Banned my a$$. I said Altima/Stanza stood in the shadow of Accords and Camry's for many years. With the current Altima, Nissan increased market share and popularity of the car. I bet you don't listen well either, since you can't read well. You will always get the die-hard Camry and Accord buyers, just like Max buyers.
http://www.autobytel.com/content/res...all&listtype=1
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/consu...cars.3.*#sedan
http://www.carsdirect.com/research/new_cars/top_10

 

over 300 million people in the US... thats over 300 million opinions. Some like the 6th gen, some dont. Same thing will go for the 7th gen, 8th and so on. I like the 6th gen (I guess thats why I bought it) I'm not putting the car on a track, so I couldnt care if it weighs so much. That just means that the car is solid at over 3500 pounds. I agree that the tooth grille was a mistake, but that can be changed. Same things goes for the interior, if you think its cheap, I'm sure you can get interior trim pieces to your likeness.

 

There's a big difference. The Camry and Accord people tend to be older and they simply buy a car for overall value. That's why one of the two is always the top-seller, and one of the two will always be on the C&D Ten Best list. They don't tend to be the types who toot their own horns. There's no need to.

 

wayyyy OT both you and me.
Do you watch TV or listen to radio? Do you know who toots their own horns? Both Toyota and Honda, new and pre-owned. By your own statement, are you suggesting that younger buyers are moving away from those two for performance and no value? Back to 7th gen, please, ugly or not.

 

4 wheel steering is miles away from Nissan's Hicas and SuperHicas systems. The Honda Prelude would be much more similar.

 

True, but the point is it was still an improvement on an existing concept, which again, is fine.
Why I'm not sure why you chased this Hicas thing this far is, would you really want it?
If the 7th gen comes out and has it, does that make it more desirable, or would you avoid it because of the inevitable problems?

The more the skyline raced, the more the teams disabled the Hicas systems because of maintenance and reliability concerns (racing, not street driving).

I would still vote for a 7th gen with a M45 engine with a shell scaled down to G35 sedan size (which is about 4th and 5th gen size) with either awd or rwd.

The more complicated things are, the more that can break, I have heard stories about the Porsche's ABS/traction system wrecking brake rotors on race tracks because if you have a certain driving style you will keep it engaged, a lot.

I say keep it simpler, as an example, look at the problems and image problems BMW is having because of their iDrive, and poorly working SMG transmission (the paddles).

 

I agree. But I don't think Nissan could offer a g sized sedan (more like 3 series bmw size vs maxima size) with a M45 engine. It would compete with the Infiniti line too much. Who would buy the G or M, if nissan offered the same for cheaper?(It would have to be cheaper to be a Nissan).

 

The same people that buy the 5 and 7 series BMW's over the M3's. Or the same people that buy the A6's (not the RS) and A8's over the V-8 S4's. Not everyone wants cars for the same reasons, on this forum we tend to be enthusiasts, so we tend to venerate those types of cars.
You could argue why make Impalla SS's with Corvette engines, or GT40's, they both compete with other cars in their lines.
Or all those AMG or SVT models, why not a Nismo rwd or awd Maxima with a M45 engine and not quite as fast as the GT-R, but in the ballpark.

 

I don't think the 5&7 series are as expensive. Also the M3s aren't nearly as large. There is a price premium for the S series audis also. Also there is size difference. Not in the same class in either size or price. All serve to target different markets.

Okay, lets say you offer basicly a G with the M45 V8 engine. The exact same one. So now you have a Nissan with 330hp in a sedan or coupe. Unless you price it well above what the G or the M is going for, you are competing against yourself. But you do realize that Nissan is touting their 350z as their sports sedan flagship. What happens to that car now? Because a G with the V8 would clearly obliterate in almost all performance areas. Also you have the Nissan/Infiniti Skyline coming down the pipes. Unless it's going to have 380-400hp, it will be again competing straight across from this V8 G series.

So for Nissan to offering something, it can't compete with something already available. But since Infiniti already offeres the M45 and M35 in a similar class(and in a similar size), I think it might be difficult. Although the Nissan Murano and FX series seem to coexist okay. Just deoption the M35 and offer it in Nissan form. Price point it above the Altima but below the M35.

 

I can see Nissan make all M35's AWD and have the 7th gen Max as RWD. The price would be close to the G35, but target families looking for a larger sports sedan. The starting price for the Max would be less with less standard features for those looking for just a large family car(mid to high $20k), and with options for the enthusiasts with wives and children(low $30's and up).

 

well too bad nissan cant see the max as rwd......thats stepping on infiniti's feet. people will never learn. if you want a rwd maxima buy an infiniti.

 

So......what was the '96-04 I30/35 Series, if not a Maxima on High-lux? Those cars sold like hot cakes, and they mechanically were the EXACT same car.

So , a RWD Maxima would NOT take away sales of a G35 series, they are pretty much different buyers for different cars.The average Infiniti buyer wouldn't consider a Nissan, and vice versa. Which is why the Infiniti I-series cars sold well , even though they were the same as the Maxima under the Infiniti clock .

 

To my knowledge, they didn't sell very well at all vs the maxima. Also, they were price pointed a few thousand dollars higher than the maxima. Also this was done as a very easy way for Infiniti to get into a segment w/o much investment. At the time, all they had was the G20 (friggen small) and the Q45. (friggen huge). They were just buying time until the newer G and M series were introduced.

I agree. A RWD maxima might not take G sales away. As the G series is bmw 3 series size. And the maxima is more in the 5 series size (or larger). A rwd maxima might take M35 sales away. But if they price pointed it thousands lower than a M35, it might work. Which has been my point for about 4-5 posts so far.

 

When I was deciding between the 2000SE and the I30, I went with the Max. My Max had all other options the I30 had but memory seat and rear shade for ~$2k less. I was the only driver and got my car tinted. Though I didn't get to drive an Infiniti or get the infinitely better on average Infiniti gold key dealer service and the longer warranty, I only visit the dealer for warranty work1 time in 5 years.

 

To compare sales of the I30 directly to the Max is somewhat misleading, since the I 30/35 is a luxury car , versus the "midsize/family" niche of the Max, which of course, because of its segment,sells well. The reason the I35 did so bad is because it faced competition from the G35, which was the same engine minus the beam axle and front-wheel drive of the I-35, plus more power for the same money.

The fact that the '03-'04 Maxes had almost the same equipment and trim levels didn't exactly help the baby Infinit's cause.

That said, Like I posted earlier, Infinti buyers have a different priority and tastes in a car than a Nissan buyer would. So, having a rear-drive Max wouldn't put the G and M cars from Infiniti out of business.

 

The reason the I30/I35 didn't sell well is because it was more expensive than the maxima and it was too similar. Saying the I30/I35 was similar to the G except for the drive configuation is pretty far stretch. One thing is rwd/fwd is a pretty big difference. Also the G series was built on a much better platform I think. Also the G series is a class smaller than the I series. Direct comparisions are difficult at best.
So like I mentioned, Nissan won't introduce a car that's too similar to the Infiniti as it would kill their own sales. But again I will say, Nissan offers the Murano and FX. Although the Murano isn't offered in the V8 version like the FX45 correct? But the FX35 directly competes.

Put it this way, if Nissan introduced a M45, optioned down/$4-5 grand cheaper but still the same chassis and 330hp V8, I wouldn't give the M45 one look.

 

You might want to do some research before posting next time.

 

I wouldn't want a big 6th gen looking max with rwd, I want the G platform, or something more similar to a 4th or 5th gen platform with rwd.
These Amercian companies are putting their hemi's, LT-1's etc..in all sorts of things, why not put a new skyline motor in a g35 sized platform? The arguement that you can put 4 people in a new skyline/Z body is stupid, unless your kids and friends stay the size of mini-me.
The new max/m45 is roughly the size of the 7 series, how is that sporting? There is no M3 sized car, even if it was more expensive, people still buy M3's and S4's and RS-6's and M5's etc..

 

The M series is squarely targeted against the 5 series BMWs and the like. The Q45 is targeted against the 7 series and the like.

There is an M3 sized car. It's called the G35 coupe and sedan. But we don't have a Nissan version of it. Wished we did.

 

Not yet, from what I heard, I'm hopeful for the '07 G's.

You mean like an Altima size w/ RWD?

 

RHmax makes a good point. I think the Altima is on the fx/murano chassis? If so, I could easily see an AWD Altima or something being offered. (as mentioned in this thread by someone else I think). But it would most likely be a FWD bias'd awd system. But hell, that would be miles ahead of the torque steer happy maximas/altimas we have now.

 

I would go for that, since the new Altima's are the size of the old 4th and 5th gens, still wish it was a max though.

 

Nissan can't reduce the size of the Max 'cause the Altima is there, but can't get bigger 'cause of the M, then what's wrong with current size RWD/AWD? Other car companies feel that there's a need for this size vehicle in the market that's why they keep making them.
BTW, I drove the new 750i a couple of weeks ago. Sure it's the size of a whale but sure didn't drive like one with all that hp, firm suspension, and those hugh tires and wheels.

 

but it sure drinks like a whale, but thats hasnt stopped many in still purchasing SUVs with quite the drinking abilitly.

 

when i got my 5.5 gen I asked what was going to happen with the maxima next and he said that they are aiming to make it AWD like the Infinity G and M models but who knows it def needs to be styled different IMO due to the similarites with the Altima I think it should have more power, even wheel gap and better handling....

 

Im glad my 265hp maxima is FWD during buffalo bilzzards....alot of ppl have no idea how important this is and have never seen snow.

 

The Altima can't sell without rebates. When a vehicle doesn't move off the lots, the last thing Nissan should do is spend more money developing it. Every other commercial says Altima $1500 rebate/$199 lease. It's about as bad as GM/Ford saying you pay what we pay.

It's more than a bias--on dry pavement FWD/AWD systems send less than 10-15% torque to the rear wheels, i.e. the vehicle behaves like a FWD car. Although the other dude claims people don't understand how important 265 and FWD is, most people beg to differ.

 

[QUOTE=Frank Fontaine]The Altima can't sell without rebates. When a vehicle doesn't move off the lots, the last thing Nissan should do is spend more money developing it. Every other commercial says Altima $1500 rebate/$199 lease. It's about as bad as GM/Ford saying you pay what we pay...QUOTE]

Are we still on this topic? Honda has clearance in starting in July every year(Duh, what does that mean?), Toyota also offers $1000+ rebates. GM, Ford, and Chrysler had to do something drastic to stay afloat. My friend (or not), even Mercedes has sales and rebates. Spent a buck or so and get the Sunday paper once in a while. Car mfg spent money to build cars, they need to make their money back to build new cars they think people will want and out sell the competition. What would YOU say if Nissan follows Toyota and build cars for the old folks who wants only value for their buck? I can tell you this, Maxima.org won't exist. But if you insist on having the last word on this topic, please... be my guess.

 

Rwdrwdrwdrwdrwd

 

i see a lot of new altimas around. too many

 

I don't know, I'm in philly and awd, rwd and fwd does nothing for you when you hit a patch of ice. Snow isnt' as bad as people make it out to be, IMO.
I've spun my max driving in snow, just like I spun my RX7 in the past. AND when a fwd car's rear end lets go, you're toast, all you can do is just ride it out and hope you don't hit anything.