I was talking to someone recently about cars, and it made me start thinking about what is really important to me concerning the cars I chose to drive/buy.

I consider myself fairly well versed in the sampling of the automotive driving experience. Whether it is the cars I have owned (1979 Olds Regency 6.4L V8; 1992 Saturn SC 5-speed; 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo; 1997 Nissan Maxima SE 5-speed; 1999 VW Jetta GLX VR6 5-speed; 2000 Nissan Maxima SE 5-speed; 2000 Toyoya MR2) or the cars those close to me own that I have driven periodically (My step-dad's Lexus LS400; his Lincoln Mark VIII; his VW GTI VR6s; my moms Suburu Legacy GT; my aunts 2001 Windstar; my boss's old Suburu SVX; his new Lexus RX300; my grandpa's 89 Roadmaster; my wife's old 94 Grand Am V6; her parent's 89 Chevy 3500 shortbed; my uncle's old 99 Ranger V6; the list goes on...)

One thing I have noticed over the years is this: performance, primarily acceleration, is what everybody brags about their cars (whether they have it or not), followed closely by fuel economy (where the truth almost always gets stretched to the limit). Yet this isn't why they buy the cars that they do. Otherwise everyone would be driving Mustangs or Camaros, or Tercels and Metros. But most of us buy midsize sedans, family mega-vans, or (gasp) SUVs. None of which are optimized for acceleration or economy.

My point is that I have witnessed alot of talk here on the board about whether the new Maxima is going to be faster, which cars will it beat, is it going to be front or rear drive, etc. It has made me think about the two Maximas I have had and how they compare to all the above cars I mentioned. Some of them, obviously, dont compare at all. For the ones that do: noteably the maxima is just as capable a performer as the Jetta, GTI, and Mark VIII. The VWs are touted as driver's cars, the Mark as ultimate performance coupe. But why do I like the Maxima better? Because it is faster? I drove a 540 once. And it was way faster. And it is still my dream car. But would I really buy one if I had the money? Same thing with whatever Maxima comes next; if it is bigger faster and rear drive, will I really want one? And what makes my 2000 Max better than the 1997 Max? It is certainly a superior car in just about every way. But there is part me that still longs for the 97 I used to have. And I kick myself for getting rid of that car every time I think about it. Sure the valves were making noises, the service light came on from time to time, it wasnt as fast as some of the newer cars, or wasnt as fun to drive as my stepdads VW.
But it had something you cant really measure or describe. Just a feeling of magic that it was mine, whenever I got in it. I dont have that feeling with the new max. I think Nissan took something away from the Maxima when they made it more competitive. And if they turn the Maxima into a GS400 fighter, I think they will take away even more.

I wrote this painfully long post, and present it for this purpose: If you take away the performace, the acceleration, handling and braking, if you just focus in on what makes the Maxima unique, what makes it special, what do you have left?
Value? Appearance? Roominess? Economy? I think there are other cars out there that are better. But we prefer the Maxima. Why?

For me it is the combination of these attributes. It is the amount of cabin space, where others are more cramped. It is the power at hand, while still being economical. It is the communicative steering and road feel, where others are getting numb. It is how good it looks in my garage, regardless of how others think it looks. It's the way it goes when I punch it, not caring if someone else can do it faster.

So what is it for you?

 

For me the choice to get a Maxima was pretty simple. I wanted a 4 dour sedan with a six cylinder engine that was fun to drive, practical, HAD A 5spd!!! , somewhat luxurious, accelerated swiftly and would not cost too much (both purchase price and maintenance). When you look at what is on the market right now, there are not that many cars that come close to this. Although I would love to have a sports car, I don't want to pay the higher insurance or deal with the lack of space. The sports cars available for less than $30k are not that appealing to me anyway. If money was not as big a deal, I would have gottern a BMW 5 series or an Audi A6 2.7t 6spd. What is basically left is a Maxima and a VW (Passat or Jetta). The Jetta is too small. When I looked at the Passat and Maxima in detail, the Maxima had much more to offer for the money.

The bottom line is that the Maxima is a fun and practical car with a great engine. There really aren't that many cars that offer as much for $20-30k. Granted the Maxima is not perfect (like the rear beam suspension or transmissions that don't measure up with the competition), but it does enough things that other auto makers don't offer for the money.

 

Before I got my current Max, I had a much rarer car (fully loaded black I30t 5spd). That car was close to perfect and a great joy to drive. With that said, I don't miss it a bit. Yes, the 5 speed Maxes are more common on the road, but I am glad I don't have to endure another hot summer in a black car with black leather. The quality of the new Max is comparable to the previous generation, in fact Nissan made a number of welcome improvements with the redesign.

 

it is a great car. its fast, attracts attention (something fixed up thats not a honda)i can pack all my friends in the car and every one is comfortable and most of all it luxurious and looks agressive with the lip

 

I agree with beagle. Theres also something about the name. People ask you what you drive, you say 'A Maxima.' With a smile on your face. Other people know maximas are nice cars. When I think of Maxima, I think of luxury and performance. What other 2 things would you like to have? Fuel economy? Got that too. Im still pulling about 20-22mpg in the city in my '91 with 138,000mi on it.

This doesnt really apply to people with newer maxes, but...
If you compare a '91 Maxima to a '91 Taurus (both 4 door sedans), you can really see how far along Nissan is/was with there technology. 4 wheel disc brakes on a '91? ABS on a '91? CD player (dealer installed) on a '91? Nissan was way ahead of their time in the early '90s.

I drive a Maxima because, I think, they are far and away better than 90% of the cars out there.

 

Could not have said it better myself!

 

Yup, also a great attention getter and status symbol.

 

About Nissan being ahead of their time in 91. I have to say that Nissan had an incredible lineup in the early 90s. Now they kind of fizzled,not that they arent good cars, but they dont stand out.
I bought my max,for the peppiness,comfort,quietness,good price,and most importantly, everything is laid out well,easy car to drive.

 

What made me decide to get the Maxima? It has a V6 motor, 5-speed manual, good fuel economy car, and the price was under $25K. My grandparents still have their 77 Datsun 810 up and running, so I thought Nissans would last. At the time, I was looking at the VWs, Acuras, and Toyota Camry. The Maxima had better features and great numbers in performance. In my area, there are number 50 in the theft statistic and the repair bills were just right ( Audis, volvos, and vws can be a nightmare). I like the low end power that the Maxima has over the Hondas. One thing that bothered me was the handling, but all that is taken care of. In the end, I think I've spent about $28K on the Maxima with all the suspension mods, front big brake upgrade, a nice sound system, a few engine mods, and some cheap cosmetic enhancements. I'm quite satisfied with my car and I intend on keeping this car until it croaks (heaven forbid).

 

I bought mine cuz the Accord V6 doesn't come in 5-speed.
I'm still a Honda-guy at heart...but I love my Max!

 

To me, the 3rd generation Maxima never goes out of style. Even 10 years later, it still looks sporty. It has a reasonable amount of power, and with a little bit of suspension work, this car will carve up the road.

There is something intangible about my Maxima that makes me love her. It is probably a combination of all the factors previously mentioned in this thread.

I love that fact that my car is ten years old and that I still idles like it was new. I love the fact that I can keep up/outhandle my friend's Jetta 1.8 turbo. That is a $23k car!. Also, my paint is factory. However, it still shines enough to use it for a shaving mirror!

I hope my Max runs forever. I plan to keep this car until it dies. Hopefully, that will be another ten years from now.

 

I got nothing, but praise for this car. I really love it. The only one regret was that I didn't get a 5spd. manual. I opted for the auto tranny. Biggest mistake I made. Other than that, I got no complaints.

 

well, i wasnt PLANNING on getting a new vehicle... but my 95 civic got wrecked, so i didnt have a choice. i decided i wanted something larger than my civic, preferably a sporty 4 door sedan, and it had to have a 5 speed and be faster than my civic, and it couldnt be domestic. so the 5 speed thing ruled out the accord v6 (which i really like however), and the "larger" ruled out DSMs. i thought about a Prelude VTEC, but i was kinda tired of the honda scene. so basically all that was left was was the mazda 626 lx-v6 which is available in 5 speed (but i already owned a 626 and an MX-6 before, so i didnt want another one) and the maxima. i had always liked maximas, so i decided to get one. i searched and searched, finally found a black 96 5- speed for less than $10000 (that wasnt a requirement, but it was nice to find)... and the rest is history.

Neal

 

Two letters, VQ. Everyone that has ever been in my car when I have floored it says 'wow', then remark that the engine makes a beautiful sound. The rest of the car is pretty cool too.

 

I got the Maxima because I saw the potential in the car (power and looks) and the fact that nearly no one mods these cars. I looked hard at Impala SSs because I loved the LT1 (had a 94 Z28 at the time), but I couldn't justify paying nearly $18000 for a 2 year used car that cost $24000 new plus I really wanted a 5 speed. My Maxima has come a long way in 2 years. This car is far faster than I ever imagined I could get it to go. When I tell people I race my Maxima at the track they laugh and ask what it runs. I tell them 14.7s and they say "that can beat some Mustangs" and I say "it's been known to show a few 5.0s taillights". I find it amazing that my Maxima is within .5 of second and 5mph of my old 94 Z28 when it was stock.

I love the subtle aggressiveness my car pocesses and I swear I get 2 times the looks in the Max as I did in the Z28.


Dave

 

Just like fellow member wrote...V.Q.-value quotient...

No car on the road offers features, performance, joy of driving for the money like the Max...

Great car...no regrets...

 

Out of curiousity, to my knowledge GM never used metrics for displacement on that motor. I think you're referring to the 403 V-8. Though I was too young to drive back then I liked Buick and Olds. How did you arrive at 6.4L? I got 6.6 when I did the conversion.

Going back to what you said, thing thing about the 1997 Maxima (I have a '98) was that when you got it, it was still a desirable car. It was a '96 with some improvements and new fascia. Girls still thought it was a hot car, as did guys. It wasn't until '98 when Nissan had to face the reality of waning demand and lop 6 grand plus off the list just to get it to move off the dealers' lots. It's never been quite the same since, and now very few seem to buy the Maxima except the 50+ crowd. Back in 95-97 the 30'ish crowd who had some bucks (and they had to because the cars were literally selling for about 27 fully-loaded, not the 22,500 people would see in early 98). My .02 is the Maxima does not stand for something exciting in the 5th gen, it's just like anything else.

One element of the 4th gen is the 130+ top speed "not that you would but you could."

 

1) VQ
+
2) 5 speed!!!
=
________
ONE AWESOME SEDAN!!


You know, Maximas have that special "feeling", Prestige, Wow factor, that elegance that other cars like the Camrys, Accords, Tauruses,.... simply dont' have. It doesn't matter if its a auto or stick.

When people hear you drive a Maxima, they are impressed. Pull into a crowed area in a super black Maxima, and people will stare at you with envy. Maximas have that special "mystical" character. They way it sounds is cool too, M A X I M A. There is just something about Maximas. I think the name has a lot to do with it too.

It is an expensive car, not too many people can afford it. People know Maximas are really nice cars. When me and my friends go out, we always take my car.

Sure there are better cars out there, but for for the money, Maximas are the best.

 

How did you arrive at 6.4L? I got 6.6 when I did the conversion.

You are probably right Frank. It probably was 6.6, actually it definitely was. Just like in the Sammy Hager song, "cruisin' along in my 6.6..."
Same engine they put in the 79 Trans Am, only tuned for more low end grunt. And it had it too! My dad pulled a 5000 lb trailer with that car.


But anyway, all good thoughts fellas. And yes, third gens still are snazzy looking cars.
I do think the 5th gen is a little more numb than the 4th gen. Putting Nitto555s on the car compensated a little.

Jimmy

 

Pretty much hit the nail on the head.
with 4th gen Maxes, it came down to VWs or Maxima, and Maxima had it over VW for what I wanted (4dr, room for 4 6ftrs, stylish, fast, 5spd). My only other serious candidate was a Taurus SHO, except for the reliability of all but the engine and rust issues.
Other factors were the relative silence of the car and the history of the VQ.

Even today, the Max has it. The 5th gen's pushing my size limit, but I could go for it. The new Altima is looking pretty good, meaning that the drivetrain was about as important a factor as there is in my case.

With unlimited $$ I'd take a Skyline sedan please. But in the realm of what I'd spend my own money on, an M5 is a bit too expensive for my tastes, but tempting. A 540i is too expensive and in the performance realm of the (IMHO) more effective A6 2.7T (especially if I mod it). Drop past that and except for possibly a 5spd IS300, I'm right back at the Maxima. The Maxima SE-R is about all I could ask for in the Maxima price range brand new at a dealer. With mods, it's that much nicer.

BTW, anyone know how the Max will make its 20+HP over the Altima?

 

This says it all!

(BTW, nice colour ArcticMax! ;-) )

 

fun to drive.. practical.. and still an attention getter...
MAXIMA.. MAXIMA.. MAXIMA.. i'm hooked... isn't there therapy for this kind of problem. lol

 

i stopped by nissan to test drive a max. i bought it on the spot. because:
1. room for my family
2. handling and fuel economy
3. fun to drive!
4. it looks so gooooood.
why buy anything else?
great for anyone with champagne taste on a beer budget yet you can't lose! i love it!

 

The wife had 3 rules:
- 4 door
- 5 speed
- can't be white.

For all intent purposes, this left us with Camry, Accord, and the Maxima. The Accord was nice, but everyone thought retail book value was a fair price (not!). The Camry had a 5 speed & V6, but it rode way too soft.

Then we test drove a Maxima. My wife was so excited about how well it cornered (tossing the salesman around in the back seat) and the acceleration, that she wouldn't say how much she liked it until we were out of earshot of the salesperson.

A week later, we found a 3rd gen listed at a wholesale price and bought it. We've been all smiles ever since.

 

my story is similar to Nealoc187. When i was in college, one of my friend drove 90 maxima (manual) and he had 170K on it and it would run great and he would never rent a car to driver between states. I couldn't afford one at that time. However i would see my other friends selling HONDAs and FORDs around 110K and this guy would not stop praising his maxima. One day i drover his maxima and really understood what he meant. Since then whenever someone said "Maxima", the words that come to my mind were reliability,power,V6,long life and last but not the least the awesome awesome look.

I had ford Escort and you could go up hill only when the AC was turned off . And so when i graduated and started working for a high tech company, everytime i would park my escort in the parking garage, maxima would catch my eye in row of parked cars. I started looking for one and let many honda and camery deals down. Finally i got my 97,GLE,52Kmiles,5 speed. No need to say but i would never ever miss my ford. Since the day i bought it, i never got tired looking at it and driving it. Handling is superb and knowing that VQ is one of the best engines, gives me confidence that i can keep this car for 150K+.
I'm hooked with maxima for life.

 

Uh, I think that this was stated before, but the GLE NEVER came with a 5 speed, you have either a SE or a GXE.

 

I always get confused in this. I guess i should stop driving and check if its a SE or GXE. I'm sure its not SE because it doesn't have a spoiler. so it must be GXE. will double check and correct my signature. thanks