2003 Passat or Maxima? or better?

[caboob]

Originally wanted to go with the Jetta for the fun factor but after doing research on long term reliablilty, it seems like it would be an awful choice.

I'm retiring a my 91 Stanza (only owner) that has given me relatively trouble-free operation. It seems that the Maxima has better reliabilty after consulting consumer reports and edmunds but after test-driving a 5spd Passat, I am enamored by the fun-factor and smoothness of this automobile. I am also considering a 2001 Maxima 5 spd 20th Anniversay Edition or may spring for an 03 model if I can find one with manual tranny.

Can't make up my mind right now so maybe y'all could help me.

EDIT: Now throwing an 03 Altima with V6 into the mix.
EDIT2: Considering Mazda6 as well.

 

[Xionide]

Go for the nissan.

-Xionide

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Xionide
Go for the nissan.

-Xionide

 

[Colt45]

get an A4 instead of passat

 

[DainBramaged]

The '03 Nissan Maxima is an AWESOME car. The Passat will not even compare to the performance of the Maxima. Do a little research and you will see. Look at the 0-60 times, 1/4 mile times etc... Go for the six-speed and you will be set.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: DainBramaged
The '03 Nissan Maxima is an AWESOME car. The Passat will not even compare to the performance of the Maxima. Do a little research and you will see. Look at the 0-60 times, 1/4 mile times etc... Go for the six-speed and you will be set.

If what you are interested in is 1/4 mile times sure.


I am not. I want reasonable performance and comfort and a car that I can drive fairly fast on the interstate all day.

That's the Passat. I have a 2001.5 wagon (that half year is important since it makes it just about the same as the 2003).

It's the v6 with the highest trim package. The maxima is not in the same class as this car.

I could drive at 100 mph (and have on rare occasion) and it feels like 65.

Passat over Maxima

BTW the Passat is larget than the A4.

 

[Fritzo]

Uhh...yes, they're the same class of car. They're marketing against each other in fact.

VW's in general have poor reliability records. I'd have to go with the Maxima. You can't really make an unbiased opinion in you own one of these cars already because you'll always say the one you chose is the best :roll:

 

[Zombie]

VW is same as Audi thus unreliable POS.

 

[ThePresence]

Maxima of course.

 

[bozack]

of those choices I would take the Passat in a heartbeat simply because it is german vs. a japanese POS. the added bonus of a far better interior and in my opinion better looks are just icing on the cake.

good luck

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: bozack
simply because it is german vs. a japanese POS.

i hope that POS modifies both german and japanese, otherwise you've got it completely backwards.

 

[caboob]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith

I want reasonable performance and comfort and a car that I can drive fairly fast on the interstate all day.

This kinda sums up what I need, a daily driver and good road car on weekend road trips. Can the Maxima offer the same comfortable ride on long trips (~4hrs).

Am now also considering an Altima with the V6.

 

[RossMAN]

Maxima > Passat

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: caboob

This kinda sums up what I need, a daily driver and good road car on weekend road trips. Can the Maxima offer the same comfortable ride on long trips (~4hrs).

Am now also considering an Altima with the V6.

yes, it can, just don't get the SE, with the more competent but stiffer suspension. actually the SE isn't bad, either.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Maxima > Passat

I agree, Maxima is really good, very comfy, the passat is comfy also, but its reliability when compared to the maxima sucks ass.


Also on second note, why not consider a v6 camry?

 

[Excelsior]

All of you bashing on the Passat's reliabilty are RETARDED. Ours has been running great for the past 3 years. It is a wonderful vehicle. The Passat's aren't built in Mexico like the Jetta and Golf, hence better reliability.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: BullyCanadian

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Maxima > Passat

I agree, Maxima is really good, very comfy, the passat is comfy also, but its reliability when compared to the maxima sucks ass.


Also on second note, why not consider a v6 camry?

If reliability, resale value and safety were their top concerns then I would recommend a Camry V6.

Fun factor =! Camry

 

[Mr N8]

Find an '02-'03 Altima w/ 5 speed and 3.5l 6-cyl. It will be a fun car, and not as big and bulky as the Maxima. Its a little stiffer ride than the Maxima, also.

 

[Vette73]

As much as I don't like nissan, I would never suggest a Audi/VW.
So with that said I say Maxima

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I have a 2001 Maxima SE with 5-speed. I am generally very finicky about cars (I came to hate the Integra GSR and Honda Accord EX V6 that preceded it), but for the most part it has been great to me.

I bought my Max in Jan 2001, and it has roughly 40K miles. It is reasonably quick, handles well for FWD, and has been completely reliable. It is a very pleasant long-distance driver - it is comfy and very quiet. I have driven it from Oklahoma to Washington, and have covered 400-500 miles in a day on a number of occasions.

In general, I am kinda tired of Japanese cars, and will almost certainly go German on my next car.

My GF has a 2001 GTI 1.8T that I enjoy driving, and I can offer a few comparisons (though obviously a GTI is an apples-to-oranges comparison). Her car was bought in the spring of 2001, and also has about 40K:

- The GTI has a more substantial feel, in terms of its interior appointments, and the solidity of the doors closing. It just generally feels more robust.

- Both clutches/shifters have their eccentricities, but on balance I prefer the feel of the GTI in this regard.

- I actually prefer the steering/handling of the Max, although it is a bigger car. It manifests a bit more body roll, but I think it has better steering feel, and just the right amount of steering weight. I don't know that I would say this about the GXE or GLE models (not much experience with these)

- The Max has been completely reliable, and required no repairs other than a faulty subwoofer (covered under warranty). The GTI has had a number of expensive repairs of major and minor systems (most recently, a cracked clutch housing that required a new clutch) since it went out of warranty.

- The Max has retained essentially the same driving experience since brand-new. The GTI has begun to manifest a lot of squeaks and creaks, in spite of what appear to be better interior materials. One rattling noise, in particular, has required numerous service-bay visits to diagnose, and it appears it will require removal of the dashboard to fix it.

If reliability were not a major consideration for me, I tend to think I would take a Passat over a Max and never look back. Since it IS a major consideration to me, I would have to decide whether I was willing to tolerate the known reliability issues with the Passat (VW has gotten worse and worse in this regard) in exchange for the very nice driving experience.

 

[BullyCanadian]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
All of you bashing on the Passat's reliabilty are RETARDED. Ours has been running great for the past 3 years. It is a wonderful vehicle. The Passat's aren't built in Mexico like the Jetta and Golf, hence better reliability.

Actually it doesnt matter where the car is made really, the fact of the matter is that if the engineers dont get it right, it doesnt matter if the car was made in Mexico, USA, or Japan it wont be reliable.

 

[InverseOfNeo]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Find an '02-'03 Altima w/ 5 speed and 3.5l 6-cyl. It will be a fun car, and not as big and bulky as the Maxima. Its a little stiffer ride than the Maxima, also.

I got an '02 Altima 2.5S auto tranny and it is a super fun car. I drive 30 miles from my home to college 4x week and it made it seem like nothing.

If I were you, I would stick with the Alty or the Max. If its the newer body styling I prefer the Alty. The Maxima just seems too bulky in the rear or something.

 

[Turkish]

Actually, Passat is one of those VWs that is reliable. My aunt, uncle, 2 cousins, their wifes and a couple of friends all drive Passats. They love it. None of them had any reliability issues. Minor stuff happens, but you know, what car is problem-free? Some may have less problems than others, but none is problem-free. Now if you have said I am planning on buying a Golf or Jetta, I would hit you with an F-150. They are horrible in reliability. In all honestly, I gotta give credit to VW. They did a good job on Passat.

And please ride in both. Passat is 10 times more comfy IMO. Also, I am kind of a visual-ho. A car needs to look good for me or all the reliability and etc. doesn't mean sh!t cause I don't want to wake up every morning and look at my POS. Passat is absolutely beautiful.

Again, I am not saying one is better than the other overall. Maxima has proven itself over and over again. Extremely reliable car, comfy, decent performance, etc. etc.... but please don't make reliability an issue over Passat because if you treat it good, it will do the same to you.

 

[dirtboy]

None of the cars you've listed sound like much "fun" to drive.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
All of you bashing on the Passat's reliabilty are RETARDED. Ours has been running great for the past 3 years. It is a wonderful vehicle. The Passat's aren't built in Mexico like the Jetta and Golf, hence better reliability.

you have one datapoint, from which you generalize to the whole class, and you call the rest of us retarded?