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Nissan Maxima vs. Toyota Camry

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

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

Messages Page 9 of 10

#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.

#82 of 99 Re: Toyota or Nissan???? [wvgasguy] by dmaljunk

Dec 26, 2006 (10:47 pm)

Replying to: wvgasguy (Dec 21, 2006 6:22 am)
undersized rotors is a known issues on some of the Nissan models. A powerful engine such as Maxima's or FX's needs sufficiently well designed rotors. Instead of replacing stock rotors with other stock rotors you should have purchased a set of cross-drilled rotors, there are plenty of them made for Nissans and then your issue would go away. Any car has under-developed parts or issues. Your experience with Nissan only indicates your personal dissatisfaction and if you wanted to make it a more pleseant experience then you could have. Your issues do not indicate Nissan to be a bad or worse vehicle. The only thing they indicate is bad service at dealerships. That is part of a buying experience of course...

#83 of 99 Re: Toyota or Nissan???? [dmaljunk] by suydam

Dec 27, 2006 (7:41 am)

Replying to: dmaljunk (Dec 26, 2006 10:47 pm)
I have a 2001 Maxima. I replaced the original tires at 40,000 miles; the front rotors at 60,000 miles. At almost 70,000 miles the rear brakes are still fine. My only other expense so far has been a new battery after 5 years/67,000 miles. I have also owned Toyotas and they too have been very reliable. I don't see reliability as an issue with either make. They do, however, drive very differently.

#84 of 99 Re: Toyota or Nissan???? [wvgasguy] by carnut21

Dec 27, 2006 (4:45 pm)

Replying to: wvgasguy (Dec 21, 2006 6:22 am)
It sounds as if you drive a car harder than the normal person. I have had several Toyotas and now have a couple of Nissan's (05 Frontier and 07 Murano) and have not had the least of problems. With the Toys, did not have any problems either. Got 98k on the front brakes and 120k on the rear brakes of a 90 corolla and 89k/121k on a 98 Sienna. I have not done anything with the Frontier and the Murano is 2 months old so time will tell. I work with others that have had Nissan's and the only problem was with 05 Titans and Nissan replaced the rotors with larger ones.
 
With regard to the 350Z, the geometry was the issue with the 03 but I think this has been corrected.
 
With regard to Nissan quality, they have come way past the "old days" with regard to quality. I heard they spent several million dollars on test tracks to insure that cars did not arrive with the squeaks and rattles. Just look at their resal value. It puts Ford and GM to shame. Also, if you build comparable Avalons and Maximas, the Maxima is a bargain.

#85 of 99 Re: Maxima or Camry [m183837] by catkins1974

Dec 28, 2006 (12:17 pm)

Replying to: m183837 (Jul 07, 2006 8:48 am)
I recently rented a 2007 Nissan Maxima over the holidays in Phoenix. While I was impressed with the power, handling and features indicative of the Maxima line, I was dissapointed in the styling and comfort.
 
The new body in a nutshell is too "Altima". I use to own a 97 Max and my wife currently drives a 03 Nissan Altima. I loved the true Sedan look and feel of the vehicle in past designs and wish they'd go back.
 
This latest Maxima is modest at best. The cabin seems to shrink as you move from front to back and blind spots seem to be greater. Simply the car seems to be more fit for 4 passengers (Sparingly) than 5. And all I can point to is the new (Too Altima Like)design.
 
Admittedly, Im 6'6" tall and I know I am off the scale in average hieght but my past Maxima made me feel like I was in a "Luxury Performance Sedan" which I feel sets the Maxima apart from other vehicles in this segment.
 
So overall, not what I was expecting in styling and design but it still has the soul of a Maxima.

#86 of 99 Re: Maxima or Camry [catkins1974] by ch3456

Dec 31, 2006 (11:03 pm)

Replying to: catkins1974 (Dec 28, 2006 12:17 pm)
Maxima or Camry? To me, that's like comparing apples with oranges.
 
I like Toyota's and Nissans. I own a '07 Camry, but have never driven a Maxima before. They are beautiful cars though. If it's anything like the '06 Altima we own, I'm sure it's a great ride.
 
But when it all boils down to it, I'm a Toyota fan. Through my research of the Maxima, it appears to be a strong car with Infiniti-like touches.
 
I guess I'm no help, huh?

#87 of 99 '07 Maxima Turning Circle by bobbass

Jan 08, 2007 (9:58 am)

I currently have an '04 Max SE. Other than the "busy" ride which has driven me NUTS, the only other thing I find unacceptable is the turning circle. After reading ALL the posts in this thread, many others seem to agree.
 
One poster said that he has an '07 and the turning circle is improved, but the actual spec is conspicuously absent from the '07 brochure and website. According to Edmunds, it is 40 ft. which is the same or worse than my '04.
 
Can somebody with an '07 comment on this? I had written a new Maxima off in my search for a new vehicle, but if Nissan has improved the ride and turning circle, with that beautiful new interior it might be up for my consideration.
 
I'm very leery at this point about the Toyota 3.5 powertrain and NAV systems, otherwise they would be at the top of my list.

#88 of 99 The real King of Cars. by perna

Jan 10, 2007 (8:36 am)

My 2003 Maxima SE has made me a Nissan customer for life. The car is just shy of its 4th birthday in my house, and I STILL look forward to getting into it every day.
 
At its 30k mile service (it now has 40k miles), I had 75% of my front pads remaining, and even more on the back. My rotors are perfect. Maybe the key to buying a perfect car is waiting until the model is about to be replaced? Mine was built in October of '02, and I believe they ceased production about 2-3 months afterwards.
 
The sole problem I've had on the car is the Bose stereo. I blame Clarion for this more than Bose. I'm on my third head unit, and since my warranty is up it will be my last. I'll replace it with a nice Eclipse with Sirius/iPod integration and call it a day.
 
In the past, I've turned cars over with as little as 7 months of ownership. Not this one. Some cars are born with halos on their roofs, and I'm driving it until the wheels come off it. It just amazes me that a 4 year old car, driven over crappy pothole-infested Michigan roads still has zero squeaks or rattles. The thing is as tight as the day I drove it off the lot.
 
I did test drive a Camry, and I know EXACTLY what you guys are talking about with the hesitation. However, what really killed the car for me was actually the handling - I'm too young for a Buick, even if it's made by Toyota.
 
That said, I didn't really care for the '04-'06 Maxima. Didn't really like the bucktooth or the interior. They fixed all this with the '07, but I'm not ready to part with my '03 yet. The Grey Max and I have many, many more Grand Prixs to torch in the future.

#89 of 99 Oh, and the turning radius. by perna

Jan 10, 2007 (8:48 am)

I'm trying to find a way to say "you guys are nuts", but I just can't.
 
You guys are nuts.
 
The TR on my '03 is abysmal, but after the first month of driving it I just got used to it. Maybe it helps my wife drives an Explorer, so I'm used to driving something with the TR of a school bus.
 
It's such a minor problem with the car, though. That engine is the sweetest thing on 4 wheels. You goose it, doesn't matter which speed you're going, you will take off like the car is getting ready to take to the skies. As a semi-frequent flier, when I start the Max up an entrance ramp onto the freeway, that's exactly what it reminds me of. When the plane is turning onto the runway, you're going slow, but then stomp on the gas and WATCH OUT.
 
The most unbelieveable thing about my car is that I haven't gotten a ticket yet. I did get pulled over once for doing 50 in a 35, but that was purely by accident (I don't normally speed in residential areas). On a wide-open highway, though.. let's just say the speed limiter comes up in this car way too fast. The sucker just never runs out of breath.

Messages Page 9 of 10

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