Normally, I drive my I30, so I essentially am driving a 5th gen Maxima. I recently got a job at an Infiniti dealership and have the privilege of driving the new models. Last week I had to drive a G37x to Queens from NJ and the broker that facilitated the deal gave me a 7th gen lease return to drive back.

These were my good impressions:
-Great power. Not as quick as a VQ37, but I was surprised with the pickup.
-CVT didn't hamper my driving, although I did leave it in DS the whole way.
-Sport seats were nice for the drive from the broker office in Brooklyn.
-Mileage must have been good since I was driving it a tad aggressively and the trip computer didn't jump down too far from when I started.
-Center screen interface is fine to use since it's essentially what's found in an Infiniti.

However, I did notice some things that I wasn't particularly fond of.
-Steering was way too light/loose for my taste and I couldn't get the wheel into an optimal position.
-Didn't feel very composed going over ruts in the pavement (wheel trying to dart around). I'm not sure if this was due to the light steering or that it's FWD.
-Some things felt a little cheap, like the gear selector and some plastics.
-Brake light kept coming on as RPMs went over around 3000.
-Bose sound was disappointing even with it adjusted (Bass +3, Treble +5).
-Not as refined as a G37 (quietness, rattles, etc.).

Overall it wasn't a bad driver at all. Although I would be drawn to a G37 since it has a 7AT instead of the CVT and I prefer the tighter steering. Also, just the noise and ride were a little disappointing, but then again I'm also comparing a mainstream car to one from a luxury division, of which they are based on different platforms, along with me nitpicking some things. Just thought I'd share my experience.

 

Nice man, what is the tag on them?

 

The G37 comes with 6 speed manual as well and the Maxima does not.

I drove a 7th gen right when it came out and to be honest I did not like it. With time it started growing on me, but I still prefer 5.5 6 speed over 7th gen.

 

You guys are arousing my curiosity about the 7th gen. I love my 5.5 M6, but I gotta admit, the 7th gen is a nice platform.

 

Yeah 7th gen is a nice luxury car basically. Inside it's almost identical to an M35 with the materials and all that (don't remember the year on that M35), with a few exceptions. I sat in both cars side by side at Carmax.

I second the loose steering feel, it's way too loose for my tastes. Also my 5th gen stays in a straight line all the time if let go of the wheel, in the 7th gen you have to constantly correct the wheel.

Besides that I think there's way too much body roll and ridiculous amounts of stock wheel gap (esp. rear end) on the 7th gen

All that said, I love riding in that thing because it's VERY comfortable and feels like I'm sitting on a couch relaxing when in that car, plus it has that power when needed. It's just not so fun to drive for enthusiasts, thanks CVT.

 

I've never felt that the steering on my Maxima was too loose. I don't like the G because it seems cramped inside and the exterior is not aggressive looking.

The materials in the Maxima are quite nice (if you have the SV Premium).

I do feel there is body roll which can be remedied with a sway bar in the front and the back.

As someone said, this car is more about luxury now and not sport.

 

I'm not sure of the Maxima, but you can figure it out on Nissan's website. G37's at my job start in the high $30k range without nav and we only get AWD.

For 2014 the G37 isn't available with a 6MT. It is a model year carry-over (all of them are considered 2013s) where the only options are the Premium Package and Navigation Package. The Q60 (which is what the G37 coupe has become) is available with a manual. Q50 is automatic only too, but I saw a picture of a 6MT one and IMO it messes up the flow of the trim on the center stack. I know a lot of people don't consider it a consolation, but all automatics have the manual shift mode.

 

I am pretty sure that the car already has front and rear sway bar... and I am pretty positive the Nissan introduced the 7th gen as the return of the 4 door sport car... either way I live my 5th gen manual and at 215K on it I am not looking to downgrade to the new 7th gen... may be if they decide to bring back the manual as an option. Sure the automatic is nice if you live in a big city and traffic is constant but all people live in such environment.

 

I guess if you are talking about a new car then you have to get Q50, which does not come with manual. I know a guy who has bought and owned many new G35s and G37s. Last time he upgraded and was looking into the Q50 he decided to move away from Infiniti because there are no manuals. He got fully loaded 370Z Nismo with manual.
Nissan and Infiniti seem to be making cars for grandma and grandpa a lot more than for car enthusiasts these days. Sad, but true. I am considering moving away from Nissan because of it myself.

 

Well it seems to me that you will remain in your 5.5 gen or get an Infiniti because I doubt Nissan will be introducing a manual anytime soon.

 

They have a manual, always have. Still made in Japan too, that Nismo Z mentioned above is nice, I may look into the new model.

 

I meant for the Maxima. I doubt Nissan will be introducing a manual for the Maxima anytime soon. I don't recall the OP mentioning anything about a Z.

 

I doubt it for the Maxima since it is meant to be Nissan's flagship model. Just like since you don't expect the Q70 (formerly the M) to have a manual as it's a pretty big car when it's competitors are meant to be executive cars (A6, E-Class, 5 Series). I've never driven a Z, but that is Nissan's longtime sports car so they will have to be careful with retaining its audience. I can't be sure of the likelihood of the next-gen Q60 having a manual but maybe Infiniti will keep one model with a manual for its enthusiast clientele, especially since the G35/G37/Q60 have always been based on the Z's RWD platform. I assume the upcoming Q50 Eau Rouge will exclusively have a dual clutch to keep the powertrain in-line with the GT-R.

 

True. Being the Z is a coupe it is more than likely to have a manual because it is an enthusiast vehicle unlike the Maxima which has been steadily crossing the line from sporty to near luxury. It's becoming more of a style and comfort icon rather than sport. It seems to me that Nissan just wanted to test the waters in those areas and are now trying to bring back the sportiness, agility, and speed in the upcoming 8th gen however it's engine will still remain a CVT--just a tweaked one.

As for Infiniti, holding the luxury moniker, they are able to produce transmissions of different kinds because their clientele demands it AND are willing to pay not only for the performance but the name. As lightonthehill stated, when Nissan was producing the manual transmission no one wanted to buy it. The enthusiasts now have to grit and bear or move, neither choice of which affects myself as I enjoy the CVT. Like everything else, it will take getting used to. I can only imagine 30-50 years down the road if gas engines will still be as default as they are.

 

Yeah, I would imagine the CVT Engine will be used almost exclusively then, it will no longer have displacement as it will be variable.

 

I'm reassured to hear that power delivery still seems good with the CVT. I haven't driven one, but the 7th gen maxima is definitely on my radar for my next ride. I have a 2012 Taurus SHO coming off lease next April, and I'll be faced with a decision on whether to take the purchase option, or get something else. It's a tough one, as I REALLY like the SHO. It'll have around 50k miles or just over on it, and the purchase option is for $21,700. It'll be interesting to see just how big of a discount will be available on the 7th gen Maximams, with the 8th gen coming out. TBH, I'm pretty likely to keep my SHO - I know the history, and I love the car.

update - I guess Nissan is trying to move the 2014s along. I have access to a corporate car buying service, and it's showing 2014 w/Sport Package or Premium Package at $7300 and $7400 off MSRP. Puts either one right around $29k, $30k. Nice deal. Hmmm - still, I have another 10mths to go on my lease before having to do anything

 

Forgive my ignorance but I had never heard of a Taurus SHO--a Taurus yes but not an SHO. Those are some bulky looking vehicles.

If you love it, then I say keep it BUT being a Maxima owner and not trying to be biased, I feel the Maxima may be worth your while at least for a test drive. I would say look at an SV with Premium package and Technology package if you want NAV. 29-30K are good prices for 2014's.

 

Oh, no doubt, it's a tank. 4350lbs. But it has the 3.5l ecoboost engine that also goes in the full size trucks. In the SHO it's 365hp and 350lb/ft, from 2k rpm to redline, and it's AWD. It's a very fast tank!

I'll probably give the Maxima a test drive at least - I love testing cars. I could go in a number of directions - a hemi Challenger is not out of the question either.

 

I was one who checked out the CVT version of the 2006 Maxima, and did not feel it had reached the level of refinement I wanted. So I kept my '04 Maxima with auto tranny. I drove manuals off and on from the late 1940s until I traded in my 5 speed manual '78 Datsun 200SX for a 1985 Maxima with auto tranny, and I have owned nothing but Maximas ever since (every generation).

Sure, when we look at the physics involved, the CVT will eventually beat old-style shifting trannies because it avoids those instances where the engine is running, but the tranny is shifting instead of pushing the engine. But CVTs generate a lot of heat, and have parts that are under a lot of stress.

When the 7th gen '09 arrived, I tested again, and found the CVT was much better than in the 6th gen Maxima. So I bought. Beautiful white car with premium package, which includes a black double-panel roof. Took awhile, but I eventually reached the point where I found I could control the CVT by being very careful with my touch on the accelerator, and by keeping one eye on the tach.

In the last 5 1/2 years, I have grown to really like the CVT. And, reasonably driven, it does help with my fuel efficiency. I can approach 30 MPG on freeway trips at speeds between 65 MPH and 75 MPH, and that is not bad for a 290 HP engine designed in 2006 pulling a 3600 lb car.

Best of all, my 2009 has been virtually trouble-free, has cost me nothing in repairs, and is in absolutely perfect condition today, still running smoothly at freeway speeds with original tires at 45K, and the tires have never needed re-balancing and the car has never needed realigning.

Someone will be getting a real creampuff when I trade my '09 Maxima in for an 8th gen when they begin arriving at dealers.

 

^
You aged with your car choices (not a bad thing)

 

I can't deny that. I still love to 'blow the lead out' on occasion, but traffic (and rigid law enforcement) around where I live doesn't permit that very often. That is why I look forward to the few trips I make out west.

I don't do jack rabbit starts, and I begin slowing down well before where I need to stop. But I love to cruise on open, deserted roads at pretty fair speed. I remember keeping the speedo on 106 for over 50 miles on a deserted southwest Texas 'farm' road on one of those trips, but those opportunities are fast disappearing. I woudn't dare go that fast if another vehicle was within three miles of me. In some areas of southwest Texas, it is easy to spot everything within three miles, although there isn't much to spot except tumbleweeds.

These days, I find I am far too often the tenth or twentieth vehicle in an endless string of vehicles moving at the speed of the slowest driver on the road. I really hate that type of situation. Might as well have a robot driving the car.

 

Last weekend, I had a chance to drive a 7th gen max as a rental. the car had just 8300 miles on its odo. Though so excited to drive it off the rental lot, after 5 days, I no longer wanted to own one, imagine that I am coming from a 4th gen without driving any in-between-generation max.

CVT, suspension, power are the culprits. I mostly navigated through downtown SF, and/or driving between SF-SJ via 101, the CVT became so annoying into 30 minutes driving. During downtown drivings, trucking u-turn, reverse, the car feels like an old man, so sluggish. During freeway, it floated left and right, and tossed around in curve.

This shattered my dream of owning a newer max.