Hey all - I'm new to this forum. I currently have a 2003 Maxima and am trying to decide on a new 06 TL and a new 06 Max - either has to have a manual tranny ;-).

What can you guys tell me about the TL and why I should get it over the Max? Other than the looks because the TL looks awesome and the new Max is well....ummm....kind of butt ugly.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Erik

 

LOL! You just answered your own question! You wont regret it. I love my TL. There are so many nice things this car has for its value.

 

Second that on loving the TL! I looked at the G35 and the TL when I bought and the deciding factor was the interior blew away the G35's... plus AWD wasn't available with a stick...

 

Maitre.....the 2005 Maxima was one of the 10 cars I test drove before deciding on my 2005 TL. It made it into the top 5 but I just felt more comfortable driving the TL. I thought the TL handled better, had more balls and generally just felt and looked better, especially the interior. I loved the interior of the TL the minute I sat in it to take it for the test drive.

I also test drove another Nissan...the Altima SE-R (which is the 260 hp sports version of the Altima). I actually liked that car better than the Maxima. And it finished second to the TL. I was going to get some OEM mods to the SE-R right off the bat and it was bringing the sticker to about 32,000.00. And I couldn't stomach driving an Altima SE-R when other people were driving Altima's around that only cost 18,000.00....ok so I have a snobbish streak....lol. Since there is only one level of trim for a TL rather than a zillion trim levels like the Altima....people know you are driving a high end car. People would look at the Altima SE-R and say, oh it's just an Altima....lol.

 

The Maxima interior is way more ugly than the exterior. With that orange guage cluster with tiny numbers, that whatever-it-is-carpet strip going along the top of the dash near the window, that ugly center console with the wide expanse of empty space.

I then sat in a TL, and said "This is what an interior should look like." I'm looking more at the interior than the exterior anyway.

BTW, the Nissan and Acura dealers are side by side, so I just went next door when it was time to buy!

If you want a bit more plebian, you can probably buy a loaded 6cyl 6MT Accord 4 door Sedan for a few K less than TL, but you lose the good looks. I would have considered the Accord in that configuration, if they made one in 2005, but they didn't (started in 2006). I spent the few K extra to upgrade to TL, and don't regret it a second.

 

The TL has a sunroof that opens.

 

To me the front of the Maxima looks like an electric razor. The only thing I can think of in the Maxima's favor is that it probably and I say probably has a roomier interior.

 

Hey guys thanks for all the advice. The TL does look MUCH better than the Max. I also looked at a 06 Passat but you can't get the 6sp manual with the 3.6L engine only the 2.whatever 4 cyl.

Basically I love to drive and want a car that is a drivers car - no Buick or Avalon please! I also have the need to transport 3 adults around 6' tall once in a while so the back seat needs to be comfortable but doesn't need to be a Bentley.

Side question - there doesn't seem to be much talk of the Red TL - is that color shunned or something?

Thanks,

Erik

 

i can't express how much I LOVE THIS CAR! i traded in my 03 for the 06 and i might be considered obssessed with this car. aside from the beautiful lines and design of the exterior, as everyone has said, the interior is gorgeous too. bluetooth is a very cool feature. navi...helllllllo. the XM sattelite radio is fanf--kingtastic. just went on a 3 hour rode trip to an area that usually has no reception..had music (great music on so many channels that you never hear on the radio!) with incredible surround sound. the DVDaudios sound awesome. cool blue lights, 10 way power driver seats...please stop me. there are no rattles or problems (have 7000 miles on it) and with the combined performance (it will get on it!!) gas mileage, ultra low emission and PRICE...there is no reason not to buy it.

 

Personally I like the red color used on the tl, and I'm not a red type guy. The wife nixed it.

 

If you looking more towards a drivers car, consider the G35 sedan. As for red, the TL comes in red, but I really like the red offered for the G35, it really pops.