2002 Maxima or I35??

[Jejunum]

legacy gt.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Jejunum
legacy gt.

LOL one of the only other Japanese sedans in this class I'd buy. I love those cars mang

 

[Xenon14]

Toyota is AOL amongst cars... it's popular and reliable, but completely useless and overpriced.

 

[5LiterMustang]

Why don't you look for an 03 Maxima SE 6 speed? You should be able to pick one up within the next 6 months or so for less than 18k. 03's you can still get the older (and better body style) and you get the 255horse motor.

 

[rootaxs]

The 2002 Maxima was the first 5th gen (5.5 gen) Maxima with the VQ35 engine (e.g. 255hp - though more like 240 really). The 2003 is the last of the 5th gen to have that motor.

If you can, get the 2002 - the upgrades (motor, hid's, better cloth interior than previous year 5th gen) is worth the price. The I35 is also a good buy, but for the money i'd take the Maxima.

Dangit, this whole I35/Maxima is confusing... i've always called the I35 the real Maxima and the US/Canadian Maxima as the Poser Maxima

 

[phantom309]

Originally posted by: Panakk

Originally posted by: phantom309

Originally posted by: Panakk

Originally posted by: phantom309
Don't get the SE with cloth. The leather interior in those cars is really, REALLY nice and worth paying extra for. I'd go for the I35 or one of the GLEs.

The velour cloth upholstery really sucks and i don't want to get aftermarket leather.. I'm trying to get a GLE because of the softer ride but if i can't get one, i'll go with an SE with leather..

I had a 2000 SE with the grey leather - wonderful, fast, comfortable, nice-handling car. The ride wasn't bad at all, but I think you'll be thrilled with either one. I wish I still had mine.

if you don't mind me asking, what do you drive now?

WRX wagon. New baby, needed a wagon. It's a great car and a blast to drive but nowhere near as nice as the Max - I let my wife take over payments on that so at least it's still in the family.

 

[5LiterMustang]

Originally posted by: rootaxs
The 2002 Maxima was the first 5th gen (5.5 gen) Maxima with the VQ35 engine (e.g. 255hp - though more like 240 really). The 2003 is the last of the 5th gen to have that motor.

If you can, get the 2002 - the upgrades (motor, hid's, better cloth interior than previous year 5th gen) is worth the price. The I35 is also a good buy, but for the money i'd take the Maxima.

Dangit, this whole I35/Maxima is confusing... i've always called the I35 the real Maxima and the US/Canadian Maxima as the Poser Maxima

Why do you say it was more like 240? Everything I've read seems to point to it being an accurate number at 255...I'm not saying your wrong we just could be reading some different info so I'd like to know where you got it.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Xenon14
Toyota is AOL amongst cars... it's popular and reliable, but completely useless and overpriced.

Completely useless? AOL isn't reliable. It is slow like Toyotas though.

 

[PricklyPete]

I would get a Maxima with a 5 speed (or do they put 6 speeds in that thing now?)

 

[Sust]

Goto discussion forums at www.maxima.org
A bunch of people were running their 2k2 and 2k3 maximas on a dyno and the numbers didnt turn out as they had anticipated.
I think the general gist was that the HP was lower than advertised, but the torque was higher than advertised.
I am hard pressed to tell the difference, but my 2k2 max is the fastest car i've ever driven.

BTW, I 2nd the 2k2 SE 6-speed. My maxima would probably be a lot more fun if I could control when it shifts.

 

[rootaxs]

Originally posted by: 5LiterMustang

Originally posted by: rootaxs
The 2002 Maxima was the first 5th gen (5.5 gen) Maxima with the VQ35 engine (e.g. 255hp - though more like 240 really). The 2003 is the last of the 5th gen to have that motor.

If you can, get the 2002 - the upgrades (motor, hid's, better cloth interior than previous year 5th gen) is worth the price. The I35 is also a good buy, but for the money i'd take the Maxima.

Dangit, this whole I35/Maxima is confusing... i've always called the I35 the real Maxima and the US/Canadian Maxima as the Poser Maxima

Why do you say it was more like 240? Everything I've read seems to point to it being an accurate number at 255...I'm not saying your wrong we just could be reading some different info so I'd like to know where you got it.

Sust pretty much pointed it out already. I was the first guy on the .Org to dyno a 2k2 around August of 2001. Everyone first thought there was a dyno problem but succeeding dyno graphs did show that the Max seems to be overrated HP-wise and underrated TQ-wise.

To add, though it's not proven fact as yet (except for a couple of dyno graphs showing the numbers) - the G35 Sedan is underrated at the advertised 260hp and it seems even the new Maxima is as well.