What's up my fellow Maxima Freaks. I'm driving my mom's 2000 GLE for this upcoming week. It drives nice and smooth, but my 93SE 5speed feels better. It feels like more car. The GLE suspension is very squishy and mine is stiff. Nissan cheapened some things on the newer Maxima, like no cornering lights, the 3rd Gen has dual maplights, as opposed to one, my 3rd Gen has lights on all four doors, just front on the 5th Gen. Don't get me wrong, it's a really nice car, but I feel like mom driving it. It doesn't turn any heads on the street like mine does. Get no looks man! Well anyway, can't wait to drive my 93SE 5speed with 185k on it again.
Does anyone feel that Nissan cut some things on the Maxima that made it cheaper?

 

for one thing, its a GLE....

 

The 3rd gen is the only whole package maxima.

 

try looking at a fully loaded 2K? with the SE package and the 6 speed manual.

 

my dad had a 2001 se 5spd for a lil while, and i used to drive it around sometimes. i pretty much got the same feeling, while yes it was alot faster than my 91, the acceleration was great, and it had a working clock . it just felt too refined for me, not like the feeling of changing through the gears on a 3rd gen. The ride was much smoother, you didnt feel the turns and the road as much. All in all nice, but i would take the 3rd gen anyday

 

i think that's the same way with the 4th gens. i rode in one with my mom and it just didn't feel as good as the 3rd gen.

 

My 3rd gen handles and brakes better than my 2K3, but my 2K3 is bone stock and my 3rd gen is completely modded. 3rg gen rear suspension is better and I still love the exterior shape, but otherwise it has far fewer features and creature comforts than the 2K3. The 5th gens are a true luxury/sport sedan. My 5th gen is also a VQ35 6 speed compared to a VE30 auto. The 3rd gen has absolutely nothing, even fully modded, for my 2K3 in a straight line bone stock. Simple evolution.

 

i dunno, I like driving my dads 2000 se 5spd around alot. stock for stock, the 5th gen owns my 3rd gen, but also account for age.

maxmizd27, i sent you a pm awhile ago, did you get it?

 

Just noticed it. Haven't even posted for a long while. Actually, I'm planning on keeping the 3rd gen intact for as long as it lasts without any major problems. The 2K3 is now the fairweather car. The only way that I would part anything out of it is if it gets smashed or the tranny goes again. It's showing days are over though. :--(

 

For me, I can feel a big difference. My 2003 is way better. I remember when it was brand new and it was never as good as my 2003. My 2003 is a lot smoother, has better styling , comfort, and of course power. The VQ35DE is also a great engine. And I haven't heard of major problems with it, while my 1993 has injector problems, and the VTC problem.

 

I had an injector failure on my 3rd gen back in the winter. The other 5 oughta be replaced too. I still love my '94 though. I've had it so long and spent so much time and pesos on it that I couldn't imagine it not being around no matter what my other car was.

 

I was just saying that Nissan took away alot of the little things that you notice and miss in the 4th Gen and up. Whoever said that the 3rd Gen was the only full package Maxima, I think was right. My mom's GLE definitely has more power, but I still think the 3rd Gen just looks more aggressive and sporty. The moonroof in my 93 is also bigger! Maybe there would be a better feel if it was a SE rather than the squishy GLE.

 

the 3rd gen has independent rear suspension...the 4th and the 5th dont for some reason...that makes a big difference in how they handle. 3rd gen would be my pick...until i get enough money to buy a 5th gen