Originally Posted by lightonthehill

The term 'Z' engine with respect to the Maxima began with introduction of the 1985 generation 2, at which time the engine previously only used in the 'Z' was turned sideways and jammed into the Maxima's engine compartment. This was advertised as 'transverse fit'. It was a very tight fit, and jammed the oil filter up against the firewall, where mechanics and self-servicers both burned themselves on the exahust system trying to reach it from below. This engine was paired with the first front wheel drive system to be used in the Maxima.

The 'Z' engine reference was a huge selling point for the '85 Maxima (I bought TWO of them), and was used heavily in Nissan promotions until the generation 3 ('89) arrived, at which point Nissan scaled back on the 'Z' engine references

By the time generation 4 (the '96 SE for sale on ebay) rolled around, the term 'Z' engine was no longer generally used when discussing the Maxima, as that was the 12th year with exactly that same status.

Unless the car on ebay has a generous supply of drugs or drug money hidden somewhere on the car, or an exceptionally endowed person of the opposite sex hidden in the trunk, I see nothing that would indicate 'rarity'.


01_blue_max - The Maxima was made only in Japan until the '04s becan rolling off the Smyrna assembly line in late January 2003.

SilMax00 - My 2000 SE was equipped with every available accessory (I added the 'GXE Package', which added everything available on the GLE), and the TCS system was simply called 'TCS System' in all documentation, including on the window sticker, which I have in front of me as I type. The TCS was an option on the SE and GLE, but not available on the GXE. There is no capitalized 'Z' anywhere on the sticker. I don't believe there was anything called the 'Z' option available on the 5th generation.

Originally Posted by A17Z

Actually Nissan called the Maxima TCS "Z® Edition Traction Control System (TCS)". They did this to hold on to the Z trademark since the Z wasn't built at the time. It was also listed in the brochure.

http://www.nissannews.com/site_libra...ma/index.shtml
"The Maxima's "cut above" performance is reinforced by standard 4-wheel disc brakes with 4-channel/4-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), refined engine-speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering and an available Z® Edition Traction Control System (TCS)."