I did it i traded in my max for the 2002 altima.

 

But why????????????????

 

i am considering to do the same thing for 2002 altima 3.5 se fully loaded with all possible options. but do not know how much dealer will give me for my 1997 gle with 43k miles. pristine condition.

 

But why?????????????

 

If I had the money, I would do it too. New car rates are excellent right now, some dealerships are offering 0% financing for the entire life of the loan. They just want to move cars off the lot any way they can. If you don't mind my asking, can you tell me what you paid, after taxes, and all?

 

The main reason is 240HP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Second at all it looks HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

New Maxima has 255hp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Second, new Maxima looks hotter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

New maxima 2002 costs more then Altima and some of us cannot afford it. Also it looks too fancy, and I like midsize sporty cars.

 

Ha ha, too fancy? Ive never heard that one before. I guess you mean too luxurious, and you want a more sporty car. Oh well, not the road I would have taken.

 

Exactly luxurious look and features, also from my experience those stuff have a high rate to fail down the road. So i am better off with Altima 3.5 se fully loaded such as leather, sunroof, bose, abs and traction control, ebs, Dealer quotes for that car around 28-29k, its like 1500 over invoice.

 

i'd still rather have a lower end Max. for 30k? you could probably get a decent max for that. i'm not sure how much they run nowadays. as for things breaking down the road of time, in addition to my bro's 4th gen plus my 4th gen, we also have a 1984 max wagon (1st gen!), and everything still works perfect in it. a/c, power windows, power steering, ya, it all still works.

 

look what it could look like, with 20's and dropped though

 

I really like the Altima. If they didn't have '02 maxima, the Altima could easily serve as an all new maxima. I don't think you can go wrong with it.

However, trading in a 97Max, a great car in it's own right, is questionable I think. Certainly, if you've got the MOnay then do it, but there will always be the "latest, greatest" cars being churned out and you are much better off enjoying your 97 for what it is. When Infiniti's G35 comes out, look out!

 

Save the money for the new Max. 255hp!!!!!

 

The thing I find odd, I went to the dealership the day I saw a new altima sitting there. so as I am checking out the specs, I see fully loaded altima for liek 28 grand or so, and right next to me is an 02 maxima fully loaded for less then 28, I think it was around 27. Now, I really like the new altima, but I also love my maxima too much to let it go and considering the fact that I just picked it up a week ago makes it even harder if I were to ever give it up. All and all, I think the new altimas is a nice car but Ive noticed many guys buy them for their daughters for their 16th birthday...

 

Why not shave the Altima badge and slap on a Maxima. Problem solved.


Miguel

 

Those are the stock 17's with a lot of body right....right?

 

I have to admit that I like the new Altima. I test drove the 2.5 Altima, unfortunetly that was all the had with a 5spd, anyways, it felt pretty peppy, but definetly nowhere near Maxima performance. I'm not going to be looking to buy a new car for another three or four years, hopefully by then the new maxima should be out. If its not to my liking, then It will definetly be an Infiniti G35

 

Well guys here are the reasons I would choose a '02 Altime over '02 Maxima.

1. Altima handles better then the Max.
2. Altima costs a little less. (I think)
3. Both Altima and Maxima have about the same acceleration.

I just wish that new Altimas had a little better interior materials.

 

A fully loaded 02 max list at $32,000, not $28,000. Check nissandriven if you don't believe me.

 

I'm hearing people getting fully loaded maximas (with the heated steering wheel!!!) for much cheaper than altimas are going for. the prices are very very close...

 

I've always been of the mindset to buy a year or two older and get the manufacturer's top of the line model for the same money. The new Altima is a big improvement and looks really cool but it still can't shake that boring mid-sized sedan stigma to me. For 28k I'd rather have a european touch of luxury with an older A4, but that's just me. Besides, I love the legroom in my max.

 

New max cost less than the Altima.. next question

 

lets hear them

the Altima handles better than the maxima on a bumpy surface.. you get the max and the altima on a road flat road... around corners the maxima will own the altima.. the rear beam actually helps the car corner better because the rear end is more stable.. don't argue with me.. i am right

Maxima cost less than the Altima

wrong.. the maxima has better acceleration and will be 10 times better when the LSD comes out..

i agree

 

Ok, I had my Max in for new belts and antifreeze so looked at the Altima. They didn't have the V6 5spd But I did drive the 4cyl auto. Like the body. Thought that the interior was not made of the best materials nor was it screwed together as well as my Max. Biggest complaint is the instrument panel. I love the look of my 97 Max SE 5spd. Great instruments, large, easy to read at a glance and to get "trend" information. I absolutely hate the three hole design panel that the Altima has. Anybody else dislike this or am I the only one. Older Acura Legends have great instrument panels, Hondas have great instrument panels. Think Nissan goofed on this one.

Cheers

 

altima is okay.. but its heritage is not so good. incessant reminder of ugly butted slow mundane 92-01 altimas ruin the name. they shoulda renamed the car. maxima is still as good as the name indicates.

 

I definitely like the dash of the Max, but if you are talking quality, I dare you to show me a Max that didn't start to rattle and sqeek after 3-5 years. From the dash, the pillars, the door panels... My Mom's 8 year old corolla has much less noise. That my friends is not quality... even if it looks nice.

 

You got any pics of it yet?

 

Yes, I'm getting this strange rattling somewhere out of the dash in the max--can't figure out what it is...and my 98 Volvo S70's sunroof is also driving me crazy. I think most all cars rattle as they age...

 

Interior in the new Altima is flimsy. The leather package is the way to go. The 2.5 5spd isn't too bad performancewise and the 3.5 auto isn't too bad either. Although, I think Nissan should've developed a 5spd auto for it. I have yet to test drive a 3.5 5spd and that should be an interesting machine. I'm trying to get a good deal for my Dad because he wants to get one for my younger brother. We've got 4 Nissans and purchased all of them from the same dealership. So, i'm hoping for a huge customer loyalty discount deducted from the invoice.

 

Well I've heard the Altima's handling is not that good. I dunno fo rsure though

Also Motorweek I think timed it at:

0-60 5.9

1/4mi 14.4

This is from another source so be sure to verify on your own..

-John M

 

Nissan brochure claims 0-60mph of 6.28 seconds for a 5sp v6. Faster than stock 4th/5th gen Max...

 

I'd easily take the 2002 Altima over any current Maxima. Period. The Altima has far better looks (especially from the A-pillar back), fully independant suspension, lower price, dual exhaust (fake, but looks good), and a better looking interior. The 5th gen Maxima's styling is too bulky and odd.

I don't get where people are saying the Altimas are more expensive than the Maximas. I went and looked at a 3.5 SE Altima yesterday and right next to it was a loaded 2002 Maxima SE. Both cars were equally optioned out with autos, HIDs, leather, blah blah blah. The Maxima was $30600 and the Altima was $28400. When did a 28K Altima become more expensive then a 30K Maxima? I guess I don't understand the math. I can only assume a 5 speed Altima SE will be ~$26500 which is a bargain considering the list price for my Maxima back in 1996 was $24800 without leather, climate control or ABS. The Altima will most likely be my next car. I found nothing cheap about the Altimas interior. I seemed to be the same materials as used in the 5th gen Maxima.


Dave

 

I think the only "smooth" surface you will find where the Maxima has the potential of ourperforming the Altima handlingwise is on a track or parking lot. In the real world, that rear beam hops all over the place(happens to me all the time), and ruins the ride quality when cornering hard.

Where did you get that the Max costs less than the Altima. Check Edmunds.com if you want to see the prices. While a Max GXE may cost less than the Altima SE 3.5, it doesn't have as many features.

*Maybe* with the 6-spd manual, the Maxima will accelerate better than a 5-spd 3.5SE Altima. But knowing Nissan and the new cable linkage of the 6-spd, the shift feel will be vague. I've read tests of the SE-R V-spec, and all I hear is complaints about how the cable shifter has long, imprecise throws.

 

OMG you are going to have a hard time making people believe a solid rear end is better than independant suspension. No way, no how. There was no advantage to switching to the solid beam rear axle for the 4th gen except to cut production costs.

Don't argue with me, I am right...

We can't go by NissanDriven or Edmunds. The fact is dealers are asking more for Altimas than Maximas right now. Why? Because everyone wants an Altima! They can't build them fast enough. In fact, Nissan fully expects the Altima to take market share away from the Maxima. After all, it's a direct competiter to the Camry.