I posted this in the 5th gen section too.

I currently have an 02 6sp with 83k. I love the car and the power but I have been looking at the luxury a lot more. Before I make a crazy decision I was wondering if there is any specifics about the I35 I should look at that I would not have learned on my max.

Is it the same car with the same problems? More problems? More expensive to fix? Also, how much might my car be worth in decent condition vs. the Infinity?

I hope this was the right place to post this and thanks in advance for any help or advice.....

The I35 and the 5.5 Gen Maxima are identical in terms of engine, electrical system, drivetrain, tranny. Everything is the same except for the body. Inside, the dash is slightly different, and the ebrake is on the floor, but everything else is the same as well.

However the I35 has some nice upgrades:

leather seats are standard. Most I35s have sunroofs. Most I35s have a retractable sunshade for the rear. Many have heated seats (mine dont but i live in AZ). You should be able to sell your max and get your I35 for slightly less because the 6speeds are in high demand. As for more expensive to fix, Infiniti dealers charge more for labor, but you can always take yours to a nissan dealer. Infiniti techs like to think they're special, but they are certified by Nissan North America, so they're just nissan techs that get paid slightly more.

Only con about an I35: the bose 6cd changer (standard for all I35s) doesn't have an aftermarket bracket so replacing the stereo is difficult unless you order a special kit from overseas.

i have only had two issues since getting my I35. The stupid O2 sensors (many maximas have had this, the TSBs are the same), and my stupid wiper switch won't work properly in intermittent mode. Other than that, its a lovely ride haha.

Thanks for the reply in both threads. Sounds like I should look for the same problems my car currently has if I buy an I35. IDK if I want an automatic vehicle after this car.....

You bring up a good point with the stereo system since I would want to put my own in the car but thats hardly a reason for me to avoid the car. Maybe I will try to put my car up for sale.....

If you get a i35, chances are that you are going to have a couple grands left for mods. lol If your maxima is dropped, i would take them off and keep it so you drop the i35.

Why not go with a G sedan? They are really cheap now and for 13k you can have a really nice G.

+1^ Get a G, 6spd sedans are hard to find but possible. Fit and finish is way better as well.

Yeah if he wants to pay $7000-$8000 more so naw i'd advise for an I35 lol

V35 Gs have crappy interiors, V36s are nice tho. You can get a G for 14k, my friend got a 03 sedan auto with 66k miles.

^ Its a coupe my bad.

I dont agree with the crappy interior part. They look really nice, now i know they have rattles and stuff but its still a newer car with more power and better handling. Also the aftermarket support is much higher than what we have for maxias and i30/35's.

You can add parts like springs and struts from a Z for cheap drop and stuff. So dont disregard the idea.

Same exact VQ35 engine. This is to be debated. Any performance gains will me marginal and because of the ECU. I'm not a fan of the G35s. Big fan of the G37s though.

Front wheel drive car is all I really need. I don't WANT to change my car, but I hear a timing chain clicking noise often, rotten eggs smell right after I push the car hard. I want the same car, but I rather take the money to fix these problems and put them towards another car.....or maybe I'll just fix this one. IDK!!

timing chain noise is usually caused by low oil. go check your oil level since a lot of early VQ35s burn oil.

Lets not forget, if you thought the 5.5 has a bad turning radius, the i35 is worse.

Really, all you are getting is an analog clock, heated rear seats (if you have cold weather package), rear sunshade, foot e-brake and a flip up navi (if you have the navi package). Add a little better leather interior, and different rear and front, and its essentially the same car.

And the fit and finish on the G is greater than the I, for thsoe arguing. From someone who drove and owned both, the G feels like a more solid car. The suspension and weight of the doors alone is a perfect example. Feels more like a luxury car.

And 2003 doggy door G35 sedans with 70k-80k miles can be had for $13k. Throw on an aero kit and its ****.

I know. Oil is at the H. maybe even above :/

hmm. oh well it shall forever be a mystery then haha

Its essentially the same car if the 5.5 Max had all the options added on (bose cd, leather seats, climate control, TCS....etc)

The G35 argument would be better made if we were comparing cars with a similar cost.

I JUST went from a loaded automatic 2003 Maxima SE Titanium to a 2003 I35. As stated previously, cars are almost identical. I prefer the more refined I35. Loving the rear heated seats and the wood-grain.. More of a sleeper than the Max and the suspension is a bit softer (which i like).. For me it's the best of both worlds. Maintenance costs are similar. I had no major issues with my Max other than the annoying engine ping regardless of the quality/ octane rating gas I used. With the I35 i use only 94 octane and have had no pinging so far.. Turning radius is HORRIBLE as you know. I was looking at the G's but living in Canada, I wouldve had to go with the x (AWD) and didn't think it was worth the extra $$ to upgrade. I'm content with the I35 for now..

Only issue as mentioned above is the dash kit.. At the moment I'm waiting for the kit from Sy so I can re-do my stereo install. I used my bose headunit and made my own mounting kit. It looks decent, but needs some more work if I want it to be perfect. Just trying to figure out which dash kit i can use to do a singled DIN install. I posted in the HeadUnit thread. Will post pics/ solution there once I figure it out and complete the work.. Good luck with your decision.

It might look nice, thats opinion, but the built quality is pretty bad. Performance wise, its a nissan, most nissans have aftermarket support, but I bet you anything it'll be cheaper to drop a 5th gen then a G.... Of course drop and handling are totally different, the G has the advantage becouse of the stronger structure. Nonetheless, they're great cars.

Its actually much cheaper to drop a G if you are going with Z spring route. You can sometimes find Z springs for under 100. But if the op doesnt want a G then there is no point.

I personally cant see the point of owning a max and then upgrading to a I.

My plan is to actually get a car with less luxery features and more go. i.e wrx.

Hey i have a problem My AC/HEAT system doesnt gradually get hot or cold. its either 65 cold or 66and up hot..How is this fixed? Anyone have any advise for this issue?

Excellent place to pose this question. Brilliant. ^