Sick of my car.

[CraigRT]

Being Anti-Ford, Even I would like an F-150 Lightning. what a great looking truck, not to mention BALLS.
360 HP supercharged (last years specs at least) is insane... gotta love it...

the ultimate 2 would be to have a MaximaSE and a F-150 Lightning in the driveway at the same time to avoid having to choose.

But I guess you can't do that.. so u gotta pick whatever is more practical for you i guess.. not to mention price.
I'd probably go for the Max cause it's a Nissan... try to kill it... you can't... and it has high re-sale value.. they're just great all around.

the F-150 would suck in the rain/winter, moving people around, etc... although it would be good for hauling lumber/drywall.. but unless you are working as a construction worker or something... do you haul more than you move your friends/ family around? just as food for thought...

 

[loup garou]

I'd suggest a CL or TL Type S. I love my CL, and either should have enough room for you to be comfortable.

 

[BigJohnKC]

I was looking at the Lightning for the cool factor, not the hauling factor. I don't need to haul anything - I live in an apartment and I work downtown. If I lived outside of the city on a farm or something, I would definitely be looking more at a larger truck of some type, most likely a Silverado or an F-150 (not a big fan of the Ram). I sat in a 2001 Lightning, and my knees were crammed up against the dash, but for 360 hp (pushing it up to 380 in the 2002 version) I would be willing to sacrifice a little comfort. However, it would be nice to have a sedan with a lot of room and a big engine, so that Maxima sounds like a great deal. I always thought Pontiacs were notoriously low on space, but I'll probably check out that Grand Prix you were talking about, too. Maybe I'll stop by the Acura dealership too. I'm not really in a hurry since my car still runs well, however I would like to have something I can take out and show off a little.

 

[hungrypete]

I'm 6'4" and I love my Full Size Blazer

This one's a 94, i think they quit making them in 98, that's what I'll be buying when this one is paid off.

 

[loup garou]

<< I'm 6'4" and I love my Full Size Blazer

This one's a 94, i think they quit making them in 98, that's what I'll be buying when this one is paid off. >>



That reminds me, the new TrailBlazer looks awesome. I don't know too much about it, but the styling gets two thumbs up from me!

 

[Zenmervolt]

A Maxima SE is probably your best bet, but there are a few things that I would be cautious of. First of all if you like a good A/C system, the Maxima is probably not for you. My mother has a '99 SE and the A/C just can't keep up if the temperature is over 80. I don't know if Nissan has fixed this with the newer Maximas but it's something to watch for. Also, while the transmission, engine, suspension, and steering are great, I hate the feel of the interior controls. To me, all the controls feel as though they are moving through butter and the detents are poorly defined IMO. The turn signal stalk is especially frustrating to me as I have to concentrate if I just want to use the lane changer instead of engaging the turn signal. Minor quibbles to be sure, but they annoy me enough to keep me away from Nissans. Chances are that most people won't mind though. Take a test drive in one and see how it feels. One final thought, I'm not sure if you'll fit well or not, but have you looked at the Volvo S60 T5 or if you'd prefer a coupe, the Volvo C70? Both of these are very nice cars and strike a good balance between performance and luxury, and both can be had with a manual transmission. The S60 T5 starts around $31,000 and the C70 runs about $36,000, and either is a very solid choice.

Zenmervolt

EDIT: Spelling.

 

[Doggiedog]

I can vouch for the legroom in the Maxima.

My buddy has the new SE model and the interior is much bigger than my Lexus GS300 which I consider a big car. I was shocked.

 

[BigJohnKC]

I considered both the new Trailblazer and the new 2002 Explorer also. Nice redesigns on both. But, I fear that the SUV is becoming less manly every passing day with the feeling they are "safer" to drive for women. Plus, the introduction ofthese cute little SUVs like the Ford Escape, RAV4, CRV, etc. are taking part of the cool factor out of the SUV market - for me at least it seems this way, I'm not saying that SUVs aren't cool anymore, just less manly and intimidating now.

Volvos aren't my style.....I have cousins that have owned Volvos in the past and had nothing but problems. I like what you said about the Nissan, though. That part of the driving experience is important for me, too, almost as important as the actual driving itself. Since I live in a warmer climate, that definitely is something to take a look at before I buy. Thanks.

 

[Gs400TRd]

<< I considered both the new Trailblazer and the new 2002 Explorer also. Nice redesigns on both. But, I fear that the SUV is becoming less manly every passing day with the feeling they are "safer" to drive for women. Plus, the introduction ofthese cute little SUVs like the Ford Escape, RAV4, CRV, etc. are taking part of the cool factor out of the SUV market - for me at least it seems this way, I'm not saying that SUVs aren't cool anymore, just less manly and intimidating now.

Volvos aren't my style.....I have cousins that have owned Volvos in the past and had nothing but problems. I like what you said about the Nissan, though. That part of the driving experience is important for me, too, almost as important as the actual driving itself. Since I live in a warmer climate, that definitely is something to take a look at before I buy. Thanks. >>



Ok here is what you should fit into/try out before you make a decision: (my best friend is 6'6", 275 ex NFL lineman. torn ligs. turned into a Christian missionary)
Not in any order.
1. Ford lightening: the new one has 385 HP and is faster than my car. But it might be more of a fad.
2. If you like American cars, you might be able to squeeze into a mustang cobra or a saleen.
3. If you want to get a really nice 1999-2000, used car get a Gs400 you will have all the Lexus refinement. Note : you will NOT fit in a BMW 540i.
4. Maxima SE if you like the looks, 3 friends of mine over 6'4" have them.
5. You might be able to get into a 2001 c5 vette, but you might have a hard time getting out LOL.

 

[LiQiCE]

Just a word of caution, I am not 100% sure if this is true... So Maxima fans please correct me if I'm wrong. If you decide to go with an automatic Maxima you'll lose a lot of HP from the crank to the shaft... Thats because the Maxima's transmission is a 4-speed tall transmission (used in almost all of Nissan's cars) ... the Maxima 6-speed manual is really nice if you want a stick, but the automatic supposedly is much more sluggish than its manual counterpart because of the 4-speed tall transmission. Again I apologize if this is wrong I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to cars but as I've been doing my research I found a lot of people mentioning over and over again that the 4-speed transmission of the Maxima is not that good and I'd be better off with a TL Type S because of its 5-speed Sport-Shift transmission ... At least in terms of speed.

(I'm also in the market to buy a new car) for around ~$30K or less... Right now my favorite picks are the TL Type S, Subaru WRX, Maxima or Altima, and the IS300.

 

[BigJohnKC]

I don't know about that either. I've always driven an automatic, and while I don't mind driving a manual transmission, I'd still like to be lazy and drive an automatic that could put out as much power and speed as the Maxima's 6-speed manual. What is that sport-shift you were talking about?

 

[StageLeft]

LiQiCE

Automatic on a maxima sucks dry a lot of its power. The last generation 5 speed was supposed to get 6.7 0-60. The automatic was in the mid 7's I believe.

5-speed Sport-Shift transmission ... At least in terms of speed

If this is a genuine 5-speed yeah it will be better than an automatic. If its a sport-shift like an F1 car, then its still an automatic at heart (on the ferarri the tip-tronic is actually a manual transmission at heart, but on the boxster, passat, etc. its really an automatic with a torque convertor) in which case it will suck some power away.

 

[LiQiCE]

Sport Shift is kindof like how your automatic has 1st and 2nd gear and the drive if you know what I mean ... But it gives you all the gears. No clutch though and the transmission is still intelligent so if you Redline it in 1st it will shift up to 2nd to prevent engine damage, and in 2nd it will cut the fuel to the engine so you don't ruin the engine. It will get more out of your car though so you can push it to redline in each gear.

BTW- you dont need to use the Sport Shift if you dont want to ... so if you're stuck in traffic you can still leave it just in "Drive" or whatever, but if you want to have some fun you can .. You still lose horsies from the crank to the shaft because of the transmission (so a manual if it was available for the TL-S would be faster)... But it gives you the feel of having a manual, sortof

 

[Thegonagle]

The 3.5L 2002 Maxima with an automatic is still very, very impressive (in a lazy, point and shoot kind of way ). AFAIK, the 6 speed isn?t even out yet. You can get them without a sunroof too if headroom is a concern with the sunroof, so be sure to sit in one of each. If you want to go cheaper, look for a used 2000 or 2001. Zenmervolt is right about the 99 version, but the 2000+ is a completely different ride with very few carryover parts.

PS, Nissan doesn't have a full-on manumatic yet (like Chrystler, Mits, Acura, etc.), but the gated shifter in the 2002 looks cool and works alright.

PPS, I really don't think a sportshift feels anything like a manual, so I almost always leave them in drive, unless I specifically want it to stay in a particular gear.

 

[Soybomb]

Jeep Grand Cherokee.....this thing is pretty quick with the 8 in it, doesn't handle all that poorly for a truck, has an awesome 4wd system for winter (offroading too if you're into it!). Anyone who says its not an ultra plush and cooshy ride hasn't ridden in one

I love the Chrysler 300M though too, there's a reason why its been top 10/car of the year so many times!

 

[Thump553]

I'm 6'1" and fit with plenty of headroom in my Saab, which I've owned since '96 and love. I suggest giving one a test-with the understanding that a Saab is very much of a niche car that isn't for everyone (car nuts will flame me big time for suggesting it).

Comfortable, best dash I've ever seen, pretty easy for you to do the basic work (oil changes, brakes, etc.) if you are into that kind of thing.

 

[BigJohnKC]

The Saab has a turbo package too, doesn't it? I think I read that somewhere.

Anyway, I've ben doing some more research on this (www.edmunds.com) and finding out exactly what I want. I think I could pick up a 2001 Maxima for about 22K, but would going for the 2002 model be better? I just don't know if I could get a good enough deal on it to make it affordable on my salary.

 

[Thegonagle]

Nissan has made changes every year to the current Maxima since 2000. They made a few changes to the interior on the 2001 from the 2000, but none of them are any big deal, unless you just can't live without steering wheel mounted stereo controls. They made a lot of changes on the 2002 though. The biggest change is the engine. On the inside, the auto transmission shifter has a zig-zaggy gate, and the console looks a bit different, with a different radio and climate control, and probably some other stuff I can't remember. On the outside, the tail lights are different. Up front, there are HID headlights and a different grill with a bigger Nissan logo. (Aren't they all doing the bigger logo thing?) The GXE version is gone and the option levels are different.

BTW, there's nothing wrong with the 3.0 L engine in the 2000-2001, it's just that you'll be getting beat be the new 3.5 L Altima, not to mention various Acura Type-S models, if you even care that is.

I think there's still lots of NEW 2001's left out there, so that's probably an option for getting a lower price/payment.