2014 Chevrolet SS Sedan

[AZhitman]

The more power you have, the less annoying it is to have an auto

This.

Agree on the "fun" part. However, the car needs to be in its proper environment. My C5 became a chore to commute in, primarily because the 0-15-5-35-15-0 stoplight tango got real old, real fast. An automatic would have likely made it more tolerable.

I'll buy another one as soon as I no longer have that congested city commute.

[RicerX]

I wish Nissan would just make the Maxima a RWD deal like this thing. Then there'd be reason to manufacture both it and the Altima. I would also dump both my Z and my Mazda for one. But I'm not counting on that happening anytime soon. My Mazda basically symbolizes my breakup with Nissan, and unless the next Z blows my mind for the money, I'll be looking elsewhere for my weekend vehicle.

[Bubba1]

I wish Nissan would just make the Maxima a RWD deal like this thing. Then there'd be reason to manufacture both it and the Altima. I would also dump both my Z and my Mazda for one. But I'm not counting on that happening anytime soon. My Mazda basically symbolizes my breakup with Nissan, and unless the next Z blows my mind for the money, I'll be looking elsewhere for my weekend vehicle.

With the Alti, G35 (er Q something) and Middlema...er maxima all close in size, they oughta do something with the Max. I think if they simply stretch it a foot in the middle, like Toyota did with the Camry, keep the price the same, Nissan will have an instant competitor for the Avalon.

[DrewH]

There's no room to do anything with it price point wise. You might be able to make it bigger but there's certainly no room to absorb adding RWD drivetrain. As is a loaded Max currently comes in around $44k and anybody spending that kind of money vs. buying a G37 (or soon to be Q50) has got to be out of their mind. You want RWD in a Maxima? Buy a G.

[Ace2cool]

We want the 4DSC back, that's all.

[DrewH]

We want the 4DSC back, that's all.

Oh I totally understand that and agree because it was a Maxima that got me in the Nissan game back in the mid 90's. Truthfully though the last state side car that should have worn that moniker was the early 4th gen Altima and the 3rd gen before it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

You want RWD in a Maxima? Buy a G.

An M. not a G. The G is a lot smaller than the Max. If you want a RWD Maxima, you want an M.

Still, $44k for anything FWD other than maybe a DeVille is nonsense. Oh, and the DeVille is dead. So nonsense.

[RicerX]

The M is $60k anyway. The Max in RWD for $40k would work perfectly. The G is not even much bigger than a Sentra.

[DrewH]

Haha. The G is not that small and the only dimension worth mentioning that the Max has on it is width. That said we never have issues with space in ours.

[Ace2cool]

I couldn't load a p0ker table into a G sedan's back seat, but got it into a Maxima. Something something actually designed as a sedan something something.

[gwoods]

An M. not a G. The G is a lot smaller than the Max. If you want a RWD Maxima, you want an M..

You keep saying its alot smaller it is 5 !!!5!!! cubic feet smaller in the passenger compartment and most of it is backseat leg room. The G actually has a few dimensions in the front seat that are bigger then the Maxima.

MOD you might go to cars.com and compare the Maxima to the G35.

Front legroom same 43.9"
Rear legroom Maxima 36.5" G 34.7" less then 2"
Front headroom G 40.5" Max 40.1"
Rear headroom G 37.7" Max 37.3"
Front hiproom G 55.1" Max 53.5"
Rear hiproom Max 54.8" G 53.7"
Front shoulder Max 55.6" G 54.8"
Rear shoulder Max 56.5" G 55.2"
Luggage Max 15.5 cu ft G 13.5 cu ft Max is front drive most of the extra volume is vertical both cars are about the same length. The G is slightly longer at 112.2" vs mx 111.2"
Passenger volume 99 cu ft G 104 cu ft Max 5 cubic feet bigger and most of it is rear leg room.

[Ace2cool]

Rear door entry size?

[MinisterofDOOM]

MOD you might go to cars.com and compare the Maxima to the G35.

I don't need to reference some website. I have driven and ridden in both. The Maxima is significantly, noticeably, observably larger. It comes down to this: I fit in the back seat of a Maxima. I do not fit in the back of a G sedan. It is smaller.

[Jesda]

I agree -- despite the numbers, the G feels much smaller overall.

[gwoods]

I have also driven in and ridden in both and owned a G sedan for over 5 years. Perhaps my 6'2" folds a little better then yours but the back seat of either car was equally uncomfortable to me. Did you also find the front seat of a G is measurably larger then the front seat of Maxima. As the dad/man I spend almost no time in the backseat of anything we own. If the kids are not complaining or kicking my seat everything is fine. I think the relativlely flat floor in the Maxima might be responsible for the back seat feeling so much bigger. In the G middle seat is straddling a drive shaft tunnel in the Maxima your not. In the G the side foot wells are defined by the driveshaft tunnel in the Maxima you can invade the middle seats space with your feet flat on the floor.

[gwoods]

Rear door entry size?

Big enough for a great dane thats big enough to look over the fence

[Razi]

Well, we could all fit if we were on all fours.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I think the relativlely flat floor in the Maxima might be responsible for the back seat feeling so much bigger. In the G middle seat is straddling a drive shaft tunnel in the Maxima your not.

Maxima rear floor is not flat. There's a tunnel for exhaust plumbing.

[Bubba1]

I agree -- despite the numbers, the G feels much smaller overall.

Yeah, those pesky measurements really get in the way sometimes.... j/k.

There are some items I would think might alter one's perception of space. For example, if the G had more bolstering in their rear seats than th Max, it might make one feel more closed in. Another thought is if one had a moon roof and the other did not.

[Jesda]

The curvature of the roof, the thickness of the seat padding, the amount of space to tuck feet under the seat, the size of the greenhouse, the thickness of the pillars -- all of it can make a difference between a cabin that feels open or confining.

Neither of them are adequate back there compared to the Avalon, CTS, 300, or TL. That said, the CTS, despite having a decent amount of space (I once took an '09 3.6 to Chicago and back with three other adults), does feel smaller because of the high door sills and thick C-pillar which can make the back feel like a cave.

[WDRacing]

What Chevy needs to do is put the Impala name back on a big flagship rear driver where it belongs

This.

[gwoods]

I agree -- despite the numbers, the G feels much smaller overall.

Yeah, those pesky measurements really get in the way sometimes.... j/k.

There are some items I would think might alter one's perception of space. For example, if the G had more bolstering in their rear seats than th Max, it might make one feel more closed in. Another thought is if one had a moon roof and the other did not.

What I am saying regardless of how the car makes you feel reality is that the Maxima is 5 cubic feet bigger and its almost all in the back seat. The G sedan is actually roomier in most front seat measurements vs the Maxima. Jesda nailed it in a couple differences in his post too. I understand how a car can make you feel but if your feelings are contrary to facts....they are invalid.

The 2007 Maxima was a car I looked at before picking the 2007 G35 I had them side by side with a car seat test fit. The nearly 2" of extra rear leg room in the Maxima was quickly negated by a back to back test drive. There is a lot to be said for 306 hp vs 250 hp in a car that is within 50lbs curb weight of each other especially if one is right wheel drive.

OP sorry for MOD and I's G vs Max blood shed spilling over into your Chevy SS discussion.

[Ace2cool]

if your feelings are contrary to facts....they are invalid.

I wholeheartedly disagree. The entire point of the car is how it feels to you. It doesn't matter what the actual point-to-point measurements are, but rather how you personally feel in the car. A car seat isn't a good enough test, as a child doesn't have the weight to compress the stiffer seat in the G, or the softer seat in the Max.

Likewise, the measurements can be distorted by intrusions into the interior. The S2000, for example, has a chassis brace that is very noticeable in the passenger floorboard. Makes it feel smaller in the passenger side than if it weren't there.

Your statement here is the equivalent of saying that the stiff walmart couch is the same as the very soft and plush furniture warehouse couch because they are the same width.

[WDRacing]

I understand how a car can make you feel but if your feelings are contrary to facts....they are invalid.

They are only invalid in terms of technical discussion though. Perception trumps actual numbers 100% of the time when it comes to the actual driving experience.

[gwoods]

Your statement here is the equivalent of saying that the stiff walmart couch is the same as the very soft and plush furniture warehouse couch because they are the same width.

Your example provides a tangible testable difference (cushion stiffness) besides feeling but I understand what you are saying. I could agree with MOD if he were saying in both threads that the G35 while only being 5 cubic feet smaller in the passenger compartment FEELS much smaller (I actually agree it does feel smaller). That isn't what he said he is saying it is "The Maxima is significantly, noticeably, observably larger." and frankly it isn't although it does feel like it is. The G is actually a longer car with a measurably larger front seat.

The other point of this I went from a 4 door 200 hp dual stage nitrous powered 12 second Dodge Ram short bed to a G35 Sedan. If felt tiny to me and compared to the Ram it was. Over time my feelings changed and the G felt a bit roomy, I like being about to tip down my toe on a long drive with my leg fully extended (36x34 jeans=long legs) and I could do that in the G just like I could in the Ram. Feels not based in facts can change to match the facts.

[gwoods]

I understand how a car can make you feel but if your feelings are contrary to facts....they are invalid.

They are only invalid in terms of technical discussion though. Perception trumps actual numbers 100% of the time when it comes to the actual driving experience.

True but perception for most people can change over time.

Heres an example from this week. My Jag felt fast when I bought it in September so fast that I scrapped my plans to give it 1.7lbs more boost and the software to use it before I found out how fragile it is. I looked at Audi A7's yesterday and have my name on the list of people to call when an S7 comes in stock. Because the S7 can do 0-60 in 3.7 seconds vs my Jags 4.2