On the car of course. A GLE passed me the other day and I don't know if it was just the angle or what, but I was like, "...what have I done!!" Just kidding. It's growing on me. It's different. The front makes up for the back I think. I guess you can't have it all.

 

I know what you mean. It does grow on you though. The SE with the larger rims and the spoiler does look much more agressive. I got a ticket (which I will have retracted) for going through EZPASS toll on the GSP and they send you a picture of the rear end of your car as proof. I had to do a double take. Is that my car?? LOL It was a crummy black and white pic, though and it was taken from up above.
Gregg

 

I think the 5th gen looks really good in a Black SE. That makes the taillights look like just circles instead of the clusters. IMHO the clusters don't really mesh with the rest of the car very well. That said, I still want one.

 

Funny...I liked the looks of the rear at first sight (an SE); it was the front that took some getting used to (lights like the Ford Contour?). I do think the SE light treatment is more dramatic and attractive than the GXE/GLE. But I still like the GXE and GLE. I'm just an SE fan at heart! srm

 

I agree with you man!! That's why I got the black-se 2k1 after looking at every other car other than the GXE and GLE, the rounded lights gave me the go-ahead to get my third max, an pass up once the notion of getting that CLK320, at a reasonable price!!!

 

I hated Nissan after seeing the 5th Gen rear for the first time. I couldnt understand why would they even approve this design. I heard that they designer screwed up on another car design in the past. But all in all, it has grown on me.

 

Having to Grow on me, or Getting used to, is like says its FUGLY, but not disgusting. The front, with a body color painted grill and ground effects looks ok, and the rear is kina odd. I borrowed a sterling SE 01 for 2 days, and didn’t like the styling too much. One more reason why I bought its cousin. I love the Max, but its had styling issues ever since after the 3rd gen. The 4th gen rear wasn’t "beautiful" either.

The 2k rear bumper and lights on the GXE, and GLE look like the same combo/designer of the new neon. Style is strictly taste, so these of course are just my opinions.

 

I really had to disagree with Road & Track (I thinnk it was R&T) when they said that the rear end was the ugliest design flaw they had seen on a car. I really really like it. I agree that it looks much better and blends well with the black model SE, but the non-SE models without the rear spoiler does look kinda goofy.

 

I think the rear 3/4 view is the best looking thing i have ever seen. Just look at my sig. The rear of the car is gorgeous i think. ITs the front that could look better but it still looks good. And the styling does grow on your alot. I had 2 women starting at my rear tonight trying to figure out what kind of car it was.( I have no emblems back there) They were arguing about it and one said max and i dont know what the other one says. So when i come out of the store they yell "Whos car is this?!??!" So im like ohhhhh **** what happened to my car. So i walk up and they ask me what kind of car it is and explain their argument. I was so relieved...


Adam

 

My favorite view of the car is the profile, looks decently aggressive to me. As far as the rear, I dig the Superblack SE so thats what I bought.

 

I think the rear end looks tight. It's one of the things that sold me on the Max. I do prefer the SE tail lights to the GLE/GXE coz it's sportier. They look good on any color, but I think the SE tails look best on black, silver, and gray lustre... I love the way it blends on the black and gray, but the way it contrasts on the silver is off the hook too.

I didn't want a car that blends in to the crowd. The front is nothing special and does kinda blend, but the rear and sides definitely stand out and get looks!

 

The rear is not that bad. I park in the same public garage everyday, along with many differently designed cars, and believe me, it's nice to drive a car that differentiates itself from the more typical auto. I agree that the rear looks even sharper with Black paint, but regardless of color, the design helps the max stand out, and that's what has grown on me.

 

I agree with you. The profile looks tight. You get used to the back, especially with the SE tails. At least I have. Actually, it is good that it looks different from a lot of the cars running around today. It makes you stick out a bit more.

 

There rear did look funny at first, but it grew and me. Now, I like the 5th gen's rear out of all the Max's.

These are the two view I like the most:

<img src=http://wwwcsif.cs.ucdavis.edu/~chin/images/Maxima/kit4/4a.jpg>

<img src=http://wwwcsif.cs.ucdavis.edu/~chin/images/Maxima/kit4/6a.jpg>

 

I thought it was just me? I absolutely hate what Nissan did to the back of the Maxima! It has'nt grown on me yet, and probably won't-disgusting. The front works, but the back-I can hardly look at it for long. Glad to know I'm not alone.

 

When I first saw the new max, I thought "what the f#%! have they done?" Then over time it started to look ok and now I kinda of like it (good thing since I now own a max ). I think it looks best on a dark colored SE, because the smoked lens treament blends well. I do think the back end looks a little weird without a spoiler though. my .02

rm

 

But with the Stillen Kit or even the AE, it looks a lot better, I even like it. Let's just say I did not buy my Max because of the Back end styling. IMO The Black is the ONLY car that looks good with the SE taillights (the others look alright) The spoiler is something that I would not pay extra for, the Max looks good with or without it. Over all I like Maxx's rear-end.

Other cars I considered that are FUGLY in one way

Prelude: Hate front end
Celica: Hate Back end
Camry: Hate Front, Back, Sides, It's Fugly
Passat: Hate Back end
Accord: Hate Back end

my $0.02

[Edited by Maxx-s-ter on 01-16-2001 at 10:33 AM]

 

Agreed. The 5th gen definitely needs a spoiler to finish off the look of the tail. Without it, it looks like something's missing.

I'm glad my GXE had one installed.

 

I don't know what my back end looks like... go ask Accord, Jetta and GSR owners!

Bert, 2000 SE manual, white
Montreal, Canada

 

I think the SE rear looks great in darker colors. There's too much contrast with the grey tail light trim in light colored cars. I would have bought a dark SE, after trading in my white '91 SE, but thought a light car was best in Southern California, so I went for the luxury of the GLE.

 

Me three.. no spoiler makes a max look funky.

 

there you go!!!

well, as far as the rear-end goes, i didn't like it that much either.
i especially didn't like the bright red-orange-ish color treatment of my backlights. so i bought a can of candy-apple read spray and sprayed the back lights with it.(leaving out the blinkers and back-up lights of course...)
it looks much better with darker tone red than the stock red.

 

I agree with you guys (and gals) that the rear end at first took a lot of getting used to. For those of you who still think it FUGLY, then why did you buy the car? Talk about the fugliest car around..Pontiac Aztek....ugghhllll

 

<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1377685&a=10279967&p=38251129">

hehehe...

 

Are you asking the question "Does the Maximas back end look better or worse than and Azteks?"

I personally like the smoked tail lights on white (wonder why? :-) ) I think the smoke on black is too dark. (not to mention that I don't really like black)

 

Irvine, those things make me sick

 

Who makes that body kit for the max? I <B>HAVE</B> to get one of those! It's nice and aggressive, not too over the top either.

 

...the award would have to go to the previous generation Acura CL. "CL" defined means "Can't Look" as it applies to the Acura. The maxima rear is tight...

 

the rear end looks really good, then on other days it's like "my god, what was I thinking?" i would not buy a Max without a spoiler, because the car looks plain naked without one!

however, the end looks a lot better than the other generation maximas I saw.

 

I totally agree. I refer to that look as the "butt-crease". They were NASTY.

 

I like the styling in general. I think the back looks better on the SE in black or gray lustre because then the
tail lights look like separate ovals instead of a cluster
like someone else said.

Somone needs to come up with replacement lenses that have
the ovals, but instead of red (GXE/GLE) or dark gray (SE)
surrounds, have the surround area painted to match the
body color.

That would be pretty cool.

 

Yeah it does, I like the how curvy the rear windshield is. Really nice. I do like the front, in sunlight, it shows its muscular arcs and I just love the broad shoulders. I don't understand some people, I DON'T SEE IT? WHATS WRONG WITH BLACK SURROUNDS FOR THE TAILLIGHTS? I think It looks sweet. I think people believe to strongly on magazine results on styling issues and don't have their own opinions. They don't give the car a chance because it looks different! STOP BEING PREJUDICE

 

I think the front and rear of the 2k1 AE in a dark color like the majestic blue look awesome.

front - dark grill looks mean, tinted lights blend into dark grill and dark paint - the lights do not stand out
rear - dark surrounds make the lights look small and stand out nicely

the overall look is smooth and large - especially with the AE trim kit

from many angles the car looks much larger than it is due to the front and rear lights not standing out as much as the non AE editions.

 

The Maxima styling is different -- especially in the back, so chances are people are either going to love it or hate it. Stock, I don't want my car to blend into the crowd. If I did, I'd have gone with the Acura or i30. Don't get me wrong, the i30 and Acuras are good looking cars (esp. the i30), but the Max stands out.

There are some very unconventional styles coming out in new cars. There are always some ppl who hate a new look when it comes out and have to wait for it to take on before they accept it, and there are others who aren't afraid to be the trend setters.

I got my Max in June of '99, so there weren't a lot rolling around L.A. at the time. I had grips of ppl stop me at lights and ask me about my car, and I could hardly go back out to the parking lot without finding someone checking it out. That's not going to happen as often with a conventional-looking car, no matter how nice it looks.

You're either going to love the styling or hate it.. and I'm fine with that. I don't like mediocrity... especially when I'm paying this kind of money!

Love it or hate it, you will notice it.

 

At first I didn't like it. I think it still looks weird on Maximas that are not lowered. after I lowered my car with the H&R springs, the lights fit perfectly with the lowered stance. I hope they keep this look (doubtful) and maybe change the way the bumper looks to help the overall effect of the lights. Like rounding the corners better instead of making them blocky. My friends like the lights, they just don't care for the block edges on an otherwise curvy car.

 

The max rear view has definitely grown on me. If you want to see the truly ugly, look at the back of a Toyota Avalon!
-umpopa

 

I agree with all the guys who said the tail end looks funny... but that it grows on you.

When the new 2000 Maximas came out, I initially thought the backside looked horrible... kind of like a Dodge Neon, as someone mentioned.

But it DOES grow on you. A rear spoiler or aero kit, plus 17" wheels make it look a whole lot better.

I have a Sterling Mist SE. No regrets.

Enjoy your new Maxima! It's certainly not going to be confused with an Accord, Camry, Acura TL, or Passat.

This baby stands out from the crowd.

Cheers!

Maxipad

 

I love how a white Max with the SE tails looks...
When I get a few spare bucks I'm gettin em for my GXE...
I HAAAATE the GXE tails (yuck, red).

 

when i first saw the new max i thought to myself, "what the f*ck did they do?!?!?!" but now I love every angle of the new max..........although i may be just a bit biased

 

This may be a tad ricey just by the use of vinyl, but I saw a guy with a white GXE who had white vinyl cut to cover the clusters other than the actual lights. All that showed were the taillights themselves (the circles). It actually looked really good.