power, handling, interior sie and comfort, looks

engine, brakes.

I bought it used. I owned an '88 and I loved it. It had the adjustable suspension and it was not too big and not too small. It was just the right "everything" for me, but after putting 2 transmissions and the hydraulic clutch starting to go I thought it was time. I miss that car more than anything I've had to part with.
So I got this '92 and had trouble from the start even though Consumer Reports and everyone else "recommends it". The brakes vibrated when I test drove it the sales guy said it's just surface rust from sitting and that it would go away. Well it didn't, and when I went back they said oh well. Then the screws that bolt the manifold on the engine kept breaking. That happend about 3 times. My mechanic said that some of the foreign cars don't have the best cooling concept causing this to happen. Then we started hearing a clicking noise that would happen off and on. My shop looked at it but couldn't figure it out. Finally on the day we were supposed to sign papers on our house my wife calls me said the car stopped and there is a hole in the valve cover. My shop said the timing shaft exploded and grenanded the inside of the engine. They did some searching on the net and they found several reports of this but that there wasn't a recall for it. I guess that the "bracketts" that go over the shaft go bad and this caused that to happen. It wasn't a time belt thing. It wasn't close to being paid off so we decided to fix it. $4000.00 and 1 month later we got it back. It was awesome. It was quick and powerfull.Better than when i fist bought it. That was over a year ago and the clicking is back so go figure.
The car is awesome when it works right. I get compliments on it all the time. People that ride in it say how comfortable it is and that they think it's awesome.
I can't wait to get rid of it. It has been the best and worst car I've ever had.

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'88 maxima se, 94' Camry coupe

RELIABILITY!!....The only thing we've had to replace (besides tires) since we bought the car in '87 was the alternator. Great bodies (no rust). Smooth engine with decent power.

hmmm.....no cupholders i guess? well, cupholders only became popular in the 90's so that doesn't count.

In my opinion, it's one of the most reliable cars out there. The thing's 14 yrs old and still looks and runs brand new. Great engineering by Nissan.

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Strong and smooth engine. Manual transmission. Quiet and stable at high speed. Breathe taking passing power. Driver oriented interior. Very confident breaks. Surpassingly good handling for such a large car. Right blend of luxury and power. Reliability. Outstanding value for money.

Paint. It has a beautiful paint, but it stone chips easy. Ground learance. I wish it has 4 inches of clearance instead of 5 which does not look as good with 17 inches tires. Manual shifter is a bit bulky. Large turning radius with 17 inches tires.

I will recommend this car to anyone who is looking for a best sport sedan below 30 K. I am enjoying every moment I am spending in this car.

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1996 Nissan 200 SE-R 5spd - pocket rocket (0-60 7.8), previous car I owned. Very sporty and very rough. I got tired of engine screaming at me when pushed hard. Not as solidly build and unrefined. I was shocked to see Maxima cornering better. Overall it gave me a lot of frills but not enough if any luxury pleasure.

2001 Nissan Maxima SE Auto - test drive. No shift stick? 0-60 7.9? No, not for me.

2001 BMW 330i 5spd - test drive. Ultimate driving machine. This is the only one car I think with engine sounding better than Max. The best stick shift I ever tried. I liked it very much, but:
1. It priced 10 K more for all options I have in Max.
2. Very small back seat, I have a family and two kids.
3. Clutch is a killer - I can't believe I will ever adjust to it in
a stop and go traffic.

2001 Audi A4 1.8T 5spd - test drive. Nice car, but:
1. Seriously underpowered.
2. Back seat is too small.
3. Reliability after 4 years?

2001 Audi A4 2.8 Auto - test drive. I tested it to get a feeling of engine.
1. Enough power, but no more, auto Max feels stronger and sounds better.
2. 35 K ? Ouch.

This car will last a long time, and it will fly past any other car in it's league.

Expensive to repair, Bose system is a F@#)ing curse to own. Do not partake in buying one in your car, once one thing goes on it, you pretty much have to rewire the whole car, and replace EVERYTHING. It blows, but it did sound pretty sweet while it lasted.

I was handed down a white 89 gxe when I turned 16. It was near-barebones for the maximas, cloth, no sunroof, no bose (which now I know to be good) auto, but I loved that car so much, and had a blast with it. It was not the fastest thing out there, but could screech the tires all through first gear. When I went away to school, I had to sell it for room and board, and was sad as hell. I got rid of it with 155k miles on it, and only spent 1500 bucks total keeping it running perfectly, including tires and brakes. Two years later, I was in the position where I could afford a new car, and almost bought a 92 300zx, but couldn't swing 300/month for insurance. I got my 91 SE 4 months ago, and it is nearly the same car. This one is charcoal gray w/ black leather int. Sunroof, spoiler, and used to have a bose system in it. It is comfortable, reliable, and fun to drive. It has 71k miles on it now, and does not seem to have any signs of trouble. It is pretty sweet to have a ten year old sedan that gets 31mpg on the highway and can hit 128mph!!

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89 maxima gxe, 98 stratus se, 95 monte carlo, 97 grand prix gtp, 94 lumina z34 - The pontiac is a madman, so forget about messing this one up, but it can handle a lumina with the auto trans. It runs pretty close to the Monte Carlo, but is a bit faster, and beats the rest. I love it. Oh, and don't even try to mess with a 300zx unless it has an auto. Otherwise, it will mess you up.

Very strong and powerful engine. Accelerates with no problems. Give you the sportscar feel in a four door. Engine accelerates smoothly. Great gas mileage for a 6-cyl. Durable hardware. Very sturdy clutch system. Roomy trunk space.

Developed a leak in the transmission gasket and had to replace a couple of gears/synchronizers at around 65K miles for a cost of about $1200. Seating lacks the contour and is not as comfy as you would expect in a car that cost >$20K. No thigh support - very uncomfortable during long trips. Black paint chips very easily. Original tires (Goodyear Eagle RS-A) are very expensive and are only good for about 15-20K miles. Rear power window regulators break after about $60k miles. Replacement is about $150/window. This is common on a lot of maximas. Leather wrapped steering wheel and gear shroud begans to peel at around 70k miles.

I rate the Nissam Maxima as a very good car. Other than the transmission problem, I had not other problems. My car currently has 140K miles and runs like that of a car with 10K miles. The car has never overheated and have had no problems with A/C or heater. The engine is as clean as that of a brand new car (and I have never cleaned it). This model is probably the best auto deal of 1996.

I recommend this car for anyone who travels in multiples and need that extra boost of speed to get out of a tight situation.
I don't recommend this car for the 45mph highway driver.

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BMW 328i - Closely compares; BMW is more sporty and stiffer suspension, however maxima has more room and more torque. Creature comfort features of BMW heavily outweigh that of maxima.

Volvo S70 - Lacks the power of the maxima but makes up for it in handling and comfort/safety features.

engine, looks, inside room

NOISES!, Feel too big. Auto feels like it is from a '88 olds. ROUGH!

Get a V6 Accord or a ACURA TL and love it! PAY THE PREMIUM, IT IS WORTH IT!

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Should have got another car. I wanted a Max all my life. Now that I have one, I want to get rid of it.

It runs like a top, has not given me one whit of trouble, comfortable even for a guy of my size, and it's tough enough to survive those Chicago Potholes.

Brakes are one of the weaknesses of this car. The others are the Tranny, fuel rail, and timing belt

This is a perfect little car for those who want something reliable but can get up and go whn you stomp on the loud pedal. It does not drink a lot of gas and is comfortable enough for long trips. However, maintenance on this car can be a pricey proposition (e.g. Timing Belt/Water Pump: $900) in certain arenas. Also, when you buy one after 60,000, make sure you have this done so you don't have to worry about it somewhere down the line.
Brakes tend to fade when heated, but a set of Axxis Metal Master Pads will resolve that issue. Also, the fuel lines need to be checked. You will get a raw fuel smell on cold days which is indicative of a hose being worn out over time. That repair will cost you $450.
Also, this car is very simple to modify in terms of performance. There are plenty fo go fast goodies on the market for these cars and they can be found on many a Maxima Enthusiast Site (e.g. maxima.org).

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Taurus SHO, '96 Impala SS (Had to change my mind because of the winters up here).

Engine is one of the best offering both power and fuel economy, see Ward's Auto for the details. The car is solidly built.

We've owned it for over two years and normal maintainance is the only thing to be done. Parts may be more expensive than on a US made car, but you'll need far fewer parts so you'll be ahead in the long run.

These reviews say it all, it is a great car for the buck. Very sporty (not a sports car) - more so than any of the competition. Very good reliability, only behind Toyata and maybe Honda.

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Accord, Camry, I30, J30, Intrepid, ES300, Bonneville, Taurus.

Body style well built nice interior

engine

Bought it second hand had trouble from the start. As far as having it repaired. Must take it to a dealer. A general mechanic is not able to get parts. I will never buy another nissan again. I thought the foreign car makers make a better cars, well I was mistaken.

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Buick, builds a much better engine

Appearance, handling, ride,overall reliability

exterior paint, bright red fades, grill and hood chipping, power window regulators, cup holder placement(cant work stereo if cup in holder)

Bought this car as a demo in 93. It has been pretty reliable. The ride and acceleration(5 speed)is the best I've seen in its class. It is by faar the best car I have driven on long trips. The power is acceptable and passing acceleration at speeds of 60+ is good. It just turned 100,000 and doesn't appear to be slowing.

I have owned 4 Nissans and while this car is genarally reliable, it has had a few more problems than my others. The CV joints needed replacing around 80K. It suffers from unexplained engine clicking when the motor is cold. I have had 2 mechanics look at it with no explanation. Oil pressure seems fine and once warm, it runs like a champ. 3 of the 4 power window regulators have been replaced within the last year. This is really annoying although I now only have one left. The Bose stereo and speaker leaves plenty to be desired.One speaker is out and there is a hum in another.

Overall I have really enjoyed this vehicle in the 8 years I have owned it and plan to keep it for several more.

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