...but when I saw one in person at work, I kind of liked it. Does the 7th gen looks grow on a person, or is it love it or leave it? Being the orig. owner of a 98, I've been hoping to see Nissan bring back the stick and the 4DSC spirit, and if they wont do RWD, maybe AWD where the torque can be sent to the back....

 

When I saw it on TV I was intrigued...but when I saw it at the dealer I bought it that day.

Meanwhile I had driven 06 GTO, Corvette (08), 08 Trailblazer SS, 08 Acura TL Type S and even an 08 honda accord.

However when I saw the Maxima I thought wow...luxury, sport, quality, and a good price (got 3k plus off sticker). Also the dealership happens to be an AWESOME place thats about 10 minutes away in a very very nice town. Salesman was what I was looking for, no pressure just wanted to make a deal

 

When all the Maxima.org posters studied the newly-released Maxima photos in March, about a third of the posters here liked it. As for me, I wasn't sure. Then I toured the Smyrna factory and attended the Atlanta Auto Show (both in the first week of April), and saw that this was one of those cars that looks far better in person than in photos, and knew I would own one.

Nissan moved the Maxima up to near-luxury and consider it their flagship. RWD is not a possibility, as Infiniti is the RWD division for Nissan Corp sedans. I don't see AWD, as fleet fuel efficiency continues to tighten, and AWD is less fuel-efficient. Another manual Maxima is unlikely, as they were a real loser economically. By the end of 2006, only 2% of Maxima buyers were opting for the manual, and dealers did not want manuals wasting spaces on their lot. The final nail was the redesigned and greatly improved CVT in the '09, which is more efficient than either an automatic or manual in both accelleration and fuel economy.

I remember the glory days of the Maxima. But the world has changed greatly, and so has the Maxima. Not the same car, and not quite filling the same class or slot. But when everything is considered, the Maxima is still one of the more exciting designs in its category, and may now be the best-handling four-door FWD sedan in the world.

 

I just saw a white maxima with the glass/black roof. looks amazing but damn, it costs too much.

 

It really is a fun to own car. Again I drove MANY cars before making the decision, even the C6 Vette, but found the Maxima to be the most fun and exciting for the price (C6 was 46k).

I did look at the G35 series, but I didn't want that whole "luxury name" on my car, I've never gone for that. For any more than 32k I would have likely bought the Vette. At 32k, I feel the Maxima is an awesome car.