I was just wondering what other cars the people on this forum were considering before they bought their 7th generation Maxima?

For me, the major contender was the 2015 Infiniti Q40. I really wanted the AWD and higher 328 HP offered on the Q40. MSRP was in range of the Maxima but when push came to shove, the rebates and incentives just made the Maxima more affordable for me.

A secondary contender was the 2015 Toyota Avalon, but it quickly dropped off my short list of cars to consider when I saw how much more "sport" and driver-oriented the Maxima and Q40 were in comparison. Maybe in 20 more years, I might consider the Avalon...

 

For me the contenders were the new Camry XSE (don't like looks 0f 2015 and still no memory seats), Avalon, 2013+ lightly used SHO Taurus, and Acura TL. In the end the Sport looks with the incredible deal off the sticker price sealed it in the Maxima's favor. I got a brand new Maxima for thousands less than any of the others on the list. My good experiences with our 2005 and 2013 Armadas helped seal the deal for Nissan.

 

Acura TL
Fusion
Mazda 6

 

cadillac CTS

 

The Fusion is a sharp car and I always give it a long look when I see it on the street.

 

Dodge Magnum
Toyota 4Runner
Mazda Miata

I was all over the place.

 

I actually went to the dealer for a prius they had. Make fun of them all you want, lol, but i had one (2012) and it was awesome. Fuel economy heaven and in power mode those suckers are impressively fast. But it sold a few hours and as fortune would have it, they had a maxima sv. Drove it and fell in love because of the fully loaded options it has. Price and mileage were spot on and i just couldn't pass it up. So i also bought a 2014 Rogue lol. Ive had many cars, but the Maxima is the nicest one ive ever had. And i did not want the altima 3.5 sr. I told them, its the Maxima or nothing. Ive had a 350z before and my family owns all nissans.

 

I was scary close to buying a new charger. Hemi, awd, and I love the way they look. To be honest I still kinda think about what might've been.

Max looks put me over though. Plus, the max 3.5 v6 was WAY quicker than the charger 3.6 v6. I was planning on getting the hemi v8 if I bought a charger, but I couldn't figure out why comparing the v6 models was such a clear-cut win for the maxima. Way more fun to drive. Like, not even close.

Don't regret my decision, but, I HAVE made up my mind that my next vehicle will be awd and more power and speed than the max. Something like a 335xi.

 

'14 Mazda 6... but i already researched the maxima for years and i was dead set on getting one. I never even test drove a mazda.... i could of done so cause there was a mazda dealer right next to the lot where i bought the maxima from...

 

at the time (in 2011) I was looking at all 2012s


TL
Camry SE
G37
CTS

 

Cadillac XTS, Benz e350, hyuandai genesis. The caddy wasn't worth it, it's a jazzed up Impala, e350 wasn't worth the price difference IMO, I would have had payments where the max I just bought cash. I also had a 98 e320 and it was a ****box, car was bought new and went thru so many stupid modules for normal stuff like sunroof and windows. The genesis I kind of liked, but I wasn't comfortable paying that much for a hyuandai.

 

I was looking at everything as well. My problem was that I was just getting over knee surgery and didn't know how well my mobility would be afterwards. I looked at the Infiniti Q50, Cadillac STS V, Lexus ES 450 and my Volvo dealer had a sweet S90 that I may have to revisit and buy when I pass this Max on to my son.

 

Audi A6. I should've bought the A6...lol

 

If you end up going Volvo, be sure to look into the Volvo overseas delivery program. I only know of this because the wife is looking into an XC90 and brought this up to me and I was very surprised with what they offer.

http://www.volvocars.com/us/cars/overseas-delivery

 

Good looking out Dudemaine, we bought a 1999 S80 T6 in Germany when I was still active Army. Just so you guys know Volvo and Mercedes Benz both have a sweet overseas program. They will build your car, fly you overseas, you take delivery at the factory and get to drive it in country before they ship it stateside, (something about taxes).


IMO, the Euro built BMW's, Volvo's and Mercedes are a better quality build than the U.S. built ones. I say this based on my own personal experiences and the experiences of friends who own those vehicles. Oh, and Toyota falls into that category too.

 

Volkswagen CC and Passat, Acura TL, Mazda 6, Honda Accord

 

I'm the same way. Considered the 3.5 Altima for about one second because it could be had for quite a bit less than the Maxima but it just wasn't as exciting to drive as the Maxima.
I am a big Nissan fan myself. This is my third Maxima, and have had an Altima 2.5S , 2 Pathfinders and a 350z through the years-- just loved them all...

 

LOL... Would be interesting to see everyone's short list if MONEY or PRICE wasn't an issue. Would probably be quite a different list-- I know that it would have been for me...

 

Yeah, The maxima was the first unplanned car purchase in a very long time. I bought a new 2012 Grand Cherokee Limited a year before buying the Max. The plan was to pay for the Jeep and pick up an A6. Then the motor blew on my wifes Altima 3.5. So I go out and get another 3.5....

I'm still planning on a different car once the jeep is paid for... The Max is nice for now...

 

I had very mild buyers remorse over trading my G37 coupe for a 2.5 Altima coupe in the interest of saving a little money for a couple of years and I had my eye on dumping my Alti for either the new Mustang, another G37 or G35 (in a sedan this time), or most likely another Altima with four doors and a 3.5. I stopped at a dealers used car lot just to window shop a couple of my contenders they had on the lot, saw MY Max and accelerated my plan.

Not the smartest idea money-wise, but I love it so I can live with that.

 

Is250

 

GREAT thread!

I was coming out of a 2005 Accord with the 4 cylinder, which was perfect and problem free. My list was:
VW CC
VW GTI
VW Passat V6 and TDI
Toyota Avalon
Honda Accord EXL V6
Ford Taurus
Ford Fusion
Ford Focus ST
Volvo S60

Test drove the VW's and experienced some of the worst game playing I've ever seen. A huge turnoff. They wouldn't give me the keys to my Accord back for over 30 minutes after offering me half what I sold it for. I literally had to tell them that I'd been there for over two hours, had work to do, and if I didn't have my keys back in my hand in the next 5 minutes, I was going to call the police. And this is a place my business has purchased or leased no fewer than 6 cars from in as many years (including a Phaeton and a current CC).
After that, I test drove a Max and was super impressed. Then I went to a dealer a few days later and the deal was too good to pass up.
Now I'm wondering what to do when my lease is up. Nissan hasn't announced the next Maxima yet (which is ridiculous - it's car show season already!), so I don't know if I'm staying with Nissan or going elsewhere. I'm not the type to get the same car over and over - the car needs to change if I'm going to lease another Maxima.
Great thread!

 

Acura TL SH-AWD
Infinity G37X
Lexus LS460

 

I drove a Sentra for about three years (200 miles a day) before it got totaled. Told my wife I'm done with the subcompact. I work too hard and I want a big boy car! I looked at the VW CC and the Max. Drove the Max and never looked back!

As much as I love it, I've been wanting more power as well. Unfortunately there's not much we can do to add more power to it. I've been looking at a couple of E63 and CLS63 and the SRT8 Grand Cherokee. The new Audi S7 has my eye too.

But, money being no option, there's only one car on my list: Godzilla

 

Not sure why they haven't announced anything on the next Maxima either! Hoping that it's because there are going to be some radical improvements to the car-- and not just cosmetic changes.
I wish that the Maxima had AWD. That was the one thing I really wanted in a new car that my Maxima didn't have. Wonder if the next generation Maximas will have this or if it's something you can only get by getting the Infiniti...

 

Ford Taurus Too expensive, not as much interior room, I'm 6'5" 275 lbs
Pontiac G-8 Too hard to find a good one. GXP too expensive
Dodge Charger HEMI too expensive
Nissan Altima V-6 didn't like the looks VS Maxima didn't seem to have as much interior room.