Czar

I wanted to say that Y2KevSE's max looks AWESOME!!! Makes the 5th gen look great. One of my first cars was a 84 Max and when I sold it I sold it to a guy that had a 3rd gen. Since he had to transport the car back to his place I got to drive the 3rd gen to his place. It was love at first drive, the power, the size, the seating position, the smooth body look. I remember seeing the white faced gauges for the first time and to a 17 yr. old they were SOO tight. THe next week I went to a nissan dealer and looked at 2 third gens. At the time I didn't know anything about maximas, and I didn't drive stick, so I am thankful I didn't drop $10K on a GXE. I later had an integra that began falling apart at 156K and I was desparate to trade it in. My priorities were 5sp and A/C, and I saw my SE and remember being totally impressed by the power. Only after I had bought it did I realize that I had one of the more desireable 3rd gens. 3rd Gen. represents maxima to me.

David

Can't be right.

SmoothMax

iTrader: (2)

Good point... but I still gotta say 4th gen all the way. The 3rd gen is starting to look it's age and the 5th gen's rear really messes it up for me. The 4th gen is just great all around.

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

That's interesting....I still get many compliments on my 3rd gen, and exactly zero on my 4th gen.....

I doubt the 3rd gen will show its age for a while yet....

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

Thank you.

SmoothMax

iTrader: (2)

When I had my 3rd gen, I got my share of compliments as well. But not as many as I do with my 4th gen. Regardless, the Maxima is definetly an exceptional automobile rather it be 3rd gen, 4th gen, or 5th gen. They each have their own unique qualities.

dmontzsta

iTrader: (8)

Said very well my freind!

Quez

While the 3rd gen max is my fav in the Maxima line, i feel the 96-98 i30's are the best of both worlds. I dont think i could be more pleased than having a kitted 96 or 97 i30.

tkl

Oh yeah, i like 99 I30t with 5 speed. They look like a newer 3rd gen max with some round edges to it. Too bad we can't get 5 sp in Ontario Canada. I wonder why.

I think 3rd gen looks the best too.

4genstock

3rd gen by far is the best looking the 4th and 5th look like eggs if u ask me. i have a 4th but i still think that once moded the 3rd is untouchable

PrinzII

iTrader: (2)

In order of preference......

1) 3rd Gen (People still admire these despite their age)
I love my 3rd Gen.
2) 5th Gen AE (Sterling Mist or Super Black Only)
3) 97-99 4th Gen SE

Quez

We'll since the Maxima line dumped that 3rd gen frame i'll have to get a I30 cause I love that body but i want one with more horsepower and a slightly updated look... thats what the I30 is... not to mention the luxury features.

Frank Fontaine

rode in a 3rd gen this afternoon. I think the 3rd gen was ahead of its time. I mean very comfy cabin, clears back in 92?? Speakers say "active" or something but look identical to my Bose. Bose is a sham (let me slap a Bose logo on, and put out 200W @ 10% distortion and charge $900)!! Nissan needs to get that verve back again. Possibly the new Q45 shows they are on the right track.

JeepRage

iTrader: (1)

amen, i got a 4th, my dad just bought a 2001, i love it!! the tails are a little odd, but the body is sweet. gotta love the new headlights too... 5th for my vote, im not own-car-loyal

NYCe MaXiMa

iTrader: (9)

I @ this.. lol

In my opinion there is absolutely no doubt the 3rd gen max had the best body.... I love the 4th gen interior but the 95-96's rear is sometimes quite painful to look at. I think the 97-99 SE's are great, nice lines, better front end, took away from that moronic bubble look the 95-96's had.

The 3rd gens were the best styled 4 door affordable sedans on the road from the time they came out to probably 97. At least to me. You put a body kit on a 3rd gen with rims, and it looks sick. Third gens don't suffer from the 4X4 syndrome as much as 4th gens do, the 4th gen bubble body should have came with 16's stock on all models and 17s on SE's.. To make a 95-96 look as good as a 3rd gen you need to lower it, drop bigger rims on it and put a body kit on.. Well, the lowering is a must at least to start.
Just look at that pic Lordrandall posted, how can you not say it's beautiful? 97-99s are nice. The 5th gen is OKAY, only if it has a spoiler and 5 spoke 16s... but the rear styling kills it totally, however u can learn to live with it...

If I will be upgrading to another Max, I'll look for a 97-99 SE if I have $$.... I'd probably rather buy a nice loaded 99 then a 2k Max.

JDwyer2821

So true

NYCe MaXiMa

iTrader: (9)

The license plate on the rear is in the middle of the trunk while the 3rd and 4th gens are at the bottom, Looks a lot better this way in my opinion.... Just thought I'd share, while the thought is still in my head

4genstock

You can mark me down for the 3rd gens... the 3rd Gen maxima and the 94 Legend are two of my favorite designs ever. [/B][/QUOTE]

dude seriously i feel the same way about the legend and max

Synki

78-3rd gen votes
80-4th gen votes
30-5th gen votes

...as of right now. I personally like the 5th gen more but liek the 4th gen interior.

annimax

5th gen Baby Boyeee!

Jeff2k1GLE

iTrader: (3)

def 5th gen.. I'll admit it tho, I HATED how the 5th gens looked when the first came out, but i soon learned to love them and now look..

Quez

Are you crazy.... these Fifth Gens ONLY look good after you've spent an extra $1000 or so kitting them up. The bare stock 5th Gen is ugly as all hell. I'm sorry. The front is retarted, and the back is even more retarted.... Just a bloated lookin car.

I must admit... they do look real good properly modified tho.

JDwyer2821

Man 3rd gen is so close! Come on people Vote 3rd Gen

vw1xvWL6

Drive a 4th gen, voted for 5th gen. That style is growing
on me.

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

Good choice.

Quez

The one vote for 1st gen.... thats REAL!

maxmizd27

But, I want a 2002 and have had my eye on them since the 5th gen came out. As I said earlier, I'll change my vote after I get my new one.
I'm pretty new here and I've never actually conversed with Kev, but (insert blatant suck-up) he became my idol when I saw his car!

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

teeheehee

maxmizd27

Ok, don't let it go to your head.

GTNUKE

Fourth, of course!

Y2KevSE

iTrader: (13)

Out it goes

MaxedOut97SE

Ok here's my opinion.....No offense to anyone

89-91= The body looks good, but it is beginning to look pretty old. Then again, it has been 10 years. However, I will say that a 1989 Maxima looks a HELLUVALOT better than any '89 Accord or Camry. (or alot of '89 autos for that matter)

92-94= This is a tie with the 97-99 for the best looking. They really made it look classy and age gracefully with the 92' upgrade. They still look good!! My boy used to have a gold '92 GXE with Fittipaldi rims and limo tint and it was a very goodlooking car. People would stare at it all the time. I am not talking about the SE though, those don't look good at all in my opinion. The rims are awful, the black mirrors look horrendous, not to mention cheap; ditto the grill. Also I think they could have made the spoiler look a little less like it came from Pep Boys.

95-96= I think the styling is alright, but once again the '97 upgrade makes it look rather dated. The tailights I'm not fond of and the rims, while better than the 3rd gen, still could be better. For some odd reason though I think a '96 GLE looks better than a '97 GLE, wierd huh? I think it's the '97 chrome grille that makes it look cheap.

97-99= Looks great. Tie for best with 92-94. I'm not too crazy about the GXE and GLE trim, but the SE looks great. The tailights went from ugly to classy, and the narrower MAXIMA emblem fits the package well. Also, the revised front facia with the body color grill looks tight. And I love the rims. Like someone else said, I think the SE rims are some of the best looking factory rims out there. Nissan really did a great job in making it look better. Also, the 4th Gen has the best interior. Even though a 5th gen Max is newer and maybe "phatter", I still stare all day at 97-99's and wonder why they changed the body as drastically as they did. I think that the 97-99's will look good for a long time to come.

2000-2001AE= I think the 2K Max SE looks pretty phat, but it isn't as classy as it once was. I like it from the side, and I actually do like the tailights. I think the AE model is bad-a$$, but I'm not too fond of the body add ons. I read once in a magazine that was testing the AE and they said "the regular SE looks just fine", and I couldn't agree more. The exaust muffler (even though they needed it to gain the 5 extra HP) on the AE looks like something off a Dodge. Makes the rear look funny. Oh and the bronze headlight treatment looks kinda awkward. However, keep the pedals, shifter, and key!!!!! I like the interior design of the 5th Gen but it just doesn't feel like it has as much quality as the 3rd or 4th gens. (the switch feel and stuff)

All in all the Maxima is a great car, and it always will be......put me on the list for a black '02 6spd!!!!!

krismax

iTrader: (15)

The forth gen is the best looking imo,and if you look at a 4 door r33 skyline (not GTR) you will see a simularity mainly to 95,96 max.they are sweet.

Quez

4th gens....

to sum things up... i do think some of the modifed 4th gens are the best looking Maximas out there so i can agree with this outcome in that respect. But the best body stock from the dealer would have to be 3rd.

nismo2020

iTrader: (1)

i must admit the 3rd gen was my first love but i have a 4th and i can spend hours washing it and staring at it. simply beautiful.

EZ

3rd gens look too outdated to be a contender.

4th gens....the 95-96 had better fronts, the 97-99 had better rears but overall the best is.....

the 5th gen AE Max! I like the aggressive styling in the front and the rear isn't as bad as some people think.

SmoothMax

iTrader: (2)

I voted 4th gen myself, but I gotta agree witchya there Frank. When I had my 3rd gen, I loved it for that very reason.

Taken2DaMax

iTrader: (5)

I'm a 4th gen owner but i just love the way the 5th gens look. So sleek and sexy!!!!

Ristina

I have a 5th gen... but I like the front of the 4th gen so much... So I voted for the 4th gen =) I Like the 5 gen back better though I would love to see a max with a 4th gen front and a 5th gen back...
~Christina

Maximized Jiggs

iTrader: (1)

My vote goes for the 4th gen as well. I dont like the boxy shape of the 3rd gen which is why I passed up on buying it. The front is nice but the back is just hideous. I do like the 5th gen, especially the 02/03's (rear is a major turnoff)but I think the 4th Gen still owns. 97-99 SE specifically but I am happy with my 95 GLE. I just dont like the way the 4th gen looks from the side, looks kinda weird. So pretty much every design has its ups and downs.

My ideal max would be a combo of the front of a 5th gen with the rear of a 4th gen.