looking to purchase a car.

[PoorManQ45]

price range is <$5000.

I've been looking at 2000-2004 Maximas as I like that year body style.

thoughts and/or suggestions about this vehicle or others are much appreciated.

[MinisterofDOOM]

It's actually 2000-2003, 2004 was 6th gen (the round one).

'02 and '03 have VQ35s, '00 and '01 were VQ30.

[Razi]

240 bro!

[Ace2cool]

240 bro!

Dude just found out he's having a kid. Less than economical. I say go for the VQ35 Maxima. My friend has an '02 VQ35 Altima, and I absolutely love to drive it. Thing has basic mods and is decently quick. Torque steer in 1st is hell though.

[Razi]

I'm scared.

[Bubba1]

[Dude just found out he's having a kid. Less than economical. I say go for the VQ35 Maxima. My friend has an '02 VQ35 Altima, and I absolutely love to drive it. Thing has basic mods and is decently quick. Torque steer in 1st is hell though.

Actually, I used a 240sx for a few years when my son was very young, and had no problems. Max;s are nice cars. Do you want something that big or would you consider something smaller?

[krimsonviper]

MAZDA3 HATCHBACK! XD

[PoorManQ45]

am I in the right price range for the year maxima I'm looking at?

[Amays U G37S]

I come to haz free post.

VQ POWA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(rips off shirt in effort to express the powa of VQ powa)



oh and i think i got my weina out.

[Ace2cool]

I know you could get a decent VQ35 Altima for that price range, and believe me, you will not be disappointed.

[Jesda]

3.5 Maxima > 3.5 Altima

The Altima's interior and overall build quality are poor. Friend's 02 is a 2.5, so in addition to engine failure its eaten through an alternator, cats, electronic issues, and much more. You might end up with a decent Altima, but you might not. Its luck of the draw whether you get a well made one.

[MinisterofDOOM]

3.5 Maxima > 3.5 Altima

The Altima's interior and overall build quality are poor.

Absolutely. The two just don't compare.

Do you want something that big or would you consider something smaller?

You say "that big" like it's a Deville or Mark or something. It's a 5th gen Maxima. It's really not very big at all.

[Mr1der]

Accord Wagon.

[Kompresshun]

I'd look at 00-01 Maximas and I30's, personally I prefer the VQ30's but that's just me, 02-03's are good cars as well though. It'll be easier to find something in that price range though if you look at the 00-01's and the VQ30DE-K has really good power, i've had mine for over 2 years now and I still love it. I bought mine for $5,000 with 108k on it and was in nearly perfect condition, it has 141k on it now and it has been very reliable.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Get an I35.

Nicer interior than the Maxima, and they cost less. Basically the same car other than a few exterior pieces.

[krimsonviper]

MS6!

[Ace2cool]

MS6!

!

I like the Speed3's better.

[krimsonviper]

Yeah, but it looks like PMQ wants a midsize car. If he does go with an MS6, I hope he doesn't go with purple. I hated that color for that car from the very beginning.

[Bubba1]

You say "that big" like it's a Deville or Mark or something. It's a 5th gen Maxima. It's really not very big at all.

No, I said "that big" because a Maxima is considered a "full sized" sedan.
There are many smaller competent sedans available in the market.

[HashiriyaS14]

You can get an MX6 for $5,000?


But yeah, VQ 5th-Gen Max is a nice ride, I35 is even nicer. Either are good bets, IMO.

[Jesda]

I would buy a MS6 right now if it was 5 grand.

I35 has the cool power rear sunshade. Great for your baby which will be in the back seat [WAS THAT PREGNANCY THING REAL OR LULZ?]

[Ace2cool]

I would buy a MS6 right now if it was 5 grand.

I35 has the cool power rear sunshade. Great for your baby which will be in the back seat [WAS THAT PREGNANCY THING REAL OR LULZ?]

It was lulz. Good lulz, but lulz nonetheless.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Get an I35.

Nicer interior than the Maxima, and they cost less. Basically the same car other than a few exterior pieces.

Nope. No nicer interior. The ONLY differences in the interior are the top of the center stack (which has an analog clock on the I) and the emblem on the steering wheel. It's also a LOT easier to find Maximas with manuals than Is. And I'd argue that the Max is far nicer looking than the I and always has been. And the I definitely isn't cheaper either. But they do look good in black.

You say "that big" like it's a Deville or Mark or something. It's a 5th gen Maxima. It's really not very big at all.

No, I said "that big" because a Maxima is considered a "full sized" sedan.
There are many smaller competent sedans available in the market.

EPA calls it midsize. Not that I give a damn what they think, but I felt like getting semantic.

It'd be nice if your 2nd comment above was true, but it isn't--quite. This is the US market, not Europe. You can't get small cars with nice interiors...at least not until the last 3 or 4 years.
What I'm really getting at, I guess, is that the Altima still hasn't joined the "My Interior Actually Impresses and Doesn't Merely Satisfy" club to this day. Even the 5th gen Max leaves things to be desired inside, but it's still miles ahead of the Alty, though nowhere near the refinement found inside the 6th gen (which blows away even the Mt Fuji wearing G35).
When you move up in size in US-market cars, you're buying more than interior SPACE. Most of the time you're buying interior fit-and-finish as well. Well, unless you're buying Ford, then you get Fisher Price buttons no matter how much you're spending.

[Kompresshun]

I would buy a MS6 right now if it was 5 grand.

I35 has the cool power rear sunshade. Great for your baby which will be in the back seat

I'd buy one too for $5k, my buddy had one and it was a blast to drive. Although he cracked a piston in it twice and killed a turbo within the first 30k miles(he drives like an idiot so it's no surprise). He paid $26k for the thing though, which I can think of a lot better things to buy with that kind of cash.

I have not used that sunshade in mine a single time, other than showing it off to a couple of people when I bought the car.

Nope. No nicer interior. The ONLY differences in the interior are the top of the center stack (which has an analog clock on the I) and the emblem on the steering wheel. It's also a LOT easier to find Maximas with manuals than Is. And I'd argue that the Max is far nicer looking than the I and always has been. And the I definitely isn't cheaper either. But they do look good in black.

Also no handbrake either, which I still have mixed feelings about... why in the heck would you put a foot brake in a only slightly different vehicle than the Max? Even though I prefer the looks of the Maxima's, the I30/I35's look really good with some minor cosmetic mods and they are a lot cheaper to pick up. It seems like most of them are taken care of better than Maximas too, at least around here they are, mainly because old people drive them.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I forgot about the e-brake. I actually prefer a foot brake because it clears up console space. But the 4th pedal can get in the way. The ideal solution in my eyes is an electronic e-brake (assuming you trust the electronics) like the one in my LS:


The button is out of the way, and the brake releases itself when shifting out of park.

[Bubba1]

[It'd be nice if your 2nd comment above was true, but it isn't--quite. This is the US market, not Europe. You can't get small cars with nice interiors...at least not until the last 3 or 4 years.
What I'm really getting at, I guess, is that the Altima still hasn't joined the "My Interior Actually Impresses and Doesn't Merely Satisfy" club to this day. Even the 5th gen Max leaves things to be desired inside, but it's still miles ahead of the Alty, though nowhere near the refinement found inside the 6th gen (which blows away even the Mt Fuji wearing G35).
.

I think my 2nd comment is true, even in the US market. Off the top of my head, I can think of several older well made sedans, like the TSX (introduced about 7 yrs ago), Acura Integra, Subie 2.5 RS or Legacy, BMW 3 series, Mazda 3, Honduh Accord or Civic, Toyota Corolla, Camry, VW Jetta, in another year or two you can add the smaller end of the Hyundai line, as they've improved steadily.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I think my 2nd comment is true, even in the US market. Off the top of my head, I can think of several older well made sedans, like the TSX (introduced about 7 yrs ago), Acura Integra, Subie 2.5 RS or Legacy, BMW 3 series, Mazda 3, Honduh Accord or Civic, Toyota Corolla, Camry, VW Jetta, in another year or two you can add the smaller end of the Hyundai line, as they've improved steadily.

I didn't say you can't find well made small cars. I said you can't find small cars with NICE INTERIORS (which only THREE of those ELEVEN cars can claim.

Build quality is not a part of my argument. Interior refinement is.

[Kompresshun]

I forgot about the e-brake. I actually prefer a foot brake because it clears up console space. But the 4th pedal can get in the way. The ideal solution in my eyes is an electronic e-brake (assuming you trust the electronics) like the one in my LS:


The button is out of the way, and the brake releases itself when shifting out of park.

Good point there, I do like the extra console space. I think I just get annoyed with it because of you having to pull a release for it, my step dads Mark VIII had the foot brake but you pressed it down slightly to release it. That or an auto release would be nice...

On a side note, I love the LS. Still one of my favorite Lincolns to date, I really think it's a shame that Lincoln doesn't offer a RWD sedan anymore I don't mind the MKZ but even with that, why not just buy a Fusion?

[Bubba1]

I think my 2nd comment is true, even in the US market. Off the top of my head, I can think of several older well made sedans, like the TSX (introduced about 7 yrs ago), Acura Integra, Subie 2.5 RS or Legacy, BMW 3 series, Mazda 3, Honduh Accord or Civic, Toyota Corolla, Camry, VW Jetta, in another year or two you can add the smaller end of the Hyundai line, as they've improved steadily.

I didn't say you can't find well made small cars. I said you can't find small cars with NICE INTERIORS (which only THREE of those ELEVEN cars can claim.

Build quality is not a part of my argument. Interior refinement is.

I thought we were discussing the relative size of a Maxima. If we're discussing nice interiors, more than 3 of those 11 have nice interiors. But I'm not sure I quite understand the relevance of interior refinement as an indicator of how good a car is.

[MinisterofDOOM]

But I'm not sure I quite understand the relevance of interior refinement as an indicator of how good a car is.

I don't see how I could possibly be more clear that this is NOT the argument I am making.

But it doesn't matter anyway. It was an aside comment, and it doesn't need to derail this thread.