5th Gen Maxima Owners.. step in

[Sust]

Just goto maxima.org and read the 5th gen threads.

The main things to beware of with the 2k2 max's are:
1) Headlights easily and often stolen(mostly in NYC area thus far)
2) OEM brake(s) warp real easy(no one has definitive reasons why)
3) Blose stereo will crap out on you eventually and you'll know it when left speaker stops playing music on CDs, but all speakers work properly with radio
4) Area around rear deck blose sub WILL develop a rattle
5) Some Maximas have bridgestone potenza tires which many claim have overly horrendous adverse-weather traction

There are probably more that im not naming but you can read all about it on your own.
I have a 2k2 max and my blose has crapped out with rear deck rattle AND rotors are warped.
There is extensive documentation on maxima.org explaining how they dealt with each of these problems and sometimes it will require forking over some money on your part.

Good luck and in case you've forgotten, Maximas are nice cars.
Relatively fast car + great price = high bang/buck ratio
32k miles and very reliable except for the small crap like mentioned above.

 

[rootaxs]

Okay, i'll set some facts straight here.

- The OEM Brakes are good as it is, most members of Maxima.org are car enthusiasts who drive their car and pushes it to the limits more than the average Joe. I personally am one of those people, but let me tell you this - I'm going 36k miles strong and no warping issues yet.

- The Bose Stereo on the 2k2/3's definitely are problematic, same goes with the non-Bose units (Both are made by Clarion), though it is under warranty. I personally took mine out instead.

- The Potenza RE92's are definitely horrible in wet weather, however it holds its own on dry roads. But it's not as bad as most lead you to think.

- Torque steer is not as bad as most would also lead you to believe, granted it's not as tame as most Honda's and Toyota's, though you also have to consider that the Maxima *is* pushing more torque than most sedans (and even SUV's). But after owning my 2k2 for well over 2 years now, i can tell you in all honesty that the TS is not bad at all.

On the issue of horsepower ratings, the truth is the 2002/2003 Maxima's are overrated in Horsepower and underrated in Torque. Thus, the answer is yes - it is false advertising.

2002/2003 Maxima's are pushing more in the 240HP and 265lb/ft of torque range.

In addition to that, there have also been numerous dyno graphs showing that the 2004 Maxima may be pushing more than the advertised 265hp. On a similar note, the G35 Sedan may have also been underrated from the factory and some dyno numbers suggest it's pushing as much power as the coupe variant.

 

[trmiv]

The only problem I've had with my 02 Maxima (which I got used with 16K on it for $17,000) is the cam position sensor took a crap, and the car would not start when hot. I got that fixed under warranty last week. I do have a slight creaking noise coming from the right front all of a sudden, which sounds like a spring creaking, that I want to have checked out. Haven't had the stereo issue yet, but I don't have the Bose unit. Mine has the Potenza's, but I haven't noticed wet weather traction being all that bad, then again, I don't push my street car to the limits (I do drive a race car, NASCAR modified, on the weekends, so that's where I get my racing jones at).

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: CFster
My two cents, being a wholesaler:

I've driven all of them and quality control aside, the new ones just look cheap inside.

Personally I drive a 98, and like that interior the best. The buttons from 2000 on just look flimsy to me. It's also a bigger car, so the performance increase going from 190hp to 225hp is negligable. Now, the new ones with 255hp get along quite well.

The Altimas were a huge disappointment as well - I really wanted one, I liked the styling and performance. Until I actually got in one.

The '04s Maximas have horrific torque steer too.

your year is the best generation of maxima... and particularly 97-99 for the better looks. i want a 98/99 SE in the worst way.

 

[Sust]

Hey rootaxs,

Do you have OEM rotors and OEM brake pads?
I remember someone on maxima.org posting the theory that maybe it's the OEM pads that are truly causing the problems. He based his theory on the observation that several maxima.org members had the OEM rotors with aftermarket pads and they did not experience the warpage issue.
I found my rotors warping after I started parking in my inclined driveway and using the park brake. By the next week, I was experiencing that mysterious brake judder that the other .org members had experienced. And whenever I released the park brake in the morning, I would hear a horrible srape/crunch sound coming from my brakes as I began rolling down the driveway. Perhaps something on the brake pads had been left behind after I disengaged the park brake. I guess a layer of brake pad material on the rotor could eventually cause a slight bump in what should be a completely flat surface.

Personally, I just went and got powerslot rotors and hawk pads. It's totally overkill for my street-only application, but the brake judder is annoying to the point that I am personally compelled to do everything in my power to stop it.
And if my granny style early braking is causing the OEM rotors to warp thru some unknown mechanism, then that's a problem.

The torque steer isnt that bad. In fact, the ONLY time I EVER experience noticeable torque steer that jerks my steering wheel to the right is when I am accelerating at full throttle from a stop light. The lesson is not to floor your maxima off of a light b/c you arent gonna beat anyone when your car rams the curb.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
get a 2001 20th anniversary with the 3.0L engine.. i like them better

better build quality before 2002.

the 20th anniversary can be had for even less, it's 227 HP.

why would you say that?

The 2002-2003s are just as well made as the 2000s. Actually they more desirable due to their better engine, HIDs, and NAV (if you are in the US).

They are a tad underrated in torque and overrated in hp. Meaning they really make 260lb/ft of torque and around 245hp. There have been a few members with their 6-spd 2003 who ran stock 13.9s in the 1/4mi. The autos run about 14.4-14.5 stock and with some mods are really low 14s.

Interestinly enough, the 2004 Maxima is underrated hp wise. Guesses are it really makes 280hp. It runs the same times as the 2003s in the 1/4mi yet it has heavier wheels (55lbs at each corner) and is heavier overall.

 

[rootaxs]

Originally posted by: Sust
Do you have OEM rotors and OEM brake pads?Personally, I just went and got powerslot rotors and hawk pads.

The torque steer isnt that bad. In fact, the ONLY time I EVER experience noticeable torque steer that jerks my steering wheel to the right is when I am accelerating at full throttle from a stop light. The lesson is not to floor your maxima off of a light b/c you arent gonna beat anyone when your car rams the curb.

Sust, yep i do have the OEM rotors and pads. I read that thread over on the .Org and i'm still finding it hard to believe. I've seen a lot of people who just bought their Max and braking like they've had the car for some time. What a lot of people fail to realize that even if it's a new car, those brakes need to be broken in (no pun intended) - the same way you would if you went with aftermarket setups.

I've taken my car through twisty mountain roads in the NE, have had to make several emergency brakes, always use my hand brake and was even on the brake fully engaged when i got rear-ended. At 36k miles, there is no warpage or judder at all.

Then again, i don't ride on my brakes more than i do the accelerator - even in stop/go traffic, and i drive an automatic. Driving style could also have a lot of say on how your rotors/pads will wear out.

Btw, with regards to the Torque steer from a stop. I solved that quite easily with an FSTB. Getting stickier tires even helped a lot more.

 

[0roo0roo]

the new ones are just a lot prettier

 

[Turkish]

I've always heard 2001 Maxima SE 5-Speed are the best. My friend's dad owns a Nissan dealership and they told me 2001 Maximas never get warranty service because they never have problems unlike 2002-2003s.

So, if you want the word of a dealer on service issues, etc., i would say go with 2001 SE 5-speed.

 

[Crappopotamus]

Originally posted by: CraigRT

Originally posted by: CFster
My two cents, being a wholesaler:

I've driven all of them and quality control aside, the new ones just look cheap inside.

Personally I drive a 98, and like that interior the best. The buttons from 2000 on just look flimsy to me. It's also a bigger car, so the performance increase going from 190hp to 225hp is negligable. Now, the new ones with 255hp get along quite well.

The Altimas were a huge disappointment as well - I really wanted one, I liked the styling and performance. Until I actually got in one.

The '04s Maximas have horrific torque steer too.

your year is the best generation of maxima... and particularly 97-99 for the better looks. i want a 98/99 SE in the worst way.

ive got a 98 se. nice car. ive got the auto though. beh.

 

[Panakk]

I am trying to find a 2002 Maxima with sunroof, leather interior and climate control but seems to be a hard task getting one. Thanks for all the comments.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Xiety
I've always heard 2001 Maxima SE 5-Speed are the best. My friend's dad owns a Nissan dealership and they told me 2001 Maximas never get warranty service because they never have problems unlike 2002-2003s.

So, if you want the word of a dealer on service issues, etc., i would say go with 2001 SE 5-speed.

I happen to have a 2001 Max SE with 5-speed (it is just under 3 YO, and has about 35K mi). I am very finicky about cars, but overall am pleased with it. If anything I seem to like it better over time, which is a first for me.