1 week in SoCal in '03 Maxima SE

[greg_atlanta]

Just spent a week in SoCal in a 2003 Maxima SE... was hoping to get an Altima from Enterprise, but got Maxima instead.

I was VERY impressed with the drivetrain, both engine and transmission were buttery smooth. A lot more eager than the 2000-01 I30s I've driven a few times.

The handling was very good too, very sharp around corners. Whatever they do with the rear suspension seems to work (live axle beam?). But the ride on rougher roads is BRUTAL. A lot of the interstates in SoCal are concrete and have very pronouced joints... I'm sure all cars take a beating but the Maxima made things worse.

Not sure what's to blame... 17" wheels with 50 profile tires, the stiffer springs, the FWD (don't FWD cars have to have stiffer springs to support the added weight??). I drove a Maxima GXE (lux version) on a test drive a few months ago and it also rode very stiff, so I don't think the SE package is to blame.

Only other gripe is no telescopic steering wheel. Does new Altima have one?

BTW... torque steer can be FUN!!! (esp. when they're not your tires)

[PalmerWMD]

tell us more.

How did you enjoy the interior, the handling, SoCal itself.Sunroof/AC work well?

I know you are pampered, coming from a $60,000 car but still I wanna hear more.

Fred...:thumbup

[jEzTeR]

Only other gripe is no telescopic steering wheel. Does new Altima have one?

BTW... torque steer can be FUN!!! (esp. when they're not your tires)

Well the Altima does not have the telescopic steering wheel as far as I can remember (Ive had mine 1 year today the Nissan dealer sent my car a B-day card today:D )Just tilt.

The torque steer and trac control take some getting used to but I think ive got it down pat now(we will see at the march 8th meet:D )

[theTony]

Nissan calls the rear suspention on the 02/03 Maxima a Multi-Link Beam suspension. The SE models, which are the ones Enterprise uses in thier fleet adds a higer rate to the rear springs and a thicker stabilzer bar on the front. Personally, I like the stiffer ride, and I feel very confident entering and exiting on highway cloverleafs.

You are right... torque steer IS fun!

[audtatious]

Oh, BS! Stock suspension sux! Torque steer sux! Lack of a SC/AWD option SUX!

Admit it!

Tony, I'll let you give mine a spin and see how good the stock suspension really is! :wiggle

[jEzTeR]

Oh, BS! Stock suspension sux! Torque steer sux! Lack of a SC/AWD option SUX!

Admit it!

Tony, I'll let you give mine a spin and see how good the stock suspension really is! :wiggle

For a factory suspension its very good!Sure AWD would be nice:D

[audtatious]

You're right, it's not that bad. Being that I put 80% highway miles on it, I grew to dislike the way it handled over bridge transitions, rough road and such. It was too "floaty". This car replaced a '93 Probe GT which was an awesome handler and had no torque steer at all. While the Max does not handle as great as the GT did, it is getting there and feels a whole lot better than it did

[Q451990]

Just got my March Car and Driver yesterday with a review of the 2004 Maxima. They dedicated about three paragraphs about how this car could have been a contender except for the terrible torque steer! The writers even commented that not taking the time to design the torque steer away could be cost cutting since Nissan is rolling out so many new models right now.... to listen to these guys it ruins the whole car it's so bad - let's hope not!

Guess the RWD G35 still looks pretty good!

Heath

[jEzTeR]

Guess the RWD G35 still looks pretty good!

Heath

YES it does!:thumbup

What couls Nissan do to get rid of the touque steer?(besides AWD/RWD) The traction controle option on my Altima helpsa little bit.

[greg_atlanta]

Guess the RWD G35 still looks pretty good!

But it's WAY too cramped inside (for me, at least).

Can't fit unless it doesn't have sunroof (space utilization, design is horrible -- same problem with Maxima). And my right knee rubs against the center console on G35 (not to mention my thigh on the seat switches). And, like the Maxima, no telescopic wheel -- which I've decided is a MUST for me (short arms).

I'd really have problems choosing my next car if I was 5'8"... could fit in anything! (I'm 6'2", and not all arms and legs like most tall people).

[greg_atlanta]

FRED!!! Move this back to Infiniti General forum. It's one of those "I'm glad I have a Q45" empowerment stories.

I know you want to diversify the forums, but reality is 95% of people stick to one forum and don't look elsewhere.

Thanks!

[Mayhem_J30]

Does the 2002/2003 max come with a rear sway bar? I remember the 4th gens not having one...and that stupid beam axle. (which i read was going away on the 2004)

[greg_atlanta]

It still has the beam axle on '02-'03 models. The rear suspension felt OK but the front was way too stiff for real world driving.

Car & Driver has preview of 2004 Maxima and it's generally favorable, but the front and rear headroom is actually REDUCED over prior models. But the new model does have telescopic wheel, so I'll have to check it out. Should be a dealers in a month or so.

[6speedG35sedan]

I also looked at the Maxima and Altima. The torque steer was the factor that made me decide to go with the G35. I got the 6 speed (they just came out) RWD is heaven!! The cost of the G35 sedan 6 speed is the same as a 03 Maxima:D

[jEzTeR]

how much extra is it for the coupe,nav,18"'s,brembos?

[6speedG35sedan]

I drove a coupe with Brembos and 6 speed it didn't have the NAV though and it was $37K. The standard brakes are great. I really couldn't tell the difference with the Brems. Though I wasn't at the track.

[greg_atlanta]

The cost of the G35 sedan 6 speed is the same as a 03 Maxima:D

But there are better dealer incentives on Maximas... I see ads for $5K off sticker all the time. With new model coming out soon 2003 models should be a bargain.

Did you special order the 6 speed G35? Or did you grab one off the lot? Were you forced into a lot of options?

Very hard to find G35 without sunroof in Atlanta.

[6speedG35sedan]

Your right there are deals on 03's all the time now, like you said the new 2004 is coming so they don't want to get stuck with alot of 2003. The same thing happened when they changed the Altima.

I was actually ready to buy a auto G35, I had mentioned to the sales person that really wanted to get a 6 speed. He said that all the 6 speeds were being used for the coupes. Well that night he called and said they got just one, that just came off the truck. It was the first 6 speed at that dealer. They said it was the first one in So. Cal., (sure). Needless to say I got down there as fast as I could. Mine is the standard 6 speed with the performance package. Leather, elec driver seat, 17" wheels, Xenon lights and the aero pkg (not the spoiler and chin spoiler). Sticker on my car was $29,715.00. I paid under that. The only option was the trunk mat $70.00

The other thing to remember is resale value. Infiniti has higher resale than Nissan (sorry). The other thing is buying a car from Infiniti as opposed to Nissan is a very different experience. Customer care is very important to Infiniti. Plus they give loaner cars when you do any service, including oil changes.

Price isn't everything.

[greg_atlanta]

Wow... great price!

I think I've convinvced myself I don't want a manual transmission unless it's a 2nd car, and it'll be a while before I'm in a position to own 2 cars.

Pretty happy with the clutch feel and shifter? I played with 350Z and it felt about right, but not sure I'd want to deal with it day after day.

[6speedG35sedan]

The shifter is close and tight. I have owned a Honda S2000 and this is just as good. I use the G35 as a daily driver in stop and Go and it really is not all that bad. Hell , I live in So. Cal we invented stop and go traffic. When your ready to buy just take a look at the 6 speed. It is worth it. By the way the 6 speed is more expensive than the auto G35.

[PalmerWMD]

Mine is the standard 6 speed with the performance package. Leather, elec driver seat, 17" wheels, Xenon lights and the aero pkg (not the spoiler and chin spoiler). Sticker on my car was $29,715.00. I paid under that.

WOW! thats an awesome price.

Fred..

[6speedG35sedan]

The dealer is Mission Viejo Infiniti. They really have a great inventroy of G35's. When I bought my 6 speed it was their first one. They haven't recieved since then. But they had 50 G35's in stock when I bought mine. Take a look at their inventory online at http://www.infiniti.com. They even had three cloth strippys in stock. They always sell undr sticker. Well except coupes, those they sell at sticker, never an add on sticker.

[jEzTeR]

Ive been looking at the G35's in this area and they are a way better deal than the 350z.Not to mention the fact that you get a back seat!:D