the 6th gen was def. a mistake as stated in many magazines and other sources but every1 has there own taste. I somewhat like the maximas and have owned a 94,99,03.. those years were by far the best.. then when the 6th gen came out i just got a 05 altima v6 instead b/c it was lighter aka faster and had all the goodies the max had. but the g is a nice car and nissan should have re-badged it as the maxima in 04 like they did with max/I35..

 

I agree my personal favorite maximas were the 95-99 (4th gens) and the 02-03 (5.5 gens), were both excellent years for styling and performance.

They made the 6th gen look too much like the Altima as others stated. I think the issues started with the birth of the 3rd generation Altima. The 3rd gen Altima was such a great success in sales, which helped saved Nissan from bankruptcy back in the late 90s/early 00s. I think Nissan realized the Altima's success, but at the same time needed to do something about the slumping sales of their flagship Maxima. Making it look more like the Altima, even sharing the same options may have helped, but it still lacked the appeal, since the Altima was cheaper and arguably faster. The change in the design for 2009 was much needed and seems to be going good so far.

Giving the Altima more HP than the Maxima in 2007 with the 4th gen was something I never imagined, but it became true. The Altima started out in 1993 as a 2800lb car with a 150HP 2.4L I4, its amazing how far it has come today. But the Maxima is the ring leader again with 290HP.

 

My point exactly Radioguy21. It is amazing regardin the altima. i was using a 95 altima last year as a commuter while the G sat home, and nissan should have left it sum what the same maybe with slightly more power.. then it wouldnt have killed off the maxima soo bad.. and yes the maxima does have name appeal over the altima but more so the G35 over the maxima! to me when i drove the 6th gen max and even my 05 alti it felt like a quest minivan in terms of interior.. lol. which those cars share there bits and pieces with. G seems on such a different level in terms of not feelin like a cheaper car or a nissan which its derived! the new max may be up to par though..

 

I used to own a 95 altima too, I sold it to my sister when I bought the G. It was a great little car, has 153K orginal engine/transmission miles on it now and keeps on going! Going from a 155HP I4 to a 240HP V6 was a GIANT step forward for Nissan and the Altima in 2002.

 

i think you're asking slightly prejudiced people... if you want to get both sides of the story, a friend of mine on the org was on a thread a little while ago... got a bit heated, but its pretty informative.

http://forums.maxima.org/6th-generat...g35-sedan.html

 

LOL @ people calling the Maxima more sporty than the G

 

the funny thing is my friend has TONS of cash into his max and is virtually the only one saying he prefers the g35 and wants a g37 for his next car... i'm not sure how i think an unmodded g would stock up to a unmodded max at the track though... i think it'd be close, anyways... ESPECIALLY in my (AWD) case.

 

the 2004 maxima also has an incredibly horrible turn radius for the size of the vehicle. My 2000 4runner does a U turn better. unless you don't plan to turn alot i would say get the G

 

If they had done that I would be driving a Maxima right now.

 

Can you get a 6-spd Maxima now?? Or is it still CVT only?

 

Lol i read that whole thread and wow....

 

Keeping this thread on topic...

I have owned a 6th Gen Max and a 5th Gen 3.5 6 speed GLE. In my opinion I liked the 5th Gen better. It seemed to be faster and did handle better. Regardless, both cars a very good cars.

When comparing the 04 G35 to the 04 Maxima, in my personal opinion I prefer the G35. The Maxima is bigger and that is obvious in it's handling.

The 2003 Maxima GLE was one of the best cars I have ever owned and I was disappointed when I went from that to the 2004 Maxima. I was so disappointed that I looked into another 2003 Maxima SE before I bought my 2004 G35. If I could have found one in a 6 speed I probably would have bought the 2003 Maxima, but then I would have missed out on the joy that driving my G35 brings me.

 

not prejudice again maximas, honestly if u want a lil cheaper maintenance and parts when it comes time to fix choose the maxima, cuz inifiniti parts can be quite pricey if u dont know people.. If i could, i would trade my x in for a 03 maxima se to cut my payments in half, thats how much i liked that style.. 02-03 nissan hit it right on with that car (style inside/out, performance,luxury) i would even compare that car to a Acura tl at the time.. then when the 6g came out, it lost HID lights,trip computer and its lux/sport character..

 

Get the G..Although I like the redesigned Maxima, which we may get as a family sedan and taking long trips.

 

+1..