http://autos.yahoo.com/news/10-unlik...234855738.html

Nissan Maxima made the list.....

 

That older styling so pretty and awesome

 

I liked the 81-83 (810) Rwd Maxima, liked the 84-88 Fwd Maxima a little more, they were pretty cool looking, but the sleek 89-94 Maxima were absolutely beautiful designs that also ran pretty good power wise for a 3.0L V-6.....This is the Maxima that infused it's name (Maxima) into my bloodstream....Datsun/Nissan was already in my blood initially from my Dad's beautiful 1970 Datson 2000 roadster.....

 

Actually, the 1st gen Maxima (derived from the Datsun 710 and Datsun 810 series) extended through the 1984 model year, which had both the word Datsun and the word Maxima on the rear, and was otherwise a virtual duplicate of the 1983 Datsun Maxima. A very popular option during the early days of that 1st gen Maxima was a diesel engine. I rode in such a diesel Maxima (1982 model) for several years, as it was our car pool vehicle.

The 1985 model year Maxima was the first year of the 2nd generation. It made the switch to FWD (by mounting a 280Z engine sideways in the engine compartment), added interior room, and was probably the most important vehicle for me in almost 66 years of driving. I had always wanted to return to FWD since driving an Olds Toronado in the mid-1960s.

I bought a GL version (chrome trim) of the '85 Maxima for my wife and an SE version (chrome blacked out) for myself. My wife drove hers 180K miles and I drove mine 206K miles. That car became my personality, and it will always be in my memory and close to my heart. I named the speaking voice 'Hildegard', because I felt she had a Teutonic accent.

As to which Maxima was the most beautiful for its era, I think maybe the third gen 1989-1994 was best. It was beautiful in its simplicity from every angle. I would rank the 7th gen as second best, because it has steadily grown on me from the time I first saw an early 2009 coming down the assembly line in Smyrna in February of 2008.

But, being prejudiced, every Maxima is beautiful to me. Even my skyblue 2000SE with the strange black rear tail light surround. And my silver 2004SL with its huge passenger cabin and limo-like back seat room.

And CMax03 mentioned the Datsun 2000 Roadster. My coworker had one of those in Robin's egg blue, and I was always happy when we went to lunch in his vehicle through downtown Atlanta with the top down. Hard to believe that was around forty years ago.

Rambling? Who? Me?

 

A minor correction; the V-6 came from the 300ZX, not 280Z, which was the inline 6.
Thanks for the great post and I agree with you. My sister bought an 85 that I drove and a few years later I bought an 88 5 speed. That was a really good car and when I sold it, it had 295,000 miles and still did not use any oil. I liked that V-6 so much that I bought a 300ZX turbo and later a 96 Maxima for my wife and 95 Maxima for me. The wife took the 96 in the divorce and I drove the 95 for years and still have it as a back up beater. I now have an 03 Infinity that is a great driving car.

 

Nice....

 

They are timeless classic cars, in my opinion and they do age pretty well with the style and relevance to the time. I think the 6th gen kind of died with the 4DSC which is sad, I have to wait for the 8th gen and really see what they are rolling out.