Hello everybody! I am finally home from a 9 month deployment, and now I have the money to get a new car. Ive wanted a max for a while now, but there are a couple other cars that ive been thinking of getting as well. I think its come down to 2 cars. A 4th gen max or a 2nd gen eclipse gsx. I'm having a hard time deciding what one to purchase. Ive had a hard time finding a 5-speed max and it seems that the eclipse it a little easier to come by. I think they are about the same performance wise so the choice is a tuff one. Plese help me out.

 

gee u posted on MAXIMA.ORG to ask MAXIMA owners if u should buy an eclipse or MAIXMA? well i think u know my anweser

 

Well I was hoping that there would be some people that were open minded to the subject.

I agree the max is a sweet a$$ car, but they are harder then hell to find where I live in a 5-speed. There is no way im buying an auto!! So maybe my question should be to hold out for a 5-speed max or go with the eclipse.

 

again

 

the eclipse will have more potential, as all forced induction cars have...
but from what i hear, the eclipse is prone to problems??

depends what you're looking for...
eclipse is on the sporty/racing side....maxima is more luxurious

 

if you want something that is reliable and practical and still fun to drive get the max. if you want something thats fun and fast go for the eclispe. is the car gunna be a daily driver or just a toy? if your lookin for a car to do performance mods and dont mind doin the maintenence and spendin money to u should go with the eclispe. everyone i talk to always has some type of trouble with the dsm's. also findin what u want in a gsx might not be that easy to do. i have a friend tryin to find the gsx in the color and such he wants and hes been lookin for almost a yr, and works for a car dealer. either way enjoy and good luck on the new car

 

Nissan builds stronger motors than Mitsu. It will last you longer. I've had few friends that went through 2nd gen Eclipses and they didn't keep it very long. I don't know about it in stock form but if you're planning to upgrade, it might drain your wallet very fast. As for Maxima, this is the first four door I've owned and I admire Nissans. I've had a 96 240SX before i got the Maxima and i fell in love with it. It drove like a dream. Unfortunately, the dream went up in smoke when a careless driver wrecked my 240SX. So when it came to get a new car, i wanted a bigger car with performance, Maxima. If you want a smaller 2-door, why not consider 240SX? KA24DE motor is very strong. And if you got some cash, you can always drop in a SR20DET.

 

Thanks for all the quick replies!! Yes this will be a daily driver and also a car that im going to slowly mod. I have herd about the reliability issues with the dsm's and I havent herd to many problems with the Max. I dont know, did you all have any other choice of cars you factored out when purchasing your Maxima's?

 

For me, i had to get a 4 door due to high insurance. And I wanted a 5speed also. My options were Accord, Camry, and Maxima. (Well, there are those American junks and i couldn't afford Germans.) All three were fairly easy to find in 5speed, and after 2 monthes of searching for the right car, i stumbled on this 97 Maxima SE. As for the reliability, i got 160000 miles on and it still pulls strong. I just smoked a 2000 accord the other day. (Camry drivers don't seem to race.)

 

Here are my choices

I didn't buy a car yet, but i am going with maxima 99%

 

considering the max will last you longer, you'll have more time to save up for that 5-speed conversion........

 

Man, i can definately tell you FROM experiance, DO NOT get a DSM if you plan on modding it, hell, even if you dont plan on modding it. Do you see alllll those DSMs for sale in your area?? Yeah, best bet, all those owners are trying to get rid of those POS. Sorry, but i had a bad experiance with a Gen1 Eclipse GS Turbo (pretty much the same, actually a Gen1 motor is stronger and faster than a Gen2) and my friend has gone through about 4K+ so far in repairs/mods. His is also a Gen1 (Eagle Talon TSi), but like i said, same thing.


Now, as for asking us if you should get a GSX or Maxima, umm, try out the Maxima, i gaurantee you it will treat you better.

Also, need i remind you the VQ has been a worlds best engine for so many years now

Eric

 

I am lucky in that I have both cars...well the wifes is one, But in all honestly, I have to say that I love the maxima, she allways starts, shes great to drive and I have never had a problem with her, granted that mods are harder to find, but it all comes down to what you want the car for, if your looking to have fun and drive on long trips day in day out, go for the max, if your looking to have faster fun and are handly in the shop, go for the other....at the end of the day your the one sat in that seat.......I just hope that thiers a little Nissan sigin on the wheel in front of you

 

if you don't mnd rebuilding your engine every 70,000 miles

 

If you have a lot of freinds get the Max. If not get the Eclipse. if you wanna go fast stock, get the Max, if you dont get the Eclipse. Although you can do a lot more to the eclipse its not very original, every one has one. Anyways i always see chicks driving it. The car cranks at about 80000 miles because of some stupid problem Mitsubishi failed to recognise. The turbo breaks down at about every 18thou miles and the 4-wheel drive isint true. but the Maxima has some problems too. if you floor it o much the check engine light comes on for no apparent reason and it also guzzles gas. Both cars require Premium Gas to keep the Injectors happy and healthy so it all depends on your tastes.

 

i don't agree with that 100%. i've never had a cel from rompin the gas. guzzling gas maybe. and what do you mean by awd isn't true?

 

This is an easy one, get the Eclipse! you can spend the rest of the money getting stickers and rice that out, u can get all the females, and get alot of people that'll hang with you because your car looks dope!

On a more serious note, Eclipses are considered rice to alot of people, and have numerous problems. My dad has had his 97 GXE for like 5 years now and no problems wat so ever. 115k miles and still running like new. And the aftermarket parts for maximas are increasing. Just a couple months ago, my friend got laughed at for trying to tune his max. Now the same people that laughed at him carry many parts for it. I mean is it that hard??? NISSAN vs. Mitsu.

 

go for the Maxima seriously- the DSMs are prone to problems and if you want a daily driver- it better be reliable

if you go DSM avoid the GSX especially... they are nightmares with countless tranny and differential problems... the rest of them are prone to all sorts of problems, but not usualy as expensive as the GsXs- all mitsus have crappy trannys... remember that haha

go Maxima hold out for a 5spd seriously

 

get a 2.5RS......lots of potential

 

Rs stands for Real Slow

 

http://www.vividracing.com/prod_turbokits.php

 

u saw what happened to the eclipse on the fast and furious LOL. maxima would be more practical, reliable. and you dont get as many cops on ur butt. I would choose the max.

 

Well thanks for the advise guys! I have decided to go with the maxima. I just called around today and there are a few around here. Im about to go into town and look for one. If im willing to travel all the way down to southern Cali. ( I live in OR.) then I could get a 99 Black SE-L 5-Speed with Black leather for 15500. Im going to try a little closer to home first. Thanks again guys!!

 

depending on the miles.....jump on it. I wish i could've gotten the se-l w/leather and sunroof and keyless entry. Instead i've got the stripped down version, with none of that cool ****.

 

Well I figured I better tell you guys what I decided to do. I actually decided on a Black 2000 Celica GT-S 6-Speed. Im going to go and pick it up Sat. Thanks for all the help. Ive wanted a max for so long it seems I forgot how much I like the new Celica's. Plus the insurance is actually cheaper! Anyway thanks all, maybe ill see you on the road

 

You bought a YOTA?????? man that's not what we talked about.
that's too bad. i smoke them celica's all day long, buddy. lotta girls at my highschool had them. you'll regret it

 

lol, i guess if thats what you want, more power to you. The "yota" as paonessa referred to them are mostly driven by girls at my school. That along with V-6 mustangs. But hey, if thats what you want, go for it.

Dont let me catch you at a redlight though

 

LOL a YOTA? I considered that before I bought my Maxima, but the insurance here in NY is too expensive. I've been drooling for a Maxima for that last year and a half, and I finally got it. Now it's time to Mod.

 

I was thinking on buying a Civic SI before I test drove my 97 SE. Man I am sooo happy with my maxima that I wouln't change it for any other car except for a newer Max or a ferrari.
And if you are looking for a big screen TV get the Mitsubishi they kick a$$

 

i test drove a 94 prelude 5 speed and a 96 3000gt 5 speed and then my 95 se. the maxima was all around better IMO. the 3000gt was alright

 

IF you're going to get a GSX get the 1st gen. They can be tuned and built with minimal spending money. They are the easiest thing to mod ever for cheap. Plus their engines are stronger than the 2nd gen (I think). I've raced 2 of them before. One I think was just stock, we we're pretty even but I had the upper hand a little. The other one kicked my butt. It really didn't look like I was racing. It was that fast.

 

Yeah I figured that you would all give me crap about my decision

Its all good though. I did test drive a 98 SE 5-speed and a 2000 Celica GT-S, I also test drove the GT modle. The GT isnt much to talk about but the GT-S is pretty bad ***. You gotta rev it a bit, but the stock 1/4 time is a 15.2 and thats totally close to a stock Maxima.

I guess my final decision was it just "feels" sportier. I love the max and its a great car. But shifting that 6-Speed transmission at 8 grand was fun as hell!!!

 

That car will probably be harder to mod though...

But is all that shifting at 8 grand to get any power ALWAYS fun??

Nah, theres no replacement for displacement baby!!

Eric

 

not to mention there are rumors that TRD(toyota race development) is going under.

 

Yeah ive been hearing that, but i think its Toyotas own fault, in an article i read, Toyota doesnt notify TRD of any future plans or upcoming cars (like ford and SVT). So i think if TRD goes down, Toyotas to blame...

Also, WTF is with Scion?? stupid *** decision by toyota if you ask me, only old people will buy them... , defeats the purpose, no?

 

there were only 2 toyota's i ever really liked. the supra(obviously) and the Gt-Four celica. that's what luvin it shoulda got. AWD, turbo and not a mitsubishi (best of all). All the new Yota's are crappy but the lexus' are the way to go

 

buy mine

 

have you test driven any maxes? you can shift at 3500 RPMs and get moving pretty quick, or shift at 6500 and haul a$$

 

The Celica 6 speed can be pretty fast if driven right. You should check out www.newcelica.org. It is a great website for the celica. Have fun with your new car.

 

Hey thanks all, I just got back from town with my new 2000 celica 6-speed. Its alot different then a maxima thats for sure, but its just as fast! See you all on the streets!