How reliable are the Nissan maximas?

[bleuiko]

My family has 2 Maximas... love them both!

2001 Max that's running smooth and powerful.
1993 Max is the one I drive... 135,000+ on it and the engine still purrs... no problem whatsoever... and I drive it a lot.

 

[Krk3561]

Originally posted by: 007bond

Originally posted by: Krk3561

Originally posted by: BDawg
Why would he only buy japanese cars?

American card = teh suck

AND

Audi A4 = teh suck also

Yea "American cards" suck. And the Audi A4 is definitely NOT a shitty car.

Did you ever own an Audi? I'm speaking from personal experience. Yeah, the drive nice but other than it was a terrible car. There were endless problems with it. I know someone else with an Audi that had the same experience.

 

[Night201]

Nissan = Great car. Lot's of bang for your buck.

 

[phantom309]

Our 2000 Maxima SE has been great. Get the SE if you can - much nicer interior.

 

[KC5AV]

I know two people who have Maxima's. One guy has about 170,000 miles on his. His wife just got a 2003 Maxima after putting over 200,000 on her last one. I'd certainly call them reliable.

disclaimer: These people maintained their vehicles properly, and didn't drive them like they were stolen.

 

[Banana]

Originally posted by: lilcam
. . . My dad says their tranny tends to go pretty fast.

In the early nineties (four Maxima generations ago?), there was indeed a problem with the Maxima transmission, but only with the MANUAL. The automatic was fine. Maximas are generally very well-regarded except by, apparently, your father. It was the original "Four Door Sports Car!" (you know--the wolf in sheep's clothing philosophy).

 

[BigSmooth]

Maximas are pretty reliable cars.
If you want one, why not show your dad MSN's reliability ratings charts?

Maxima
Camry

As far as personal experience, I have an uncle who has owned three Maximas in the last 15 years or so. He has loved each one and has put well over 100K problem-free miles on each.

 

[SuperTool]

I have a 1996 Maxima with 115K miles. I bought it used with 75K miles 2.5 years ago for $9.5K at a dealer auction.
It was a great price for a car that was loaded with bose, leather, sunroof, etc.
Problems so far:
Both rear window regulators slipped off the track. Replaced one, fixed other one myself. I think it's faulty design for just some of the cars that year, because a little plastic part broke in the same place on both windows.
Starter replaced.
CV joints replaced.
Oil pressure switch replaced.
Had rear evap canister light on. Disassembled and cleaned evap canister, light went away.
I am probably forgetting some minor things, but I don't think there is more than $1K in replacement parts/labor there. I budgeted $2K in expected repairs in my bid when I bought this car at the auction, so I am not disappointed.
I have a Hayes repair manual for minor things, and a fellow user from Maxima.org who is a mechanic, and does more serious work on my car on the weekends for half the price of a shop.
I have a custom intake, and some suspension mods: rear sway bar, and front strut tower brace. I also put in a modded valvebody, but sold it, cus It's a too jerky, and replaced with OEM.
If you are concerned about auto transmission failures you have some options:
Get a manual tranny. I wish I did that, but I can't drive stick, and I bought the car in a hurry
Get a transmission cooler. (hayden ones are $30 at pep boys, and take under 1 hour to install with very basic tools) That's what I ended up doing. A good insurance policy.
Maxima 4 speed auto is not as smooth as Camry's, some of it having to do with the torque the VQ puts down, but I wouldn't say it's unreliable.
So far, so good.

 

[hdeck]

Originally posted by: Krk3561

Originally posted by: 007bond

Originally posted by: Krk3561

Originally posted by: BDawg
Why would he only buy japanese cars?

American card = teh suck

AND

Audi A4 = teh suck also

Yea "American cards" suck. And the Audi A4 is definitely NOT a shitty car.

Did you ever own an Audi? I'm speaking from personal experience. Yeah, the drive nice but other than it was a terrible car. There were endless problems with it. I know someone else with an Audi that had the same experience.

since you are speaking from experience, you have driven every model of every American car to know they all suck? just making sure...

 

[N8Magic]

Personally, i'd take a Millenia S over that vintage of Maxima in a heartbeat.

It's a shame your fiancee doesn't like them.

 

[Spac3d]

Dumb your fiance, forget your dad, and buy the best car you can with your cash

 

[SuperTool]

Here is what I would do: Get yourself a 98 Maxima SE with Manual, standard options, but low miles, maybe around 60K. Should ring in around 9K by now.
The car will be fast. Under 7 sec 0-60. That VQ is one sweet engine. If you are tall, don't get the sunroof, it takes about an inch and a half of headroom away. Too bad you can't get Bose without the Sunroof.
Then get rear anti roll bar, and front strut tower brace (about $200 together). That's the best handling mod you can get. That's all. I would keep the rest stock.