I went to the auto show at the Jacob Javits center in NYC yesterday and got some refreshing news. I walked to the Nissan rep who was showing the altima coupe and pretty much asked why the maxima is being treated like crap and is getting nothing new and no redesign like the altima keeps getting. He said Nissan was doing everything for the altima first because they sell around 250,000 altimas a year as opposed to 100,000 maximas a year. So I said that of course they do, why would you buy a maxima when you can get an altima which is nearly the same car for cheaper? Response was that the maxima is more luxury and has more luxury features. He named 3 things, but I only remember the disgusting sky view sunroof. He admitted that Nissan has in fact blurred the line between altima and maxima. I said to him that honestly, unless the new maxima's are awd and have more power, it would be gone. He said, and I quote, "how does 300hp and all-wheel drive sound?" I said that would make people more interestede in the maxima again, their flagship car that should not be forgotten. He said they weren't sure about much yet, but there would be a redesign in 2008 or 2009 and the 300hp and awd...i should expect something like that. So, something hopefully to look forward to...

 

yum....AWD 4.5 gen....mmm

 

...as long as he's not just blowing smoke.

 

oh lord...here we go again.

 

a man can dream can't he?

 

More power and AWD sounds nice, but what's really killing the Maxima is the bloat. I don't see that going away. Plus what's been hindering Nissan's overall sales lately has been gas mileage. More power and AWD can only make things worse for the Maxima, especially since there is no 4-cyl option like in the Altima.

 

They better put a 6 speed MT in it rather than the CVT that is the only option in the new ones.

 

I couldn't agree more! I am seriously disappointed that they have discontinued the 6spd. ------Before we get started, I know that it isn't being reintroduced, so save the drama-----

But that is my one regret, not buying a 6 speed.

 

I wouldn't count on anything til I see the actual prototype car or production car, then I'll see if I would be one in line to buy the next generation Maxima. Right now just too happy with my current 5th gen, but she's on jackstand since the stud are stripped on the rotor, just waiting to get the tax money to pay for it.

 

Trying to think of comparable car... awd sedan w/300hp... I can only think of Audi's A4 line.
Jae

 

AWD, 300HP... CVT. Trust me, it WILL have a CVT and nothing else, so dream no more. Nissan is obviously taking the Maxima towards comfort and AWD seems to be the perfect fit. Sure that'll probably throw it's weight up from 3,400lbs (???) to 3,800-4,000lbs, but it'll be worth it for an unmatched ride of comfort. It'll probably get some minor exterior changes (like the 6.5th gen) and a few more nifty techy goodies and a reason for Nissan to jack the price up again. Sadly, the Maxima will never be like the 5.5th gen which had all the performance, looks and luxury. But the AWD will put it in a category of it's own, that's for sure.

 

It won't be the 'maxima' that most people ON THIS SITE want anyway.....most people in the real world don't care if it's heavy and not as sporty as the older maximas were...

My 4th gen is staying with me for a while....

 

The G35 sedan also comes AWD... If that is true(making a Maxima AWD)Nissan could possibly be looking into using the G35 sedan chasis, and a slightly similar look for the Maxima. That would be cool.. but I highly doubt it. Nissan and Infiniti have really changed a lot as far as appearance. The only car at this point that look similar to each othe is the G and the Z.

 

Yeah, When I read that I thought to myself: "Wait a minute, Nissan already makes a 300 hp AWD automatic car, the G35!"

Of course, AWD G35s average about 18 mpg without "spirited" driving. That and the AWD sedans actually are only available with the 286 hp. And the weigh 3400 lbs, which the maxima already weighs...

This car would be quite the gas guzzler...

 

And the 6th gen doesn't have looks and luxury? It's all a matter of opinion. I have gone up against 5.5 gens and have either held or pulled away from. We have giddy up and luxo. Nissan also gave it a sleek design. Again, it's all a matter of opinion.

I just find it ironic when 5.5 genners think that theirs is the last true Maxima with Luxo, looks and performance. Check out the 6th gens. Unbiasedly, check them out.

Still, this will probably be my last Maxima because of the 6 speed discontinuance.

 

+1 yup!

Info will be kept pretty tight not to interfere with 07 Max sales.

 

I agree with this. No one can argue here that the 6th gen has luxury. As far as sport goes, I've gone up against a few of them myself, and I've never been able to get ahead by more than a car, unless it was from a dig and the 6th gen was an auto. I went against one 6 speed from 0-65, and although I guess technically I won, it was by half a car, and he claims he got a bad launch. Bottom line... I've never been able to leave a 6th gen, auto or 6 speed, in the dust. Maybe I'm not the best driver, but I'm also not the worst. I just happen to like the 5.5 styling better, that's my opinion, that's why I own one. But that's the only reason...

 

Oh yeah, I'm not knocking the 5thgen at all! I really do like them a lot. In fact a few really good friends of mine have them. They are yummy!

On here though, it easily digresses to a "6thgens are slow speech". That or whatever unintelligble conclusion that has been conveyed by someone with minimal objectivity when driving one, and that's if they have even ever driven one.

My .15 cents

 

Awd 5.7 S/c

 

Inflation?

 

No, my opinion is just more expensive. j/k

 

A girl who knows what she's worth. I like!

 

no vq37hr no care, although i would be more likely to buy a new boat if it came with an AWD VQ37HR

 

Transmission. Especially if its your 5-speed auto vs a 4-spd auto. I highly doubt you'll pull away from my 6-speed, or if you have pulled away from any 6-speed 5.5 ever. Put a 6th-gen 6-speed in a 5.5, and you will really see the 200 lb difference show.

 

That would be a VQ37VHR....

 

well whatever you call it, it better come with a prop instead of wheels

 

From the experience I have, nissan reps at car shows don't know very much so how far should we go with what that guy said? think about it.

 

Exactly. They specialize in blowing smoke.

 

Alcantara headliner, Nappa leather Recaro seats, twin-turbo V8, AWD,...

 

Thats what I heard.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Maxima SHOULD be a down-scaled M35 (or 37?) by now. AWD is just extra weight to carry. RWD is what a true sports sedan should be, if Nissan even cares about the Maxima being a four-door-sports-car (remember the 4DSC stickers on the 3rd gen?).

I honestly think Nissan planned on killing the Maxima (as we know it) after the 5th gen. I went to a Nissan market survey in 1998 on the Maxima and they kept asking us what we (all of us recent Maxima SE purchasers) would think if the Maxima came in 4 cyl and 6 cyl versions. We all told them that it would detract from the prestige and exclusivity of the model. I'd like them to go back to the 4DSC theme, but I think they are going more toward Avalon territory. When the new Hyundai flagship comes out (with V6 and V8 options and RWD) I think they will see that they made a poor choice.

 

300hp and AWD? Sweet, the first 5,000-lb Maxima!!!!!

I can't wait

 

They're re-branding the Murano.