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2009 Nissan Maxima

684 messages,  Last post on Dec 12, 2011 at 12:37 PM

You are in the Nissan Maxima Forum.

What is this discussion about? Nissan Maxima, Sedan

Messages Page 35 of 69

#341 of 684 Re: What's wrong with the CVT? [cyberpunk] by habitat1

Sep 11, 2008 (8:06 pm)

Replying to: cyberpunk (Sep 11, 2008 1:52 pm)
I think I can sum up your beef against the '09 Maxima as being that a) there is no manual tranmission available and b) Nissan's marketing spin refers to it as a 4DSC.
 
That's pretty close. I also have issues with the Maxima's weight bloating 20% from 1995 to 2009, but the dichotomy of calling it a 4DSC and not offering a manual transimission is my bigger "beef".
  
any lost sales that Nissan may experience due to the Maxima not having a manual tranmission will be a statistically insignificant number.
 
That's where we disagree. IMO, the elimination of a manual transmission option from the Maxima coincides too directly with its loss of interest among enthusaists, its dissapearance from comparision tests against the 3 series and other ELLPS and the 75% reduction in annual sales form 1995 to 2008. And, at the same time, the Acura TL significantly reinvigorated its sales with the 2004 redesign which just happened to include a 6-speed manual, sport suspensioned version of the car. Nevermind that less than 10% of TL buyers selected a manual transmission, the automotive press went ga-ga over the TL 6-speed and all of the comparison tests were with that "sport" model. Manual transmission sales were only 10% of the total, but overall sales wer up over 100% between 2002/3 and 2004/5.
 
I apologize for my "passion" on this issue which makes it difficult to accept where the Maxima has gone without expressing my dissapointment and hope that they are listening. In fairness to you and others that think the current 2009 is a well balanced car, CVT notwithstanding, I will concede that point. I am only suggesting that if Nissan wants to get back the serious enthusaist and capture the full market potential via the "halo" effect, it needs to "walk the walk" with a true sport version that includes a manual transmission. I believe the benefit of doing so will, over time, far exceed an additional 8% in sales volume.
 
Let me also say that I appreciate a passionate debate on both sides and although our opinions may be at odds, it sure beats the hell out of apathy.

#342 of 684 Re: What's wrong with the CVT? [SergeyM] by cyberpunk

Sep 11, 2008 (8:15 pm)

Replying to: SergeyM (Sep 11, 2008 7:02 pm)
the flagship sporty sedan for a non-luxury badge...
 
Fine - call it the flagship for a non-luxury badge.
 
BTW, what's with using BMW name in Vein? No one in their spare mind should compare the current Maxima to the UDM.
 
Now you're singing to the choir. I'm only responding to these repeated "Maxima vs. BMW" or "Maxima vs. Lexus" comparisons that the naysayers keep throwing out there.
 
I too find it ridiculous to compare the Maxima to the BMW.

#343 of 684 Re: What's wrong with the CVT? [habitat1] by cyberpunk

Sep 11, 2008 (8:31 pm)

Replying to: habitat1 (Sep 11, 2008 8:06 pm)
I think you are giving the manual transmission (and lack thereof) too much credit for the TL's rise and the Maxima's fall throughout those years.
 
The TL improved nicely throughout the years, overall. The TL was becoming a better car, while the Maxima was (again, overall) losing its way and becoming "just another" Japanese sedan.
 
The Maxima's loss of sales was symptomatic of its overall transition into a very boring car. Sure - those that would only buy a car with a manual tranmission were part of the many that jumped ship. But no matter how you look at it - that segment of the Maxima's customer base had little impact on Nissan's overall decline in sales. You can't possibly blame the loss of a feature that very few people ever bought in the first place for a 75% decline in overall sales over a period of years. Nor can you credit a feature that less than 10% of consumers purchase for a sales increase of over 100% over a period of years. Clearly, Nissan's decline and Acura's rise, throughout those years, must be credited with something more.
 
Nissan did many things wrong throughout those years.
 
The '09 Maxima is an example of Nissan once again firmly establing a brand flagship, and righting the ship.

#344 of 684 Re: Precision Grey [out4cat] by traindriver

Sep 11, 2008 (9:22 pm)

Replying to: out4cat (Sep 11, 2008 6:15 pm)
Thanks for that info. Precision Grey is at the top of our wish list.
I usually think that grey is the most boring color on cars and is at the bottom of my list. Something about Precision Grey though really looks sharp on the Maxima IMO--maybe because it looks more like a dark silver to me than grey.
 
MDX: did you find a blue one? Early on they were rare at introduction. I see a fair number of blues in dealer inventories now, not as many reds, very few of whatever that green color is.

#345 of 684 Re: What's wrong with the CVT? [cyberpunk] by spiritinthesky

Sep 12, 2008 (6:18 am)

Replying to: cyberpunk (Sep 11, 2008 8:31 pm)
The Maxima's loss of sales was symptomatic of its overall transition into a very boring car. Sure - those that would only buy a car with a manual tranmission were part of the many that jumped ship. But no matter how you look at it - that segment of the Maxima's customer base had little impact on Nissan's overall decline in sales. You can't possibly blame the loss of a feature that very few people ever bought in the first place for a 75% decline in overall sales over a period of years. Nor can you credit a feature that less than 10% of consumers purchase for a sales increase of over 100% over a period of years. Clearly, Nissan's decline and Acura's rise, throughout those years, must be credited with something more.
 
I think you and habitat are both right - and wrong - to an extent.
 
Case in point. I own and run an engineering consulting firm that, since the early 1990's has employed roughly 100 professionals engineeres / scientists, along with a few MBA's and attorneys. We recruit up to a dozen or so new engineers annually, so our average age is in the low to mid 30's. I've watched with some interest the cars that fill our parking lot over these years. Without a doubt, the "4th generation" Maxima competed with the BMW 3 series as a "frugal" sport sedan. I distincly remember the enthusiasm for that car at the time it was intorduced. I ended up with at least 7-8 in my lot, 2 of which still survive. Probably no more than 1/3 to 1/2 of the Maximas or BMWs from that era were manual transmssions, but as habitat claims, the manual transmission was a necessity to create the brand "image" that the Maxima was a sport - or at least sporty - sedan. And if you don't think brand image is an important factor in all sales, consider that Titliest is the #1 golf ball company in the world in spite of the fact that fewer than 10% of its sales are of the $50/dozen "Professional" model used by touring pros. And Nike has become #2 in spite of the fact that you or I can't even buy the ball that Tiger uses at any price. Nissan may try its hardest to recreate the sporting image of the Maxima through advertising, but a CVT only transmission is a glaring contradiction that can't be advertised over.
 
I am looking out over our lot right now as I write this and there is not a single Maxima I can see from the later vintages. A few Accords and Camrys, a few G35 sedans and coupes, several late model TL's, a few Audis, 8-10 BMW 3/5 series, but not a single post 2000 Maxima.
 
Now, on your side, I would agree that the manual transmission is not the only factor affecting the Maxima's slide from grace as a sporty sedan. I believe they still offered a manual option well into this decade. But between the increased weight, stodgy styling and Nissan's decision to promote the Infiniti G35 as their primary sport sedan, the Maxima became a "has been".
 
Personally, I think habitat is fighting a losing battle, albeit for very honorable reasons. Even with a manual transmission, I don't see the Maxima ever regaining the competitive position it had in 1995. As indicated, the G35 is now the "BMW 3 series fighter". And a 2008 328i will outperform a 2009 Maxima on all counts for only a couple thousand more, killing the former Maxima's 30% lower price advantage. The Acura TL jumped in with a much sportier car in 2004 and is now going to an 300hp AWD version. A manual transmission option might help dispell some of the ridicule Nissan is getting by calling the 2009 CVT Maxima a "four door sports car", but it won't roll back the clock to 1995 anymore than I could roll back BMW's clock to 1980 when I owned an original M1 sports car. (The M6 is an abomination, IMO). So, habitat, it may be best to enjoy the memories.

#346 of 684 Maxima woes by carcass29

Sep 12, 2008 (9:39 am)

Hello all, this is my first post and just wanted to share this.
 
I went to purchase 2009 Maxima SV premium package in Silver for MSRP $36,465 at Middletown Nissan/ Kia in upstate NY leased at 479 month 15000mi 39 month term. Salesman's name is John....said that this price was negotiable and once qualified we would talk about getting me a better deal. Approval went through and gave them insurance info...everything still going smooth.
 
 They register it(get the plates) and insurance and call me to say they had the car shipped from other location to come in and do the final paper work...car is on site and ready to go. So I ask the salesman upon arrival "hey lets talk about that price per month and MSRP"(In Jersey and NYC) this exact model is $34,500-600 MSRP... the same vehicle with the premium package. He acts like he doesn't know what I'm talking about in front of the finance manager saying, " I never said we would discuss price?" WTF?
 
 All of a sudden the monthly payment shoots up to $525 a month....hahaha imagine that. Oh and due to my credit not being perfect was the reasoning behind this price....credit is not as bad as they said it was....I checked months ago.
 
They basically said I signed a paper to approve this price (contract)which I didn't...it was just to show I paid $100 cash to show that I paid for them to run my credit! Do not give these guys any money up front...they made me pay $100 saying they could not check my backround without it. Make you sign a paper that you gave them the 100 as a receipt but really later on they are saying that you really signed contract. I'll be calling the better business bureau if I don't get my $100 back....BEWARE of these scammers! Unbelievable!

#347 of 684 Gas mileage by cecilt1

Sep 12, 2008 (10:56 am)

Is the '09 Maxima getting the stated 26 Highway miles or are people getting better. My '06 TL gets 31-32 Highway which I know back then before they changed the SAE ratings was stickered at 30 miles/gallon highway. I also don't go under 75 on the highway and have hills/mountains to transverse so before I give the Maximan any more consideration I wanted to see if anyone had real life numbers to share. Thanks

#348 of 684 Re: Maxima woes [carcass29] by cyberpunk

Sep 12, 2008 (10:59 am)

Replying to: carcass29 (Sep 12, 2008 9:39 am)
Dude - where to begin with everything that went wrong with your experience (both the many things you did wrong, and the dealership).
 
Nope - I give up. Too much could be written.
 
I'll just leave it at this: Change your title. You have "leasing-experience woes", not "Maxima woes."

#349 of 684 Question about Premium Pack. by eric106

Sep 12, 2008 (1:00 pm)

Does all Premium's come with Navagation. Thanks

#350 of 684 Re: Gas mileage [cecilt1] by nemesis04

Sep 12, 2008 (1:10 pm)

Replying to: cecilt1 (Sep 12, 2008 10:56 am)
My 09 is not broken in yet but my first real highway trip was 28 mpg. After my 07 was broken in I averaged 30 mpg for highway trips. I am not sure if I will hit 30 with this one though.

Messages Page 35 of 69

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