Does anyone else think it sucks? I'm currently renting a Mitsubishi Galant and the steering is sooooooo much better than my '99 maxima. Should it be?

I can barely turn my maxima without hearing the steering pump grinding...

I want more turning radius, is there anything I can do to improve this?

 

I think the turning radius in the Max is fine... it cuts a hell of a lot better than a 95 Pathfinder

 

The annual auto issue of Consumer Reports contains a table of descriptive statistics. It says the turning circle of the 2000 Nissan Maxima is 39 feet and the 2000 Mitsubishi Galant is 40 feet. Maybe the CR data is wrong. Maybe your subjective evaluation is wrong.

All other things being equal, the car with the shortest wheelbase will have the smallest turning circle. However, the Galant's wheelbase is 104 inches and the Maxima's is 108 inches. These numbers indicate that Nissan's designers did a darn good job!

 

The turning radius for a fourth gen Maxima with 15 inch wheels is 34.8 feet which is excellent for a car of the Maxima's size. I personally like the turning radius of the Maxima, I can turn around on my tight street. Now the light steering...

 

Thank you all for the info. Maybe something's up with my power steering pump.

Based on the specs the maxima is not all that bad...

 

Turning radius on a 4th gen is 34.8 feet. Which happens to be the exact same numbers on a new Acura Integra. Pretty amazing since the Integra has a lot shorter wheelbase.

 

I have 96 SE, and I u-turn straight into the second lane.
Compared to the Taurus I drove before, this is really awesome.

 

Now the ML 320 is ridiculous, better not need to make a U-turn or you'll be in trouble.

 

BUT....that 3rd gen SUCKS HARDCORE! I can BARELY make a U-turn on mid-size streets. I can think of me just making a u turn on the street where I work....with no cars on the street. THEN I see this explore 4 door make the same turn with parked cars! YIKES. I DOES suck on the 3rd gens.

 

 

you can make your turning radius smaller if you pull the parking brake and burn some rubber when bustin a U. =) don't hold me to it though.

 

There's nothing I like more than an intelligent statement from a "newbie".