Sold my maxima, farewell

I sold my '96 one-owner I30t four months ago. Does this mean I have to leave too?

Actually, I am disgusted with Nissan/Infiniti, and agree that the cars are just not interesting right now. Too many compromises on each and every one of them, that is, just not the right feature mix. I sold mine because it had been significantly wrecked several times, and just didn't get put back together very well, and also I wanted 6 airbags instead of 2.

So, I'm still hanging around on this board, because hopefully, my NEXT car will be a Nissan.

I'm curious as to what you folks are moving on to from the Maxima?

I've driven Nissan's since my first car - a 1973 240Z and currently have a '94 Altima and a '00 Maxima. In between I've owned BMW, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagon and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Every one of them has had issues - some moreso than others - but overall I still feel the Nissans have been tremendous values. My Altima has 165,000 miles on it and has been relatively trouble free for 11 years...it's even still on the original clutch!

As for the Nissan/Infiniti brand - I agree with the product mix issues with the Altima vs. Maxima and don't particulary care for the 6th gen Maxima's styling, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy an Infiniti. I'm not overly convinced by survey's such as JD Powers, but the Infiniti brand has done quite well there. They also seem to be at the top of the list of brands that hold their value best over time.

Brad

I traded my 89se in on a new 03 Kia Sorento but I still have my 98se it only has

Yes, yes it does.

BLASPHEMY !!!! HERESY !!!!! TRAITOR !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh wait, ... you're right. ;-)

The wrecked aspect is reason enough to get rid of any car. I'm looking at replacing my '91 SE, and a few features I definitely want are ABS and a full set of airbags. I like the new style Altimas, and will probably go in that direction. Drove a 2.5, but want to see how the 3.5 feels before I make my decision.

I agree that the Maxima is a car without an identity. The Altima is much more like my older Max than the current Max is.

OK, you can stay.

Bill G '91 SE Auto

Looking at the buyer loyalty of the Maxima (many Maxima owners are repeat owners), it stands that Nissan would graduate the Max up a bit into a bloated, swoopy angular box like the current generation. All the loyal Max owners from the 80's and early 90's are old baby boomers now and they need a luxury boat that's easy to get into and sedate on the outside.

I am NEVER selling my Sheer Silver '03 Max SE Titanium Edition until the current gen of Max is "fixed". I'd really like a two door Altima SE-R if such a thing existed.

Well you might have a long wait. Because as long as Carlos Ghosn is controling how Nissan is run things are not going to change for the better.

The Infiniti side is lucky. There's word that a GT-R powered Infiniti could be on the way to the States, for a mere $70K.

Well I am keeping my 98se it's been a great auto. I traded my 89se in on a 03Kia Sorento so I won't be buying a Infiniti. Anyway not this year. Did you know that for 2006 the new F1 engine rules will end the high HP.V-10s replacing them with 2.4 L V-8s such a sad thing the F1 just won't be the same.

You're kidding right? Carlos Ghosn is the man responsible for Nissan turnaround. Nissan probably wouldn't even be around if it wasn't for him. Yes, the Maxima has been taken down a path that many of it's previous buyers don't agree with, but there are still plenty of Maxima's on the road. They may have alienated some buyers, but clearly have found a new market for the car.

Just my $0.02, Nirav

A 98 Se with 12K miles at the end of year 2005? What is that a museum piece;)

CD

I've been asked by a few people what I'm driving now. well for 2 days I was driving my New balances shoes, haha. but am driving a 94 grand am (borrowed from a family member) I ordered a 2006 honda accord. (ok I KNOW I'm gonna take flak for "shifting" (pardon the pun) from nissan to honda, but the 4 cyl accord EX-l with Navigation and all the options was 24,800. looking at an altima (didn't even consiter the maxima, cause of it's lets say "questionable" styling) was sticker price over 31,000 for what I have in the accord (yes that was with a 4 cyl manual) because when you get a 4 cyl manual you have to add all these other packages and crap, its garbage. I looked into infiniti (my brother drives an infiniti FX35 which is quite a nice car I must say, but I'm not an SUV fan (for gas mileage and don't really need one) my brother was quick to point out the FX was WORSE in our new england winters with it's 4WD than his old 99 Audi A4 Quatro was. I drove a LOT fo cars and the accord was the best value for the money and for

-Nick

Not a bad choise wiuth the accord. I completely undertsnad your gripe adding options on a Nissan. Once I entertained buying a 2004 Maxima 6 spped, by just adding the rear spoiler I had to tack on lmitied slip, leather seats, the comfort and convenince package etc. All I wanted was the damn spoiler!!

Good luck with it.

CD

It's become an old lady's car. My 63 year old mother wants one like no other car right now.

A new market for a downengineered Maxima downengineered in the quality of parts being used. Call Carlos Ghosn the guy who saved Nissan if thats what you think he did. I think he is just another hardnosed cut the costs no matter what it does to the quality of the products guy. So many of them have taken control of other companies they cut the payroll they cut the quality of parts by making their vendors cut their prices. At first it looks great to the bean counters as their operating costs fall. Then the products start failing in service and the buyers get the run around when trying to get them repaired. Just look at the history of Nissans quality since 1998/99 It's gone down!!down!!down!! If this is where Nissans new market is being found count me out of it. Just my .000002.0 worth.

My 82 Ford Bronco has 46K I had a 78 Chysler Cordoba had 66K when I sold it. The

hey, don't apologize.

I came out of the '96 I30t into an '04 Accord EX V6. That has people scratching their heads.

But they haven't driven an Accord. The only thing I wish it had is a limited slip differential. You have to get the Acura TL for that, an extra $10,000 or so.

It'll be a good car for a couple of years, until some Infiniti/Nissan comes along that I'll have another 10-year affair with. But for that to happen, they'll have to get the reliability way up again, and stop designing for premium gas. Premium is a steep penalty to pay for just a few more horsepower, since engine management has improved so much.

Yeah, I think a lot of us (I have an '03 SE myself) have a hard time getting our heads around the fact that our Maxima exists in the current Nissan product line. Only, it's called an Altima 3.5. Now, ironically, I like the current Altima's interior more than the current Maxima.

Although, according to Nissan news site I visit,

I don't usually hang on to cars much past 2 1/2 years, but I've had my '03 going on nearly 3 years now. I've never had a problem with it, and for once there is NOTHING out there from any MFG that is a worthy replacement. Well, there is, but I refuse to spend more than $30k on any car. :)

This is interesting. You'll spend no more than $30K on a car, but you only keep them for 3 years. Why not spend more money and keep it longer? Over a long time period (10-15 years), you're probably spending more money by replacing the "cheaper" every 3 years than if you bought a nicer car and kept it for say, 5 years.

Maybe you've got the money to burn and it's a principle thing. But I'd rather have a nicer car for a long time than a revolving Nissan.

YMMV.

Bill G '91 SE Auto