Greetings everyone!

I currently own a 5th Gen (2000) Maxima GLE that we have owned since 2004, which now has 184k miles. It's still reliable, but we didn't keep it up the best (most cosmetically) and were thinking about selling this one and moving up to a really, really low mileage 6th Gen (don't like the CVT ones).

I love the comfortable seats, soft ride, and driving position of the Maxima, so I was hoping the 5th Gen would continue that tradition :-)

Anyone have a comparison in those aspects? Not worried about racing, mods, etc. Just want a comfortable, quiet, and enjoyable ride!

Also, are the 2004-2005 transmission issues resolved now and fixable with a set path on how to fix?

Thanks everyone!

 

if you get one with an auto, stay away from (or at least be aware of the problems with) the 5 speed auto.

 

Yes, been reading alot about the issues, shift kits, valve bodies, etc. Is there a "do all this" and you should be good fix now? Even if I get one, I would just go ahead and do all of "that" as a preventative.

Thanks for your fast reply.

 

I think that's a great idea, honestly...just get it done shortly after purchasing the car just so you know you'll be good for awhile...

 

The 5th gen and the 6th gen are far difference in comforts and I know the 6th gen had regular auto tranny on 2004-05 and went CVT in 2006 and on. So good luck on your research and personally I didn't care for the early 6th gen with the buck tooth grille, til they did facelift in 07 and better rear spoiler than the weakly looking spoiler flushed along the top of the trunk in the beginning.

 

Have you considered trying to find a nice 5.5gen instead?

6th gen cant compare in reliability, it's heavier and slower than 5.5 gen, but it does have some good luxury and soft comfort.

Remember 5th gen was the last so called "4DSC" enthusiast style Maxima that Nissan made, they went a completely different route with the 6th gen.

I guess if comfort is all you want with that vq35 and lots of room get a 6th gen and do all the tranny fixes and hope it's reliable, but going from a 2000 GLE you would love a 5.5gen GLE

 

5th gen is much more fun. I've drove 6th gen and 7th gen it not really fun compare to CVT on 5th gen!

6 and 7th gen are nice luxury cars but just not for performance though, 5th and 5.5 gen was the one called "real" 4DSC.

 

there is no CVT in the 5th gen...and OP already has a 5th gen. Please make more sense when you post.

 

I like the styling of them all, so not concerned about that. I just want to make sure it's an "upgrade" in terms of comfort, ride, noise, etc :-) I might stick with a 2002-2003 since I know what I like with the 2000 and it will be mostly the same, just way less miles :-)

 

Go different brand?

 

Good idea, start by taking your own advice

 

How about jumping to a Infiniti G instead?

 

Wow so much misinformation. I drove in a 7th gen and it has a lot of get up and go. The CVT did not take away from the experience either. There is no CVT in the 5th gen at least in America that I am aware of... The 6th gen is still a very comfy ride and has plenty of room/luxury and is a great cruiser.


Honestly the OP has to take the time to test drive them both and form his own opinion because we all have different opinions and different expectations. I personally would look more towards the 7th gen simply because I find the front end of it very aggressive looking and it can go!


Or if you want a manual look for a 6speed. Some of the 5/6 gens come in 6speeds and those are fun too.

 

^
The maxima lost its way after Nissan decided to add 3.5L to the Altima imo.

 

George... Unfortunately I think you're right

 

Nothing wrong with the CVT performance. All you complaining don't drive a CVT, so how do you know so much about it? I'm not saying it's the best track transmission, but for comfort and performance combined it's the best of both worlds. OP, consider the 07-08 with low mileage, those are the ones with CVT, and 10 year 120k mile extended transmission coverage.

 

I started with the 6th gen and now I have a 7th gen so I don't know anything about the generations before but I enjoy the two I've had. I enjoy the CVT. It is efficient and fast (if you know how to drive it.) I agree the car has transitioned from the 4DSC to the perfamily (performance + family) car but it still gets the job done and looks amazing.

I enjoyed the 6th gen but was plagued with the non-forgiving failed transmission after 196,000. I would still have it if I didn't have to shell out $4500 to replace the transmission.

 

I don't really understand CVT hate either.... you'd go for 6sp over a 5sp - an infinite speed is so much better. I had my doubts with noise and reliability but I driven a CVT Altima and I can't tell that it's a CVT except for the fact that there's no shift lag.

 

I've owned nothing but Maximas since 1984 (and owned Nissan Datsuns before that), and I have driven many manuals and automatics over the decades, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find I enjoyed the CVT. Granted, it took me months to understand I needed to keep an eye on the tack, not the speedometer, and I had to learn how to feather the accelerator. Now I do everything without even thinking about it.

As several here mentioned, the CVT is not yet a 'track-type' tranny. But it is a more efficient tranny than either the manual or the automatic trannies used in Maxima gens 1 thru 6. I approach 30 MPG on level interstate highways in this 3600 pound 7th gen.

I had test-driven cars with CVTs between around 2000 and 2006, and did not like them. But the one in the 7th gen 2009 Maxima was far better than those earlier ones. I have not driven a 6th gen Maxma with CVT (model years 2006, 2007 and 2008), so can't comment there.

But my '09 with CVT goes from zero to 60 in 6 seconds, and, much more important for me, goes from 40 MPH to 80 MPH faster than any car I have ever owned.

As info, the 6th gen Maxima unquestionably has the roomiest and plushest interior of any Maxima ever made. The back seat knee room is almost limo-like. The ride is also probably the plushest of any Maxima. I had five great years with my 6th gen 2004 SL. The primary reason I prefer the Maxima over the G35/G37 is that when I test drove the Infinities (I do this about every other year), I always felt sort of cramped.

With the 8th gen Maxima arriving this fall, there will probably be new and used 7th gens available at very good prices towaed the end of this year and the first part of next year. I love the aggressive 7th gen styling, and have had no trouble with my '09 7th gen in the 5 1/2 years I have owned it. I have the premium and tech packages, and absolutely everything still works as designed.

But then I have loved all Maxima generations.

 

Thanks for the info on your 2004 SL, the 2000 GLE I have now fits me like a glove and I wanna make sure the 6th gen just improves on that :-)

 

Jump to a RWD car

 

I have other toys that fit that purpose :-) But, the thoughts of a G35 does get me interested :-)

 

^
Why not a G37?

 

I've witnessed a fellow 6th gen member go through 5-speed auto transmissions left and right, to the point where he sold the car. Personally driven the 7th gen CVT, and could not stand it. It sounds like the car is droning the entire time while being stuck in gear. I would suggest considering a G35/37 as the next step up.