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Nissan Maxima vs. Toyota Camry

99 messages,  Last post on Mar 16, 2009 at 2:40 PM

You are in the Toyota Camry Forum.

What is this discussion about? Nissan Maxima, Toyota Camry, Car Comparisons, Car Buying, Sedan

Messages Page 8 of 10

#71 of 99 Camry vs Maxima by alexstore

Nov 06, 2006 (6:05 am)

I can't compare 07 maxima, But I have 05 one. Same engine, different tranny. I love it - quick acceleration from any speed. I cannot say same thing on Camry( I was helping my in-law to chose a right car for her, she chose Rav4). I drove Camry V6 and Avalon( when I was on a market for a new car) and found something unusual for a car with over 250hp. Both cars from Toyota while driving did not accelerate no matter how much pressure I was applying to gas pedal. I drove this cars at different dealerships and it was same issue. I agree with previous posts, Camry's natural competitor is Altima and Maxima's is Avalon. Now my reason for choosing Maxima over Avalon.
1) Looks- I am 28 and in Avalon I looked much older
2) Power and delivery- As I said before in maxima I press gas and it moves , in avalon its thinking......and still not moving.
3) Price- I got fully loaded maxima without Navi with stability control and full size spare ( none in Avalon) new for 25,6 plus taxes and charges, the best I was offered Avalon was 34g.
4)Folding seats- I have no idea why Toyota chose to have rear seats slightly moving over folding Ability particularly with a small trunk of Avalon. I was able to buy large shelves ( 7 ft tall) in Ikea and take it in my car not order delivery or borrow someone else's car.
5) Now if you drive carefully without lead on your feet, you can get EPA ratings of Avalon in Maxima (look at my post in Nissan Maxima: MPG-Real World Numbers), though using premium gas.
 
So make comparison of Nissan and Toyota products properly.
Altima vs Camry and Maxima vs Avalon

#72 of 99 Are you sure? by bv050506

Nov 08, 2006 (12:12 pm)

I had an "04 Maxima with the velvety smooth VQ V-6, but my '07 Camry is quicker. Doesn't sound like it, but it is. I know the new '07 Max is about 6.5 0-60, my Camry is about 6 flat. Also had an '05 Avalon with the 5 speed and it was a tich quicker too at 6.2 Just tellin' you I had both and the 'yota's are quicker. The new Max looks better than my '04 did, but to each his own.

#73 of 99 Re: Camry vs Maxima [alexstore] by maximafan

Nov 09, 2006 (11:15 pm)

Replying to: alexstore (Nov 06, 2006 6:05 am)
I have to agree with you about the -- some
folks refer to this as "hesitation" -- on the
Lexus/Toyota cars. It's been a real adjustment
for me on the RX350 vs. my '02 Maxima. Sure,
I understand that it's an SUV and it's a heavier vehicle, and it does have good pick up
for an SUV. But there's something a little bit
weird about the shifting of the tranny on
the Lexus/Toyota cars.
 
For instance, I've noticed sometimes when
pulling, say, into a parking lot of a bank,
once I turn in, which by this time, I'm at a
very slow speed, it seems that the engine will
rev, and I'm pretty sure I'm not pressing on
the accelerator at that point, maybe just resting the foot on the accelerator before giving it a little gas to proceed. This is
strange behavior. I wish I could document it
better, but it doesn't happen every single time
so it's difficult to try to document this.
 
Similarly, if I'm coming to an intersection and
I do the similar coast to go into a turn, but
this time I need to accelerate, as I'm still on
a fairly busy road, all of a sudden it feels
like there's no power and I feel like I have to
stomp on the accelerator to get the car going.
Admittedly, I've often cursed when this happens
because I don't like this at all. Other times
this does not happen. Once again it's been
hard for me to document.
 
Other than these two idiosyncrasies, the car has
been great!

#74 of 99 Re: Maxima or Camry [maximafan] by barronc

Nov 11, 2006 (1:48 pm)

Replying to: maximafan (Nov 05, 2006 10:41 pm)
Too bad about the accident with your '02 Maxima, hope nobody was injured. Your Lexus RX350 is one nice car, I see quite a few around here. I'm enjoying my Camry, it has a nice ride, definately much softer than my Maxima but I miss the punch of the Nissan. My Camry has some hesitation which my Maxima never had. Also, my Camry is only getting about 14 miles to the gallon in the city. Good luck with your Lexus!

#75 of 99 Re: Maxima or Camry [rennie4] by barronc

Nov 11, 2006 (2:04 pm)

Replying to: rennie4 (Sep 26, 2006 1:13 pm)
Motor Trend November 2006 issue tested an '06 Altima SE-R and it ran 0-60 in 6.2 seconds. Quarter mile in 14.7. The car had 260hp. The '07 Camry SE ran 0-60 in 6.1 seconds. Quarter mile in 14.6. The car had 268hp. If Nissan bumps up the Altima's hp to 270 in 2007 the car probably will run under 6 seconds 0-60 and probably around 14.30 in the quarter. Both cars are quick but I don't like the looks of the Altima nearly as well as the new Camry.

#76 of 99 Re: Maxima or Camry [barronc] by lmacmil

Nov 15, 2006 (4:36 pm)

Replying to: barronc (Nov 11, 2006 2:04 pm)
I think the Max is heavier than the Altima so 10hp more isn't going to make it any faster. Certainly won't get under 6 sec or low 14s in the 1/4.

#77 of 99 Re: Maxima or Camry [lmacmil] by carnut21

Dec 06, 2006 (8:05 pm)

Replying to: lmacmil (Nov 15, 2006 4:36 pm)
I have an 07 Murano and my in-laws just purchased on 07 Maxima SL and sweet it is. My FIL said he paid $30,xxx and his 2000 Avalon was $34,500 and the only think he does not have on the Max is the date but comes with MANY more options. I know some consider Toyota the quality leader but I think this is perceived. We had a Toyota Sienna and had serious alignment issues that never were completely repaired and it used oil from day one but was reported as "normal." I think it might have started sludging (5k oil changes with Mobil 1 synthetic)
 
Recently saw a new 07 Camry in a parking lot and noticed the paint coming off the hood. It looked like the old Ford and GM products that lost their paint because of heavy coating/galvanizing on the sheetmetal. That is quality? Must be normal "racing" look.
 
With regard to style, the Maxima is much more attractive and appealing for both young and old. I know the magazines compare 0-60 and such but is this why we really buy the cars? I don't think so but it is nice but who is going to feel 0-60 in 5.9 or 6.1 seconds.
 
With regard to the CVT, I was hesitant at first in our Murano but after a couple if trips I wonder didn't this come out many moons ago!? Just smooth!!! It may not be for everyone but feel that 9 out of 10 will enjoy the experience and best of all it requires "no maintenance" best I can tell in the owners manual.

#78 of 99 Re: Maxima or Camry [carnut21] by carnut21

Dec 06, 2006 (8:07 pm)

Replying to: carnut21 (Dec 06, 2006 8:05 pm)
Drive the Max before you buy anything else

#80 of 99 Toyota or Nissan???? by wvgasguy

Dec 21, 2006 (6:22 am)

Untill Nissan can prove to me that they have fixed some things I'll not buy another one in the near future. It may be minor to some folks but here's my experience.
 
In 2000 I purchased a new body style Maxima. Loved it. However at 10,000 miles the rotors needed turned and at 20,000 they needed replaced. Then within 6000 miles it was giving me the shakes and needed turned so I traded it. (I drive 30,000 miles per year and do not want to replace rotors every 8 months).
 
In 2003 I purchased a 350Z. At 3000 miles the tires made a horrible noise, I had it aligned but the cupping continued and by 10,000 miles I was embarrased to show it off to my friends because it sounded like a truck going down the road. The tire whine was unbearable and I started writing letters. At first they said mine was not in the date range of complains (meaning most people were not putting a lot of miles on them and had not started complaining yet). By 12,500 miles I had it. I was finally able to get Nissan to take some responsibility and they replaced the front tires and "fixed" the alignment. At 15,000 miles the new tires were starting to cup again. I traded it.
 
In 2003 I also bought an Infiniti FX45 (high$ Nissan). I'll admit to it being the most satisfying car I've ever owned, BUT it too had to have premature brake rotor wearing and soon after turning them I had the shimmy's when applying the brake as I come off the interstate. I actually liked this car enough though to put up with it, but if I had kept it long term I imagine the brakes would have cost me a lot every year and a half. The biggest problem with the FX was that my tires wore out (evenly, nice wear pattern) at 12,000 miles. I was able to get Goodyear to replace them at 50% of the cost as they were expected to get 25,000 miles. Duh, that set was worn out at 25,000 miles (2nd set). I put a set of high dollar Bridgestones on it which seemd to help, but I traded it in May
 
I love the styling, interiors and performance of Nissan but I traded my cars and sold my stock in Nissan and am avoiding them until I'm sure they will make a car I can be happy with long term.

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