Each time I go and look at the new Maximas, I almost always leave with the impression that the GLE is the better of the two Maximas. I like it's alloy wheels better, I like it's interior's gauges better, and it's ride seems a little better than the SE. I also like the uncluttered look of the GLE's tail. I am not a big fan of spoilers. My question is, do any of you actually like the GLE better than the SE model? I feel like I am the only one. The only REAL reason I wouldn't buy the GLE over the SE is because of the fact that I want the 6 spd manual. Any comments would be appreciative.
Thanks in advance.

BTW, what about the Alty? It's all-new this year, and much better looking. I feel like the Alty has the better styling, but the interior is no where near as nice as the Max's. I also like the fact that with the Max SE, you can get memory seating (Standard on GLE) You cannot get this with the Alty SE, even though the prices for both are very comparable. The Memory seating for the driver would be great for my partner and I.

 

SE== Better handling, SE= NO wood trim, Aluminum Gated shifter . My brother has a 2K2 GLE. It rides like **** ! Its slushy and has a horrible suspension. My stock SE was better, but now with my Max speeds its even better . If you want a floating suspension, with no performance, get a GLE, you will love it. If you get a SE , it will be a bit stiffer, and more performance oriented. I dont see why you like the GLE guages better than the SE.... to each his own .... Just dont follow an SE into the twisties, !

 

basically...GLE/GXE suspension can be corrected with a RSB. Before RSB, my ride (yes, I have a GLE....better deal on options than SE) was horrible and body roll was really bad on turns...but after RSB, it is much better.


for my time...a same optioned GLE and SE..SE costs 2000 more. Plus, I know I am going to get new struts and springs....so to me, SE, GLE, doesnt really matter.

the only that I really want from SE is the titanium guage. and the only thing that I regreted is the wood trim...too old for me.

 

A very typical response my a SE owner
If you like the GLE get it ,you will not be sorry. Regardless of what the Se owners say about the auto vs. stick both cars are plenty fast and fun to drive.Stick shift is no fun in traffic through so you make the choice,both are great cars
the SE is just a little striped down version of a GLE,a little cheaper in price,a little stiffer ride.Put the tower brace on the GLE you will have the handling you want with the nice ride at the same time

Of course if all you want to do with you is drive around looking to race people all the time,well chances of you are going to wind with a banged up car sooner or later any way.
I myself bought a blue loaded 2k2 GLE and am very happy with it
good luck with your new car what ever your choice

 

I needed a auto (wife) and really don't care for the spoiler. The ONLY reason to get the SE (imo) is for the sex speed! Most SE owners beef the suspension/brakes anyway (after perf mods!) so those items are kinda unimportant.
l8tr -- SS

 

It is a vey simple decision. Buy the one you like !!!!!

 

I second that.....if one really ones to mod it, I would go for GXE or standard SE (esp when GXE used to come with 5spd in 2k/2k1). You can save up to 4k and that much money will get ur car well tuned. And I definitly wont get leather seats...too slick and throw me out of it when I hard cornering.

 

Yeah, I could give a crap about the spoiler...in fact I was looking at that thing the other day and considering ripping it off and putting something aftermarket in its place (no, nothing over 4 feet high.. ). The only reason I got the max was for the manual tranny. There's not that many nice rides that can give you a manual. I wouldn't even consider the GLE/GXE bc of their auto. That's why I didn't seriously consider the g35 (now that's changed).

The cars I was looking at in the order of what I liked:
Altima 3.5 5spd
Mustang GT 5spd
Maxima 6spd
Lexus I30 (is that right?) 5spd
Jetta 6spd

Anyhow, ended up with the Maxima and VERY happy. Got lucky I guess.

 

I would betray all you guys by trade-in my max for the 6spd G35 coupe. even though my last time driving a manual was back in high school

 

Gotta go with the SE on this one. I wish there were other spoilers specifically for the Max (besides universal ones). Whatever happened w/getting that APC one made?

 

What decision? You can't go wrong with either; like everyone has said, it is a matter of personal taste about options and the like. Of course the SE will be a harsher ride then GLE, but that's what "Sport Edition" means. I like the sport, and wouldn't consider a Maxima if all there were were GXE's and GLE's. But, hey they know their market and although I've never seen the stats, I would hazard a guess and say that SE outsells GLE 2 to 1...at least in this area that's the way it seems.

I also have a Lexus LS 400; obviously a finer car than the Maxima. But you know what? I'd drive my Maxima any day over the Lexus...and I do. Nothing wrong with either one. So with that said...it really doesn't and shouldn't matter what we tell you. You gotta go with what you're going to be happy with. Like I said...you can't go wrong either way you go! Good luck.

srm

 

i'll buy your spoiler if you don't want it

 

"Stripped down", the only thing my SE doesn't have is the Auto you have.

 

All of those options are standard on a GLE
An SE dose not have these options as standard equipment
I will say again An SE is a striped down version of a GLE
Both are very nice cars
I am not knocking your SE

 

I like the SE much more than the GLE for these reasons.

1) White faced gauges
2) Spoiler
3) Sportier wheels

4) BODY COLOR DOOR HANDLES!!!

and on the 4th gens, no chorme around the windows.

If you fully load a SE, it will be more expensive than the GLE.

But if any of you like GLEs better, than that's fine. We all have different tastes.

 

I was having a tough time making the same decision. I went with the SE......one of the factors that made me go that way? Item #4 in ArcticMax's post. Body colored door handles! Sounds lame, but true. I also did like the wheels a little bit better. At first I didn't like the gauges in the SE, but they do look pretty cool at night! Just my $.02 Can't go too wrong with either decision!

 

Just dont follow an SE into the twisties, ! [/B][/QUOTE]\


Yeah, dont do that because the SE will understeer horribly and the rear will fidget over bumps...just like a GLE. The diffence is not that great. If you buy a Maxima for handling, you better invest in some sways and springs/shocks, be it GXE, SE, or GLE.

 

ill take the se because the rims look much better, and i do like the spoiler with the led's, its better than having that dumb brake light in your back window. plus the titanium brings out the interior. and your buying a max to be somewhat sporty, you want luxury buy the i35.

 

SE only because the GLE doesn't come in manual transmission.. and i wouldn't be caught dead buying an auto

 

yeah the spoiler is one fugly thing on a maxima, both 4th and 5th gen IMO. i like spoilers in general, like on the lexus GS 400 for example (spoilers on the IS 300 are horrendous). can someone prove spoilers are really beneficial to the car for more "aerodynamics" or is it just all looks?

 

As some of you have pointed out, it's a matter of personal preference, not which one is better. That argument is a waste of time. I drove my ‘91SE for ten years and loved it, but my tastes changed so I decided on a GLE. And I'm limited to an auto tranny so my wife can drive it.

I liked all the bells and whistles on the GLE, including auto climate control, homelink, etc. Now I know you can get them on a SE, but with a bit more trouble unless one is sitting on the lot fully loaded as a standard GLE. I do miss the SE's white faced gauges, however, but they now have the temperature and fuel gauges in black, which I don't particularly like.I think all black is better than mixing black and white. But that's my personal opinion.

 

I like the GLE much more than the SE for these reasons:

1) Normal high-contrast gauges
2) You can get a spoiler on the GLE
3) Better looking wheels
4) Chrome door handles

Point is -- To each his own. Buy what you like.

 

I'm sorry but When Nissan built the Maxima, they were thinking of the SE. To broaden it's appeal, they made a base GXE and a luxo GLE. You can make a GXE into a GLE, but you can't make the GLE into an SE. Yet, you can buy a base SE and option it out to have everything that the GLE has. Of course, if you get a fully equipped SE, it will cost more than a fully equiped GLE. Why? B/C the SE still has the sportier suspension and white face gages and body color gille and door handles that the GLE/GXE never had.

DW

 

exactly.

 

For those who think the SE rides better than the GLE. I have an SE and the rear suspension sucks. I'm unbiased on this topic. My Ford Taurus SHO was more stable in the rear than my Max. Go over a bump on a curve and the feeling is embarassing when you have a passenger in the car. Where is the "sport" and the "tuned" in the SE's suspension? I haven't bought a RSB or springs but I'm praying that helps drastically.

 

the rsb and the springs won't help much with the "embarassing"
effect that occurs when going over a bump througha curve.

What you need to rectify this problem is aftermarket struts/shocks.

I'm going with the KYB AGX's.

 

cause downforce, which pushes the car down on the road, which should make it handle better. Most to be affective are pretty big and are generally referred to as wings. I doubt the spoiler on the Max is affective, possibly at 100+ MPH.

PS I like mine.

 

It seems to me that the shocks/stuts won't help the lateral movement I experience when going over a bump on a turn. I acually feel the rear end moving left and right a split second after coming in contact with a bump. What's up with that?

 

Since the top speed of Maximas is well in excess of 130 mph, I think it's safe to conclude that the spoiler is quite effective

DW

 

SE's suspension is better than the other 2 trims....but the truth is....it still sucks. A lot ppl here start with SE and they end up with new shocks and springs. If one is happy with standard SE suspension...that's good...but if not, that's a waste.

It costs more to get a fully loaded SE than GLE and u are going to change the shocks and spring. what's the point of paying 1000 - 2000 more for the SE's exterior? 2000 will get a set of suspension and body kit, painted and insatlled....

 

There's not a car I can think of that wouldn't look better with a spoiler. You just have to find the right one. I don't really like the stock 5th gen spoiler, but it's not that bad. It could be worse, like the last Taurus SHO spoiler.

 

all maximas have exactly same supension and powertrain..SEs just come with slightly thicker sway bars and stiffer bushings...i like SEs better cuz it is more sport oriented...but GLEs certainly do not ride like '****'...

don't hate on other Maxima people..

 

I honestly thought the GLE had a more compliant ride but I didn't care for some of the trim styling (chrome exterior door handles, they are body-color on the SE). Much of the differences are subjective so get the one that makes you happy.

 

Isn't this all kind of pointless, after all? It's like asking people who eat pizza which is better, pepperoni or plain cheese. the point is that the underlying pizza crust and sauce is what you want and the variety in the ingredients or what you sprinkle on at home make it yours.

Come on folks...we all love our max's for our own reasons and to try and say a max is better than a max is kind of corny. I don't see the point of this anymore. Can't we all just get along?

 

am late on this post, but i noticed most older people drives the GLE's , why?? must be the smooth ride, but i rather SE for the NY pot holes

 

Yeah, the SE when it comes stock from the factory, is not quite up to an enthusiaists liking. When I got my car, all I added was an FSTB and RSB to a stock SE setup. I was happy for the 1st 100K miles. Once the sturts wore down, then I upgraded.

So, adding $200 worth of suspension stuff to a stock SE ain't bad.

DW

 

GLE because my wife likes the heated heats! Go figure!

 

the Meridian option is for...

 

Like most people are saying, it really is a matter of personal taste. I went through the same dilemma when I bought my Max. I liked the looks of the SE, but I felt that the small benefits in handling were not worth the penalty in ride comfort. I ended up with the GLE with the optional spoiler. I do wish I had a little more body control, though.

I will be looking at the next generation Max when it comes out next year, and I will seriously consider the SE. I think that with an independent rear suspension the SE will be much more livable going around a bumpy curve.

 

Just add an RSB and an FSTB. It'll to wonders for cheap.

DW