Guys, I'm sorry if this has been posted before, I searched and read a lot of responses about the SE-R, but wanted more thoughts...Obviously I'm a huge Maxima fan, so I've been looking for a 02/03 SE 6speed with BOSE, leather etc...but they are sooo hard to find.

So...Saturday I went to the Nissan dealer and tried the 07 Altima (auto no manual available to try), 07 Maxima (auto), and a 05 Altima SE-R (6speed).

The 07 Altima was nice (i hate the new steering wheel), but I wasn't impressed and I was really dissappointed in the Maxima (it just didnt have the same sporty feel). But when I drove the Altima SE-R (manual) I found my heart was racing, it was so much fun! It greatly reminded me of our family's 04 G35 (which i love).

The SE-R is an 05 with 38,000 miles on it for about $22,000. But for the price I could find a 350Z, (which I know has better preformace etc) but I'd be loosing the practicality of a sedan (which is somewhat important to me). I also like that the Altima is suttle, not flashy, but can still kick a**.

Any thoughts or suggestions??

 

'07 Altima V6>'05 SE-R is nice, but you're still paying for those worthlesss add-ons.

 

I'd have to agree with CoolMax. The SE-R is nice and all, but the price is a little too much imo when you can get a brand new 07' 6spd Altima for like mid-high 20's and that's pretty much fully loaded. The 07' Max would definately be 3rd on your list from performance with the CVT trans; most luxurious and best daily driver, but worse in performance, which seems to be a big part for you. IMO try out an 07' 6spd Altima...i've seen a couple commercials of the 3.5 and that thing is starting to grow on me with its smooth looks and features.

07' 6spd > 05' SE-R > 07' Maxima for the full package, but if you want only performance and a decent truck then get an 06' touring 350Z!!!

Dan

 

thanks for the responses!

The thing is the 05 SE-R is for $22,000 and the 07 Altima I would want would be a lot more than that $30k?...I am hoping to talk the dealer down to $20k for the SE-R as there are ones with less miles for that price at carmax (but in a different state than me).

I guess I just want to make sure I'm not being insane for passing up a 350Z...I dont have a family of my own yet, so it would be a good time to have it...just impractical

 

I guess that just flew over my head...an Altima being over 30k...but hey, if you have the money then go all out and get a 6spd Z!!! Better do it when you're young, cause you never know if your wife will take over your choices one day

OR

Get the SE-R and then purchase a true speed demon for the weekends/summer...either a Yamaha, Kawasawki, or Suzuki 750cc or 1000cc street-bike!

 

That's a tempting price for a top-of-the-line SE-R, but paying over $30k for a new Altima would be overkill (by then you can start looking at an '07 G35) . If you do buy an '07 Altima, just equip it with one of those sport packages or something that only brings it up to $25k.
And since you're entertaining the idea of a used SE-R, why not look at a used G35(which you love)?

 

so...guys I found out the price of the SE-R i was looking at was actually $18,900...4000 less than what I orginally thought (it has been on the lot for a while and dealer was willing to deal!!) so it was a no brainer for me! I bought it yesterday!! I absolutely love it! It seems faster than the 04 G35 I've been driving (ofcourse the G is a auto and mine is a 6-speed). It does have a heck of a lot of torgue steer, but its so fun!!! I love it!

Guess this is goodbye to Maxima.org I put my Maxima up for sale today!

 

I have an 02 6-speed and LOVE IT and will keep it forever!!
For a while i had a 350z... It was BADA**. I still am amazed with how well it handles. But the practicality (and the $400 car payment) got to me after a year or so. My maxima with just a few bolt-ons will hand with the Z until 125-130 mph. Then it tapers off and the Z keeps going. I have not driven the SE-R Altima, but if I could do it again i might give that a try...

 

I haven't been able to find an Alti SE-R with a 6 speed locally yet. Sux because I've been dying to try one.

 

wait for the alti coupe, its coming out soon.

 

Congrats on the buy... My friend has the same 05 but Auto and he loves. It drives great and I am sure the 6SPD makes it all the better.

 

since when is a 350z better in performance lol

 

ok I'm all about Maxima's for performance and looks - but the Z just takes that one step ahead. I'm considering a Z for the summer 'weekend' car, but not sure if I (my wallet) could justify the cost. I'm thinking of grabbing a '96 twin instead...

 

LOL a 96 twin is more expensive than a 350!!!! Insurance is more expensive than the 350 also. Twin Turbo = crazy insurance rates.

 

a 96twin isnt more expensive than a 350z, and i bet the insurance is cheaper too. insurance has a lot to do with the year of the car, and a z33 is a lot newer than any z32tt. ps...the z33TT would be super nice, and can be really fast for not much money.

 

Nice choice on the SE-R. I test drove a 6spd model when they first came out and I was very impressed. I figured Nissan did what GM does with the SS brand just tack on some body kit, up the ponies some etc, but definetly not the case.

Everything about it was great. Maybe I wasn't romping on it as hard as I thought, but in the 6spd model I didn't think there was really any torque steer at all and the salesman had us go on a back route to test its handling out. I floored it out of some corners and the car just planted and went. $18K doesn't seem bad at all. I would take one in Smoke please.

 

Not quite, a lot has to do with what the car has in it and you the driver. The year of the car has a good amount of influence but not as much as you think. Twin Turbo,V8 engines all impact the cost of insurance regardless of the year. You are right though about the 96 being less expensive. Insurance for a 96 isn't that much less either. MR-2 Turbos are almost as expensive as 300ZX. Anyways I checked and the price on Z twin turbos dropped a lot!!!!!!!! Wonder why Supra's and 3000GT VR4's are still super high?

 

theyre more rare, supras being the most expensive, you can get a fair condition vr-4 for just over 10k is you look hard, but fair supras are a minimum of 15k, its crazy expensive for a 10yr old car

 

supras: they got a sold iron engine (can turbo)

vr-4 (**** engine, but a friggin powerful engine)

i wouldnt get the vr-4 since the engine blows our so easily though

btw 02-03 maximas look tight are the 350s are way to played out to OP.

 

3 more posts I need.. Id love to have the 350z

 

glad to hear it