Hi, I'm fairly new to this forum. I'm in the process of buying a new car, and am considering the Maxima at around $24k or the G35 at $27.5k. (Both base prices)
If I choose to get the options on the Maxima to match up the features with the G35 (leather, 6cd changer, etc...), it'll probably cost around 2000 more.
So I was just wondering from you Maxima owners on which car seems like the better value. Of course, the G35 is RWD, so more of a sporty car, but worse gas mileage. Also, I know the G35 is a very dependable car, so I wanted to know if the Maxima is the same, or if there are any long term problems with the car.
2006 Maxima vs G35
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MinisterofDOOM
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Re: 2006 Maxima vs G35 (minhong)
Welcome!
I'm assuming, based on price, that you're looking into a current model Maxima.
My opinion is that the Maxima is the better VALUE, while the G35 can be more fun. I love RWD, so that would be the major selling point of the G35 over the Maxima for me. But the Maxima is larger, and more luxurious (even thought the G is an Infiniti), while being about as sporty as a FWD car can be.
I have no experience with G35 reliability, but my dad has one of the earliest 2004 Maximas, and we've had no problems with it at all, aside from one stupid interior issue (a door over a storage compartment broke). I think it's approaching 30k miles...
I love the 2004 Maxima. It's nice and big, but it doesn't FEEL big when you're driving it.(definitely feels bigger than my '93, though). It's got plenty of power, and runs just fine on regular gas (I always put 91 in, but my dad feels content with 87, and the car never misses a beat). The car averages mid to upper 20s as far as fuel milage. On long, mostly-interstate roadtrips we regularly see 31. When I drive it milage drops a couple points, but that's because I drive harder and don't use overdrive. There's great backseat room, thanks to foot spaces under the front seats. The trunk is huge, and the rear seats fold with a 60/40 split (and are lockable for security).
The interior is awesome--well laid out, with lots of soft plastics and good looking brushed aluminum. There's faux-suede wrapping around the entire interior just below the beltline--lining the doors above the armrests and continuing around below the windshield in a thin band. It looks very good.There's tons of storage space. The leather seats on the SE are perforated and well ventilated, and they look fantastic. I love the heated seats and steering wheel in the winter. The Skyview roof is also very cool, though it can look goofy on lighter colored cars--but if you don't like it, you can replace it with the regular power sunroof.
One of the main turn-offs as far as the Maxima goes for people is the concept of torque steer--especially for people who are used to RWD. I don't find the torque steer to be nearly as big a deal as it's made out to be. If you get an SE with the manual transmission, it comes with a limited slip differential which does a lot to lessen the torque steer. But even on my dad's car, with the manumatic 5 speed (which does not have an LSD) it's not too bad--it's just something you adjust to.
Will this be your only car? Are you looking for something that's pure toy, or something that's a bit more practical? Those would be the biggest deciding factors for Maxima vs G35 if I were comparing the two.
I'm assuming, based on price, that you're looking into a current model Maxima.
My opinion is that the Maxima is the better VALUE, while the G35 can be more fun. I love RWD, so that would be the major selling point of the G35 over the Maxima for me. But the Maxima is larger, and more luxurious (even thought the G is an Infiniti), while being about as sporty as a FWD car can be.
I have no experience with G35 reliability, but my dad has one of the earliest 2004 Maximas, and we've had no problems with it at all, aside from one stupid interior issue (a door over a storage compartment broke). I think it's approaching 30k miles...
I love the 2004 Maxima. It's nice and big, but it doesn't FEEL big when you're driving it.(definitely feels bigger than my '93, though). It's got plenty of power, and runs just fine on regular gas (I always put 91 in, but my dad feels content with 87, and the car never misses a beat). The car averages mid to upper 20s as far as fuel milage. On long, mostly-interstate roadtrips we regularly see 31. When I drive it milage drops a couple points, but that's because I drive harder and don't use overdrive. There's great backseat room, thanks to foot spaces under the front seats. The trunk is huge, and the rear seats fold with a 60/40 split (and are lockable for security).
The interior is awesome--well laid out, with lots of soft plastics and good looking brushed aluminum. There's faux-suede wrapping around the entire interior just below the beltline--lining the doors above the armrests and continuing around below the windshield in a thin band. It looks very good.There's tons of storage space. The leather seats on the SE are perforated and well ventilated, and they look fantastic. I love the heated seats and steering wheel in the winter. The Skyview roof is also very cool, though it can look goofy on lighter colored cars--but if you don't like it, you can replace it with the regular power sunroof.
One of the main turn-offs as far as the Maxima goes for people is the concept of torque steer--especially for people who are used to RWD. I don't find the torque steer to be nearly as big a deal as it's made out to be. If you get an SE with the manual transmission, it comes with a limited slip differential which does a lot to lessen the torque steer. But even on my dad's car, with the manumatic 5 speed (which does not have an LSD) it's not too bad--it's just something you adjust to.
Will this be your only car? Are you looking for something that's pure toy, or something that's a bit more practical? Those would be the biggest deciding factors for Maxima vs G35 if I were comparing the two.
Re: 2006 Maxima vs G35 (MinisterofDOOM)
Yes, this will be my only car. It will in fact, be the first car I buy by myself (22 yrs old). I do value good handling/acceleration/feel, but I worry about how much I'll actually notice it and get to use it while driving around the city and the traffic congested freeways in the Bay Area.
I think overall, with the lower gas mileage, higher insurance, higher payments, it will come out to about 1000 a year more expensive to own a G35. I guess if the Maxima is a really good car w/ good reliability, it'll be up to me whether or not the RWD and the better handling is worth that much.
I think overall, with the lower gas mileage, higher insurance, higher payments, it will come out to about 1000 a year more expensive to own a G35. I guess if the Maxima is a really good car w/ good reliability, it'll be up to me whether or not the RWD and the better handling is worth that much.