I'm looking for advice

[mikel]

My wife is looking for a car to replace her Durango and we've looked at the Honda Accord, Toyota Camary, and the Nissan Maxima and Altima. So far the Accord v6 is not powerful enough but otherwise a nice car, the Camary v6 didn't suit her and she likes the Altima and Maxima.



Both Altima and Maxima have v6 engines in them and I think she prefers the Maxima. I've driven it some and it seems like a good car, but I wanted to get opinions form ya'll.



Does anyone have one or know someone personally that does? If so has it been a good car? We'd like to keep this one around for about 100k, is that reasonable? Finally is there anything that sticks out as a "dumb idea" or a "gotcha" as far as these cars go?





Thanks,

Mike





BTW the 255hp v6 is just plane FAST

 

[klenger]

Have you considered the Acura 3. 2TL? It's their version of the Accord. It has a souped up engine and alot of other goodies, but the price is higher. When I looked at them a while back, they were in the low $30,000's.



http://www.acura.com/model_TL/TL_perf.asp

 

[Neal Cassady]

Take a look at

I don't know if you are set on those models but I would take a look at the Crown Vics. Most car per dollar in the new car market today.



Dave

 

[TMc]

I have two friends that have the 2001 and 2002 maxima and they previously had earlier model maximas (93-94) never ever had a problem with them in over 150k which is why they bought them again. Price is right also if you shop around. Current models only have 10k on them but they like em so far.



Good luck

 

[redneckdr]

car

consider used????? good prices on used lexus. infiniti and acura out there with not too many miles on em. my wife got a used infiniti q45 in the winter... looks new, runs like a scalded dog, and gets 23-25 mpg. remember, it's the luxury nissan.

 

[LSMITH]

Several relatives and friends have had the Maximas. All have been good cars. Several of them went over 175K with no major repairs at all. I think the Acura 3. 2 TL is way overpriced for what you get. At work there is an 01 TL and a 97 Camry. The Acura can't outrun the Camry in any way. I think the souped up engine in the TL is all marketing personally. The Camry is the only car you mentioned that is made in the US if that is a concern of yours, it has the most American content of any car sold in the US.

 

[Power Wagon]

Chrysler 300M...



If you're going to buy a sedan, get one exciting enough to actually love...

 

[LSMITH]

One 300M at work too, 88K miles and is on the second replacement transmission. All maintenance has been done at the dealer at recommended intervals too. Has been in the shop over a dozen times in the last year, it is a 00 by the way. No way would I buy a new Chrysler or Dodge car, of the ones I have been around none have been worth pi$$ing on. Unless it has a Cummins get out of dodge if you know what I mean.

 

[The patriot]

I dont know how much those cars run, but a while back I was looking at the VW Passat. Loaded it was very close to 30K. Audi A-6 was an alternative, but that was more. (and I liked the A-8 better!!)

Got to thinking, may as well get a Mercedes. The C series (small one... 230? 240?) was only about 30K. That was pretty well optioned. The only options that were available were the xenon lighting, and multi disc CD changer. Pretty peppy car for a 4 cyl 5 speed automatic.

Eric

 

[Bad340fish]

I second Power Wagon on the 300M. My mom has about 40K on her 99 300M with a few minor problems. It needed a speed sensor(in and out at the dealer) and I think one of the window motors on the back was kinda slow, but thats it. She is still in love with that car after 2 years now. Hell she still will not let me drive it that stage usualy wears off lol.

Clark

 

[BK]

my wife's car is a 97. 5 Altima. We leased it for the 1st few year and than bought it out after the lease.

I shouldnt say it, but it's been very good to us. We have the 4 banger... my wife keeps thinking it's a V6, she's had others in the past with V6s.

When we looked at the Altima Vs the Maxima, up front it was the same car to me. . I fit the same in both, same room and such. Back than we could get the Maxima with the V6... and the Maxima had more back seat room and more trunk room.



We have 30K miles on our Altima... .



We were looking at getting a Durango... want to trade?



After she's had a car (mustang) than truck (broncoII) and now a car again. . she would like to go back to a truck.

But we are trying to hold on to the Altima for my teenage daughter that should be driving in a few (ooooohhhh noooooo) years... . when we give that to her, my wife will probably get a truck (suv) of sorts. I'd like to get a CTD Ram ... but she says our's it too long. . so instead of a QC and 8' bed... a standard cab and 6' bed... but she aint buying it... . still have a few years to work in her.



Bob

 

[Power Wagon]

Originally posted by LSMITH

One 300M at work too, 88K miles and is on the second replacement transmission. All maintenance has been done at the dealer at recommended intervals too. Has been in the shop over a dozen times in the last year, it is a 00 by the way. No way would I buy a new Chrysler or Dodge car, of the ones I have been around none have been worth pi$$ing on. Unless it has a Cummins get out of dodge if you know what I mean.

Howard, you are just jinxed.



That's all I can say. To have trouble with a 300M, which has been surveyed to be one of the most trouble-free american cars produced...



If my 90 Grand Caravan with 3. 3 and Ultradrive can go 166K without trouble of any significant nature... the 300 M will do it without even a deep breath...

 

[dmurdock]

Just bought an '02 altima for the wife (the four banger with auto). I had a honda and a nissan in the past, no problems. Then 2 pontiacs, both were less than what I expected... the ran great for 80k then just started falling apart. We looked at all the cars you mentioned, and the new altima's won out (for us at least). The new body style is very roomy (as much room as the bonneville it replaced) and the 4 banger has as much oomph as the v-6 in the pontiac. For 19k, it's not a bad choice.

 

[Shrimpy]

Hey Mikel, We bought my wife a new 92, v-6, 5spd, leather, loaded. She put 105,000 on it and we sold it in late 97 before our third child came along. My brother in law bought it and drove it until late 99 and put it in a ditch because of ice. It had over 149,000 on it and still in great shape. There were no tears in the leather seats, all accessories worked. The only time it went into the shop was for a new a/c system (everything). This was covered under our 5 yr/ unlimited milage warrenty from Nissan. Overall I think you can't go wrong with it. I would choose it over the altima because of the longer wheel base and just plain heavier car. It was just plain a fun to drive car. She has already informed me that when her Suburban days are over its off to the Infinity dealer we go for a Q-45!!!!!



P. S. Millen Motorsports makes some sweet BOMBing stuff for the Maxima's. Our 92 was rated at 220 hp, and with a few Millen Motorsports add ons 275 hp was very easy to get. I never bombed hers but enjoyed driving it anyway.