Yes,
I've held on as long as I can and I think, well... I WANT TO BE A 5 GEN GUY!! There, I said it. I'm openly risking being shunned by not only my BMW friends (I've endured that for years), but now my new 3rd gen friends, too.

So, here's my request: What am I up for on these cars of 2000 to 2003 vintage? I want a 5 spd. Or do I? They are not common in NC. I'm not going to do more than a few susp. mods. I'm not racing it. I hear HORROR stories from mechanics about COIL PACKS in these years ( as well as mechs not diagnosing o2 sensors / cat. conv's. accurately=$$$. I hear "stick with the 3.0 if you want low cost of ownership over horsepower of the 3.5" (which I do. as my 3rd gen has cost me only $350/yr roughly since '98). What's a poor 3rd genner to believe? Don't make me start shopping for another "grama's 3rd gen... $1200" I'm getting excited about moving up!!

So, any thoughts, gurus?

 

I love my 2000 to death, shes my baby and my first car....there will never be another girl like her....that being said I would absolutely in a heartbeat pick up a 5.5 gen (2002 or 2003 preferably 03). sure the VQ35 burns oil but hey whats a quart of mobil 1 everyonce and a while (2-4 weeks from what ive heard). cant argue with the extra hp and 6 speed gear box and if youre lucky a HLSD. All that being said regardless of what year you get, a 5th gen will catapult you up in the world haha my 2000 has leather, a sunroof a bose system (the better of which has been replaced with aftermarket) and enough horsepower to get her into the 140 mph range.

 

Please see this thread. It covers everything related to buying a 5th gen.

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...info-here.html