BigPimpsCLS

My mom needs to buy a car within the next few weeks. Came down to these two for now. Saw the new Maxima this Saturday, and its a nice car, nothing wrong with it, has all the options of the Acura plus some extras.

Color choice for both is DWP.

Nissan is available with it/ Acura have to wait/hard to find.
Nissan is about $27,700 with some creative negotiating, fully loaded/ Acura hoping to find at about 26,500-27,000 (prices just for the car)

Nissan has better paint
Acura has better warranty (4/50) vs(3/36)
Nissan will be easier to find
Acura holds the resale value better

Nissan 255hp/246lb-fts
Acura 225hp/200(?)
Nissan wears Potenzaz
Acura has Michelins

Nissan has heated steering wheel, which Acura does not have.

Nissan is also available right now.

Acura is a better brand name.

Nissan is the newest so you get to have the newest car for about a month

Please help.

BDI

holy **** a 02 Maxima is 255hp??

bioyuki

If you want performence get the 2002 GXE, if you want more luxury get the TL-P. Remember only 4000 GXEs are being made so be sure to get yours quick (if you go that way). As for lack of TL-Ps, where do you live. At all the local dealers there is plenty of stock right now.

BigPimpsCLS

WDP is a popular color with TLs, always have to wait.

SL1200MK4

Well, if the Maxima still has the 4spd auto tranny, I would opt for the TL.

Now if you are getting the manual tranny then Maxima all da way...

Honestly, I think the Maxima is one of the best sports sedan on the market for the price, and consider the fact that they offer a manual tranny......

Stylin Silver Sled

agreed...if you want the manual and more of a sports feel get the Maxima, if you want luxury and a overall better car get the TL.

scole

I agree with these guys. When I bought my TL I was comparing the two. The Maxima is a bit sportier, but really lacks the solid, luxury of a TL. The Maxima (2001) felt cheaper when driving it, so I went with the TL . I went to the nissan site and in my opinion the Maxima's new front end takes away from the sporty look. It looks awkward.

tgif

Currently Maxima owners had been complained about the paint qualtiy, too. It is worst than our cars.

BlackShadow

You might get a few biased answers here and the same if you post this on the maxima board. IMO, I would get the TL. Your mom deserves to be pampered.

Lawaia

I think the right quote here should be:

If you want to get where you are going, get a TL-P. If you want to get stuck on the freeway, get pissed off with your car, go postal because you're frustrated with your car, get the Nissan GXE!
Can you tell I hate Nissan?! :p

ssk0771

Between the 2001 maxima or TL-P, I would definitly go with TL-P but I don't know about 2002 Maxima. Do they have new design?. What about 2002 Infiniti I30? If it was me, I would buy 2002 I30. I just love cars with lots of HORSE. With that said, If it was between 02' I30 and TL-S, I would get TL-S.

Jason_TL

I'm with him on this one, I had a 99 maxima and traded it for my 2000 TL, and I will never go back to nissans ever again.
By the time I traded my car in it had 35k miles on it, and the sunroof, radio, air conditioner, struts, and uv joint was completely trashed in it. Sence I've had the TL I havent had nothing at all go wrong with it, so Screw nissan man get the TL.

bachviet

I would go with the TL. Nissan quality & service are not as good as Honda/Acura.

Jason_TL

Thats right, I diddnt even talk about the service and quality difference there is. The service and quality of the nissans in my opinion is very sorry, I knew that when I traded it in I was definately going to get into a honda or acura.

tgif

ssk0771,

02 Max had just a face lift on the front and real and some options had been added onto the car. The hp also increased to 255. The 02 Max now had Xenon lights, Navigation system as an optional equipment.

In the 02 model, I30 will replace by I35. It will also had 255 hp.

And the 02 Max is selling close to invoice now.

BLEXV6

Is the back end of the Maxima still the same? If so, Nissan has no clue that their back end is fugly, or they would have changed it.

That said, the back end of the TL is a beauty, and the TL is a hands down winner.:p

PhiTL

Its funny how this topic was comparing the GLE and the TL-P but all of the responses are comparing the GXE and the TL-P.

The GXE is the bottom of the line and the GLE is the top of the line. The GLE is a very nice car and I considered it before I got my TL.

BigPimp, you might want to clarify what we are comparing so we can give you a more acurate response.

My GF is considering the new Altima when it comes out, I think its going to be pretty sweet.

Shoofin

I would take a TL-P in a second over a GLE Maxima... Looks-wise, the Max is fugly compared to the TL...You still get more bang for your buck with the TL.
Ed

tgif

TL-P made in America

Maxima GLE-made in Japan.

Maybe we need to put this in consideration?????

pianoman41

If I'm not mistaken, I read somewhere (C&D?) that Nissan plans to build all new Maximas at the Smyrna, GA plant starting with the '02 model year.

rickslick

Acura without a doubt. I had a 97 Nissan SE and the car had a clumsy ride especially when going over bumps. My a/c apparently never had freon or if it did it leaked out soon after I got my car. Dealer told me it was working fine but it never cooled car. Took it to 3 repair shops and none would touch it since it was still under Nissan warranty. When warranty was out took it to Goodyear tech says no freon in car at all. He replaces and instantly I could feel car cooling off. About month later compressor starts making a groaning/moaning sound. Take to dealer and they say need new compressor and they won't cover under warranty even though I had my receipts that I tried to rectify before this happened. Nissan said the best they could do was replace comp but I will have to pay labor parts and supplies and new drier, didn't know why dealer didn't notice before now. Sorry for long post but I loved this car. When I traded it I thought long and hard about just keeping and paying it off. Glad I didn't and I haven't looked back. Nissan bent me over and didn't kiss me first.

BigPimpsCLS

I dont know why people brought the GXE into this when I clearly stated GLE in the topic tag oh well.

Well, I30 is a lot more expensive (5k) than the GLE and basicaly the same thing, only differentiation I see in the engine is that it's 260HP, vs 255 for the maxima, big whoop. The problem with the I30 is that it comes out end of September, where as GLE is available now. Need to buy within the next week or so.

I dont know why someone suggested stick when I stated it's for my mom, again oh well

I do agree with some of you who stated that Nissan service is worst than Acura, so is the nissan warranty.

Few other things to consider: Acura has ugly- ugly cheap looking rims on the TLP, and ****ty tires, however Acura has better MPG average.

The other thing taking me back from acura is that DWP color is much harder to get at a decent price.

Also, nissan has 255 vs 225, but its 4 spd vs 5 spd.

Keeping'em coming guys, still help needed.

tgif

It is the 03 Maxima. 02 will be still made in Japan.

iatacs19

if it is for you mom i would suggest the acura TLP. It provides roadside assistance in case she runs into problems on the road. the warranty is better which should be easier on her mind. acura is a much nicer experience overall. my mom had a 1997 maxima and she replaced it with a 2000 TLP. she couldn't be happier. she says it is more luxurious and the ride quality is better (compared to 97 model of course). she also likes the dealership better because it is more upscale and they treat her very well (this things seem to matter to women). also, acura gave her 1 year free maintenance. in terms of quality i think both cars are good since we never had any major problems with the 97 maxima.
in terms of the HP i don't think your mom is going to really care(i am assuming she doesn't) if it has 225HP or 255HP as long as the car has a nice and plush ride. 5speed vs. 4 speed debate is valid since 5speed does seem to provide a smoother ride.
if the price is right at the end then the acura TLP would the the better choice for your mom.

scole

quote:

"Few other things to consider: Acura has ugly- ugly cheap looking rims on the TLP, and ****ty tires, however Acura has better MPG average."


At least the Acura rims look like finished aluminum, where as it is hard to tell if the Maxima rims are aluminum or plastic, they don't even shine. As for tires, the Michelin MXV4 is rated pretty high from most test I have seen.

CH-TLS

The Smyrna plant is in TN - they currently build Altimas, Frontiers and Xterras there - I'm not sure where they're going to put the Max, unless they build a new building.

When the yen was trading at 90 to the $, there was talk about bringing the PF over here, too

I had heard that Nissan is building a new plant down south for their new minivan and a smaller SUV

As for Japan vs. US, I hate to say it, but the fit/finish on my Max and QX-4 are both better than my OH built TL-S

MedicSonic

Hmm, this seems to be quite the debate lately. The GLE has a better 'bang for the buck' value than the TL-P does, but you have to live with the looks of the car. BTW, I've been in both the older (my '95 Maxima) the newer ('02 Maxima) Maximas as well as the TL-P and TL-S, and really don't understand what everyone is saying when they state, 'Its more luxurious in a TL'. Can someone explain?
Either way shes getting one hell of a car, better than the Camry!

aTL

luxury, style, speed of a sport sedan... TL

cheaper, good buy, newer.. Maxium

Ummm if she isn't that rough on cars i would go Maxium because you can keep some extra cash in ya pocket.

pianoman41

Doh!! I meant TN. My '93 SE-R was built there it was a tank. My first and best (so far) experience owning an import. We'll wait and see how the TL-S holds up....

mgs333

hey, i have the exact same dilemma as you! i've driven both and i doubt the people who say the TL is more luxurious have driven the new Max, both were about equally luxurious inside, the Max was more fun to drive though.