Nick97SE

iTrader: (14)

Well, it is a given that the build quality of the 3rd. Gen is superior to that of the 4th Gen. However, I'm curious to know if Nissan took further cost cutting measures in the 5th Gen. Is the 5th Gen. built better than the 4th Gen. Maxima is? Also, how does the build quality of the new 2002 Maximas compare to the 4th Gen. Maximas?

Later,
-Nick

RussMaxManiac

The 2002 is a 5th gen. Nothing changed from 2000-2002 in the build quality area. The 5th gen is better than the 4th on build quality, but I would have it tie with the 3rd gen. It's not better or worse, but its pretty much the same.

Ludacris

iTrader: (11)

5th gen tied with 3rd...ahahaha I think not. 3rd gens are way better built...

emax02

iTrader: (1)

My 95 maxima has had great build quality, no rattles or anything with 103K miles. My 2002 has been great so far, no rattles or anything weird.

RussMaxManiac

Not in all aspects and I am not biased either.

Ludacris

iTrader: (11)

Well maybe not all but after riding in my friends 93 GXE with absolutely no rattles I went back to the 2000 a lil disappointed. The dash and door materials also seem much better than 5th gens...

Craig Mack

Neither my or my sisters '95's have had any build problems or rattles whatsoever. She also has 170,000 miles.

AznWontonboy

did you mean 3rd?

Weasel

iTrader: (2)

95s are the Maximas of 4th gens though... Nissan pretty much stopped caring after that.

Ludacris

iTrader: (11)

3rd gen has better interior materials? yeah..at least that's what I observed..

dmbmaxima2k2

iTrader: (1)

the early 4th gens were decent. the 95's were the best and then the 96's were a little worse. the 97-99 sucked. The 3rd gens have very good quality from what i've seen and my 2k2 is slightly better then my 95. it hasn't been long enough to see if anyone is gonna have any probs in the long run with a 5th gen. i'd say 3rd and 5th about equal. with 97-99 4th's at the bottom.

deezo

iTrader: (3)

I bet anything the 5th gens use the same lego parts as the 4th gen.

Frank Fontaine

It was my impression that there were several improvements on the 97-99 over the 95-96, the most major being steering, but then again bumpers, headlamps, and clutch. The 95-96 got some pretty bad ratings with crash worthiness.

I hate to admit it but I think looks-wise the Maxima peaked in 1997 and went downhill from there. I remember people wanting to put 97+ lamps and grilles on their 95-96. imho the 3rd gen may have been nice in 1989 but it doesn't feel right inside, I rode in a coworker's car and it's small and awkward, at least in the back. Very narrow, even more so than the 4th gen.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

How can the looks go downhill from 97 when the 98s and 99 Maximas look exactly like the 97 Maxima?

DW

Frank Fontaine

97-99's look alike? 97's were introduced in late '96, imho they were the last "positive" improvement in the looks dept. for Maximas. I was eagerly awaiting the 5th gen like everyone else and was crushed when I saw it.

Don't get offended, I own a '98. I too prefer the fuel gauge to pivot on the left, keeping it symmetrical to the temp., not like those ugly 97's.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

Ooooooh, I get it. the other years were the same, and then the change in 2000. Gotcha.

DW

deezo

iTrader: (3)

5th Gens are the ugly one's dude.

EZ

I agree. The build quality isn't the best either. I hope the G35 is better since Infiniti is gonna carry it. On JD power predicted dependability, Nissan was terrible! Infiniti was 2nd.

http://www.jdpa.com/presspass/pr/images/01102afull.gif

dmbmaxima2k2

iTrader: (1)

the 5th's are better than the 4th.

Mishmosh

iTrader: (3)

To the people who claim 5ths are better than 4ths: what are you basing your opinion on? When I went to test drive the altima, I also checked out a new max. The materials and build had an eerily similar feel to my 95. Right down to the way the doors felt when closed. Altima on the other hand felt far less solid and lightweight--a night and day difference. The styling is different and it would appear that the newest maximas have thoughtful details that my 95 didn't but I didn't find the '02 max to be much different quality wise. As for the creaks, squeeks and rattles that most 4th gens get, I think you just need to wait a couple more years to see if your '00 or '01 develops the same.

So specifically, what is better on the 5th gen in terms of build or quality?

dirksmoothe1

I have a 3rd gen... I am going to say it... the build quality rocks and I love the design, but.... I just love the exterior of the 97-99 SE... just my opinion. as for build quality. 5th gen is pretty close to my 92 SE in my opinion... and the trade offs are okay considering the 32-65 hp gain over my car...

but I can still woop up on alot of 4th and fifth gens on the track... VLSD OWNZ!!!!

RussMaxManiac

Interior is over 100% better than the 4th gen. I have owned 4 Maximas now. 96,98,2000,2001.... 5ths were better.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

3-gens/4-gens have had some time to simmer. Let a few things fall off the 5-gens and then comment. hehe I mean, people are basicly agreeing the 3-gens are built pretty good. This is from a 1989-1994 production run. You gotta put some miles and years on the 5th gen to really feel them out, ya know. Bring this topic back up when a few more of the 5-gens get about 100k on the odo.

EZ

I totally agree. I bet the 6th gen Maxima drivers will be saying the same thing

Frank Fontaine

R&T, C&D, Motor Trend, Automobile, Consumer Reports, and the New York Times combined don't have as much behind-the-wheel experience with the Maxima as you do!

I still like the 4th gen, can't understand the 5th's looks and who is responsible for it. Kinda like a PA license plate--there's no way you want to take credit for designing it.

RussMaxManiac

I like the overall looks, but the 5th gen front and sides get my approval. The rear, still takes a long time to grow on you. Some days I like it, and some I don't. The car just feels much more solid than my 98. My 96 felt better than my 98 though, it had no rattles, etc after 28k. The 98 had lots. My 2000 and 2001 had very very few rattles if any at all.

deezo

iTrader: (3)

Ok Steve. Remember, you have plastic door handles inside your car that are supposed to look like aluminum.

Ludacris

iTrader: (11)

Front and profile looks good, rear eh..the main problem I have is how the rear wheels are so far in the wheel well. Like a 95 LeSabre

Nick97SE

iTrader: (14)

What I meant was like the little stuff. For example, in my old '92 GXE, you could adjust the headrests forward and back, but in my '97 you can't do that. I just want to know if Nissan fixed any of the "cost-cutting" corners in the 2002 that they cut a few years back when designing the 4th gen.

-Nick

NYC GS4

iTrader: (2)

I've had my 3rd gen for over 3 years and my 97 SE for 9 weeks. My 94 is Rock Solid, 155K miles with original tranny, alternator and starter. Paint still looks brand new, bumpers withstand a lot of abuse as opposed to 4th and 5th gen bumpers and still look very nice. Not one rattle or any kind of noise that shouldnt be there. Comparing the two, my 94 is a GXE that came with no options except for the standard stuff such as 15' rims and heated mirrors meanwhile the 97 SE is fully loaded with luxury options and probably about 20X faster than my 3rd gen, yet the 3rd gen clearly prevails in my eyes.

As far as the 2K-2K1 goes, I hate the leather design and prefer the 97-99 leather, I also dont like the adjustable hand rest. Most importantly, I drove a 2K SE that had 17K miles at the time and was less than a year old and the thing felt like a complete dog, downright embarassing performance. Comparing the 2K SE Auto I drove to the 2K2 SE Auto's I drove is about the same as a mentally challenged person who all of a sudden gets a brain transplant and becomes a rocket scientist.

NYC GS4

iTrader: (2)

Hey Nick, completely agree with you on the headrest issue. Thought I was the only one who noticed. I love to have mine in a downward position when driving the 3rd gen.