I just read in Car and Driver that the 2003 Altima will have a 3.5L V6 option that will have 240 HP ($$$?) (I hope this is all usable HP and not just marketing like I read somewhere about the 5th generations peak HP being beyond the range of the rev limit.) I think they will have to do something with the upcoming Max to keep up. I'm thinking of getting a 2001 or 2002 Max later this year but when I saw that article about the Altima , I had second thoughts. (A Max lover with an Altima - could it be?) I guess we'll just have to wait and see what kind of a boost the Max will get - unless anyone's heard of what's coming up.

Van

 

oh newbie newbie newbie

its the alitma that is here and the Maxima that you have to wait for...

the 2002 altima has 3.5L 240 hp and the 2002 maxima has 3.5L 260 hp (might have a special model with 280 hp)

 

if only it had rwd/awd...

 

SprintMax,

Thanks for clearing that up. My memory is bad. I read the article a whole 12 hours ago. The choice is clearly a no-brainer now. Max to the max. But why do I have to wait for the Max if both 2002's got a horsepower boost? Can't I grab either a 2002 Altima or Max now or when they come out later this year (if they haven't already)?

Van

 

Nissan is being sneaky.. they are waiting for Toyota to make a move.. more than likely the Maxima will be shown in the Late Summer / Early Fall Auto Shows and probably will be available 1 - 2 months after that.. late late late this year...

However someone off the maxima mailling list has already driven the 2002 Maxima

http://microwave.ph.msstate.edu/pipe...ay/027060.html

 

Man, I thought the 2003 Max was getting the HP upgrade along with a redesign? I can't wait till all the talk is over.
Nissan, where is the damn car already? You can't even get spy shots of the thing.

 

why spyshots? it looks like a 5th Gen .. you wouldn't be able to tell teh diff

 

]

I think he's talking about the 2003, when the change the body style with the newer engine.

 

...contrary to Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.

Wait until 2003? I'm assuming from what you've said, you don't have a Maxima. Well, GET ONE. Determine your budget, and get the one that closely matches it (either 4th or 5th gen).

Don't settle for an Altima. The Max is it! The time is NOW.

 

I do have a 96 Auto. I need more POWER. I don't want to do a lot of mods. As a family man I can't justify $3,600 to enhance my engine (which works perfectly fine) with a Supercharger to get that 80 more horses I want. I can, however, more easily justify the expense of a new car, as Max is 5 years old and has 106,000 miles on it. I just need to start over with fresh parts and new technology.

Van

 

The new Altima will be so much like a Gen5 Maxima in size, but with an even more powerful engine. I am not surprised that some of loyal Maxima owners will switch to the Altima.

 

although the altima will have the 3.5L V6 as an option, will the 260HP max be the standard? I would assume the it would be.