Reason I say this is because the Altima is damn near a Maxima. It's almost as big and has as much HP. What benefit am I getting as a consumer to get the Maxima? The altima has all the same options/features. Not to mention quicker. Nissan needs to make a drastic change or they'll lose me as a maxima owner. My lease is almost up and i'm considering getting the silver altima I keep seeing on TV. IMO, there needs to be something that makes the next model up stand out from the others. It used to be that way when the altima was like a upgraded sentra, but not now....thoughts??

I have felt that way as well. This was my first and it looks to be my last, Maxima. I am disappointed with the limited options (tranny wise) offered in the new Maxima. Lightonthehill did a wonderful write up on the next direction of the Maxima.

Even with his wonderful write up and insight (Many Maximas later, as well as some good years of wisdom on him), I am shagrinned to buy another one. I am, however, grateful to have had this experience with this ONE.

I will be keeping an eye on them when it comes time to buy in the next 7 years.....or 10, depending on it's durability.

Swee

Just stick with that 10 second bike of your's and put winter tires on it when it snows!!!

dan

but the altima IS getting all the glory now... i mean 2 door coupe is coming and they already have NISMO and SE-R altimas...

Yeah nissan NEEDS to do something to the maxima. IMO the 6th gens arent following the previous generations that the maxima was. I hope Nissan gets it's act together and designs some better cars, in general im not pleased with the new lineup they are releasing excluding the 350z and Infiniti.

The maxima was fazed out in 1994..

just remember..... there are 2 types of altimas. the 2.5 and 3.5.....

Just dont assume that all 07 altimas are better than the 07 maximas. I have yet in arizona seen a 3.5 altima on the road. they all have been 2.5 editions. When i took my car in for mile 30K tune up, i sat in an 07 altima. I wasnt impressed. It was the 2.5 edition and it had no LCD screen, Nav, Satilite radio and other maxima features.... i still prefer my 05 max.....

So in conclusion......

Yeah, i can go and pay a price tag of 32K for a new 3.5 altima with 270HP.... Or I can go and buy 06 Maxima for 29K and spend the extra 3K on a Fujita intake, magna flow exhaust and front/back brace bars....

Maxima > Altima

Yeah, for those with no imaginations! Just think, it would have ended with the 3.0, the best was yet to be invented!

You have instilled some faith in Nissan in your write up!

I would say objectively 1996 or 1997 was the last successful Maxima. After that point, every model year including the 6th gen could not sell without a rebate. Not offering a clutch definitely put the nail in the coffin as far as being able to make the sports sedan claim. But this car as a 2k4 was ranked 12/12, dead last, so from a business perspective it was probably the right move.

6th gens, earlier ones were offered in a 6 speed. It was the 07 that hit the nail in the already decaying coffin!

The 2003 was the fastest production Maxima to date. I believe my source also wrote that it is arguably the fastest Maxima even to today. (Meaning, even beating out the 6th). I wouldn't consider the 4th the final Maxima year.

Again, the VQ was just warming up......The 3.5 is nasty fast and torquey!

But i don't need to add oil between oil changes..

Yes, our 3.0's are mighty durable, I have not added oil between changes in 130,000 miles or 13 Yrs. Still running strong!!!

Yes, have you seen the new Altima commercials? they are the exact same as the 3rd gen commercials.

No 4DSC, no care

When the new Maxima comes out it will be a LARGE LUXURY SEDAN with SPORTING PRETENSES. The new Altima is where the Maxima used to be before going up stream. Globally only 1.47% of Maximas sold where 6-speed. On a business case it makes no sense to make them anymore especially considering the Maxima is moving further up the ladder.

I think the max is getting replaced by the Altima, at least the max we're used to.

I think I had a spell where I was adding oil, and it may have been that sender unit thing leaking past an o-ring or something. Now at 140k, I never add oil and simply do my changes every 5k with dino juice. The car is running fine...only recently did my g/f bend a rim, and until then, the car was smooth as silk after replacing the tires/rims. We use this car to travel 180 mi. every weekend, and it's still nice. I got the new rim on the way. Stinks to have lightweight 2 pc. rims, the trade-off is they're really susceptible to damage.

Jeez!!! What prices are people giving you that the Fujita, exhaust and sway abrs cost $3,000!!!!!!!!!

Oh man! Super-diss 5000!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I guess we have to give it some time, considering with Nissan's updated VQ35HR motor, that might bump up the hp on the 6th gen Maxima. If Nissan does decided to drop it in, it might be like a Maxima SER edition, or something to that extent. But it better not be priced more than the G35, then that would hurt Nissan's sales for the Maxima.

IMO, I think that Nissan should put the VK56DE and rear wheel drive in Maxima... that would be good for at least 12-13 sec quarter mile times, not to mention that throaty V8 music

Well... honestly if it was not for the 4th gen Maxima's and there famous
VQ30DE engines that put Nissan on the map they probley would of never been reconginized and the ward's best top 10 engine helped Nissan with the recoginaztion.

I hope Nissan considers looking at this and keep the Max where it belongs and they will see repeat buyers and some new ones deffently.

LOL.... i was just saying... with the left over cash, i would rather spend the 3k on those items in order to juice up my new 06 max to 280HP.... what ever money i had left over i would use it on a FULL TANK OF GAS, LARGE BAG OF CHEETOS, 44OZ MOUNTAIN DEW, AND MAYBE SOME CONDOMS....

You're missing the point I put out there.....I said the Altima that's being advertised right now on TV. That has more options than my '04 Max SL. Push button start, blue tooth.....whatever else. The 07 Max does not have that type of start. Where i'm going is...the lower model car should not be able to have the same options or better than it's bigger brother. To me....all altimas should be the 2.5 version...therefore, people would have a reason to get the maxima...Also, I see as many 3.5s around here as I do 2.5s.

well IMO i have taken a test drive at the local nissan dealership of a fully loaded 3.5 manual transmition altima with leather amd nav amd let me tell u guys that for 26.500 they have me sold and i will be looking to turn in my 2006 maxima ($28900 se no leather no nav) within a 2 months . i like the altima not only for the 5 horse power more that it has on my current car but also for it's price. the only differnce from my stand point is the smaller trunk on the altima .

Can you actually feel the 5 extra HP, or do you only think you can? And I think it's ironic that price is a consideration coming from someone who is talking about trading in a 1 year old car. Just my opinion.

So i'm not the only one feeling this way. I'm taking my Maxima this weekend for a possible trade.

I'm sure the car itself feels much faster, being it's lighter. +1 on the 1yr old car.

well to y own defense this is the first year of me owning a maxima and don't get me wrong . i love my car is just that i feel cheated by nissan and if i could do it all over again i woul'd have chosen the altima hands down .

I could be entirely mis-informed about this, however, I recall reading that for the 07 Nissans the hp-rating system was tinkered with and restrictions were tightened, that is why the 07 Maxima was rated at 255 hp when it's the exact same engine as the 06 Max, rated at 265. Be it that this is the case, the 07 Altima, rated on the same scale as the 06 and previous maximas, would be around 280 hp, which would definitely be noticable imo.

EDIT****

Sources of reference:
http://www.nissanusa.com/maxima/specifications.html

http://www.nissanusa.com/altima/specifications.html

Either way, 07 Altima 3.5 has +15hp and +6 lb feet of torque reached at the same RPM as the max, while the lightest Maxima sits at 3,579lbs before tires and wheels, and the 3.5 Altima sits at 3,294lbs with 6-speed tranny, 3,423lbs with CVT. Lighter car, more ponies, more pull, Altima wins in the paper race, hands down.

BTW, 2007 will be the first year ever that a production Altima will have more power and torque than any production Maxima. I think that alone tells you the direction Nissan is heading for each of the cars. My next car is more likely to be an Altima than a Maxima.

The whole oil burning thing....

Doesn't apply to me as well. I don't burn any noticeable oil between changes.

So much for swinging at the oil burning theory!

3.5l ftw

yeah, neither do I

I know of two people on the org with severe oil burning problems in their VQ35s, 1 of which drove the ever-loving crap out of his car (like 200k+ miles in less then 3 years), and the other who is currently in the process of getting the engine replaced under warrenty. After those two (prominent) people told their story, I start hearing all the horror stories of the VQ35 and it's vast widespread oil burning problem. I think people need to calm down a little bit, both 5- gen and the 5.5+ gens have their demons, and each have their own unique qualities that keeps them all relatively even in my eyes, with the exception of the 6th gen (just has a lot of things that don't appeal particularly to my personal tastes, not saying it's a bad car) and the 6.5 gen (no 6 speed )

and the appearance race as far as I'm concerned

Yeah I too, am dissappointed with the choice not to offer the 6th speed in any foreseeable years.

I love just about everything on this car.

It is discouraging to hear others talk about this not being a Maxima. Funny, the back of my car says it, as does title, registration, and insurance!

This, like ones in the future/past was one of the many dramatic changes between generations. It is clearly given that some people won't like it and some will.

Still not burning oil.....*knocks on wood*

Every generation has their ups and downs. EVERYONE of them.

Here's an idea, buy the Altima and put Maxima badges on.

check the timslips section and you will see what the best maxima is

4.5 gen

It is all a matter of opinion!!!!

Not the original topic of this thread.....in the Car and Driver test, Honda Accord (how old is the current generation) was #1 yet again. Nissan Altima (which is brand-spanking new for 2k7) is #2. Maxima is simply off the radar, it's like a dead horse. Who would buy a 2k7? For what purpose? When you build something excellent, it's very hard to continue the trend. We can all see that when we watched this model through the years. Today, it has nothing in common with a 1994 or 1995. IMHO Maxima hit its peak in 1995 when it was a hot car. It never quite got its groove back ever since. It's done.

I disagree completely. Here is a study of cars based on information I personally look at when determining the best car for me: hp/tq, mpg, and style.

2002 Honda Accord 3.0L ohc V6
Horsepower: 200
Torque: 195 lb ft
Observed mpg: 20.7
Pics:
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...a-Accord-5.htm

2002 Ford Taurus 3.0L dohc V6
Horsepower: 201
Torque: 200 lb ft
Observed mpg: 18.4
Pics:
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...d-Taurus-5.htm

2002 Toyota Camry 3.3L dohc V6
Horsepower: 225
Torque: 222 lb ft
Observed mpg: Not available
Pics:
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...ta-Camry-5.htm


2002 Subaru Legacy Outback 3.0L dohc H6
Horsepower: 212
Torque: 210 lb ft
Observed mpg: Not Available
Pics (sedan):
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...-Outback-5.htm

2002 Mazda 626 2.5L dohc V6
Horsepower: 170
Torque: 163
Observed mpg: 22.5
Pics:
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffwor...azda-626-5.htm



And Lastly, but definitely not Least:
2002 Nissan Maxima 3.5L dohc V6
Horsepower: 255 (Some believe this is overstated, more likely 245-250 range)
Torque: 246 lb ft (Some believe this is understated, likely 253-258 range)
Observed mpg: 21.2
Pics:
http://www.baywayauto.com/resize_fil...640&height=480


I would say the Maxima blows every other midsize 6 cylinder family car out of the water in 2002. Nothing really even comes close, even as far as styling and options . In the 94/95 era, there was a toyota camry puting down 188hp/203 tq, while the 95 max had 190/205. Pretty close there.

Bottom line, I would say that the switchover to the 3.5 in 2002 was the best peak Maxima had over the competition in it's class. This of course doesn't factor in $, just the way I see it.