I wouldn't say it's not a maxima. It surely is, as well as a helluva car. My only observation was it is the starting of a trend that Maxima seems to be taking to look more at luxury than sportiness, where I personally love the luxury options, but gotta have a bit more sport than luxury in my car. Among the Maximas, the 5.5 gen 6 spd is perfect for me. Not ragging on the newer ones, they just went a bit out of my personal spectrum.

 

I can certainly agree with you (and I do)! I love the 5.5 6 speeds as well! I think they are one of the sharpest cars made. Nice that they carry the 'Maxima' badge right?

I can also agree with you that Nissan is moving the Maxima into the grey haired market. It makes me ill that their 'Flagship' car, is becoming less sporty. I, too have considered that when this one bites the dust, I have to consider the Altima now! I really wanted the 6-speed.

Your point was definately well put and agreed with!

I have just never been down with the 6th gen bashing!
Swee

 

hhahahhaha.... i am getting a kick out of all these impulse buyers. Its a shame that all these maxima owners are already turning there backs on Maximas....

Just because the new altima has 5 more HP, they make it seem that Altimas are going to better from this point on...

OMFG.... They have no idea what the next Maxima will look like (since it is getting redesigned) and how much HP it will have....

Nissan will still have the maxima as there flagship car, but what i am expecting for the next gen of maxima (2008), at least 285 HP (like the Acura TL) better leather/interior, more of a VIP look and lots of gadgets....

i hope they dont make the new maxima any heavier.... So im my opinion, SCREW THE NEW ALTIMA.... the next redesign for the altima will probably be in 4-5 years... However, the next Maxima redesign is next year...

I will be laughing at all the new altima owners that said the maxima is dead.... HA.... The new maxima will be meant for leet buyers...

 

Slightly less annoying than clicking VTC, rattling exhaust manifold studs, & failing auto transmissions.

 

It really is up to the individual, but for business sake, it's up to sales. And the original topic in the thread was whether Nissan is phasing out the Maxima. I don't think they are, I think it's the general public. The car cannot sell without a rebate, and it's notorious for having a 30k list but selling for 4500-6500 off list.

Although people here have always hated Hondas, objectively speaking, that car co. is a success story and the Accord succeeds where the Maxima has gone the way of the dodo bird. I mean a 4 yr. old design, the Accord still beats a brand-new Altima and trounces the new Camry. When the Accord gets its redesign, it'll be sick.

 

The 2k6 G35's had sick discounts, why would anyone buy a Maxima instead of a G35, which is RWD?

 

Any news, info or speculation of the next gen maxima.....if there is one worthy of being called a maxima

 

Hey CoolMax,
That isn't the situation for ALL of the 6th genners, nor is it the norm for the 5.5's either.

Again, all cars have their hiccups. Not every car of that style/year/engine size will have the same issues. For the most part anyway, there was the Pinto though......

 

He was refering to the 3rd gen issues..

 

I only have one of them issues..

 

Wow, I never saw that in his posts. Thanks for clearing that up....my bad! Sorry CoolMax

 

I had two of them.

Of course, who know what'll happen when this car is 10yrs old with 150k.

 

My auto 3rd gen went to 256k miles before it found a junkyard. It was on its third transmission though

 

When you look at from a consumer standpoint, there are a few things you need to consider:
1.) 90% of consumers are idiots. This is proven. People buy useless crap all the time and swear by it. This is why things like the segway are invented, no matter how many points you bring up against it, some idiot is gonna buy it and love it.
2.) The Accord is available with a wide variety of different engines that accomplish different things. The Maxima is available in one. To look at plain ole Accord sales vs. Maxima sales, it seems obvious to me that the Accord would win out, you get the crowd of people who want 30 mpg and the crowd of people who want to zoom, because Accord is available in a 4 and 6 cylinder. I would personally line the Accord up more with the Altima than the Maxima.
3.) I'd like to know when these figures are coming from I'm not one to bash on any Maxima, but it is widely known that Maxima has a core set of enthusiasts that felt betrayed with 6th generation simply for it's body style. I would say 2004+ it would be agreeable that the 6th generation would be harder to sell, because it seems like a transitional design. It kind of straddles the line between luxury and sport, not really catching the complete eye of either group of consumers. If you're looking for luxury, it has nothing on cars like the Lexus ES, BMW 3-series, Acura TL, even Toyota Avalon. If you're looking for sport, it's too big, weighs too much, requires modification to move as agile as competitors. Which means the appeal the 6th generation Maxima has (which it is an excellent car) is toward the specific consumer group that wants both more sport than the luxury class offers, and more luxury than the sport class offers, which is a much smaller consumer group. That's why it's harder to sell.
4.) I've driven a Accord. For a while. It just wasn't as FUN as the Maxima. Sure, it has power, it handles well, and has an attractive interior. But I felt like a dolt driving it. All I can feel when I drop it to third and thrust past a slow-moe on a long country road in the Maxima, can only be described as

Although company-wise, I can definitely say Honda (my wife owns a CRV) is a much smarter company than Nissan, they do care about their customers whereas Nissan doesn't give two farts about you after they have your money. That too, is perhaps, why they have the ability to outsell the Max.

 

I agree that Nissan is screwing up the Maxima....making it bulkier, Buick-type of crowd oriented car. Brand loyalty is one of irrational things. The logical thing to do is simply not to buy a Maxima as your next car. Why buy a car just because you'd already owned three cars with the same name in your life? Be open about the change, give a try to a new product.

 

Yeah I feel the same thing! The new Altimas are as powerful as the Maximas and pretty much have everything a Maxima does! What's Nissan is planning on doing?

 

Unfortunately for me, I've never owned a Honda product, but I do intend to eventually. I've only owned my 4th gen Max and the 3 Series. The 3 series is totally different. Pay a lot to get it, and everyone says the reliability wont be there after the free maint is done. But the handling is to the nth degree. We'll see.

I like the design of the new Altima, but I would never buy another Nissan product. The whole experience is sh****, it really is. Sales, service, warranty claims, it's not a good experience.

The Honda experience is not that good from a sales perspective (we all have numerous friends and relatives who drive them), but one never needs any warranty claims anyway and the service is fine (my ex had the 2k3 CR-V and the 2nd ex had the 2k5 CR-V). Officemate has 2 Accords. Coworker has Pilot, I could go on and on. Resale value, which if one keeps the car doesn't matter, is a joke. The Accord retains a tad more in value than a 3 Series. Toyota trails, and Nissan isn't even on the chart.

The thing that is a killer is C&D loves the steering on the Accord, and the 4 cyl. motor. Even more than the brand-new Altima. That says a lot. And back to the original topic, what type of demographic is purchasing the 6th gen Maxima? I'd say a somewhat eccentric consumer, given the choices that are out there. Personally, I'd hate to pay that much for a car and have all the components made in Mexico as I've stated before. Yeah, my new Sony tv is also made in Mexico. But I feel one shouldn't lift the hood of a 2k6 Maxima and have that radiator hose scream "Made in Mexico."

 

4th generation 3.5 swap = the ultimate ftw.

Why is everyone so caught up in having the newest **** on the market? I'm reppin my 1995, yeah thats right. My car is PAID OFF. I OWN THAT THING.

 

IMO,there is not a single new car out there worth what they want for them nowdays...

 

hell yeah man. everyones caught up in all the fuzz with the ICE haha. the navigation the "auto start" and ****. I guess people are just getting lazy. i saw a commercial about some car that automatically turned the windshield wipers on when rain drops hit the windsheild...wtf???

 

I've been digging those Model T's lately.

 

wow you didnt take that to the complete opposite side of the spectrum, did ya?

 

I got ur model t right here..

 

Nissan should rename the new Maximas shit, and the new Altimas Maximas.

 

easy there young buck
try commuting 20-30 miles each way to work everyday, and see how long it will take before your 1995 will start falling apart. Even if you do have access to free unlimited parts and do your own labor, it does come to the point when keeping the car running isn't financially feasible.
Go out and test drive a new car, and you will feel the difference. In addition, dont say that you own your old clunker outright because there are people out there with money who pay cash for theirs. You know, people like their choices just like you like to make yours. You're only 17, I bet in a few yrs once you'll have some money flowing to you, you'll want a nicer ride, and there's nothing wrong in that.

 

the maxima is nissans number one selling car they arent going to get rid of it

 

Shitimas?

 

 

I miss my old turd gen(even if it was only an auto VG).

 

Shiti mas French for Maximas

 

I actually like my wifey's vg auto..

 

Yeah, and when I saw the TV changing channels without anyone near it for the first time, I was like WTF?!?!? Then I was told it was controlled by this magical hand held thingy, I thought to myself "wow how lazy can you be?"

My point is, innovation makes life easier. You may not find it useful now, but it will be in the future when you are ready to adapt.

I wish my I had rain sensitive windshield wipers. It rains here more than half the year, and I find myself turning on and off and adujsting the wiper speed all the time. On an average 15 mins drive during a rainy day, I would have to touch the wiper switch about 20 times.

Anyway, back to the subject of this thread. I, too, think Nissan is phasing out the Maxima. With the Altima growning in size, and its top of the line hitting the $30K mark, there barely's any room for the Max to work with. If I had to choose between a fully loaded Altima and a fully loaded Max right now, I would probably pick the Altima unless the Max was cheaper, but then that would bring us to another point, why produce a flagship and sell it for cheaper and have inferior performance compared to a top of the line Altima, it just doesn't make sense.

Unless there's solid proof that Nissan is designing a 7th Gen, I am going to assume the Max will retire by 2008, although I hope Nissan will find a way to keep the Max!

 

Don't hate..... Tell me which car in 1995 started the mighty VQ's 13 year winning streak as one of wards 10 best engines.

 

I wasn't refering to the engines,i was refering to body style..The vq is an awesome engine,but i just like the 3rd gen body style better than any of the other gen. maximas...

 

They just need to start putting V8's in the maxima.

 

The new Altima is SMALLER than the maxima. I don't see why so many people keep saying it's grown in size when the new platform is smaller than the old one. When ever you have a next gen come out it's going to be very nice. The 07 Altima had to be what it is to keep competing in the market for another five years. That being said a flagship vehicle doesn't mean the sportiest vehicle. The Maxima will be moving to a luxury vehicle that is bigger. Will it be as fast as the Altima? NO. Will it be more spacious, have more amenities, better materials, more options, and still be relatively quick? YES. If all you care about is speed and agility the Maxima has not been your car of choice for many years. If you want a large car with nice appointments and has quick acceleration than the Maxima is a good choice. I don't think any one would say the 7 series or the S class is the sportiest of thier brand, but they are the flagship vehicles. Flagship means biggest and most luxuriest not sportiest to most brands.

 

Actually the Max did not compete with the cars listed above that year as most of us know, the new then 02 Altima V6 did which had more power than any of the above. The 02 Max brochure show the competition as the Tl and Avlaon and A4 for comparison.

 

Well the 07 Max has intelligent key which is great, just have keyfob thingy on you the cars system recognizes it and you can start the car without a key.

 

Yes you are correct that a flagship doesn't need to be the best performer, the 7 series and the S class are good examples, BUT, they do have bigger and more powerful engines than its siblings, which is needed to compensate for the extra size and weight, AND, it's also needed for bragging rights to BE a flagship. In order for the Maxima to stay on top, it will need more luxury features, better build quality, more noticeable cabin space, and a more powerful engine. Lets say Nissan is willing to do all that, how much will it cost for a new 7th gen Max? There's not much pricing room for Nissan to work with.

 

and saddly it'll be a nissan not that i don't like my car but the can go so far price wise otherwisw there wouldn't be an infinnity.