I think you are right. At first I thought it was variable valve timing, but the Altima has that too. If you look at the Altima it's the old 4th gen metal style.
http://www.nissannews.com/nissan/pro.../14_altima.jpg
In the 2002 press release they say, "resin intake
collector". It's probably the same as the difference
between a 4th gen intake and the 5th gen. Variable
intake runners.

 

Well know that I think about it. I dont see enough changes to buy the new maxima. I mean sure it will have great power and a 6-speed, but why buy it if in 2003 its gonna be even better. I'll be lookin at the new altima and sentra ser spec v before the max. I mean dont get me wrong it looks like a very cool car. I'm not gonna pay alot of money to say I have a six speed I see not point in that. Well just my .02

 

if nothing mentioned so far gets ya maybe the dual exhaust will

 

Hey I've lived through the 97-99 changes, the 2000-2001 remake, and now the 2002-2003 changes. The car really hasn't changed that much over the past 6-7 years.

I would have parted a long time ago, but resale is keeping me onboard. If only Nissans would become desirable like Hondas and Toyotas. Will someone please buy this car off of me?

Again the only justification I see for a trade-up would be for the manual and of course the 3.5 liter engine.

Has anyone figured out its 0-60 and 1/4 mile times?

Zam

 

I think that the price of the Sentra, Altim, and Maxima will help us make up our mind about what to buy. Also what about the after market for these cars?? The Sentra will have a pretty big after market. The altima? Im not so sure about it but maybe. The 02 max? I think that if the 03 max is going to be different. Then there wont be a whole lot of options for the 02 as in for performance options. This is just what I think, what about the rest of you guys and girls???

 

I just want that car for one thing. They 260HP engine with 6-speed + a nice supercharger.............

 

u do know they are about 1600 USD?

 

I heard from people at a Nissan dealership that the Altima is basically replacing the Maxima, and the Maxima is moving up even further. While the new V6 for the Altima will definitely boost sales dramatically for it and differentiate it from the Sentra, it will also "steal" sales away from the Maxima. Therefore, there must be something that the Maxima can offer that the Altima doesn't, a V8 engine. While there is no official word on this, it has been talked about and I am curious if others have heard the same thing or not. I do not know what model year will have the "option", or if it will even ever happen. Any thoughts?

I would tend to agree and think that the extra 20hp the Maxima will offer will not be enough since the times between the Altima and the Maxima will probably be identical due to the weight difference.

 

damn! thats is one sweet car. i don't like the looks from the front, but i'm very very impressed by the rest. Grand Prix's are getting remodeled next year, but i'm 100% its not gonna be anywhere close to as good as the new Maxima

 

hey !GTP!, how is your car? i mean, i have a friend thats going to sell his camaro and buy a used gtp, he needs to lower his insurance and monthly car bills. i was wondering how the build quality on the car is. i konw that american cars are seen as "bad quality" or something, but i know that they been improved recently, so they cant be bad at all. my friends camaro has a few squeeks here and there, but the car for the most part is terrific. do you have any mods on your car? any help and advice would be appreciated.

 

I used nismo.org's 1/4m calculator to get these times.

2002 5spd Altima w/3.5L engine; 240hp 246ft-lbs, 3195lbs
14.676

2002 6spd Maxima;260hp 246ft-lbs, 3236lbs
14.351

 

Sounds about right. Does 14.6 translate into a 6.3 0-60?

 

I'm not too sure, I'll get back to you on that.

 

I wondered the same thing. The next generation Max should be bigger, and I would assume more powerful. The Q45 gets a V8, why not the next Maxima too? I bet the next Max will work off the Q45's platform, rather than the Altima platform as mentioned elsewhere in the forums. It wouldn't make sense for Nissan to base two cars on the same platform, especially with their attempts to differentiate from the competition. While the Altima will be best in the midsize class, the Maxima would be lacking in the fullsize class with the same platform.

 

I thought it was Nissan who stated the next generation Maxima will use a stretched '02 Altima platform?

 

You might be right, i'm only guessing.

 

From a cost/size/performance/speed aspect, I think the V6 5spd Altima is looking like a greater value then the Maxima. Plus you get a real rear IND. Sup, and a car thats not just going to change all over again in a year or two, killing your resell value, and future aftermarket support.