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Nissan Maxima

8981 messages,  Last post on Feb 09, 2011 at 1:37 PM

You are in the Nissan Maxima Forum.

What is this discussion about? Nissan Maxima, Sedan

Messages Page 677 of 899

#6754 of 8981 niteswmer2 by dklanecky

Apr 15, 2003 (4:59 am)

I own a 2000 Maxima SE and have not had any problems with "many TSB's with unresolved coil pack problems and rotor warpage".
 
I have 125,xxx miles on mine now and will tell you that IMO a lot depends on the original owner and how the car was driven and serviced.
 
Can you check the service records on the vehicle at the Nissan dealer or is on another dealer's lot? It may be that some of the issues that the previous poster identified have already been dealt with or never existed.
 
The deals on the remaining 2003's are pretty incredible right now with $4,000 off MSRP pretty common now.
 
If there's any way to afford it, the 2003's are the better way to go with more horsepower and a significantly higher level of standard equipement that what's even possibly on the 2000 SE your looking at.

#6755 of 8981 2000 with 87k, new 2003 not comparable by bcohen

Apr 15, 2003 (5:35 am)

I don't imagine that niteswmer2 is going to be able to make the stretch cost-wise from a maybe $10k car to a $23k car just because their a good deal right now. I don't think that's fair advice. I'll be looking at used Max's too shortly in the $11k neighborhood. I would love to make the leap to a 2003, but I can't afford the difference.
 
My advice to niteswmer2 is to just look at the price/value comparison. I would think you would be able to get a 50-60k mile 2000 Max for $11ish right now based on my research. That means you should be able to get a 2000 Max with 87k miles for say $9k. You have to ask yourself, "will you have $2k worth of repairs while you own the car?", "how long are you going to keep the car...will you get hit with a depreciation also?". The Max should be good for another 80K+ miles, so it may be worth it if the price is right. What is the price, by the way?

#6756 of 8981 04 max at car show by nismoguy

Apr 15, 2003 (6:48 am)

It may look a little different but once you get in and drive, forgetabout... This car flies.. This is one thing that keeps your mind off the other aspects of this design.
With respect for the guy who thought it was over 300 hp its 265hp, but behind the wheel it sure feels like alot more. The reaction in the dealerships is mixed about 50/50 between the two model years. And with 03's getting hard to come by, if you want one you should act now or get comfortable with the look of the new and improved beast.

#6757 of 8981 dklanecky by gerapau

Apr 15, 2003 (7:47 am)

While I agree that alot depends on the original owner and how they service and maintain their car, the 2000 Max's did have numerous TSBs associated with them. The good news is that most of these problems have probably already shown themselves on a 2000 car and have been repaired.
 
By the way, I am meticulous when it comes to servicing and maintaining my cars and have had my 2000 SE 5-speed in the shop way too many times over the last 3 1/2 years (all work was done under warranty but I did have to rent replacements cars on many occasions). I am on a first name basis with everyone at the service department of my dealer. I count myself as one of the unlucky "Friday car" owners and do think that the fun-to-drive side of this car has more than made up for the many trips to the dealer. I have however decided to cut short my current Max lease (my tranny is starting to act up for the 5th time) and have leased a Murano (I looked at the '04 Max but didn't like the styling). Hopefully this Nissan will be more reliable than my last.

#6758 of 8981 gerapau by dklanecky

Apr 15, 2003 (8:15 am)

We're in the same boat on the Murano as the next vehicle. Mine (SE AWD) was ordered 2/15 and delivery is expected early May.
 
I also am on the dealerships "Christmas Card List" as a regular customer and well known to all the service staff. Virtually all of my contact on the 00 was for preventive maintenance or the TSB's. (None of which seemed to apply to my car.)
 
The 2000 Max is now going to be my wife's car and the 95 Max she's driving now will go to my 19 year old son (assuming he gets a parking permit at college next fall).
 
Isn't it interesting the way that the same model of car can have such a wide variety of owner experiences? Was yours an early (bought fall 1999 like mine) model year or a little later?

#6759 of 8981 dklanecky by gerapau

Apr 15, 2003 (8:24 am)

I bought it in September '99. Great car to drive but it frustrated the hell out of me. A few of the problems I had were:
- Coils replaced (5 trips to the dealer before this was fixed)
- Front rotors replaced (they lasted about 5000 miles before they warped)
- Power drivers seat switch
- Heated driver seat switch
- Rear bumper painted due to misalligned trunk lid
- Transmission problems (started at about 5000 miles and has be repaired 3 times and rebuilt twice. It is starting to act up again)
- Altinator died (this left we without a car for 1 week while on vacation last summer)
- Numerous fit and finish problems
- A few other small problems
 
This has by far been the most unreliable car I have ever owned. I do however work with at least 5 other people that have 2000 Max's and none of them have had the problems that I have.

#6760 of 8981 Thanks! by niteswmer2

Apr 15, 2003 (8:37 am)

Wanted to say thanks to all of the responses to my post #6753 (and quick)! Lots of good advice. While I'd LOVE an '03, and could afford one if it came down to it, my goal is to get a good, fun to drive car and save some money (hoping to be able to allow the wife to "retire" to take care of the kids).
 
Bottom line it's going to come down to a personal cost/value decision (not to mention the fun to drive aspect, which is important to me). I'm fortunate enough to work from home, so I won't be putting a lot of miles on the car. I'm going to insist the dealer allow me to take it to an independent mechanic to evaluate it (and if he doesn't let me, then I suspect there's something to hide).
 
BCohen, the dealer is asking 11.5 - Edmunds TMV for dealer retail is 14K, and private party 12K.

#6761 of 8981 To niteswmer2, dklanecky, and gerapau, et. al: by sct75

Apr 15, 2003 (8:42 am)

I have a 00GLE, so far only did a rotor surfacing and a gas/oil sensor change (under warranty). I wonder if anyone of you would be kind to answer any one of my following questions regarding to 00 Maxima TSBs:
 
1) where could I find the list of TSBs on 00Maxima you mentioned in previous messages, including their details?
 
2) if the described problem(s) have not happened to my car, should I bring it to dealership to check/fix it or wait until it breaks?
 
3) in case the same problem occurs, should I bring the proof of TSB(s) to dealership to explicitly ask for fix and warranty coverage or would it be taken care of automatically? Any experience would be highly appreciated.
 
Thanks to all.

#6762 of 8981 niteswmer2 by mirth

Apr 15, 2003 (9:24 am)

niteswmer2 - You should go ask Terry in the "Real World Trade-in Values" thread under Smart Shopper what the "real" price is for that '00 Max.

#6763 of 8981 nismoguy by kyleknicks

Apr 15, 2003 (10:32 am)

u sure sound like you sell nissan's

Messages Page 677 of 899

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