Hello everyone, my first post here.

Per the title, I'm close to purchasing a 2013 3.5S in Crimson Black. I started down this path thinking I was going to get a 3.5SV Altima. However, after doing a lot of digging and reading I found a higher than normal amount of posts around the CVT for the new design Altimas going bad very early. This stinks because I was ready to buy, but I don't want to buy a problem.

So, I started looking at the Maxima. Right now I have an offer on the table of 25.9K using Nissan's 0% financing for the 3.5S. After running the amortization scenarios my wife and I agreed that this made more sense than the other cost / finance options offered.

I'm scheduled to do an overnight test drive with my dealer next week. As long as I have no problems with the seat (disc bulge in my back) I will likely pull the trigger.

The only thing stopping me from jumping on this is the OEM radio and the fact that it's not set up for Sirius/XM. I have XM now and will never go back to commercial crap radio. I contacted three Audio dealers near me and two said if the OEM radio isn't satellite ready, my best option was a stand alone unit that goes in through the Aux jack. I don't like this idea at all. The third place told me they had several options, all based on yanking the OEM unit and putting in whatever I wanted.

I'm curious if others on here have done this with a 2013 or 2012 3.5S with good results. I don't need phone integration or Nav or anything else, but I need satellite radio. Is this something I can easily get done aftermarket? If it is, I'm probably buying a Maxima next week.

thanks!

 

something you should know is the climate control is connected to the radio so it has to come out too. they can either replace it with an after market controller or place it in the glove box. i would go with aux or bluetooth as thats the cleanest way to do it. Also i'd would go with a used fully loaded SV with premium + tech package at that price....

 

I pay 3 $/month to stream satellite radio from my phone. The app has to be tied to a primary account (on the wife's car). I did replace the headunit to be able to stream music, but you can connect the phone to the aux input. Phone also gives me navigation, with a proclip mount next to the radio.
I would strongly recommend getting the tech package. The amber screen would require custom work to get rid of it, to relocate the AC display.... But maybe the setup described above will do for you. Good luck with your purchase.

 

For about $2500 more you could just buy an SV with the value package and have Sirius plus leather and better lumbar supp0rt for your bad back

A better car, less headaches and only about $75 a month more if using 0%/36 months

 

(Flame suit on) I had a '13 Altima 2.5 SV prior to the Maxima.

Your going to loose not only XM but a full color display with back up camera, the information center will be replaced with a menu you will have to press the button many times to get the info, to adjust the heat you will have to press a button a thousand times or press down and wait, the Maxima seats are less comfortable, materials used in the Maxima are inferior, the Maxima has a smaller trunk and the interior feels more cramped, no remote start, no bluetooth audio from cellphone, the center console and armrests are made of vinyl on the Max "S", there is less compartment storage on the Max, and frankly the fit/finish/paint on the Alti was better!

Caveat: Buy a late model Alti, anything with a build after Feb '13 should do.

I have been a huge Maxima guy over the years but have to admit I think the new Altima is a better car over the aging Maxima. If both were 25k I'd buy the Alti.

I know your looking at a 3.5 but take a look at the MPGs on my 2.5 (average speed 66 mph, 744 miles into it, 40.2 MPGs!):

 

I've never been a fan of leather, plus adding another 2500 is more than I want to spend.

I have a great offer on a 3.5 SV Altima but I've found too many reports of problems with the transmission on too many different forums. I'm not comfortable with risk and I don't think Nissan has it solved yet.

 

The SV seats are much nicer, plus if you live in a cold area they are also heated as are the mirrors and steering wheel. You also get a better ( Bose) stereo, not just sirius. It's also not really $2500 as if you are going to have your S modified for Sirius that's going to cost some $$ so deduct that from the $2500 for the true cost.

I'm guessing the Altima SV uses a diffferent CVT than the Maxima ?

 

Another option to consider is to forgo XM radio and plug an I-Pod to your auxiliary jack.

 

My gf has the new 13 Altima 2.5 sv, when she bought the car she didn't have any issues. She got the recall in the mail for transmission, brought it in had it reflashed or whatever they do so im assuming its an easy fix with an update...Car drives great, I have just as much fun driving that car as I do mine...and the overall layout of the car is virtually identical to mine

 

Very true with the altima you are taking the risk of buying that 1st year car with problem(s). Every manufacture Mercedes-Toyota-Honda have problems with their 1st year car. The 09 Max didnt have any Major(tranny/engine) problem just the power steering failure. But I wouldnt buy a first year gen thats why I cant even buy a '15 Maxima. I must wait till '16 model so I'm shopping right now for a 7th gen right now 2010 and the highest mileage i'm willing to go is 40k cause the tranny must be serviced around 40k. It is unfortunate that the maxima will probably get me 25 mpg should be 30. The altimas a female car to me and so many people have it. If I had a family yea i'd get it over the maxima cause I would really need the extra trunk space etc.

 

After doing a little checking, it's actually about a $5000 cost delta to move up to the 3.5SV with tech package. Plus tax. I need to re-run the amortization for taking the lower price with the higher rate through Nissan and then moving the loan over to my Credit Union. Either way, if I don't take the 0% there are also the finance charges on the $5000.

Incremental costs add up and it's easy to talk yourself into paying just a little bit more. I tend not to play that game.

As for a late model build on the 2013 Altima, no way. As an engineer myself, I'm not confident that Nissan (having just released the TSB in June) has the problem fixed yet. And I don't wish to be a data point.

While I agree that the 2013 Maxima is starting to look just a tad dated, it's now in it's...what, fifth model year of the current iteration? That gives me a very high degree of confidence that the build is mechanically sound.

 

I priced the SV on cars direct with the SV Value package that gives you bose (Sirius) , leather , heated seats, etc. It was ~ $2500 more than the price you quoted for the S you are buying. $28,567.

 

Have you considered a used sv with the tech package CPO (certified preowned) and extended warranty?. The interest rate will be higher but the price could range from 23 to 26. You can find some good deals on 2012s with less than 30k.

 

Used is certainly a reasonable suggestion. But after twenty plus years of only buying new, it's not something I'd likely do.

I did find out that installing an aftermarket XM tuner that can be controlled by the stock radio MAY be an option. Still looking into it...

 

U'r an engineer and sound like a smart spender. These cars are tested and will last well past 100k miles. Just buy a used SV with 40K miles Maximum as the tranny must be serviced at that point. Make sure theres not a cent of rust. Why pay more with all the buttons missing and no leather. I dont even think the S comes w the new car smell. I'm going for a used premium myself I dont think i'll care too much about the tech package only think it seems to add is the bluetooth.

 

The 2013 Altima has a 60K powertrain warranty. There probably isn't a 2013 in existence with 60K miles. Ergo, barring dealer shenanigans, all CVT failures have been covered under warranty. If you're an engineer, you're aware that failures tend to occur at the beginning and end of a lifecycle, not the middle.

I would not buy a Maxima over the new Altima. The Altima is not better in every way, but it's better in enough ways to make the Maxima's cost premium questionable.

 

The OP wants to buy a Maxima, who are we trying to convince him otherwise?

Save the Maxima vs Altima for a different forum.

 

I agree. Maybe in the Altima forums.

In regards to the discussion, however, I would definitely do an SV. It's an investment in my opinion and even though I don't like leather myself I opted for an SV Premium because in the long run it will help with the cost. Just be forewarned, if you settle for something in your ride that you wanted, you will regret it and the experience won't be as good as it could have been. Riding in a Maxima is a very nice thing anyway, but when it's yours, make sure that you have it equipped how you want it.

 

As far as failure happening at the start of life and end of life, I disagree. Failure happens when conditions are met if the design is faulty. I've seen this in my prior department where high RPM machinery would fail when operating RPMs were synchronized with natural frequency. Didn't matter if the equipment was 20000 hours in the field or on the test stand. If conditions were met stuff tore itself apart.

It certainly appears the 2013 Altima CVT has a problem based on frequency of reported problems.

As far as it being under warranty, that doesn't pass muster either. I don't think Nissan has solved the problem yet. All else being equal, I'd rather have a car that has no problems than a car that has an admitted problem (Nissan TSB confirms this) but will be bandaid-ed over again and again at no dollar cost to me. That's just a series of headaches and impact on my time I'd rather not deal with.

I don't think a depreciating asset is an investment. Spending more because the residual, depreciated value will be higher is a bad move to me. Spending 100$ to recoup $40 or spending $150 to recoup $60? I'll take the former option.

The cost premium of the Maxima is proven, to me, in the form of reliability based on my research. Too many CVT problems, both before and after TSB, on the Altima don't justify the $2000 or so in short term cost savings.

In any case, I'm doing an overnight on the Maxima tomorrow. Hopefully I like it.

I've since confirmed that the OEM radio will take a hidden XM radio receiver than can be operated with the OEM radio controls. Cost? $400 installed. That gives me exactly what I want for a lot less than the cost delta of an SV, which gives me a bunch of stuff I don't need.

 

OP - From reading all your posts, seems like you've already made your mind up on getting the 2013 S.

Plus, now that you've researched the price of installing what you want it's all but a done deal in your mind (words).

To me ... all that remains is making sure your back is good with the seats.

Good luck with the test drive.

 

To me ( I have a bad back) the added lumbar support of the SV seats , additional adjustments ( vs the S) and the heated seats alone are worth the SV price never mind the better stereo and other features you get for the extra $2100.

I hate rattles, I' guessing they have to mess wth the dash to install the XM reciever at which point it may not go back together as it once was.


One other note, a base S with no options on cars direct is $25,090, I'm not sure what options your car has but my dealer easily ( too easy IMO) matched the cars direct price