Hello.Ive never been here before but thought I would get your input on a decision Im batteling with. This spring I started looking for my first new car. Had gone to look at a Maxima, but saw the Altima and fell in love with it. Got hooked up with an absolute moran, couldnt find what I wanted so we filled out order form on April 29. Said it would be 2-3 months. I call to check on it Mon. and guess what, never ordered Long story short, manager will sell me a car at invoice, spent 2 1/2 hours yesterday trying to locate what I want. While Im trying to amuse myself, I sit in a 2003 Max GLE and Im thinkin damn its nice in here (like night and day compared to Alty). I mention this to guy helping me. I go home, he is still working on car. Calls me 10 min later, has found Max w/color comb. I want, sr, loaded. At invoice and $1000. cash back it will be at least $2000. less than Altima. Im really torn, interior vs. exterior. Obviously you will say get the Max but I would like to here why. Appreciate any info.

 

get the Altima.. its lighter, its faster.. and its a Dave B best buy

 

WOW, thats sure not what I expected to here on this site, but thanks, maybe thats a sign I should go with my origional decision

 

Invoice plus $1000? Thats no "Deal" for them screwing you around for 2 months. Anyone off the street can buy a car for invoice plus $1000, if not less.

 

You are asking a question we can't answer. Interior or Exterior? Me, I like the the exterior on both, but I can't stand the interior on the Altima, plus I like the ride on the Maxima better. It was a no-brainer for me.

It all depends on which you value more.

 

My own experience with this is.

Alt - It rides better, especially on rougher roads. Body lean didn't feel as much when i tested it. Interior is so-so.

Max - Interior is definitely up there, seeing as i spend a lot more time in the car than anything else i went for the Maxima.

Power/Style and everything else-wise, they're just about equal. So it's up to you as to which one would make you feel more comfortable with.

As far as price goes, Getting it at invoice isn't really a deal. A lot of people have been able to get these for under invoice.

 

Ya know, Ive heard that before, but I dont know ANYBODY who has gotten a car for invoice or below. Not where I live. So to me its not bad, although Im gonna demand another 3 or 400 off.

 

Ive never paid over invoice. As long as you are happy though. Go in there, figure out the invoice price on the car you want. Tell them take it or leave it, and remind them they arent the only Nissan dealer in town.

 

Didn't see the price difference of the two in the States. Here in Canada the SE Max would cost about $4,500 more (2003). The price of the 2002 Max dropped $2,000 Canadian.

I tested both but I didn't like the instrument panel of the Altima. Didn't like the non-folding side mirrors, and the hold stand. Plus the ones here do not have HID.

 

When we decided to trade in our 2000 Maxima GXE on something newer, we chose the 2K2 Maxima over the 2K2 Altima. The Maxima has the nicer interior (no one disputes that), but also has more standard stuff than the Altima. The exterior of the Altima is very fresh, but the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think the Maxima looks more agressive (except maybe for the horrible wheel gaps), whereas the Altima reminds me more of a Passat or Intrepid. The Maxima has more status, if that matters to you (it doesn't to us). But what it really came down to was the price. We got our Maxima in December for nearly $1500 under invoice, and that was when the rebate was only $500. I had them down to invoice minus the $500 before I even walked in the door. You've been dealing with (and waiting for) them for a long time and they're basically offering you the same thing. Granted you're getting it on a 2003, but with the changes so minor I'm not sure that really matters. I do think you should get an SE, not a GLE.

Two things you really shouldn't worry much about (which everyone says you should) are the twist-beam rear axle or the upcoming '04 Maxima. If the roads are really rough where you live, the independent rear suspension in the Altima could be a good thing (if they fix the thumping noise many seem to have) but if the roads are relatively smooth like they are here in Virginia, the Maxima is fine. And the '04 Maxima is going to be a completely different car, much like the 2K2 Altima is from previous models. The new Altima is much bigger and faster than the previous Altimas, but most of those owners can't or wouldn't afford the more expensive new model anyway. The same will be true of the new Maxima, but I don't have any worries that I'll find my car inadequate when the new Maxima comes out.

 

Brett is going to have something to say about your handle

 

I would go with Maxima, b/c
1. Even though the rear end of Altima looks AWESOME!!!!!! but I think Maxima's front end look alot better than Alty's front

2. I tested drove both Alty & Max, I just can't stand the interior of Alty (sorry Alty guys)

 

This is debatable....alot of people including myself....thinkthe Alty's rear end looks like @ss

 

Actually, status doesnt matter nor does the price. The problem is I happen to love the Altys exterior, but as we all know the interior leaves alot to be desired. I live in a very old river town, the roads are mixed, some still brick, some new, and some always need repaved, so the Alty might be better in that respect.

 

Im with you on that one.

 

dunno if its an option for you, but maybe you should try for a G35. it has a nice interior and exterior

 

hey mike,

are you related to Russ?

just curious

was looking at yoru sig

 

The Altima has and always will be to me the cheap man's Maxima. It will never be as nice as the Maxima because it's not meant to be. It's meant to be a bit sportier at the cost of comfort. They may share engines, but ask people who own a Camaro SS and they'll tell you how much they prefer their SS over the Firebird Trans-AM which is exactly identical drive-trian and engine wise but the interiors and exteriors are different. The same goes with the Max/Alt. I just find the Maxima to be a more refined car with more class. Thankfully, it's not one of those weak classy cars . It comes down to whatever you like best, but remember, you spend more time on the inside of your car than the outside . I also think the Altima's rear-end looks factory-riced. It's ugly. Max wins hands down here.

 

I too was proplexed with my decision. I liked the Altima because it looks aggressive, sporty. I liked the Maxima because it exuded a kind of upper class prestige. I drove both cars extensively. The Altima had a better ride due to it's independant rear suspension, but it also suffered from "Considerably" more road and wind noise than the Maxima did. I didn't like the interior of the Altima at all, while I definately liked the Bose system better in the Altima over the Maxima. After doing the math I found that similarly equipped cars would cost almost the same price since the Maxima had $1k off. My decision was based on 2 things. I absolutely loved both the interior of the Maxima much better and I liked the silent ride that the Maxima gives. The Maxima has a more luxurious feel while also feeling aggressive when aggitated. This is my honest answer. The Altima is a great car, but I personally liked the Maxima much better after driving both cars extensively. I originally wanted an SE 6 speed, but opted for the GLE in the end. I've just been unable to teach my wife how to drive a stick and with DC's traffic, the stick was out of the question.

 

The Altima guys are saying their interior is better, after you get use to it. LOL!

 

Thanks for the replys, there were some really good points given. Im leaning towards the Altima, but who knows, maybe Ill be back.

 

Just drive both cars numerous times. Quite honestly, they are both the same speed even though big brother has 15 more ponies.

 

au contraire!

 

I've seen numerous 0-60 times in C&D and Motor Trend type mags all showing them to be almost the same speed. Almost meaning .1 here .2 there. 1/4 mile is a different story.

 

Hyundia XG350 or something like that.

[sarcasm] hey, it's got a 3.5 V6 too !! [/sarcasm]

 

Maxima, definitely. Always buy at the top of the brand.