i have went on maxima forum and there is a crazy amount of complaints to the maxima...everyting from lemon maxima to crappy nissan service to crap resale value and reliability issues and one minor problem after another....i am looking for reasons to choose the max over the TL but i think realistically acura would be a better choice...happy owners plus all the reports i have done research on say the TL is a better car in every single category...i wonder if the 2005s or the 04 with vins over 90000 would be better and not have the problems that are mentinoed there by alot of the owners...

 

I cannot forecast VIN 90k 05TL... but it should be good, as good as those later build 04/05TLs... wish it will run even better.

 

Did you drive them? I drove them both, and afterwards there is pretty much no choice. The Max is a little bigger, especially in back, but other that that, the TL is better in almost every way. It was not even a contest for me.

 

Honestly, before even being able to consider the Maxima, I would have to think that the sheetmetal on the outside was even a little attractive....I used to like these cars in the mid 90's, but the styling is just horrible currently. Of course, this is only an opinion, but I hear it over and over again, even by diehard Nissan people.

 

I be one of them Nissan people. I'd rather settle for a loaded Altima 3.5SE than get the new Max.

 

Considered a used mid to late-90's Max? Much better car than the new Max in every way. I LOVE that car, and they were nearly bulletproof.

Otherwise, there's simply no competition between TL and Max. With the TL, it's more car and more enjoyable car for the money IMHO.

 

Yea, a loaded Altima 3.5SE AUTO, I test drove a stick and it SUCKED. The gear shifter was very clumsy and clutch engagement was hardly precise. The Maxima made a big difference. Of course, I still liked the TL better than both, so it didin't matter.

 

I actually own one of those mid 90s Maximas, a 96 to be exact. It's been a great car and the power is better than anything comparable in those years. But ever since the 2000 model of Maxima came out, I just wasn't feeling it anymore. I eagerly awaited the 2003 and also kept an eye out for the TL redesign, but when the Max was revealed I was completely turned off. I'll be getting into a TL very shortly here so I think it is a good transition from 4th gen Maxima into a TL.

 

I traded a 1995 Maxima with 150K miles for my TL. The car was wonderful but I still felt the TL
was a step up for me.

I couldn't even get myself to test drive a 2004 Maxima because it is so unattractive.

Rachel

 

I also was debating these two vehicles:
Maxima has more Torque, 5 less HP than TL
Maxima has Heated steering wheel (Its cold in Toronto in Jan.)
Maxima has Fold down rear seats
Maxima has bigger trunk
Maxima no history of Tranny problems
Maxima is Couple Thousand less in Canada
Maxima has 18" Wheels
Maxima has larger trunk


TL has better better looking exterior
TL much nicer interior, especially centre stack
TL is the upscale Honda "Acura"
TL has vtec

Result:
I bought TL, I sit on the inside, my car - my opinion is right. I wanted the 2001 TL S type but bad year on stock market, so I settled for Chev Impala, I loved my 98 Acoord EX V6 (Also replaced Tranny @ 20K miles).
I'm happy with TL, now I'm worried about Tranny issues, Acura took care of the last generation Tranny problems, so I trust they will again.
I'm sure I would have been happy with the Maxima as well.

 

This guy also got shut down by the mods on that Maxima forum for making this troll post there. :sqntfawk:

Mike