• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Thinking of buying a new car soon...Maxima, G35 or what else?

B

BD2003

Lifer
I plan on getting a new car in the near future...right now I'm driving an 00 celica 6speed, and I'm looking for something torquier, smoother and bigger.

Looking to spend between 12-18k.

What I NEED:
A V6 with real torque at the low end, 200+ HP (250+ preferred)
An automatic trans with manual shift gate (Too much traffic to stick with manual)
Reliability

What I Prefer:
Smooth and Quiet (Can go full throttle without waking the entire town up)
At least a midsize
Good handling (steering response, not total traction is what Im concerned with)
Coupe
Japanese

What I don't want:
High revving i4s that have no low end

The two main cars I've been found that seem to fit that bill are the 03 G35 and the 04 Maxima.

Above all I'd want the g35 coupe, but its about $3k more expensive than a similarly equipped sedan, and it pushes it out of my price range.

The G35 sedan looks good on paper, but is pretty fugly in person IMO.

The Maxima isnt quite as "luxury" as the G35, but it's the same engine (AFAIK), and I assume its smoother/less sportier than the G35.

Any other cars I should take a look at?
 
Originally posted by: BD2003
Originally posted by: mariok2006
2002-2003 Maxima and save the rest...
Click to expand...

Why the 02-03 instead of the 04+ newer model?
Click to expand...

It makes 255hp, only 10 less than the 04+ model, and is cheaper. Also, personally I like the previous gen styling better.
 
Originally posted by: mariok2006
Originally posted by: BD2003
Originally posted by: mariok2006
2002-2003 Maxima and save the rest...
Click to expand...

Why the 02-03 instead of the 04+ newer model?
Click to expand...

It makes 255hp, only 10 less than the 04+ model, and is cheaper. Also, personally I like the previous gen styling better.
Click to expand...

Doesnt have a manual shift gate though...thats a deal breaker.
 
Might be able to find a last gen Altima for that price, 2004-2006 I think. Pretty much the same motor as the Maxima with a little less in the cushy dept.
 
Originally posted by: mariok2006
Originally posted by: BD2003
Originally posted by: mariok2006
2002-2003 Maxima and save the rest...
Click to expand...

Why the 02-03 instead of the 04+ newer model?
Click to expand...

It makes 255hp, only 10 less than the 04+ model, and is cheaper. Also, personally I like the previous gen styling better.
Click to expand...

Once my son turns 16 and gets the Altima, I am getting a 02-03 dark grey Maxima. Even though it will be 8 years old, I like the style.
 
get the older style maxima. but look for paint chips. i think that was the last one that was made in japan as well.

you'll probably never use that 'manual' mode on the shifter. they all are too slow to react.


and i have no idea how any G35 is in that range. i mean, i guess i need to take account of dealer markup when looking at autotrader ads, but even then you're just squeaking by.
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
get the older style maxima. but look for paint chips. i think that was the last one that was made in japan as well.
Click to expand...

Something about the style just doesnt do it for me (looks too plain). But everyone seems to be recommending the older maxima...so whats so special about it?

you'll probably never use that 'manual' mode on the shifter. they all are too slow to react.
Click to expand...

I guess the only way to find out is to try it.

and i have no idea how any G35 is in that range. i mean, i guess i need to take account of dealer markup when looking at autotrader ads, but even then you're just squeaking by.
Click to expand...

I'll be buying private party, and I've seen plenty of G's for sale in that range...edmunds TMV puts an 03 sedan at about 17k PP last I checked....the coupe was about 20k.
 
Nissans are nice however, I don't seem to like their interior componets. Opt for leather. The cloth seats tent to sink in pretty quickly and have a bad feeling. The door also are pretty crappy.
 
Originally posted by: BD2003

I'll be buying private party, and I've seen plenty of G's for sale in that range...edmunds TMV puts an 03 sedan at about 17k PP last I checked....the coupe was about 20k.
Click to expand...

i'm seeing coupes cheaper than sedans down here in houston on autotrader.

weird.


as for the maxima, the newer one is an afterthought (the thought being, let's put a 4 cylinder in the maxima and call it an altima). imho it looks big and fat, whereas the older ones were the '4 door sports car.' and like i said, i think the later body maximas have not been made in japan, whereas the prior body style was. not certain about that, though.
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
as for the maxima, the newer one is an afterthought (the thought being, let's put a 4 cylinder in the maxima and call it an altima). imho it looks big and fat, whereas the older ones were the '4 door sports car.' and like i said, i think the later body maximas have not been made in japan, whereas the prior body style was. not certain about that, though.
Click to expand...

The current Altima and Maxima aren't even based on the same platform anymore.
 
why not an is300? Comes with buttons on the steering wheel to change gear. And those things are rock solid
 
'03 Acura CL/TL S-Type seems to fit all of your criteria except it's not as torquey as the VQ from Nissan. Still a fairly quick car that is a near perfect compromise of all your requirements.
 
Originally posted by: DEMO24
why not an is300? Comes with buttons on the steering wheel to change gear. And those things are rock solid
Click to expand...

It's cramped, slow, and gets horrible gas milage.
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit
'03 Acura CL/TL S-Type seems to fit all of your criteria except it's not as torquey as the VQ from Nissan. Still a fairly quick car that is a near perfect compromise of all your requirements.
Click to expand...

Hmmm...me likey. I'll have to look into that one a bit more. 🙂

From what I can tell by looking over them real quick, theyre basically the same car, but coupe/sedan?
 
Originally posted by: BD2003
Originally posted by: vi_edit
'03 Acura CL/TL S-Type seems to fit all of your criteria except it's not as torquey as the VQ from Nissan. Still a fairly quick car that is a near perfect compromise of all your requirements.
Click to expand...

Hmmm...me likey. I'll have to look into that one a bit more. 🙂

From what I can tell by looking over them real quick, theyre basically the same car, but coupe/sedan?
Click to expand...

Yup. CL is coupe, TL is the sedan. Otherwise they essentially the same car from B-pillar forward.
 
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Originally posted by: ElFenix
as for the maxima, the newer one is an afterthought (the thought being, let's put a 4 cylinder in the maxima and call it an altima). imho it looks big and fat, whereas the older ones were the '4 door sports car.' and like i said, i think the later body maximas have not been made in japan, whereas the prior body style was. not certain about that, though.
Click to expand...

The current Altima and Maxima aren't even based on the same platform anymore.
Click to expand...

the last gen altima (3rd gen) was supposed to be the maxima, and then (after making the decision to put a 4 banger in it and call it altima) because there was no new maxima nissan just made a bigger, fatter altima and called it maxima. both cars rode on nissan's FF-L platform (with the murano and quest).

the new altima rides on the new D platform (which the maxima won't be on, apparently). so, while your statement is true, it isn't a counterpoint to my post, if that is what you intended.
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit
'03 Acura CL/TL S-Type seems to fit all of your criteria except it's not as torquey as the VQ from Nissan. Still a fairly quick car that is a near perfect compromise of all your requirements.
Click to expand...

I second this, Acura makes a hell of a nice series with the TL and deceased CL. EXCELLENT 3.2 motor. Check the history on the car, there were some notable problems with some of the trannys, but otherwise rock-solid, fast, dependable, classy.

As far as the little gate-shifter thing, I've never used them beyond the first couple of days of driving the car, and they DO NOT respond any faster than just sliding the gear lever into 3, turning off O/D, etc. Maybe if you have a Porsche tiptronic or something nifty, but even the '05 325i I drove didn't shift fast with the little gate-shifter gadget. Seems like more of a gimmick than anything else.
 
Originally posted by: Arkaign
Originally posted by: vi_edit
'03 Acura CL/TL S-Type seems to fit all of your criteria except it's not as torquey as the VQ from Nissan. Still a fairly quick car that is a near perfect compromise of all your requirements.
Click to expand...

I second this, Acura makes a hell of a nice series with the TL and deceased CL. EXCELLENT 3.2 motor. Check the history on the car, there were some notable problems with some of the trannys, but otherwise rock-solid, fast, dependable, classy.
Click to expand...

The only real issue I've had with Acuras is that they don't look the luxury part they're supposed to be playing. While I'm mostly concerned with whats under the hood, looks are still important. What does the Acura really have to offer over an Accord w/ V6 then? Leather, quieter, smoother?



As far as the little gate-shifter thing, I've never used them beyond the first couple of days of driving the car, and they DO NOT respond any faster than just sliding the gear lever into 3, turning off O/D, etc. Maybe if you have a Porsche tiptronic or something nifty, but even the '05 325i I drove didn't shift fast with the little gate-shifter gadget. Seems like more of a gimmick than anything else.
Click to expand...

I don't really expect it to replace a stick, but I'm not a fan of the way most slushboxes always keep try and keep you in the highest gear possible, and drop like a rock as soon as you lay off the gas.

I've always been told that you don't want to treat a standard auto like a manual, shifting in and out between D, 3, 2 etc - I'm *assuming* there is something different about the tiptronics that make it feasible for you to at least have some control about what gear you're in.
 
The TL and CL Type S have a lot more HP/Torque than the Accord V6 🙂 Better interior also 😀 You can get leather in the accord.

No, the gate-shifter will still kick you up and down gears when it wants, go to a dealer and test drive a model that has it, you'll see what I mean. It seems to have developed into a 'me-too!' option for cars, rather than anything truly useful.
 
More info (ripped from Edmunds) :

2003 Accord V6 = 240 Hp / 212 Torque / 4300 Lbs

2003 CL-S = 260 Hp / 232 Torque / 3510 Lbs

In short, night and day 😉 Max torque on the Acura 3.2 hits at 3500rpm, vs 5000rpm on the Accord. Even the 2007 Accord V6 gets owned by the Type S CL/TL series. The 3.2 is the same block used in the NSX, btw 😉
 
Originally posted by: Arkaign
More info (ripped from Edmunds) :

2003 Accord V6 = 240 Hp / 212 Torque / 4300 Lbs

2003 CL-S = 260 Hp / 232 Torque / 3510 Lbs

In short, night and day 😉 Max torque on the Acura 3.2 hits at 3500rpm, vs 5000rpm on the Accord. Even the 2007 Accord V6 gets owned by the Type S CL/TL series. The 3.2 is the same block used in the NSX, btw 😉
Click to expand...

V6 accord weighs about 3300 pounds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top