rb1

Not to mention that it is completely unrecognizeable compared to the previous one.

Except for 1994 Accord, I could almost immediately recognize a new Accord based on my memory of the previous generation, even if I had never seen it before. This was true even of the latest Accord, even though I didn't like it this time.

The new thingy doesn't even look like a Maxima.

heyitsme

The altima replaces the maxima(4dsc) of old so I don't see the argument. Nissan needed to fill the fullsize segment so they pushed the maxima up and it seems to be selling well at that price range, think ~6500 last month. Nice alternative to a crown vic or avalon, just need to get rid of that badge in the grill.

okmaxima

As a current '00 Maxima owner myself, I will admit the '04 is somewhat of an odd bird. Some of the styling is very sporty while some of it leaves me wondering 'How could they have done that?'

Nissan will not eliminate the Maxima anytime soon. It is currently in it's 23rd year of production and is a very desirable / recognizable vehicle. The standard and optional equipment in the Maxima is also very impressive. I don't know of any other car that you can get for 30K that has a heated steering wheel and electric-folding outside mirrors and a (standard) uniqe sky-view sunroof.

Jettmiester

Best V6 Award is now 10 years running:

Ward's 10 Best Engines 2004
The Nissan 3.5-liter VQ V6 engine, currently powering the Nissan 350Z, Maxima, Pathfinder, Quest, Murano and Altima 3.5 SE, has been named to the annual "Ward’s Ten Best Engines" list for the 10th straight year by Ward’s Communications, Inc. It is the only engine that has been part of the list every year the award has been presented.

In the words of the writers and editors of Ward's, the "sublime 3.5L ‘VQ’ V-6 needs no introduction, being that it's won a 10 Best Engines award each and every year since the competition's inception in 1995. That the VQ has cemented itself as the dominant V-6 benchmark is without question…."

Ward’s Auto World and Ward’s Engine and Vehicle Technology Update, January 2004

biker

What does the engine have to do with anything?

They left out the Infiniti line up that also uses the same engine. Other than BMW (whose 3.0L I6 is available in EVERY model they make) Nissan has managed to use that engine in more models than anyone.

Linner

i loved my 01 max, not a big fan of the 04 but u can make them pretty darn fast with a turbo and some bolt ons. I dont think they will ever discontinue the maxima.

1SICKLEX

Sigh, read this:
They've already replaced numerous engines on the new Altimas, which causes me some worry. Anyhow, here's the timeline of my ordeal:
1) 3/11 New Maxima purchased
2) 3/15 Engine smokes and oil drains, towed to dealer
3) 3/16 New engine and tranny ordered
4) 3/19 Engine received, wait for transmission
5) 3/23 Transmission received
6) 3/25 Engine won't start, malfunction with a sensor on the flywheel, flywheel ordered
7) 3/29 Flywheel received, car starts, but no power on a test run, catalytic ordered
8) 4/1 Catalytic installed, engine still misfiring, testing to be done
I WANT MY CAR!!!! I already waited 1 1/2 months to get the car I wanted (still couldn't get the HLSD). I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks for listening to all my *****ing.
Here's pics of my car before the surgery: http://www.cardomain.com/id/edify11

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....0&page=1&pp=30

If u read that forum, problems galore.

Jettmiester

Isolated event there. Notice all the complaints in that thread were about ONE car. One car throws away 10 years of Excellence.

1SICKLEX

Whoa, I am not saying the MAXIMA is crap, the last 3 gens were awesome cars. Just the 6th gen. And if u go through the FORUM, not the thread, you'll see the car is just trouble prone.

KingV

You all see that thread about the dude who got his rims stolen? Who steals stock rims? I mean, stealing is not admirable, but if you were going to steal rims, wouldn't you want some big baller rims or something?

Mokos23

I looked at pics of the next generation M45, i know you guys have seen it on the rumors forum on here and is it just me or does the new M45 that will be released next yr have the same bodystyle as the new Maxima?

So, I guess the I35 was the body style of the old Maxima and the next generation M45 is the body style of the new Maxima.

I had to add though that I guess Lexus likes the body style of the new Maxima, because the next gen GS300/430 has the same body style.

ABP-CL9-TSX

I think the Australian/New Zealand Maxima looks better than the US version, and it looks similar to the new M35.

New Zealand Maxima Site

biker

yeah, it seems like foreign incarnations of the same name look better than the US versions. Just look at the Accord. lol

Mokos23

I guess the new Maxima with a tint and different rims looks better and more pimp. I saw a black one today, it looked nice.

F23A4

IMO, that's the key to the 6G Maxima's curb appeal: Dark colors. Anything lighter than dk blue and it just looks ugly. NOTE:

As previously mentioned, the Alti V6 pretty much took over from the 5G Maxima. The 2002 model year introduced the V6 Altima to the market but limited Maxima GXE production to 5%. Thus the V6 Altima was intended to fill that niche.

I dont like the new Maxima but, it's kind of grown on me. However, Nissan is looking to steal Crown Vic, Century, Regal and Grand Marquis buyers: most of which are 70+ y/o. Whether or not Nissan succeeds with this remains to be seen but, they're selling pretty well so far and I've havent seen many on used car lots (other than Nissan).

Peace.

dabuda

the australian/new zealand maxima def looks nicer then the one we have here

Mokos23

isn't it odd that most of the nissan cars are FWD, while in their infiniti division, the only FWD left is the I35?

Mokos23

is it just me or does the present maxima and the quest minivan look about the same in the front?

ABP-CL9-TSX

pretty much the same with Toyota and Lexus.

1SICKLEX

Nissan does believe RWD is the route for it's luxury division Infiniti, as does Lexus. The I35 and ES 330 do share the FWD Camry platform.
Honda is actually the oddball, as all Acuras (sans the NSX) is built of a Honda one way or another, thus FWD in all their cars. If you look every serious luxury car company has RWD dominate.

Wow, I went to the site http://www.newmaxima.co.nz/ . Very interesting. Their Maxima (last gen) has our Infiniti grill but Maxima wheels. THe new version looks like a M45 from the side and rear. The front does look better than our version.

Very weird, I did not know this.

1SICKLEX

Whoa, the interior is TOTALLY different. Tons of wood. Looks much better than our version.

heyitsme

Its the nissan teana. Infiniti i35 fans seem to want this as the new i-series, but the 'i' is supposedly dead.

phile

Such a shame too, the interior looks very high quality. And damn that's a lot of wood. Infiniti sure could use a model with a high grade interior nowadays.

mcourt83

I was seriously considering the Maxima until I test drove it. When I started the car, it was the first time I had seen the navigation screen in action *without* the navigation system. It's a busy mess with lots of amber numbers. To avoid this really ugly (to me) screen, I figured I'd buy a Maxima only with the navigation system. BUT, you can't just add navigation to a Maxima. You have to buy all of the packages that fall below it in the packages hierarchy. So, a Maxima with navigation stickered (at the time I looked) at about $34K. I think I priced a G35 at the time, with navigation, for just over $35K.

Mike

F23A4

The I35 will be replaced by the M35; a VQ35DE powered version of the M45 (which itself replaces the Q45).

heyitsme

That makes as much sense as the lexus gs3&4 being a replacement for the es and ls.

F23A4

Nonetheless, its meant to compete with the GS:

http://www.autosite.com/Previews/2006-infiniti-m45.asp

...where the Q45's going bye-bye for now (post 2005 model year) in favor of a future luxocruiser (think VW Phaeton). Rumor has it that the new flagship may have a version of the current VK56 motor. Nissan keeps things hopping.

Stay tuned.

Mokos23

Nissan is determined to try to unseat Honda? Then, try to unsuccessfully overtake Toyota too in a few years?

1SICKLEX

Actually, Nissan just recently took #2 in Japan, putting Honda in third (Toyota #1). Toyota just posted a 10 BILLION dollar profit last year, more than the next 5 auto companies combined. They both have a long way to go to catch Toyota.

phile

The M45 does not replace the Q45. Just like Lexus' GS430 sedan, which shares its V8 engine with the flagship LS430 sedan, the M cars from Infiniti will come with a standard V6 as well as an optional V8 that it shares with the Q45. The Q will get redesigned in a few more years, right now it's just an idle model in the Infiniti lineup. But neither the current M45 nor the future M45 will replace it. The M cars go against Lexus's GS sedans, MB's E-Class and BMW's 5-Series whereas the Q sedan is meant to go against the V8 models of the BMW 745 and MB S430/500 and the Lexus LS430. But the M35, however, will indeed replace the I35 in Infiniti's lineup.

alex82190

you guys are crazy thinking a tsx is better than a max. http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia/nissan2004/maxima/colour/142004maxima.jpg[/IMG]
Now that is a real car!

biker

We have a troll. TDAN reincarnated?

alex82190

The tsx looks too much like the the tl and i think the tsx should discontiued

Junkster

hehe... troll.

Junkster, who thinks someone should adopt this one as well

alex82190

http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=Maxima&Number=67748314&pag e=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1]http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthre...b=5&o=&fpart=1[/URL]

EmuMessenger

Here comes more unpopular commentary. I like the TSX, love the TL, and would definitely take a 6MT Maxima before the TSX and after the TL.

TSX 'R' US

Nice thread resurrection...

TSX 'R' US

I wouldn't say unpopular...especially if you take power into consideration.

EmuMessenger

Thanks. I was thinking power and features. I like the power folding mirrors and the heated, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel and the rear sun shade.

gocubsgo55

When looking for a car, my family cross-shopped the Maxima, TL, G35, and TSX. In pictures, the Maxima's interior looks awesome . But once inside (especially at night with that "vomit orange" dash), the materials really stand out as absolutly TERRIBLE. The same goes for the G35. But both have AWESOME pick-up. Meanwhile, the high-revving, never-ending-powerband engines of the TSX and TL add to the fun factor, plus the TSX handles very well, and the 6MT is to die for. The interiors of all 4 cars were great, especially the TL and the Maxima only in the daytime. The TSX's interior is a huge strength, it is absolutly beautiful. Good materials, great price, nice styling, and great reliability led us to chosing between the TL or TSX. Eventually after being told a TL (which at the time was a week after 1st release) would cost 36k non navi , we went with the TSX. My parents wanted the comfortable ride of the TL, G35, or Maxima, but after deciding that it'd be mine when they get their new car in 2 years, the TSX was the only option. I myself wanted a 350z, but it had to be a sedan, so, TSX :P.