Well i'll be getting a car sometime this summer. And have been thinking about both the 01 Maxima (SE, or GLE), and the BMW 328i. I'm pretty sure i'm going to get biased opinions, but its worth a shot.

I know the 02 Max can take the 328, but can the 01?? The Max has more HP, a couple G's cheaper, less miles, good reliability, and cheaper labor/parts.

Basically- am i making the right choice? Any comments? Thanks for your time. peace

josh

 

It depends on your budget, really. I would not recommend keeping the 328 past 100K miles because of the costly upkeep. If you don't mind paying extra, get a 328...but 01 is also a good choice. Either way you choose is fine.

 

If you have the money... go for the BMW.. Given the choice, I would obviously recommend the maxima. The BMW is more expensive, and honestly, feels a little too small for me (inside).


-Tom


PS. I know that a lot of other maxima owners will tell you all the great things about the Maxima... If you want an honest opinion, though I have to tell you about some of the pitfalls of owning a max.

#1. Squeaks and rattles... for nissan's flagship car, this vehicle has some serious problems in this dept.

#2. Road noise... granted, it's a sports sedan, but the BMW gives a MUCH quieter, and "softer" ride... test drive both before you decide... I personally loved the way my maxima handled, and felt on teh road, but my dad hates it, and prefers his hyundai sonata. (which, quite frankly, drives more like a luxury sedan!)

#3. Paint Chips .... enough said

#4. ****-poor service departments... BMW (from what I have heard) will tread you much better

#5. Potenza Tires blow!!! (i am personally a little biased on this point at this very moment...)


Other than those (minor) issues... it's a great car for the money!!! I am really satisfied with it overall...

 

if you have the money get the bmw, but if your younger and could wait for a bmw, i say go with the max, performance aspect is relitivly the same, bmw will handle MUCH better though, but you can cheaply change that with FSTB, and RSB, and max is cheaper to maintain, so get a max now and in a few years or so, get a 330ci

 

Go with max!

 

it depends... what are your wants/needs?

style (this is opinion), BMW
room, Max
cornering, BMW
straight line, Max
service, BMW unless you get lucky. The dealer near me is good so I guess I got lucky.
price, Max
chick-factor, BMW
reliability, depends on who you talk to. BMW is having a similar paint crisis (according to a friend who owns an M5 and reads their boards). Engines are rock solid but they are having as many "little headaches" as our Nissans are.

I had the same decision (well, 2k2 330 or 2k2 Max) and chose a 2k2 Max. If I had to do it again I'd choose the Max again because interior room was my deciding factor. The 3-series is downright small inside. If I could have talked the wife into letting me get a 5-series then maybe... anyway, it all depends on what you need/want.

Also, MY MAX DOES NOT SQUEEK so don't let people make you believe they all do.

 

Get an '02 Max used.

 

ditto

 

depends, you want a good looking car or not? i've never heard the 328 being described as ugly, can't say the same about the max. even some max owners admit their car is not so beautiful.

 

bmw. the quality is much better.

 

Dear Josh

Test drive a 2001 Maxima, a 2002 Maxima, and the 328.
Drive each one for AT LEAST an hour.

You'll decide to get either a 2002 Maxima or the 328...

you won't want to mess with the 2k1....after feeling the acceleration advantage of the 2k2 and the handling prowess of the 328.

2k2wannabe made some good points,
hope this helps

-vq

 

My ranking would go as follows....

1. Used 02 Maxima (same price as a 328i)
2. 328i
3. 01 Max

But you are getting a great car with any of the above 3.....

 

you sure? I think a 2k2 Maxima can be had for well under $20,000 my folks bought a BRAND NEW 2k2 SE for $22k...and a 328 would go for $20grand ... before I say anymore, I'll go to KBB...

-vq

 

around 6.6 to 6.8 secs 0-60 on manual trannys. My old Gen4 with y-pipe would smoke 328s in a straight line, handling after RSB & other mods still not equal to 328 but close enough so that the driver would be the deciding factor in the twisties.

Gen5 3-liters are supposed to be a few tenths slower 0-60 than the 190 hp Gen4's but I personally dont think so -at least according to my butt dyno so I would expect that again the driver be the deciding factor.

Overall assembly quality is hands-down in favor of the BMW but service on Bimmers is hideously expensive which to me will translate into maybe more 'silly' problems with the Max (rattles, etc) than the Bimmer but overall cost of ownership (once initial depreciation has been factored in) will likely favor the Max.

Last week I rode in a friend's manual xmission E46 325I (the new 3-Series) and was quite frankly not impressed AT ALL. Cramped, rough-riding (it had the Sports package) and slow. Yeah, it's quieter, yeah, the engine sounds nice but for normal driving, being out with the family, etc (where one spends 90% of the time) I'll take my Max any day to the E46.

 

Well thanks alot all of you for the input. So now my choices are 02 Max, and 328i. It seems like a majority would go with the BMW. I have driven both, and power on the Max is definately more than the BMW.

I havent made my decision yet- well i have till this summer for my final decision, but i think im goin to go with the 02 Max. Its a little less than the 328, if not the same. And with the size, it leans me over toward the max. But it handles nothing like the BMW (very sweet handling). Also, the Max's repair/cost isnt as much as BMW, which is a good thing if I buy it.

So do you think i will regret getting the BMW if i got the Max.

Thanks again for your input. Peace

joSh

 

Why are you here?

 

The BMW is a good car but like others have said - the maintenance isn't cheap.

Also, if you decide to do some mods to your car I'm sure they will be more expensive on the BMW.

I personally don't like the ergonomics of a German car so I'd go w/ the Max in a heartbeat - 2k or 2k2.

In my opinion the Maxima is much more car for the buck.

Good luck.........