Why aren't Maximas more popular in the GRM community?

I spent a few hours with a low mileage 2012 Maxima today. All I can say is it sure ain't no Camry or Accord.

It would have been better with a three pedals and a stick, but the cvt in manual mode with faux paddles on the steering column didn't suck. In regular auto mode it felt clumsy at low speeds, but good outside of stop and go driving.

I couldn't see a Max as an AX star, but as sport sedan for real world driving, that might occasionally show up at a track day, it seems completely credible.

So, are Maximas overlooked gems, or did I just catch a turd on a good day?

There is some love for the older Maximas around here. I'm not sure about the newer ones. The older ones almost made me buy my first Japanese car several years ago. Then I changed a waterpump in one and that was enough to convince me it would have been a mistake. Plus I hate FWD and sedans so I would have hated myself for buying one.

I have riden in one owned by a friend, 5 speed uprated springs and struts, rides ~2ins lower, wheels and tires quick and comfortable Q ship.

Older Maximas are pretty good for what they intended. Once they went past 255 or so hp all directed to the front wheels they couldn't claim to be "four door sports cars" so much any more. Big, comfortable, and fast in a straight line. Not that there is anything wrong with any of that.

My only experience with a Maxima was so bad, that Nissan bought it back from me thanks to the new car lemon law here in Massachusetts. I will never own another Nissan product in my life thanks to the way it was handled by Nissan. On the other hand, I have some serious love for Mazda, the way they handle customer service and their products. If your thinking about a Maxima, go buy a 3 peddle used Mazda 6.

It's a Nissan, you couldn't give me one.

I'd rather have a mid 90s Buick with bald tires and a busted drivers window.

I had an i30t with a stick and did not care for it.

I had one as a rental once, that was once to often. Nuff said.

Because G35/37 (now Q50)

Seriously. If you like the Nissan products, why buy the Maxima when for the same money you can get the now named Q series? Same money, but RWD with AWD available. I don't think the Maxima has much of a place in the line up anymore, as the Altima has moved into the Accord/Camry slot. I actually like the Maxima as a car, it just lost its' way.

Because Nissan.

I've had good luck with 3 nissans, a truck and 2 Maximas.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a thread title answer itself so quickly. Because maxima.

I'd prefer a rear wheel drive car, and I detest fake/faux shifting on CVTs. It's the vinyl siding of the car world. I just hope it doesn't become as prevalent as actual vinyl siding.

As a lawyer, I get phone calls about the lemon law more for Altima's and Chrysler 200's CVT transmissions than any other cars combined. We had several manual trans Maxima/Altima back in the day and they were great low maintenance vehicles. No way would I buy a CVT car.

I bought a '95 Maxima new. A great car, if meh on styling. Had great hp for the time (190?), the interior was quite handsome, comfortable, and roomy. Only thing I had to do on it was the CV axles and that's because the boots got torn. It didn't have the CVT, though.

The ex got it in the divorce and quite literally beat the crap out of it for several years. Finally rear ended a guy in a BMW and never repaired the damage. Still took the car 6 months to die from overheating due to the coolant leak the wreck caused.

Why doesn't GRM like a huge, modern, heavy, FWD luxo-barge with a CVT and modern Nissan styling? Gosh, I have no idea!

Klayfish wrote: Because G35/37 (now Q50) Seriously. If you like the Nissan products, why buy the Maxima when for the same money you can get the now named Q series? Same money, but RWD with AWD available. I don't think the Maxima has much of a place in the line up anymore, as the Altima has moved into the Accord/Camry slot. I actually like the Maxima as a car, it just lost its' way.

I think this is the reason, although the Maxima can be had new at great prices if my local ads are to be believed.

From the other end of the spectrum, I had 2 Infiniti P11 G20's (think 1999, oversized Sentra SE-R for those who dont know), one Slushbox, one 3 pedal, and loved em both. Easy and minimal repair, reliable, decent comfort, decent economy, sport-like aspirations...it was a good car, but not great at anything in particular.

I loved the looks, the SR20 mill, the transmission was GREAT with a little help firming up the shifter and mounts. But it was heavy, and suspension design was...creative. It wasnt a sports car, and it was too small to be a luxury family car. G20's filled a niche, and they suited my needs. I did very much enjoy my time in them tho.

I like pre-CVT Maximas, specifically the 2002 models for some reason.

what's the price differential between a Maxima and G35/G37 from the same year?

there's your answer

In reply to captdownshift:

Yeah, I think your right. A G37 or M37 over a Maxima would be a no brainer at a similar price point.

this Maxima did surprise me though. I've heard nothing but bad things about current Maximas, so I was expecting it to feel like a fat Altima ( I hate current Altimas), but it wasn't like that at all. Even the transmission felt decent, as I said in my first post, in manual mode it didn't even feel or act like a CVT.

slefain wrote: I like pre-CVT Maximas, specifically the 2002 models for some reason.

I think that year was when the 25th anniversary was offered (or was it 20th annivrersary?). I'd love to get my hands on one of those.

Or a Stillen SMX:

I owned a 1990 Maxima and once the non-servicable automatic took a E36 M3, that was the last time I owned a Nissan.

Other than that, I hate that they went all CVTs.

We don't like them because our powers that be are undercover "East Coast Camry" fans.....

I love all maximas from 2003 and back. Hell, I was a moderator at Maxima.org for years. The 3rd-5th gen cars were the "best of the breed" (FWD 4-door sports sedans) compared to their peers. After 2004, they got ugly, heavy, unsporty, and a few years later they did away with the 6-speed manual. The Maxima is just a Camry now...boring. And I actually think the Accord and Camry now even look better. Sad state...