that to me. How about the chassis-suspension, etc?

 

Seems like everyone is moving away from the maxima all together.. the common upgrade from a Maxima seems to ither be used maxima or if something new most people are moving towards G35's or BMW 3 series

 

I would go with Infinite or Acura sport seden if i don't have money....I would just get a Audi RS6 if everything goes well as i thought. After all, Nissan is just....well..nissan,althought Nissan makes good cars..you get crappy service ...I love my maxima a lot...the dealer is the main problem with us IMO...

 

please take the time to read the sig rules

 

http://www.dictionary.com

Dealers are never happy to do anything but sell you stuff. Some just smile better than others.

 

i really like 6th gen's interior

 

I won't buy an Altima. Along the same lines, this "may" be the last Maxima I ever buy as well...

 

I don't like what Nissan is doing. They were bankrupt when they built the 4th gen and it still high better quality interior materials than the new Maxima and Altima. Ghosen(spell?) is being way to cheap with Nissan. The new ones have plastic everywhere. This new styling is fcking ugly. I don't know what they are thinking with the "tooth" but it is the wrong way to go.

 

this may sound kinda crazy but doesnt the g35 4- door kinda replace the old i30? i think it does and it would be nice to see future maxes go in that direction. but yea this is gonna be the last max that i shall get

 

I have to agree with a number of the other members in that this is most likely going to be my first and last Max owned. At least I feel fortunate to have the chance to have a great '03 to last me a while before I have to worry about the next car. I don't like the direction that they took the 6th gen Max in, and I'll have to see what the Altima has turned into at that point. I don't know if it's because the Altima has always previously been thought of as "lower" than the Max, but it just seems like it would be a step down to say that I went from a Max to an Altima.

 

My reason for buying an '04 Max is because it was referred to as a "luxury sports sedan." No offense to owners of previous Max generations, but I never would have even considered buying one of those...it just seemed like a small little box that looked like every other small little box on the road. I could have opted for a BMW, sure, but I don't drive that much so I couldn't justify the expense. I love the styling of the 6th generation Max and am very happy with my purchase. I get lots and lots of compliemts on it, too.

 

Altima

 

If you like the older body style of the max you better hurry down to your infinity dealer for an I35. This may be the last year for this model. They are closing out the 04'. I just bought one thats loaded, they can be had for $26,000-$27,000.

 

I must agree . I was a proud owner of a 4th gen maxima until I totalled it unfortunately. I was unable to afford insurance on a new car, so I was essentially carless for two years. I finally earned enough money and I picked up an 05 3.5SE sedan with the velour interior. I think the materials used in the altima are great and the interior looks much better than any vehicle in its class. The cloth bucket seats are comfortable to sit on and they hold you in place when you take a tight turn. The handling on a car this size is phenomemal, it will out handle my 4th gen stock vs stock anyday (no flame intended).

I must agree with the idea that the altima has replaced its big brother in the game and has put the maxima in a class of its own. The new maxima is real cool, but i'm not a fan of the @$$.

 

i would go with the G35 coupe before the new maximas

 

Same here (sigh...). After five straight Nissans (three of which were Maximas) mine's most likely getting replaced with an '04 TL w/ Navi tomorrow. Was waiting for the '05 but since there's essentially no changes I'll guess I'll save a few $K and go with the '04. I really enjoyed my '00 GLE, but I shouldn't have had to replace all the coils, rotors, sway bar links with only 57K miles and now the tranny is shifting a little weird and strut bearings are clunking.

 

Dan, if you are waiting for the '05, you should get nothing less than the new, redesigned RL. It is like god looking down on you and saying "you are my most wonderous creation".

 

The new RL reminds me of an I35 and the new TL mixed together.

The Infiniti M35/45 looks better anyways.

 

Well, if God not only looked down but handed me an extra $15K I just might have done it. But, unfortunately, he didn't so I had to settle for an '04 TL w/ Navi. The car is freakin' awesome -- 270 HP w/ minimal torque steer, and with Bluetooth, XM, 5.1 DVD-A, and voice controlled Navi/climate/audio it's a techno-nerd's wet dream!

 

This is the very question I came here to research. I thought they were basically the same car, but can only guess. Is the SE suspension set up the same between the '02-3 Maximas and the same year Altima? Near as I can tell, it seems to be the same, and as long as the Altima stays in this vein, the old Maxima lives on, as long as you don't mind saying "Altima" instead of "Maxima". That's something I can do.

Lovin' the forum. More to come from me in the coming days on making my final purchase decision, then maybe some minor mods. Lookin' forward to buyin' my first Nissan.
Chris

 

I was at the dealership yesterday picking up parts from My 00' max when i fell in love with an 05' 3.5 alty. I Dont think I will buy another max because of the direction they are going in. I've drivin an 04 max and the interoir was just ugly with all of there amber dash controls. So my next is probly going to be an 06 3.5 alty. I heard that nissan is upping the class of there cars as they bring in the new cube thing they have coming out?

 

I drove an 05 Alty and I wasn't impressed with the steering feedback. It felt waaay too light - exact opposite of my 01 gle. That was the 4cyl, I dont know if the v6 is any better.