Sorry, i know these types of posts & Qs get asked a lot. I did a search and found some good info, but a lot of people seem to get carried away with looks, styling, etc... My focus is a bit different. I want reliability. Fuel economy would be nice too, so I could care less about performance as I found the stock V5 good enough on power. I'd also like some luxuries like sunroof, heated seats and maybe better stereo (like Bose??). I don't need a kick-azz boombox. MAINLY... reliability, ease to work on, cost to work on., etc..

By fluke, i bought my friends 1994 3rd gen a few years ago (I knew nothing about Maximas at the time). I was surprised. I really liked the car and how it drove, handled, but it went through 2 auto trannies in 120K miles. Also, the fuel filler neck was a dangerous disaster. Those were my only complaints, otherwise loved the car. I thought I read on these forums that the auto tranny got better in 4th gen up. True?

So now I'm looking in the price range of a 4th or 5th gen Maxima or Infiniti. They all seem pretty loaded with options and I see many with the few extras I'd like.

So is there much difference mechanically between Maxima & Infiniti in these 4th & 5th gens? Any huge warning bells/red lights I should be aware of?

I have a 2000 Camry right now, 3.0L, and it runs perfect, but surprisingly plain.

thanks for your feedback

 

I followed you til the end, but never heard of a Camry bein plain

 

get a TRD lip kit for your camry

 

4th Gen Base:

Standard Features

• Bucket Seats
• Center Console
• Lighted Entry System
• Power Brakes
• Rear Window Defroster
• Tinted Glass
• 15 Inch Wheels
• 3.0L V6 DOHC 24V FI Engine
• Regular Unleaded Fuel Required
• 5-Speed Manual Transmission
• Tachometer
• Driver and Passenger Front Airbags

• Cloth Seating
• Cruise Control
• Power Steering
• Remote Trunk Release
• Tilt Steering Wheel
• Air Conditioning
• Intermittent Windshield Wipers
• Power Windows
• Power Door Locks
• Power Exterior Mirrors
• AM/FM/Cassette Audio System

Available Optional Features

Optional

• Keyless Entry System
• Power Antenna
• Power Moonroof
• Anti-Theft Alarm System

• Alloy Wheels
• Leather Seating
• Power Driver's Seat
• AM/FM/Cassette/CD Audio System

5th Gen Base:

Specifications

Exterior

• Width: 69.7 in.
• Height: 55.7 in.
• Length: 189.4 in.

• Curb weight: 3014 lbs.
• Wheel base: 106.3 in.

Interior

• Rear hip Room: 55.9 in.
• Rear head room: 37.4 in.

• Rear leg room: 34.3 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 56.2 in.

Performance

• Base engine type: gas
• Horsepower: 190 hp @ 5600 rpm

• Torque: 205 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpm
• Turning circle: 34.8 ft.

Fuel

• Fuel type: gas
• Fuel type: regular unleaded
• Fuel tank capacity: 18.5 gal.

• Range in miles (cty/hwy): 351.5/444.0 mi.
• EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 19/24 mpg

Exterior Measurements

WIDTH5 ft. 10.3 in. (70.3 in.)HEIGHT4 ft. 8.5 in. (56.5 in.)LENGTH15 ft. 10.5 in. (190.5 in.)WHEEL BASE9 ft. 0.3 in. (108.3 in.)
Interior Measurements

FRONT HEAD ROOM 40.5 in.FRONT HIP ROOM 55.3 in.FRONT LEG ROOM 44.8 in.FRONT SHOULDER ROOM 56.9 in.REAR HIP ROOM 53.7 in.REAR HEAD ROOM 37.4 in.REAR LEG ROOM 36.2 in.REAR SHOULDER ROOM 56.2 in.
Fuel

ENGINE TYPE GasFUEL TYPE Premium unleaded (required)FUEL TANK CAPACITY 18.5 gal.RANGE IN MILES (CTY/HWY) 351.5/462.5 mi.EPA MILEAGE EST. (CTY/HWY) 19/25 mpg
DriveTrain

DRIVE TYPE Front wheel driveTRANSMISSION 5-speed manual
Engine & Performance

BASE ENGINE SIZE 3.0 LCAM TYPE Double overhead cam (DOHC)CYLINDERS V6VALVES 24TORQUE 217 ft-lbs. @ 4000 rpmHORSEPOWER 222 hp @ 6400 rpm
Suspension

• Front independent suspension

Warranty

BASIC 3 yr./ 36000 mi.DRIVETRAIN 5 yr./ 60000 mi.ROADSIDE 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Features

Interior Features


Front Seats

• Velour

• Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

• Split-folding rear seatback

• Folding center armrest

Power Features

• Remote power door locks

• Power mirrors

Instrumentation

• Clock

• Tachometer

Convenience

• Cruise control

• Front and rear cupholders

• Front and rear door pockets

• Remote trunk release

• 12V front and 12V rear power outlet(s)

• Tilt-adjustable steering wheel

Comfort

• Air conditioning

• Front reading lights

• Dual illuminating vanity mirrors

In Car Entertainment

• 4 total speakers

• 60 watts stereo output

• AM/FM stereo

Exterior Features


Roof and Glass

• Intermittent wipers

• Rear defogger

Tires and Wheels

• Steel wheels

• 15 x 6.0 in. wheels

• P205/65R H tires

• All season tires

• Full wheel covers

Safety Features

• 4-wheel ABS

• Child seat anchors

• Anti-theft alarm system

• Ventilated front disc / solid rear disc brakes

• Rear door child safety locks

• Engine immobilizer

• Rear center 3-point belt

• Front and rear seatbelt pretensioners

• Electronic brakeforce distribution

• Emergency interior trunk release

These are just the base, go to edmunds.com they have all the different trims so you can pick and choose which one tickles your fancy.

 

The 3.0 Maximas are more reliable than the 3.5 maximas. This is due partly to the 1st time 3.5s had oil consumption issues. The infiniti versions (I30 I35) are mechanically the same, so everything else will follow.

There are two 5th gen versions.
The 2000 and 01 Maxima are 5th gen 3.0s
The 02 and 03 Maxima are 5.5 gen 3.5s


The 5 and 5.5 gen look almost the same except for wheels and other stuff. The most visible difference is that the 5.5 Gen has HIDs.

The 2000 and 01 Maxima contain, IMO, the very best VQ V6 motor, the VQ30DE-K. It is essentially a VQ30DE (4th gen 1995-99 Maxima) with a variable intake manifold.

Some people, like myself, are getting the 00VI (variable intake manifold) from an 00-01 motor to put on the VQ30DE, essentially making it a VQ30DE-K. The advantage is you keep the 3.0 bulletproof reliability , mated to the lighter and smaller 4th gen body, adds up to all the more fun.

Hope this helps.

 

thanks for the replies.

1)I meant the Camry was plain inside and for standard features, compared to a Maxima. Maximas are all pretty loaded, and I'm guessing since they are Nissan's top model, then tend to have sunroof, leather, bose (not all, but many).

I know Camry has models with leather, sunroof, but they seem to have way more plain economy models with no sunroof, cloth seats, steel wheels with hubcaps, really basic stereo, etc... I assumed when I traveled far to get my Camry that it was similar to the Maxima and would have it all. I was surprised how basic/plain it was/is. Since my main concern is reliability & cost to run it, the disappointment of plain wasn't enough to be a deal breaker.

2)I had read in my searches on these forums about the 3.5 oil consumption issues. Only positive comments about the 3.5 seemed to be the performance, which I could care less about as i already think the 3.0 has more than enough power for an old blister like me, and I want economy too (the 6 cylinder doesn't quite make it cheap to run like a TDI..but not too bad). [And I am not a fan of the German engineering on any of their products I've owned or worked on, so they can keep their fuel savings as it gets more than surpassed in repairs & parts cost.]

3)Others have posted that when buying cars 10+ years old, expect to have some wear & tear repairs to contend with, and that is excellent advice.

So what did I do this morning? I went and bought a '96 Maxima, leather, sunroof. I will post a new thread in the 4th gen with details cuz this is sweet...only 39K miles!!! It was a toss up over spending more money on this unit, or $1,000 less on a 2001 I30 with 88K miles. I figured I get at least 2 years of use for the extra $1K spent, so probably worth it.

 

I would have gone with the I30 personally unless it was tore up. That low miles means it was sitting a ton and probably has a lot of dried up seals and whatnot. Unless you do a lot of driving, an 01 I30 with 88K is going to last you easily 10+ more years. It sounds like the 96 is a real gem, but don't be surprised if you have to spend some money on maintenance items just because of age and lack of use...