CD Article: 2009 Nissan Maxima

[CD_Editor]

         
Test Drive:


All-new for 2009, the Nissan Maxima has a new platform, fresh styling and more powerful engine. Nissan calls it a "sports sedan"; Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh doesn't, but likes it anyway.
 
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Read the article | View the photos | All the Test Drives

[Honda Owner]

An Infiniti G35 Sedan starts at $39,000. Add the touring package and you are still at $41,600 including freight and PDI. I know which one I would choose.

Anyway, it is too much money for a car.

[Altima1]

...and an Accord EXL starts at $36990, I guess one should consider an Acura instead.

[Greg B.]

Don't like the fishhook headlights. At least they didn't inflict the Altima's boy racer plastichrome taillights on it.

[Altima1]

...and how many cars on the road might have so called "plastichrome" tailights?  Look around, you'll be surprised, Mazda comes to mind.  Anyhow, different stroke for different folks

[Erlebo]

Is the Suzuki SX4 really a competitor to the Maxima?

[D70]

This sounds like a good chance to compare it with the Genesis

[johngenx]

...and how many cars on the road might have so called "plastichrome" tailights?  Look around, you'll be surprised, Mazda comes to mind.  Anyhow, different stroke for different folks

And I'm in the camp that can't wait for that trend to END.

...and an Accord EXL starts at $36990, I guess one should consider an Acura instead.

Yup, and many do.

[Jem_hadar]

Is the Suzuki SX4 really a competitor to the Maxima?

Ya, LOL. How is that possible? Its (was?) like a $15,000-23,000 vehicle (in the hatchback form anyways) and competes w/ (sub-)compacts like the Impressa, Matrix, Rabbit, Fit, Yaris, Versa, blah, blah, blah...

Has something changed in the SX4 that I'm not aware of?

[DockMan]

Saw one of these at Deerhurst over the weekend.....it looked really sharp up close and personal.

[safristi]

Man that is one J-LO big ass rear end....seems unrelated to the steroidal, trying to be GT-R ,frontend..............and the interior is so fussy lookin'......................going by the pics....

[Altima1]

...and how many cars on the road might have so called "plastichrome" tailights?  Look around, you'll be surprised, Mazda comes to mind.  Anyhow, different stroke for different folks

And I'm in the camp that can't wait for that trend to END.

...and an Accord EXL starts at $36990, I guess one should consider an Acura instead.

Yup, and many do.

And I'm in the camp that can't wait for that trend to END.

The Altima coupe has a red tailight, could be a mid term change for the Altima if need be but the sales are still good.

[random006]

Don't like the fishhook headlights. At least they didn't inflict the Altima's boy racer plastichrome taillights on it.

I wonder if those "fishhook" lights are in fact cornering lights.  If so, hats off to Nissan. 

[Schmengie]

I saw an '09 Maxima at the dealer last time the Versa was in for servicing. The blunt front end and the headlight treatment struck me as strange, and unfortunately it's the only thing that really sets this car apart. The side view is OK, but the quasi-BMW look is everywhere these days, and from the rear it could easily be mistaken for a Toyota.

Say what you want about the previous-gen car, but you couldn't mistake it for anything except a Nissan. I can't say the same about this one. I'm sure it's a great car to drive, but I think Nissan dropped the ball by not giving it's flagship car a more distinctive and sporty look.    It doesn't seem like a such a great deal either considering the G35's in the same price range.   

[Honda Owner]

...and an Accord EXL starts at $36990, I guess one should consider an Acura instead

In my opinion, cars with 300hp should be rear wheel drive. For the same money, a G35 is a better deal, again in my opinion.

Also in my opinion, the extra cash for an Acura is not worth it since the high line Accords have the nice interior anyway.

But then again, having worked most of my life in the car business the "romance and allure" of cars has worn off for me. I would never spend more than $20,000 for a daily driver because I prefer my money to be used in investments that make me money, not cost me and nobody is going to make money on a $50,000 car. If I want to drive a luxury car, I can rent one.

That said, I am all in favour of other people spending as much as they want on cars. That is what makes the economy work but I will continue walking to the store.

[Mattesa]

But then again, having worked most of my life in the car business the "romance and allure" of cars has worn off for me.

Oh uh... I'm... sorry to hear that?

 

[Honda Owner]

Oh uh... I'm... sorry to hear that?

My first job in the car business was a a lot boy at a GM store. This was they hey day of the muscle car and cheap gas. I remember having beers with some of the salesmen, at the tender age of about 16.

The best salesman of the group was a man in his 50s. He was the type who could sell his undertaker undercoating for the hearse.

Anyway, I said to him, "Bob, how many cars do you sell in a month?

Bob replied to me, "Sonny, I don't sell cars; I sell dreams."

[Jaeger]

I hate the fact that there's no stick and I think the headlights look just plain weird, but otherwise I am really impresssed with this car.  Kudos to Nissan for DOWNSIZING this vehicle - the previous gen had porked out excessively and I much prefer this model's trimmer lines and dimensions.  I've sat in one at the dealership  - then went right across the floor an sat in an M-35.   The Max interior was every bit as good, IMHO.

I look forward to driving one.  It's easy to trot out the tired old saw about how powerful sports sedans must be RWD, but if Nissan has done as good a job in taming the torque steer as they seem to have done (and have in fact done with the Altima) then the FWD platform does bring some foul-weather advantages to those of us that get foul weather for about half the year.  [ Yes, I appreciate there are more handling advantages to RWD than simply the absence of torque steer - all you track crazies just settle the heck down. ]

I think the Max delivers a good mix - large enough to serve as a primary family vehicle; trim and sporty enough that the enthusiast will not feel completely anaesthetized (cough - Accord - cough), and luxurious enough that one needn't cast much of a covetous glance at the upscale Infiniti models.

Oh, and for those that say it's the same price as an G-35, get a grip - not comparably equipped, it's not.  I don't remember the exact price of the  G-35 Sport I sat in on the same showroomshowroom floor, but the first number was a 5, not a 4.

Jaeger

[Greg B.]

...and how many cars on the road might have so called "plastichrome" tailights? 

Far too many. In addition to the Altima, another of Nissan's small cars (Sentra?) has them. You're right, one of the Mazdas does as well. Ford has even jumped into the silliness with several of their models the last couple of years. All of them look equally awful.

[Jaeger]

...and how many cars on the road might have so called "plastichrome" tailights? 

Far too many. In addition to the Altima, another of Nissan's small cars (Sentra?) has them. You're right, one of the Mazdas does as well. Ford has even jumped into the silliness with several of their models the last couple of years. All of them look equally awful.

They look awful to you, but Nissan isn't exactly struggling to move Altimas, so clearly they don't look awful to everyone.  I find the new fang-face gracing all new Acuras looks bloody awful to me, but some people seem to like them.

Jaeger