GLE or GXE

ES = (Don't Know) SE = Sport Edition GLE = Grand Luxury Edition (This is a guess) GXE = ?? Edition (Don't know)

What I do know is that;

The GXE is the low end machine. The SE offers Sport related stuff, like performance tires, manual transmission, highend stereo, and stiff suspension as well as other things. The GLE is high end model with leather, soft suspension (this is relative somehwhat, as even the GXE has what some call a harsh ride), high end stereo, moonroof and other stuff thta could be considered luxury standard. The ES, I see them around once in a while, and just figured that the guy applying the badges got the SE backwards. I truly don't know what distinguishes it from everything else.

I own a 95, bought used in 98. I have had some expensive maintenance bills, in comparison to the 92 Plymouth Voyageur that I also own, bought used also in 99. My van has a ride that is just so smooth on long trips, it's hard to believe that it's a van. As a used vehicle it's condition was the pits. The Maxima really shone when first purchased and when I get the rust on one door fixed, it will again look brand new. I have had the car up to 200 Km/hour, the cruise ocntrol only works to 160. I would not driver the van that fast, but at 140 it sure is a nice ride. The car when running at 140 and then floored still shifts down and takes off, accelerating real good.

I like the car and usually get it detailed every two years and pay the kids to clean it every other year. Most passengers after riding in it, front or back (back seat for adults is great for room) remark that it is such a nice car and are quite amazed to find out that it is a 95. My 88 Ford Tempo at this milage and lifespan was showing it's age and seemed quite tired when driven.

I just had an invitation from Chrysler to attend the Cross Canada Tour. It was alot of fun. I dorve the various models of the PT cruiser around a test track, their vans and of course the new one, the CrossFire. After that I had a spin in a VIPER and an SRT-2 and an SRT-10. The 2 is a Neon with a 243 HP engine and a real performance package. The SRT-10 is a hlaf ton with a

I fell in love with the Magnum. Large leather luxurious interior, great stereo and handling. Thye come out in June and if I get the rust fixed on my Maxima, well, I can dream can't I.

Honestly, I use the van as a functional family transport. The maxima is my daily commute and long distance driving fun car, wehn the kids odn't have to travel. Until the Magnum, I had not looked at anything else except with a passing glance.

The shuttle is based on older technology, but it's reliability issues are not caused by this, thye are caused by the fact that there is just too much of too many things to go wrong. BMW's are also full of technology and even though I love them and their ride and handling, they suck for things going wrong or needing a high degree of maintenance to keep right.

The Maxima that I have has been expensive to maintain, that is the cost of the parts and the labour. The things that have actually failed and gone wrong is quite small. The van is chaeper to maintina, the cost of parts, and it has less technology to go wrong as well.

Hope this helps you.

ES in canada = SE in US

accelerated

Dunno if you're in the US or not...

...In the US we have three trim levels for that age range. (It does change for the 2000 and newer cars.)

GXE = Base Model. I have a '98 model. SE = GXE + bigger tires, sport suspension, Sunroof (sometimes), white guages, stickshift, and a few other sporty things. GLE = GXE + leather, moonroof, climate control (whatever that is), sunroof, nicer stereo.

They all have a great engine and should last well over 300,000 miles. They are also all a high-end sports car. The base model comes with air, CD, cruse, power everything, four-speed auto, decent tires, nice rims, and can go fast (for a FWD car).

They are all a little small, and I have to put the seat all the way back to fit, but they are fun to drive. They are a compact car, though, not a midsize like your LeSabre.

Maintenance wise, they are pretty much like any other non-GM or non-Ford car - they cost only what it takes to replace maintenace items. Most things don't break on a Maxima. I have 65,000 miles on mine and you can read my posts here about maintenance. I expect to have it for several hundred thousand miles more - unless I find something worth spending $30K+ on.

HTH.

Say what??

You are joking, aren't you?? . BuddyWh

No.

I believe they were labled the family sports sedan.

I have seen the 3rd gens that have the 4DSC badge on the window. 4DSC = 4 door sports coupe. The Maxima has been marketed as the sports car that can still fit groceries in the back for a long time.

Family sports sedan?... hmmm, OK, now that's something I can handle, albeit without quibbling over how well it fulfills expectations in even that classification..

It would be very hard to call it a high-end sports sedan, though. That being something like a BMW 5 or 7 series.

Sports car though? and high-end at that? that's just stretching it. A sports car - high, low, or anything else - it definitely is not. Don't know if there is an official definition of "sports car", but in my book it starts with "two seater" or "2+2". That simply because 4 doors and comfortable seating needed for extra passengers compromises it's design and performance right out of it's reason for existing... the pure sport of driving.

BuddyWh

LOL. 4DSC = 4 Door Sports Car, not coupe. As for high end, hey, I love Maximas but I wouldn't call them high end. Very practical, reliable, fun. Nissan does very well to maximise (excuse the pun) what you can do with a FWD sedan platform. There's always the inevitable comparison to a BMW, which costs way more and is RWD, a platform much better suited to performance. No doubt that the BMW handles better, but the Maxima is a extremely nice FWD sports sedan. Perhaps only the Acura can best the Maxima with the TL. I still prefer the Maxima, though. Acura chooses to use A-arms in the suspension which is better compared to the Struts used in Nissans. But what you gain in performance you lose in practicality. Nissans are always roomier than Acuras/Honda, and its the suspension that is partly at fault for that. Also, Acuras are heavier than Nissans, so their high power and comparatively low torque VTEC motors have to worker harder. Nissans will launch harder out of the gate compared to Acuras, but on the Highway, VTEC land, the Acura will catch up and leave Maxima. Well, that has been the case but I wonder about a 2004 maxima going up against a 2004 TL. There's only 5 hp difference between them and the Maxima no doubt has better torque. These 2 cars are always like the arch nemisis of each other, like the Corvette and Viper.

Anyhow, sorry for the long post, I hope it was a good read:)

CD

Totally off topic here....

...I walked by something today that can only be described as a "sports car". It was a Dodge Viper. The interesting thing about it was that I noticed Carrol Shelby's signature on the dashboard.

I know he does this for the cars he mods (you pay a donation to some research foundation) so I'm curious what tricks he did to the Viper.

Hi,

the third gen was the only gen that has the 4DSC,

The 4DSC moniker was definitely the 3rd gen, but it definitely lives in the later gens, especially the SE versions.

CD

I sorta disagree, ever since four wheel independent suspension went away. I feel my 2002 (and my earlier 2000)'s rear end hopping all over the place on corners. It's still a nice car but not what it once was..

Yes, the beam rear is not ideal, but at least it's pretty advanced stuff. It's light with a central pivotal link, not like a Mustang Camaro with its heavy live axle rear end. The rear multi-link beam is not half as bad as people think. And simple things like keeping your rear tire pressure relatively high exxagerates the rear end's weakness. Try lowering your rear tire pressure a bit and feel the rear end button down.

Is an independent rear suspension better? Of course, but not as much better as you'd think.

CD

I DO notice the difference, so it's a lot to me. I never considered tire pressure though, will drop a few PSI. There's much positive feedback on maxima.org with regards to adding a rear sway bar.

: )