Which Gen is the best?

[Gman8990]

Ok... its pretty self explanatory... vote for your favorite gen of the maxima... mine goes to the 4th gen... just like it ... its also the one i drive

[PBfrEAk]

For me its a toss up between 3rd and 4th.

Why??

Well I love the 3rd gen's style...I just love it. Plus I'm a big fan of the VG.

But at the same time the 4th gen looks SOO good. (I prefer the tail lights of the I30 and the Maxima front clip lol) And you can't forget the VQ. Such a great engine and the 4th gen has so many more mods available.

On a side Note, I don't really think the 1st gen should be in this poll because it was the only one that was RWD. But if since its on here...it would have to be a 3 way tie because a RWD VG powered Maxima is just the ****.

[MinisterofDOOM]

There are things I like about all Maxima generations--they all have strengths and weaknesses--but third gen stands out as the best in my eyes.For it's time (and even compared to other Maximas) it seems like a higher-tier car. Build quality, materials, design, everything just seems a step up. True, neither engine is the powerhouse that the VQ turned out to be, but even the SOHC VG has a lot going for it, and the VE is certainly no slouch motor.

I also like the 3rd gen's styling best of all. (Although there specific cues from other generations that I like more, such as the 4th gen's fender flares.)

[mtcookson]

3rd gen of course... though I am just a little biased.

[DragonMaxima]

3rd Gens are by far my fave.

Engine is a lil under powered, but you can always use Z31 Engine components to make it better.

Its a timeless and classic look!!!

[oilerftbll84]

I give it up to the 5th Gen. Maybe cause i have it but it hasnt given me any problems and its just a perfect overall car. Looks and performance wise.

[nj1sh]

VQ is getting tweaked from generation to generation so the newest is the best engine wise.... looks Ill have to give it to 4th gen. Still looks sick after all these years.

[tmorales509]

I like the 3rd gen probly because i have one, but i also like the 4th gen, Im gonna get a 95 or 96 when i save some money.

[blackmax23]

I'd have to say 5th generation. 255 hp, 6 spd. with those aggressive hid headlights, man those are mean. I'm not knocking my 99, well, kinda, but if I got my hands on an 02-03 6 spd., I'd be banking in for mods! What potential that car has. Looks, performance, luxury, and sound, what more can you ask for?!

[sweet3rdgen]

3rd gen...hands down. This is the car that started the 4DSC love fest. The VG is a solid torque-y engine that is strong as f^ck internally. The VE is loved by it's owners.

The 4th gen may be more modify-able, with a bigger aftermarket support, and the VQ, but it lacks the independent rear suspension that truly spells "sports car". Everything since may have VQ power but they just look like eggs, to me.

[davskins97]

I like the 5th gen the best. I wanted a max when I was in high school (late 80's) and the milf down the street had a bad *** red one. That was great combined package. Then the subsequent years went in a direction that didn't appeal to me. I didn't start liking them again until the 5th gen. The 3rd and 4th gens look dated to me now. I have upgraded my vehicle every time I buy one, so there's really no going backwards for me. Don't know what my next vehicle will be. Maybe the new max will be more of the 4dsc like it's supposed to be. Otherwise I'm thinking an '08 Evo. The awd with yaw control would be sweet for summer performance and winter traction.

[sweet3rdgen]

This just goes to show that everybody has a reason for liking what they like. Be it a "first car was" or "the milf down the street had one" or "performance options" or whatever.

[Presscott707]

it may be ugly but the 1st gen is the one i like. but i could never find one without rust.

[hsckris]

3rd gen...hands down. This is the car that started the 4DSC love fest.

+1.

I was sad to see our old 93 SE go... That car used to handle some other "sporty" cars of the day no problem. It was a great car.

Here is a crappy old picture of her (but the only one I could find):

[danielekfuj]

its not fair. im biased.

[justjuiceit4]

4th Gen for sure! The 3rd gen with the automatic base motor was painfully slow. My best friend got one brand new and we got 0-60 in 13 seconds! I drove a few 3rd gen SEs and they had very weird handling traits, but very nice engine.

The 4th gen had much more durable auto transmissions and even an auto was capable of doing 0-60 in under 8 seconds. I love the brakes on the 4th gen. I was racing one in the Poconos and I let one of the instructors drive the car. He was like "what kind of upgrades did you do to the brakes?!" I said they were stock! I was able to dive bomb most of the "sport" cars there.

[sweet3rdgen]

4th Gen for sure! The 3rd gen with the automatic base motor was painfully slow. My best friend got one brand new and we got 0-60 in 13 seconds!

Road and Track tested the car new and recorded 0-60 in 8.6 seconds and quarter in a little over 16. The 92 thru 94 SE recorded a 0-60 in 7 flat. 13 seconds? I don't think so. I will agree that the VG auto was a weak trans, but bad enough to slow a car to a crawl, no.

[Gman8990]

sweet3rd... sorry to be mean but you are wrong... the 4th gen auto is listed as 7.1 secs... the 3rd gen VG engine is listed as 8.9... not 13 but still slow... heres the link

http://www.maximaclub.org/previous.shtml

[the converted]

so how many people voted for 5th gen and meant 5.5?

[justjuiceit4]

Road and Track tested the car new and recorded 0-60 in 8.6 seconds and quarter in a little over 16. The 92 thru 94 SE recorded a 0-60 in 7 flat. 13 seconds? I don't think so. I will agree that the VG auto was a weak trans, but bad enough to slow a car to a crawl, no.

Well the guy driving was not a professional driver! We had some people in the car with the a/c on. Believe it! You are very ignorant to think that all of them will do 0-60 in 8.6 seconds. Poor driving can add a half of second to a second. A green engine and/or poorly toleranced engine can add even more time to that number. This car felt like it was built on a Friday at an American plant!Yes, having people in the car will slow down any car, but this car was really struggling.

[PBfrEAk]

sweet3rd... sorry to be mean but you are wrong... the 4th gen auto is listed as 7.1 secs... the 3rd gen VG engine is listed as 8.9... not 13 but still slow...

Well before you start calling people out I'd read his post again.

The 92 thru 94 SE recorded a 0-60 in 7 flat.

Now I'm no rocket scientist but the '92-'94 Maxima SE's were VE's...NOT VG's...only the '89-'91 SE's were VG's.

And as you can clearly see

ENGINE/DRIVETRAIN (VE30DE):Engine: iron block DOHC V6 with aluminum heads and variable inductionBore and stroke 93.0 x 73.3 mmDisplacement: 2960cc 3.0LCompression: 10.0:1Max engine speed: 6500 rpmPower (SAE net): 190 bhp @ 5600 rpm; Torque (SAE net): 190lbs:ft. @ 4000rpmTest Results:Zero to 60mph: 7.3 secStanding 1/4 mile: 15.7 sec

Granted he said 7 flat.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Honestly, 0-60 means little to me. Certainly faster acceleration is more fun, but it's not enough alone to set one car apart as better.

When I get out of the 6th gen and drive the 3rd gen, I certainly notice the lack of power. But I also notice how very well balanced and tight the 3rd gen drives (after 150,000miles!). That's why it gets my vote. I've never driven another front drive car that has the excellent dynamics the 3rd gen Maxima does.

[DominosPizzaGuy]

i've only driven the 5th gen, but it is great. i dont like the 6th as much, especially since its such a higher price.

[MinisterofDOOM]

i dont like the 6th as much, especially since its such a higher price.

It's supposed to be. It should never have dropped into the $25,000 Accord fighter bracket in the first place. The 6th gen was just a LONG awaited return to the car's higher-tier roots.

[davskins97]

Definitely. It's Nissan's flagship sedan. It should not competing with Hyunda's. If you can't afford it do like I did and buy a used one after it has depreciated to a level I can afford. Most of the guys on this forum spend too much money on aftermarket add-ons to pull of the lot with a brand new one and then mod it.

[sweet3rdgen]

Well the guy driving was not a professional driver! We had some people in the car with the a/c on. Believe it! You are very ignorant to think that all of them will do 0-60 in 8.6 seconds. Poor driving can add a half of second to a second. A green engine and/or poorly toleranced engine can add even more time to that number. This car felt like it was built on a Friday at an American plant!Yes, having people in the car will slow down any car, but this car was really struggling.

That is one crazy statement.

Anyway. Gman and PBfrEAK, let's not start a war of words. All I will say is that the original poster said 0-60 in 13 seconds. I rebutted that statement with information from a well respected magazine. It is pointless calling me wrong when I am quoting another source simply because you looked at a different source. What cares about .3 seconds? Weather can effect a car that much.

Are we all in agreement that 13 seconds sounds a little exaggerated? That was whole original point, nothing more.

[PBfrEAk]

no war dude...and I agree that 13 is just ridiculous.

My ONLY gripe is that the 92-94 SE's were VE's, NOT VG's and really I was simply letting Gman know for future reference.

No anger here!!

And I agree, .3 is nothing to argue over. See I wasn't call you wrong at all (EDITED because reading PWNS me.)

I was just making a bit of a joke. Nobodies feathers are ruffled...we're good.

Notice the smiley nod and thumbs up at the end???

Modified by PBfrEAk at 1:25 PM 3/18/2008
Modified by PBfrEAk at 1:26 PM 3/18/2008

[hsckris]

Are we all in agreement that 13 seconds sounds a little exaggerated? That was whole original point, nothing more.

I agree. I've put ~ 150,000 miles on a 93 SE --- it was no 13 seconds, more like half that. It was a quick car for the day.

[sweet3rdgen]

(even though it would have been hard for me to tell that you quoted it from somewhere else since you didn't state that...)

First four words of my statement "Road and Track tested..."

But let's move back on subject

[PBfrEAk]

First four words of my statement "Road and Track tested..."

But let's move back on subject

Good game sir....good game indeed.