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MBI

 

 

You need a SHO membership to view, here is the info for the lazy ones:

"2004 Maxima
Now that the much anticipated 2002 Altima selling at dealers, we wonder what Nissan has in store for us with the redesign of the new 2004 Maxima. Sources have been tight-lipped but we managed to pry some unconfirmed information from our contacts. Expect an overhaul of the Maxima platform - meaning a radical departure from the Maxima's front wheel drive layout. All wheel drive anyone? or maybe even RWD? Of course expect the now ubiquitous 3.5 liter VQ V-6 engine pushing some class leading horsepower onto the road. Expect a very sporty design both inside and outside. The new Maxima compete with the BMW 540i, Lexus GS400 and MB E430. It is expected Nissan will create a 300+ hp engine for their Maxima with sports aspects everywhere on the car. Other than that we're working on getting some more data on Nissan's new sedan flag ship. Stay tuned!"

 

thanks dude, i wasn't going to sign up for that.

sounds sweet tho

 

300hp is way more then enough for me

 

Massive BHP inside??

 

OH MY GOD! I think I need to change my pants now. I had better start saving for one...I'll park it right next to my F1....

 

 

I want the next gen Max.

 

No you want the Infiniti G35 in spring 2002!

 

those should be nice. i wll be test driving one of those.

 

me 2! maybe we can race that bad boy together!

 

Too bad the car's going to be a 2003 and we already know what Nissan has said about it. Go read the article on the front page of the .org. I honestly don't know where everyone gets all this information that's so apparently bogus. Nissan has come out and said what they're doing. Why no one believes them, but chooses to buy into these two bit rumors is beyond me.

Nissan has said that starting in Jan 2003 they're going to make the Maxima in the US. This means the 2003 will be built in the US. They've said it's going to be built on the Altima platform. They've said it's going to be a redone model. Do you really think Nissan is going to move all the machinery across the ocean to build a 2003 that's the same as the 2002? That's way to much money to move all the equipment here for a few months of production.

Stereodude

 

Yum! G35!

 

i still odnt' believe the 2k2 is gonna be a sole model. they will make it in 2003.

 

This info about the 2k4 Max came from a thread that has been on Freshally for months. Those guys were right on about the New Z and the G35, their information seems alot more credible than other sites......

http://forums.freshalloy.com/cgi-bin...&f=19&t=000102

 

ummm what u said means that it will be an 04 cuz the is a like 5-6 month production wait

 

The redesigned Max may be a 2K4 model but sold in early 2K3.
The current 2K2 model may continue to be sold as a 2K3 model.
Both cars could be sold side by side during 2K3.

 

Wouldnt that be really dumb on Nissan's part???

 

No. GM has recently done just that with the redesigned Silverado where they were selling the new and old model side by side. Ford did the same thing with the F-150 in 1997.

The old Max would still sell because it would cost less than the new 2K4 model which is rumored to start at $35,000. Nissan could continue to ship the existing 2K2/2K3 model from Japan while the redesigned 2K4 model would be made in Tennessee.

 

Huh, happens more than I thought it would. Zany.

SuDZ

 

rwd or awd 300hp maxima???

this will never happen

Comon then it'll be faster than the 350z

 

I'm surprised that Nissan would give the Next Gen Max more HP then the G35. Unless then plan to give the new V6 to the G35 and Z models across the board?

 

But the G35 might become more luxurious that the Max or something. Hard to tell. It is still kinda far off.

SuDZ

 

More HP doesnt mean it will be faster than the 350Z. The Q45 spanks us as far as HP goes but not very fast really.

SuDZ

 

I'm thinking that this maxima should absolutley be RWD and fill in the gap between the current Q45 and MAXIMA. I'd like a 300HP V6 if and only if the current 5thGen MAXIMA weight is maintained. We as enthusiasts do not need a 4000lb V6 maxima. Can I get a comment on that?

 

well dont they have the altima to step into the current max's position and make the 2k4 max a bigger gs400 competitor?

 

Just can't stand to see the MAXIMA grow any larger than it currently is. As now it is the TITANIC of "sports" sedans.

 

I agree. Come to think of it, ALL cars tend to balloon and get more deluxe as they age... look at the current Accord/Civic and compare them to their very first versions.

I think the 5th Gen is already on the "big" side. Compare it to one of our 3rd Gens and you'll know what I mean!

 

It may be bigger in size but I don't think it is a lot heavier. The 2002 GXE maxima only weighs about 3180 lb's.



Tintanic of sport sedans? I think not, name some sport sedans that weigh under 3100 punds, theres not to many at all.


How much does a 3rd gen weigh?

 

A 94 5spd SE maxima weighs 3165 lbs. Thats 20lb's pounds less then a 2002! A 1990 SE max weighed 3156 lb's! So the new max's are not any heavier{AKA Biger} at all. The aluminum VQ engine helped knock off about 150+lb's.

 

Weight wise you are right. Visually it looks HUGE.

 

In my humble opinion, it's just fine that the newer Maxes look larger. Even after all this time, Maximas are still not a huge presence in the minds of automobile purchasers in the US. Perhaps Nissan is trying to change that by making it larger and more commanding. I also think that we as Nissan owners should do our part to extend the reach and power of this fine company by telling prospective buyers about your fine automobile. Patriotism extends far beyond nationality. And as far as the 300hp RWD making it faster than the Z, you must remember that it would be faster than the Z "used" to be. Just like any other car line, you should add horsepower as your years progress. It is one of the easiest, most effective ways to attract and keep buyers. For example, when Ford put a weaker engine in the Caprice than had been in the past, they lost a ton of buyers. Why Johnny Law still drives the Caprice is beyond me...a police package Maxima would be a sweet item! Hope my $.02 will be put in the "logic jar". (Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean...)

 

FORD makes the Crown Victoria, Chevy Makes the Caprice. However you make decent and valid points. I think a Police MAXIMA would be TOPS myself!
My clean and shiny well maintained MAXIMA 11year old MAXIMA is a testament to the quality of the brand. People always asking me, what is that? I say with PRIDE it's a 1991 NISSAN MAXIMA. They gas; "wow it looks better than my new car!" "Yes, thank you"; I say.

When NISSAN takes the solid beam rear suspension out of the present MAXIMA, tears off the fender humps, and put a less Renault/Pugeot(sp) front and rear end on it, I might be a buyer. I will definatley be a buyer when they convert to RWD, as the chassis floor pan is already waiting for. Then they need to stick to the current body size. Tone down the geometric/organic TRASH and stick to one theme. Call me old fashioned; I still like my model the best and the Z32 ZTT the best. Both may be obsolete by NISSAN standards of technology, yet still far ahead of lesser builders. Irreplaceable tried and trued looks, performance, style, and character. Again as we all know it is a matter of taste.
I grew up on these car styles and tend to stick with them.
Thanks for the reply.

 

My bad...I was thinking about that chick that drives the 5spd when I wrote that...mmmm...sexy...

 

ya a 300zx TT is still my dream car.