It seems like my requirements are not that unusual: 4 doors, a V6, and a stick shift! How hard should that be to find.

Obviously the Maxima fits the bill. I was looking probably around '95 to '00 year. Not really finding much around Rochester, NY. I did get hold of one - but it was beat to death cosmetically which made me question if the engine was also beat to death and I just didn't know it.

Any suggestions for how to tell if a Maxima has been "driven too hard"?

And while I am primarily stuck on the Maxima, does anyone have any suggestions for what other cars might fit the bill? (For around the same $$.) Getting the info has been tough, but I keep coming up with the same answer: The V6 is usually tied to either 2 doors, or an auto.

(Unfortunately, the Beemers and other fancy jobs are probably going beyond my price comfort zone.)

BTW - the FAQs and info on this site have been excellent.

--Brian

 

Good louch finding other options. Back in '01 I wanted a new car with a stick and the other things you said...liked the style of the TL, but alas no manual tranny...ended up with the Max. Just curious to help out your search, what price range you trying to stay within?

 

IMO your just not looking hard enough. How about on the classifieds page on this website. Howabout ebay or autotrader? How you conducted a search on autotrader?

 

did u try ebay? there's this one you might be interested in.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=293451

 

Try autotrader.com

 

Not a hard limit, but I start getting cranky at spending more than about $11K if I am looking at a '99 or '00. I am closer to the $6K mark if we are talking something as old as a '95. If I had more confidence in how many years/miles I would get out of the car I would be more flexible. I am sure a well maintained Nissan/Honda/Toyota will live to 200K miles and about 12ish years - but buying used I don't know if it was well maintained.

 

try autotrader.com and call on the ones nearby you even if they don't list transmission type. I was in the same boat as you were when I was looking for mine, not finding any 5spds near me. then my brother actually called on one he saw online that was just a dinky little ad, didn't list transmission, options, or anything. i had seen the ad but passed over it assuming it was an auto because usually its listed if they are 5spd. turns out it was a 5spd about 45 mins away from me. i went and checked it out and bought it a few days later.

 

I should have mentioned: I am a wuss about spending big bucks on ebay or any type of auction.

I was hoping to find something close enough that I could easily go test drive; think about it; have my local mechanic check it out; etc. I haven't ever had a Maxima and I want to take a few drives to make sure it really is what I want.

BTW - I wasn't looking hard enough. Can't believe I forgot AutoTrader.com! I was checking cars.com (seems to cover the local newspaper classifieds) and then dealerships in the area. Quick look on Autotrader showed me possibly a couple options.

Still wonder if there are other makes that fit the need - but I doubt it.

 

Thanks - I'll try that.

By the way - Anyone know if the GLE / GXE / SE text is labeled on car anywhere? One car I saw claimed to be a '97 GLE, but was a stick. I thought all GLE's were Auto. Didn't have a GLE badge anywhere, which made me question if it had been crunched up in the past and after a repaint it lost the GLE badge?

I am not too hung up on which series I buy - other than I would prefer the suspension and larger wheels of the SE. Not a deal-breaker either way (or should it be?).

 

A 5spd max is hard to find but they are out there. do a auto trader search for up to however many miles and all years in 5spd. You cant just give up and settle for less!!!!!!!!!! My brother found a 2001 5spd, leather and all under 50k for $14,000 back in january

 

i gettin my first car maybe by the end of next week...my dad found a 01 maxima se,in the korean newspaper(im korean^^) 5 spd blk with blk cloth interior, tinted window, he got all the options, & new tires for 11,500...it has almost 60k...its so cheap. the parents r sellin there sons car, cuz he had to go to iraq.

 

my boy just told me his wife was looking for a new ride. she currently has a 98 max se 62,000 miles five speed cloth interior, and gray. very
very mint, i test drove it and it felt like brand new. second gear chirped in like a champ. she brought it brand new, and it still looks brand new.
she's a church going lady, and if shes ever did over 60 that would be amazing. my boys trying to talk her into a b.m.w. cause thats what he calls a real car. but if your interested by then,in a couple of weeks i will let you know the going price, when they tell me....

 

I was in your same boat looking for a 5spd, V6 sedan. There are precious few options. Keep looking for a maxima and follow everyone else's suggestions... eventually you'll find one and you'll be glad you waited

 

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...or=&cardist=62


http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/r...used&x=24&y=13

 

The 4 door, V6, 5 speed combo is definitely hard to find. I just got my 92 Maxima SE before the weekend, so I'm pretty new around hear, brand new in fact, and I know what you mean, that they're hard to find. Mine was purely a coinsidence, I was cruising the buy & sell, and happened to see it.

Another car I would search for that meets these requirements, would be a Ford Taurus SHO. Unfortunately they're probably as rare, or even rarer than a 5 speed Maxima. 1993-1995 models had a 3.0L V6, built by Yamaha with 220hp, and about 200lb-ft of torque. Performance is great, 0-60 in 6.5-6.7 seconds with a low 15 quarter mile. 96-99 models have a V8, but no 5 speed so you probably don't want to go there. My Dad owns a 94 SHO 5 speed, it's a great car, I've driven it quite a bit, and I'd personally think it would fit your bill. Next to that, there really isn't anything out there right now, or at least anything with the performance you probably want.

But really, if a Maxima is what you want, hold out as long as you can, and find what you're really looking for. If you compromise, you'll only kick yourself later.

Good luck.

 

I definitely 2nd the autotrader online suggestion. That is where I found my car.

 

heck yea another VE 5speed, welcome, try not to get the mod bug we all have it and we are broke now cause of it, but damn my cars fast.... !

 

get a civic

 

Well I don't have the mod bug yet, but I just got the car so we'll see. Of course, I had the car one day when I decided to put in my cd changer...so it has to start somewhere, right?

Anyhow, it seems fast enough as it is for now. I love the limited slip too, man, there was some rain on Sunday when I was out, slipped the tires a bit a couple times, and it just tracked so nice. For the short term I might get a K&N, maybe try and make the exhaust sound a little more exhaust sounding...but not rice, it's kinda quiet though. I want to do a synthetic oil change soon as well. It sounds cool after about 4000rpm, very racy

I made a mistake with the Taurus SHO, 1992-1995 are the gen 2s, and they have a 5 speed or auto, but 1992 is all 5 speed. 1989-1991 are all 5 speeds. I guess you could also consider an SVT Contour if you could find a nice one. There was a 98 here in Vancouver for sale for about $14,900 (that's Canadian $)...but that was at Brown Bros. Ford...not going to get a deal there.