mcholla8

which would be a better buy. tha only thing that is really makin me think about gettin tha tsx is that i can get tha navi and it would be less than tha maxima.

so its black on black maxima or carbon gray on quartz tsx

Bear Trap

They really are different cars, so you have to ask yourself what you want in a car. The max is a big highway cruiser with a big engine but the TSX is smaller with sportier handling. I've had two maximas and my favorite was the '91 because of it's handling. That is why I picked the TSX over the max. My '01 max was a boat and the new one is better, but not that much. If you really want the max, then get it because you'd probably have buyers remorse later on if you got the TSX.

darth62

I faced a similar choice. At first, I wanted the Maxima because I thought the HP would be fun. But, the interior in the new Maxima is nowhere near as nice as the interior in the older models. Also, the ride in the SE version is horrible. No isolation at all. Add all that together with torque steer, and the superior reliability of Honda products, and I think it becomes an easier choice.

Frankly, if you are going to spend $ for a fully loaded Maxima, you'd be better off moving up to a TL.

Jason

Exactly. The TL kills the Maxima. Depending on your budget, you should get the TSX or the TL.

1SICKLEX

The new Maxima is an overweight, severely overpriced, under interior, Tennesse built, overpowered (FWD) Lexus GS looking knock-off POS.

TSX and TL> 6th gen Maxima.

Soze75

I'd have to agree. The new Max is like Nissan's version of the Chevy Caprice = el boat-o
The front end was ugly enough to make me turn and run from the Nissan display at the auto show.

Jason

Come on now, the Max is much better than the Caprice. I loved the look of the car until I saw the front end. Wow. How could that actually be put into production?

YBA

In size the Maxima is closer in size to a bus than a TSX (to my eyes at least).

If you want a manual tranny on the MAxima, please give it a try before you buy. The shifts are pretty long and not as smooth as the TSX.

The engine on the Maxima is much much more powerfull than the TSX...

The TL may be a better match to the Max...

Regards

Jason

You be the judge. Click on this link and go to "compare with other vehicles" on the left bar. Enter the 2004 Max.

http://modelreports.cars.com/modelda...7&aff=national

Soze75

Yes, one of the worst front ends indeed. I can't stand the vertical headlight clusters and then the grille...ugh. I too was excited to see what they'd do to a model I always admired. Now, the Maxima name has been demoted to the laugh-heap in my mind. Maybe the company on that other thread that remade the JDM Accord, can save the Maxima.

phile

Personally I think the TSX is a much better buy than the Maxima. From what I've heard, the Maxima's got gobs of torque...and torque steer as well. It's definitely more powerful than the TSX, though. That and the Maxima's size are probably its only winnings over the TSX.

I think the TSX looks a lot better, and the interior blows away the Maxima's. It's the finer attention to details that makes the TSX the better choice in my book. I wouldn't be able to stand the look of the Maxima on my driveway, and its interior isn't all that bad, but for the price that it's selling at, it should be a few steps higher. I would feel as if I didn't get my money's worth.

tsx-mdxman

Mcholla,
That disgustingly ugly Maxima body should make it an easy decision for ya.

abbachia

I don’t know about you guys but to me the interior of a car is the most important. Every single Nissan/Infinity product I a have considered recently has turned me off in 5 seconds because of the interior. Before I bought the TSX I looked at the 300ZX and the G35 Coup. Both nice cars but I couldn’t justify the extra cash and feel like I was sitting in a Yugo. Cheap Cheap plasticy feel all over the interior. The interior bins felt like the doors would fall off if you pulled too hard. I distinctly remember a nice V6 Altima I test drove. When I put me hand into the map pocket on the drivers door the inside edge of the pocket exterior was so rough and unfinished that I got a cut running y hand along it. More recently I am shopping for a new minivan for my wife. I sat into new Nissan minivan. It was the same thing all over again. The interior quality is terrible. I am going to go for the Odyssey. It’s a much nicer van.

For me the TSX is unbelievable. The interior is first rate and if I keep driving my CG 6mt the way I enjoy it I probably won’t have a license left in a few months. My only caveat is with the leather quality. I wouldn’t mind a full leather not pleather interior with softer leather.

abbachia

I don’t know about you guys but to me the interior of a car is the most important. Every single Nissan/Infinity product I a have considered recently has turned me off in 5 seconds because of the interior. Before I bought the TSX I looked at the 300ZX and the G35 Coup. Both nice cars but I couldn’t justify the extra cash and feel like I was sitting in a Yugo. Cheap Cheap plasticy feel all over the interior. The interior bins felt like the doors would fall off if you pulled too hard. I distinctly remember a nice V6 Altima I test drove. When I put me hand into the map pocket on the drivers door the inside edge of the pocket exterior was so rough and unfinished that I got a cut running y hand along it. More recently I am shopping for a new minivan for my wife. I sat into new Nissan minivan. It was the same thing all over again. The interior quality is terrible. I am going to go for the Odyssey. It’s a much nicer van.

For me the TSX is unbelievable. The interior is first rate and if I keep driving my CG 6mt the way I enjoy it I probably won’t have a license left in a few months. My only caveat is with the leather quality. I wouldn’t mind a full leather not pleather interior with softer leather.

Habiib

Just did it, and I didn't realize how close these cars are feature/option wise. On paper they are almost evenly matched. I found it odd that some features on the MAXIMA aren't even availible on the TL and vice versa. I would have thought that the TL would get better gas milage than the MAXMIA since it has the smaller engine and all.

darth62

The TL's engine is slightly smaller, but it is more powerful and, in actuality, there isn't much difference in the MPG. And, yeah, the Max has some features that are not present on the TL (like power folding windows). For that matter, the lowly Passat has features that are not on the TL. So what? I'd rather have the better vehicle with a few features absent.

And, btw, the TL has some features that the Maxima does not have, For example, the Max SL doesn't even have a five speen tranny. It doens't have bluetooth, DVD, or a voice actuated Nav system either.

briny319

Maxima is WAY OVER PRICED. I'd buy a TSX or TL before a maxima. Maxima's are a WASTE OF MONEY.

mrdoug

In anticipating my next car buy, I had always figured the Maxima would be in the running, with its 6 cyl. and MT availability, but then....the latest model came out and I couldn't believe that it was even uglier, by far, than the previous Maxima model, which was no looker either. The styling is laughable really, and as soon as I saw it I knew it was out of the running for me. I mean...that front end LOL!!! I was in a real quandary and then, thank goodness, the TSX came out and made my decision very easy.

darth62

I don't think the Maxima is that ugly, on the exterior. The interior is cheap though, and the ride on the SE version is a joke.

SweetA$$Ride

You're better off with a G35 for the price of a loaded Maxima. The G35 is better looking and faster and its rear wheel drive.

BDI

or AWD

rudedawg

apples to oranges comparison, get the TL, nuff said

ostrich

mcholla8, they are such different cars! The Maxima is HUGE. I do like its avant garde styling but I am not sure if it will age well. Moreover, just like someone else said, with all the options added to the base price, you are going to pay the price of a TL, which is much nicer.

I am not sure what's up with Nissan lately - the optional packages are so expensive! So the base price of these cars (Maxima, Altima, Murano etc.) is very deceptive.

SweetA$$Ride

Is it just me or do the new TL's look very Pontiac-ie? The front looks kinda like our TSX's but the side and the back arent really lookin that great.

ostrich

OMG!!! SweetA$$Ride, now that you have said it... the cars that come to mind now include Pontiac and Dodge Stratus... no, no, no, I need to get these bad thoughts out of my head!!!

ecsw

I think Maxima doesn't look bad. But for a car at that price, it should have way better quality than that.

It's just like after Mazda was taken over by Ford, they started to cut corners. Same as Nissan, after they were taken over by Renault, they cut the quality of their interior too. Just go look at Maxima's interior, for example, they use colors stitchs that doesn't match with the seatbelt color. Not to mention the leather on the shift knob.

It's all the small thing that built up the whole car. If they can not take care the small part in the interior, how can they take care of the engine they make? Just my 2 cents.

SweetA$$Ride

Maximum??? What the hell company makes Maximum's???

phile

I clicked on 2003 and 2004...the Maxima went up in hp and torque, from 255hp and 246 lb-ft for 2003, to 265hp and 255 lb-ft for 2004, but gas mileage went down to 20/28 from 21/28. Maybe the TL is geared more aggressively? Also, they keep saying the TL doesn't have fog lights, but it does!

ecsw

Don't be picky. :P