Will you always own a maxima?
07-28-2008, 06:24 PM
#1
Will you always own a maxima?
Sorry for the long post...cliff notes... I love my maxima and plan on keeping her forever. Also owning as many nissans as possible. Will you always keep your maxima for as long as you drive? Will you stay with the nissan brand?
First I want to say I've been on this forum since 01 but haven't said much, just lurked. Now I have a question about my next car to buy. I though a few years ago that I would always stay with Nissan. I've owned a stanza and two maxima's. I remember test driving an 03 maxima and was pleased. But I passed and stayed with my 4th gen. Lately I haven't liked where the maxima had been going (ie:auto). Also my brother got a WRX so I started thinking about Subaru, I mean I do live in VT and everyone here drives one. I started looking at other forums.
I then started going to dealerships and test drove an 05 sti and thought that it was an amazing car but I passed. I keep looking and found myself back at Nissan. I was looking through the lot and found a base 08 350z. I drove it and fell in love with Nissan all over again. I can't describe how much more I liked it over the sti and other cars I had driven. So as of now I plan to keep my 4th gen maxima and possibly get a 350z. Staying true to Nissan the way I felt years ago. I know I can't drive the z in the winter so I will get a beater. How do you guys fell about your maxima would you trade it in and jump ship to another brand or stay with nissan?
First I want to say I've been on this forum since 01 but haven't said much, just lurked. Now I have a question about my next car to buy. I though a few years ago that I would always stay with Nissan. I've owned a stanza and two maxima's. I remember test driving an 03 maxima and was pleased. But I passed and stayed with my 4th gen. Lately I haven't liked where the maxima had been going (ie:auto). Also my brother got a WRX so I started thinking about Subaru, I mean I do live in VT and everyone here drives one. I started looking at other forums.
I then started going to dealerships and test drove an 05 sti and thought that it was an amazing car but I passed. I keep looking and found myself back at Nissan. I was looking through the lot and found a base 08 350z. I drove it and fell in love with Nissan all over again. I can't describe how much more I liked it over the sti and other cars I had driven. So as of now I plan to keep my 4th gen maxima and possibly get a 350z. Staying true to Nissan the way I felt years ago. I know I can't drive the z in the winter so I will get a beater. How do you guys fell about your maxima would you trade it in and jump ship to another brand or stay with nissan?
Last edited by VTMaxima; 08-05-2008 at 07:55 PM.
07-28-2008, 06:34 PM
#2
I think my Maxima looks like a used bar of soap. I definitely am not impressed with the design of my 4th gen. But...it's been a GOOD car, over 240K on it now and a swap under the hood. I have been quite impressed with the power and efficiency of the VQ30 and VQ35. So, I would definitely put Nissan high up on my list if I need to buy a new V6 car. But, I could possibly choose a Honda, which has always been my long time favorite.
07-28-2008, 06:45 PM
#4
I think my Maxima looks like a used bar of soap. I definitely am not impressed with the design of my 4th gen. But...it's been a GOOD car, over 240K on it now and a swap under the hood. I have been quite impressed with the power and efficiency of the VQ30 and VQ35. So, I would definitely put Nissan high up on my list if I need to buy a new V6 car. But, I could possibly choose a Honda, which has always been my long time favorite.
07-28-2008, 06:48 PM
#5
That's how I feel about my 4th gen. I brought it to Nissan and told them to fix whatever was needed $5k later I have a great running 4th gen. It needed a lot of work! I have too much money in my maxima I would never feel right to sell her. I just plan on spending more money on her. Some day I would love to totally dismantle her and rebuild her from the bottom up.
07-28-2008, 06:54 PM
#6
If it keeps giving me the excellent mileage that I have gotten recently, then I will have no reason to sell my 5th gen. I will never sell my 2nd gen, even if it means it will sit around for a while and only be driven to certain meets.
07-28-2008, 07:06 PM
#8
sorry, but this is a pretty weird question.
I get what you are asking, but I dont know what I will be doing next week, much less in 5+ years. do I love maximas? l like mine, now. will I always love a maxima? maybe. does that mean I will always own one?
time will tell
I get what you are asking, but I dont know what I will be doing next week, much less in 5+ years. do I love maximas? l like mine, now. will I always love a maxima? maybe. does that mean I will always own one?
time will tell
07-28-2008, 07:27 PM
#9
I love mine. Too much probably. But I've always longed for an M3. And truthfully this is my first import. Definately won't be my last. I've always liked nissans. I'll move up, (probably sooner rather than later) but there's no plans to sell the Max. There are plans however, to paint it this winter. Will I always have it? Probably not forever, but for awhile. I am absolutely in love with the new 09's though. So maybe another one is in my future even after my 4th gen is gone 
07-29-2008, 09:37 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,883
I've been around here since I think 1997, so I'm an old dog....got my 98 SE new, seen people come and go, even got criticized for liking German cars. I will admit this 98 SE will probably be my first and only Maxima, but that still says something. Nearly 11 years on the road, never failed to start once. Nowadays my wife drives it about 50%, and I drive the BMW 335 (still remember that clown telling me why don't you get a BMW since you love them so much, then he posts how he was looking at some used 325 or something) when not with the Max. It doesn't really matter if BMW is or was a dirty word on this forum, heck, I've had that nearly 2 years so it doesn't really matter anymore.
The one thing I'll say about the Maxima is that for all its shortcomings, it makes up for them with its low cost of operation and ownership. When you can roll up your sleeves, and do all 4 brakes (pads/rotors) with OEM for around $330, what more needs to be said? It's a good reliable car and who cares about resale as long as you keep it and roll on forever!
The one thing I'll say about the Maxima is that for all its shortcomings, it makes up for them with its low cost of operation and ownership. When you can roll up your sleeves, and do all 4 brakes (pads/rotors) with OEM for around $330, what more needs to be said? It's a good reliable car and who cares about resale as long as you keep it and roll on forever!
07-29-2008, 05:35 PM
#14
07-31-2008, 05:04 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 1,323
well it took me like 4 years to find another 2nd gen, so I will be keeping it as long as possible (the rest of my life) even if it means doing major work to make it run on something other then gas like E100 and me making my own gas (already planing that). other then looking into a 1980 200sx that I found around town for a 2nd car (need to make more monies)
but yea Nissan unless I have no choice
but yea Nissan unless I have no choice
07-31-2008, 06:09 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Staten Island,NY
Posts: 700
will i keep this i30/maxima for ever? most likely not...but when im married and have kids and time to grow up and get a safe reliable but yet fun to drive car maxima will be on top unless i become filthy rich then a m5,s600 or maserati. lol
but my love for maximas will never go away.
but my love for maximas will never go away.
07-31-2008, 07:15 PM
#23
No plans to ever sell mine, it's still in near mint condition, never sees winter and is highly modified and getting ever more so all the time as I work towards my ultimate plan/setup for it... with all the sweat and money I've put into this car it's a keeper. At some point I will move on to a RWD platform but I have no plans to ever sell the Max.
08-01-2008, 01:03 PM
#25
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 347
I've owned 3 Maximas (96,00,03) and while I loved them at those periods in my life, I've out grown the cars and eventually the brand. Will I ever own a Maxima again? I would say it is highly unlikely. Unless Nissan decides to make the Maxima RWD again. But I still lurk around the forum because I still like Nissan. Lets hope they don't drop the Maxima brand.
08-01-2008, 07:01 PM
#27
I won't own another Maxima unless they get back to the sporty roots (and looks) and get a manual tranny.
Based on the build quality of my maxima compared to other cars I've owned, I don't plan to buy another Nissan of any kind when I get rid of the Maxima. The VQ30 has been a great engine...Nissan knows how to build a good engine....but can't say I've ever been impressed with 'the rest' of any Nissan cars.
When we were looking at SUVs, we checked out the new Pathfinder but got a 4Runner instead for about the same money...the 4Runner was so much nicer in almost every way, honestly.
Also I think all of Nissan's interior and exterior designers should be fired. They have an entire lineup of ugly cars these days, and I hate the spaceship-looking interiors.....
There is a good reason why Nissan is Japan's #3 (or 4?) automaker. Honda and Toyota just build better, more appealing cars.
Also the complete lack of any resale value is a downer for Nissan cars as well.
Based on the build quality of my maxima compared to other cars I've owned, I don't plan to buy another Nissan of any kind when I get rid of the Maxima. The VQ30 has been a great engine...Nissan knows how to build a good engine....but can't say I've ever been impressed with 'the rest' of any Nissan cars.
When we were looking at SUVs, we checked out the new Pathfinder but got a 4Runner instead for about the same money...the 4Runner was so much nicer in almost every way, honestly.
Also I think all of Nissan's interior and exterior designers should be fired. They have an entire lineup of ugly cars these days, and I hate the spaceship-looking interiors.....
There is a good reason why Nissan is Japan's #3 (or 4?) automaker. Honda and Toyota just build better, more appealing cars.
Also the complete lack of any resale value is a downer for Nissan cars as well.
08-01-2008, 08:14 PM
#28
Supporting Maxima.org Member
iTrader: (29)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Middleboro/Carver, Ma
Posts: 4,572
Whatever you do don't buy an (?06) sti unless you like cracked pistons, or an '05 (track & 35 ae only) or '06 6-mt Z unless you like replacing rings.
Why can't you drive the Z in the winter? To *****?
Why can't you drive the Z in the winter? To *****?
08-02-2008, 12:26 AM
#29
It was my first car, and I really do plan on keeping her for the long run now that I've spent time and effort on getting her to look good. Just got a 300zx, but still feel attached to her and just that getting in the car feels comfortable. Either way I'll always stay in the Nissan family. 
Just got a 300zx, but still feel attached to her and just that getting in the car feels comfortable. Either way I'll always stay in the Nissan family.
Last edited by Jess; 08-02-2008 at 12:32 AM.
08-02-2008, 06:28 PM
#31
My 95 and my wife's 96 are both in great running order. We plan to drive them until they die because: 1) currently we don't have extra money to get a new car, 2) they are paid off and that keeps expenses down, 3) they still look and drive great and 4) we enjoy driving them. When that day comes to get a new car, we'll consider a newer maxima. I can't say my wife would get another one, but I probably would. I love my car and the great VQ engine.
David
David
08-02-2008, 07:20 PM
#32
will i keep mine? yes. ive been around maximas since the 2nd gen (85 model) its been the ONLY car i would drive ever since. my kids have seen me go from a 92 se to 2 98 se's, the wife thinks im nuts but the more she sees my car the more she wants mods on her's. i got my 98 in 02 at 36k she has 214k on her now. thats almost 30+k miles a year. ill keep driving maxima's until they stop making them and all the parts bins and junkyards are picked clean.
08-03-2008, 03:19 PM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,883
What's hilarious is that when the 4th gen came out in late '94, it was bad-a**. I remember this guy in b-school had one, and people joked asking him how he got it, dealing? It was an "in" car. Today, it doesn't command much respect anymore, looks outdated. I got into it with a new Sonata V6 and the guy toasted me. When I'm driving my other car, I could drive like a pansy and nobody seems to mess with me. It's nice to have a good experience with something, but sometimes it's also good to see what else is happening out there. Variety is the spice of life they say.
08-04-2008, 08:04 AM
#34
I'll probably keep it till the wheels fall off, then just put them back on.
I love the car, and it wouldn't be worth it to sell it when I'm ready for a newer car. I'll just keep it around if I can.
I love the car, and it wouldn't be worth it to sell it when I'm ready for a newer car. I'll just keep it around if I can.
08-04-2008, 09:22 AM
#35
this is my first nissan and probably my last. maybe it's just mine but it's getting horrible gas mileage and so much vibration and interior noise. i've been driving my dad's 1998 ford explorer for the past couple days while my car is at the shop...and the explorer has far less road/interior noise...not even a rattle. just feels so calm driving it. but i do like the look of my 5.5gen and the power. but i think i'm ready for something that's better on gas and that has a lot smoother ride. maybe in the future i might get back to nissan if they have something nice.
08-04-2008, 03:30 PM
#37
HELL NO!!!!
actually i may always own this one and just garage it and keep it for my kid but in reality it'll be gone in a year or two most likely for something that's actually fun to drive...
actually i may always own this one and just garage it and keep it for my kid but in reality it'll be gone in a year or two most likely for something that's actually fun to drive...
08-05-2008, 08:06 PM
#40
The Z I test drove was an 08 base model. If I were to buy a z it would be an 08-09 and not the base model. I've read on the 350z forums that some of the older ones have some kinks, well maybe a little worse then a kink. Anyway I live in VT so I wouldn't want to ruin my z in the salty winter so if that makes me a ***** so be it. I would just rather drive my dads truck 08 ford f-450 dually. I work for him so I can use it. Anyway I plan on keeping my max for the long run and putting more money into her.
Last edited by VTMaxima; 08-05-2008 at 08:10 PM.
