strong dependable engine (190 hp stock), very roomy interior, all the power options, good resale value and its a 5 speed!!

poor gas mileage, transmissions are prone to failure, VTC failure (the clicking noise you hear when you first start the car up and its cold)

Recommend for people who like a sporty looking car but have the comforts of 4 doors. Plenty of room inside (tested with 5 adults) for a nice long road trip. Only complaints I have are it's gas mileage. For being a V6 this car eats gas like a V8. Also, as mentioned earlier, the 3rd Generations are prone to VTC failure which causes a clicking noise when your car is first turned on.. Only problem I have had is had to replace the CV Axle and window regulator. Car also takes pretty good to mods if you plan on making your car into a speed racer =) Other than that, it's a good dependable car.

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Nissan Altima (Maxima's little brother) , Toyota Avalon (more comfortable but higher price), Honda Accord V6 (It's a Honda).

Looks, power, comfort, size...

Turnign sucks! if U plan on doing a U turn U need atleast 4 lanes, the breaking system is Horiable in snow, wet, or rough conditions, scratchs really easly even with there OVerpriced hard clearcoat, the gas cover release does not open sometimes, there is only One maplite on the inside so when U turn it on it blinds bith the driver and the passanger, proforms lousy in cold weather (cold bloded car), um lets see...U get random rattels inside the car that are unable 2 be fixed, emeargancy stoping is horid, and the car is made out of some Very thing and plyable meatal.

If you are gettign this car 2 sit in the drive way and Look nice then this is your car. if you on the Otherhand a Practical person and dont have $22,000 cars sitting in your driveway doing nothing Skip this thing. Car has way to many quirks and Problmes that Nissan refuses to look into or help rectify. No wonder they are having $$ probs. I mean I honstly Like the car stil lafter all of this but if I were to have nother chance I would NOT get this car!!!

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2000 camry, 2000 solera, 2000 bonival, 2000 grand prix, 2000 torus, 2000 eclips.....

Very Powerful Engine, 222HP, quiet ride, 4 wheel antilock disc brakes. Roomy interior.

nothing yet

The powerful proven 3000 V-6 is a dream engine. It's been around since about 87 I think and is very reliable. It's smoother and faster compared to comparable engines in the Camry and Accord. It's a car that just begs to be driven. I've also had a Mustang GT 5.0 Mustang A/T (when I was a few years younger) and this car may not be quite as fast as the GT, but it's also not a 5.0 it's only a 3.0, but Wow at the power. The gas mileage is great also. The interior is very roomy and comfortable. I feel it's the perfect family car. If you want a family sports car, then the Maxima is for you. Just drive the Camry and Accord first then get in a Maxima, you'll feel the difference immediately.

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Have driven a Toyota Camry for about 4 years. Have had two other Maximas, 1987 and 1991. The Camry is a good car, but is no match for the Maxima.

Very reliable, smooth engine, smart transmission, comfortable interior, roomy (at least up front -- I've never spent any time in the back), fuel economy, all around performance.

Automatic seat belts take some getting used to and even then they'll get caught in things ocassionally. The brakes are the big weak spot. I've also owned an '89 and it too had consistently troublesome brakes: they get noisy and vibrate after too few miles.

I recommend the Maxima as an excellent value. I couldn't afford a reliable, comfortable, performance car if it were not for the Maxima. This car, like my previous, uses up brakes too often. The power windows & door locks seem prone to intermittant problems after about eight years, but I fairly easily tracked those problems down and fixed them myself (most recently cold solder joints on a power lock control component). My previous Maxima, an '89, had an alternator fail -- I had never replaced an alternator in my life but was able to do so, unaided, in a parking lot, at night on this ocassion. For people who are comfortable working on their car themselves, the Maxima is very well designed. Fuel consumption is fairly low on the freeway, as low as 31MPG on long trips, but with 190HP under foot the car always has the oomph to pass or climb a mountain. Handling is predictable and the ride firm but not harsh. The SE is stable and comfortable to drive up to any speed you'll be able to get it to. The GXE has a much softer suspension and is prone to body roll in hard cornering. The automatic transmission is remarkably intelligent in the way it chooses when to shift. Shifts are quick but not harsh. For those with an interest in performance, the manual transmission will cut two seconds off the 0-60 time, as the auto has too high a first gear. The interior is very comfortable with leather seats, power sunroof, and Bose stereo. Others have complained the seats are not comfortable on long trips, but I've found the opposite. If you're thinking of getting a used Maxima, get the keyless entry if you can -- It's really, really nice!

The 190HP SE is sportier than the 160HP GXE. The GXE sometimes feels a little sloppy, but there is little to complain about in the SE's handling.

The Bose sound system sounds great, but the non-Bose system lacks power in the low frequency range. Both produce crisp, well defined sound in the mid range and high frequencies, with the Bose system (not surprisingly) coming out slightly ahead.

The SE comes standard with a power sliding sunroof, Bose stereo, four wheel disc brakes, and rear spoiler, among other things. The spoiler helps give the back of the car a more aggressive appearance, but both the GXE and the SE have very attractive styling.

The '89 through '94 model years are generally considered the most visually attractive.

The optional leather seating surfaces are very durable, but they're also not the most supple. The standard velour is quite comfortable and durable, but the it really only (in my opinion) looks good in black.

This car would be an excellent choice for anyone giving priority to reliability but also looking for a visually attractive, mid-size, somewhat sporty sedan. People who like to drive will be most satisfied with the SE. The Maxima is an easy car to spend lots of time in.

This is my second Maxima -- I like them very much!

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Marketed as a "Four Door Sports Car" Nissan has almost hit the mark. Competition might include the Ford Taurus SHO or any other four door performance oriented contemporary sedan selling new for less than $30K. It stacks up pretty well. Reliability, fuel economy, and well balanced performance are all to recommend it. The Ford is slightly quicker, slightly faster, and handles slightly better, but fuel economy and reliability suffer considerably. The Maxima has little difficulty holding its own against almost any other car of the era that sold new for about the same price.

Engine.
Reliability.
Everything else.

The suspension on this car is pretty sporty.

I love the engine and the handling of this car. The accord and camry are very good but their engines cannot match that of the maxima. I am trying to get the 2001 Model after saving up enough. After like 6 years of owning the car. The only thing I had to work on is 1 fuel injector went out and costed 60 dollars for part. Other than that, just change the oil. It's a nice car but the 2001 model is much better. Camry and Accord don't seem to match Maxima and cost more.

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Accord, Camry, Altima

Good reliability, Love the Bose sound system, and the throttle response is great. The car is fun to drive, the millage is 145,000 and the car is superb to drive. The most fun I have had in any car that I have drove. Recommend it to anyone that loves to drive cars.

The bose tape deck broke, and it's a pain in the ass to get a new one. THe manufacture actually suggested it would cost over 1,000 dollars. Note just put in a nice one from best buy for a whole lot cheaper.

Love the car, if you have a chance to buy one i would recommend it to anyone!!`

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No other car in it's league can compare. The 3rd generation maxima is the most under rated car out there!!

This car really delivers on what all the advertisement spots are selling. If you like performance, comfort, and style then the Maxima delivers with 222hp(5spd prefered, which I have), power everything in a spacious cabin, and a design that says "release the HOUNDS"; well at least more so than those ho hum Camrys and Accords. The sound system is great; almost forget I am listening to a car system.

I don't really have anything negative to say about this Maxima. Even though the car comes nicely equipped, the price range of this car warrants some improvement in a few areas such as: better material in the headliner, some type of storage compartments in the back seat, a cigarette lighter standard, a shift indicator on the dash board, and finally side impact airbags should be standard in a vehicle of this caliber.

If you want a comfortable and exciting driving experience that won't have you refinancing your life away then the Maxima is the answer. I would suggest the 5spd SE model if you trust the radar detector in your head or on your dash.

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I have also owned a 2000 Nissan Altima within the last year; which I realize is in a different class. It does reinforce the idea that Nissan builds quality. I travel a lot and have driven almost every midsize to fullsize vehicle out in the rental fleets. There are many cars that can match in some aspects but generally fall short in other attributes. As far as the total package goes, there is no equal to the Maxima SE in this class and price range.

Eye-catching paint job (blue) that sparkles with a good coat of wax. 17" wheels lend a "wicked" appearance to the car when viewed from a distance. Taillights are notorious for a reason, but they're not as bad-looking as many make them out to be. Interior is very attractive gray cloth and plastic which goes well with the paint job. There's more overall room than the '99 Max, especially in the rear, where adult passengers have commented about NOT feeling like they're sitting in a sardine can. The 7 speaker Bose stereo sounds fantastic, with plenty of bass and excellent high-end definition. Could be LOUDER but, oh well, it's probably as good a stock stereo as is available in the USA. The engine - wow! Most quiet thing I have never heard! When idling, you really have a hard time telling the engine is turned on! And when you step on the gas - wow! The car accelerates rapidly and fast and SMOOTH, without a lot of lag between automatic gear changes. At about 3,000-4,000 RPM the motor makes a beautiful noise, like a mountain lion screaming and purring at the same time. Cruising at 80 or 90 feels like, well - it just doesn't feel like the car is going that fast. SMOOTH is the best way to describe the overall ride of this wonderful car. On good road this is like riding on plush carpet(imagine what that must be like!). Handles very, very well in curvy road, with a excellent, true feel to the steering-wheel. No over or understeer - handles "just right." The control panel is very attractive, especially when lit - very nice red, blue, green and clear colors. And all controls are easy to read and reach. The 8 way driver seat controls make this the most comfortable car seat I've ever sat in. Automatic controls are easy-to-use and accessible. A nice change from the '99 Max is the placement of all cruise-control buttons on the steering column, so it's easier to use cruise. The trunk is roomier than the '99, and I can pack all my emergency stuff there with room left for other things I need when traveling. Finally, I like the way people's heads turn when I drive by, and the way they stop for a moment to look at the car when it's parked... :-)

Does it sound like there's anything I don't like??? I had my '99 Max for 1 1/2 years, drove it pretty hard, and had exactly ZERO problems mechanically. I expect this car will perform similarly.

Read above. I got this car for only a couple hundred bucks above dealer cost, so how could I not recommend this car to anybody??? I recommend it to EVERYBODY. I looked at the Camrys, the Accords, the Mustangs, and so forth; and my 2000 Max blows them away in all aspects, at a better price than the others when you compare features.

BTW, anybody in this area should look at Bender Honda-Nissan if shopping for a Max. I've gotten great deals on 2 Maximas now, and service after purchase has been prompt and high-quality. Sales staff is very friendly and not into the high-pressure approach.

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Only other car I've had that compares is the '99 Max I traded for this one. This car is more peppy, roomier, has an improved stereo, and looks just great. The '99 was absolutely wonderful, a joy to drive...I like this car even more!

It's one of the best value for money cars around, taking into account the high build quality. Everything works well and has a quality feel about it, not like other cars that maybe newer and still don't feel and drive as good. But the best thing is that in four years that l've owened the car; l've spent only spent $60 Aus. for a water pump beside normal servicing.

Yes amazinly there are one or two, the turning circle should be smaller, the seats aren't the most comforable that l've sat in during long drives other wise there just fine. And finally it's a front wheel drive; no side ways action.

I wouldn't recommend the car to any one since l work in the auto repair industry, because if everyone had a maxima l would go bust.

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I only trust Nissan vehicles.

Quality construction, superb engine, excellent acceleration, decent handling. I looked at the VW Golf VR6 and the Passat. When the Y2K Maxima was coming out, the dealer offered $7500 off sticker on the 99. I got a loaded SE w/ 5 speed. This car is great! It's been 100% defect free since I got it over 18 months ago (21K miles). Even my wife's Honda Civic had to go in for stuff, but not this car :-) It isn't a Corvette by any means, but it'll shame many cars costing $35K or more! It's fun to drive, comfy, and reliable too (been on the Consumer Reports used car recommendation list for years).

Wish it had a limited slip transaxle (the 2001 Anniversary ed. does), or at least traction control with the 5 speed. I also wish it had 60/40 fold down rear seats, and the body shape could be more aggressive.

The sticker price on Maximas is high, but the market is so competitive that good deals abound. I like the pre-2000 car better - it has a nicer interior and the body shape has had time to grow on me. The extra 32hp on the 200+ models does sond good, but the test numbers don't show any real improvement (except in slalom).

The BOSE system is great for me - it's a great factory unit, simple to use, and sounds terrific. I'm sure that the money could have been used for an equally good (if not better) aftermarket system, but I bought off the lot :-) However - if you want to run with the lowered Honda crowd, save your $895 for an aftermarket system 'cause you won't get the volume or bass you want from the Bose.

My advice would be to shop the used market - the Maxima is very reliable and is a low-risk used car. The money you save can be used for aftermarket goodies like tires/rims and a strut tower brace & anti-roll bar :-)

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Faster than the Passat, bigger than the Golf VR6, way more sporty than the Accord and Camry (though their coupes are kinda nice). Nothing American even comes close for refinement and reliability (sad but true).