I know that recently we have all had our gripes about the 5th gen Maxima. I have had an experience that has (at least temporarily) made me decide to halt all the criticisms and give my Max a lil' luv...

After 400+ miles of driving a Buick Park Avenue rental around winding country roads in rural Arkansas on a business trip, my heart (and my right foot) was literally aching to have my Max back.

Max is more powerful than anything else in its bracket/class/whatever unless you spend +10,000+ more. Be realistic, nobody spends 29,000 on a loaded Max and nobody gets a G35 sedan brand new for less than 30,000 (not yet) so don't throw sticker prices at me.

We should all be gratefull that we have the car we have that we have the luxury of griping about the little things, like paint chips or stock rubber.

I love my Max. Spend a few days driving anything else with 4 doors under $35,000 and I think you'll feel me.

 

Amen brother! I'm getting pretty tired of reading all these complaints.

 

I have no problem with people complaining, because many times it's valid stuff, and maybe is experienced by others too.

As for my 2K2, I went through the same thing as you. I had to drive a Mitsubishi Lancer, and then a Saturn rental car, for about 10 days while my Max was in the shop. I was soooo happy to get it back!

 

AMEM I love my Max...

 

It's easy for me to agree, because so far I haven't experienced any of the gripes about the 5th gen (well, other than the soft rear suspension and crappy tires). Here's a possible cure for bad Max feelings that worked for me. A couple of weeks ago I bought the 2003 Car and Driver Buyers Guide, and looked through it (had lots of plane time). There isn't another car I would want in the same price range. There are other cars, but as noted above, the G35s (or the BMW 330, or Lexus GS400, etc.) all cost considerably more. The Max's aren't perfect, but they're good.

 

I just drove my Maxima to Denver and back(a total of 2000 miles in the trip), got back home and got into the Camaro The rattles, fit and finish, materials used SUCK!

I LOVE my Maxima!!!

 

My Maxiam is the absolute BEST car I have ever owned. I love it. All of my friends love it, and many of my "car nut" friends are jealous because I have one. I love being able to look in a parking lot full of cars and know that my Maxima can own the vast majority of them at the track!

 

I love my max. Absolutely the best car I've ever had and this is coming from someone who already had a tranny replaced.

Max 4 Life Homes

Oh and <----I'm not a newbie anymore!

 

My Max is only my 2nd car (have been driving for 5 yrs though), and it's by FAR the best out of the two (the other is a 95 Accord V6). Yes, it has its little issues, but so do all cars. For the price, it CANNOT BE BEAT!!!

I'm getting too emotionally attached to the car though! I look after it like it's my son or something (and I'm only 21 ). Basically, I LOVE THE THING!

 

I'm on my third tranny!

 

I love it. I drove my girlfriend's '99 Intrigue while I was having my interior done. I swear I went through Maxima withdrawal.

I'd like to note that I haven't had any problems with the Max that I didn't make myself. I have a couple paint chips that I put there myself. I have a rattle in my passenger door after taking it apart 5 times. My tranny shifts like crap after putting redline in it. The tires are my only factory gripe!

 

I am glad you guys are feeling me. Here is my main point.

I got a 2002 SE w/ gated shifter that had no leather and no Bose (but the CD dash 6-speaker stock is still pretty nice) and I paid $22,400 before TT&L. With TT&L approx. $24,100...

Name me another car in AMERICA that comes with 255 hp, 17" wheels and tires, Xenon, fog lamps, wheel mounted stereo and cruise, trip computer, etc. for $22,400...

Sorry. It doesn't exist.

 

Couldnt agree with you more....it think a lot of people have their max's for awhile and like everything else start taking things (car) for granted........MAXIMA......cars like it....0

 

Well said. I have owned several different types of vehicles and my Max is by far the most fun to drive out of all of them. My wife has a Buick LeSabre and every time I have to drive it, it makes me appreciate my Max even more. I have never kept a car for more than a couple of years but I will be keeping my Max for many years to come.

 

Yeah in the few months i've owned mine, ive gotten really attached to it. However, after all the complaints I've been hearing...as much as it's probably the best car I've ever owned...I think I'm going to sell it. I have yet to experience any of the problems you're all talking about except the noisy clunking struts in the front (what is that anyway and how do you fix it?). As soon as the Max starts to act up in the least way at all...it's gone. But till then, I'll just keep getting more and more attached to it.

Brad

 

ANY car will have problems at one point or another, so what are you going to do if your next car gets problems? Sell it as well? Brad, you might as well stick with the Max unless you get some major RECURRING problems.

Getting attached to it is easy eh?

 

Actually ShortChaz (Charles) traded in his 96 SE on a brand new G35. He paid a crack over $27,000 for his G35. He got the base model. No leather, no navigation, no HID, no moonroof, no 17" rims, and no fancy stereo. In all honesty, he was pretty smart because adding an aftermarket leather kit is easy because the seats are the only things requiring leather (the doors are already skinned). The stock stereo is completely adequate (no sub) and he'll be adding his own anyways. The stock 16" wheels are ugly and even if he got the stock 17" package, who ends up keeping the wheels stock? He doesn't care about a moonroof and the non-HID headlights visually look like HID headlights and he could always add them later on. So, for about 30K (rims/tires, leather, stereo), Charles will have a completely customized G35. I see that has a fantastic deal. Only downside to the G35? I'm ~.15-.20 and 1-2mph quicker in 1/4 mile (14.6-14.7@96+ vs 14.8-14.9@95+). Of course he's bonestock and I'm not


Dave

 

amen

 

ditto

 

Ok,

But did you read my later post? My 2k2 SE was comparably equipped to your friends G35, except it DID have 17s, Xenon, ABS, and it was $22,400... before TT&L. You just can't beat that with a stick.

 

Not to start anything but take a look around at acura-tl.com or bimmer.org or audiworld (I think that's the handle) Look at all those problems, even though I don't own any of those vehicles well not anymore (BMW) but the other two it makes you want to I almost bought the TL-S. I test drove, picked out the color and everything but the internet and friends helped me make a good financial decision in the end. Besides all its problems I Love the Max too

 

Amen. Here's a thread that sounds like something I've seen here MULTIPLE times in the past couple of weeks. This is from acura-tl.com. And the Acura TL type S is about good $6K more expensive with same options that you can get a Max with.

Bottom line--EVERY SINGLE CAR HAS ITS PROBLEMS! The Max is no different, but for the $ that you pay, IT CANNOT BE BEAT!


Ok, I keep reading all of these negative posts about how people are wishing they wouldn't have bought their TL.
I just bought mine in June 02 (03 Type-S) and already have 8000 miles on it. I have only had some minor issues, but that is normal with any car.




Rear view mirror had defect on glass - yet to be replaced due to lack of time on my part
Wheels out of balance since new
Sunroof squeaks
OEM tires suck
Lockup torque converter is annoying at times
Hard start in cold weather



What should I watch out for? I don't know the build date of my car, I will look later, but it was fresh off the truck on 6/17/02.

I love my car so far. Are there any positive comments from you guys out there?

Just curious. I had a 1999 Accord that never gave me one problem. Then I went to a 2000 F150 4x4 that had a few little things here and there. Now this car.

 

Here's someone talking about TL's sh!tty resale value... And this is Honda's lux car, so you'd figure that it would hold value just like the Accords, but such is not the case.





and one more...
Look, if some of you guys are still not convinced that ALL cars have problems, just go to any forum for an accord, passat, camry, etc, and see if there are NO problems with those cars.

Appreciate and love the Max!!!

 

And finally - here's a post I picked up off the Acura site:

Buh Bye TL Type S
I couldn't take it any more.

Tranny failure at 25K miles, and lots of little rattles. Resell Value is Crap also, and lots of used Tl-S on the market. I'm affraid this will be one of the few Acuras with really really poor resell, with no help from the tranny issue. Who would buy a used car knowing the tranny may fail unless at a big discount?

Tranny started to hint on some more slips again recently, and that was it, as well as by far the worst paint on any new car I've ever had or seen. Chips or scratches just by looking at it! All new car paint is a little thinner than older cars due to epa regulations mostly, but this one is by far worse then the others, rest assured. I have/had other cars made in the past few years, so people saying that all paint is now like that is just making excuses for Acura. Mine still looks good only due to a lot of extra time and $$$.

I wanted to keep this car for 4 years, and only made it to 1yr and 4 months. If it wasn't for the tranny, and how now even 03s are reporting problems, I'd likely still have it. Its also kind of floaty at higher speed lane changes, though Comptech sways and better tires could fix that. I had Comptech Filter, exhaust and headers on this car, was hoping to due some tweaks on handling next.

Hope any people thinking of getting a TL really weigh there options now available. Acura....please wake up, and build at least one affordable RWD car that doesn't fall apart and handles well and set you line more above and beyond Honda.


When I looked around, I saw two other threads on the same page about failing trannys...yikes!!

 

I was just responding because you said NOBODY can get a G35 for less than $30K. Charles got his for $27K.

Would I rather spend $27000 on base cloth outfitted G35 over a $22,400 SE with cloth? Hell ya. I wouldn't even blink. The G35 comes standard with a true 260hp VQ, 5 speed auto, RWD, ABS, 6 disc changer, dynamic stability, IRS, much more solid and refined chassis, better steering and overall handling, better seats, better looking, 03 Car of the Year, and the potential for modifications is heathly (thanks to the 350Z and G35 coupe). The 03 Maxima is nice also, but it's ho-hum in comparison to the G35.



Dave

 

Dave, out of curiousity, how do you know that the G35 has a "true" 260hp VQ?

 

Yea, Dave out of curiosity, a lot of us would like know how you know the G35 has a "tru" 260 hp VQ?

 

Oh God! Here we go...