Used Car Opinion - 2002-2003 Nissan Maxima

Last of the Maximas built in Japan, the 2002-2003 model holds special appeal for some people, not only for the higher quality assembly associated with Japan, but also because it had some great standard features like xenon lights and the upgraded 3.5-liter VQ-series V6 engine.

In my particular search, I was able to locate a 2002 Maxima GLE for $7,000 ($5,830 US) on the road, with 120,000 kms (74,500 miles) on it. That makes it the best value I've seen for a car, period, considering the age, condition, quality, type of automobile and reliability. Of course, your search will vary.

Most of the SEs and all of the GLEs you will find will come standard with a lot of things, like automatic climate control, leather seats, power seats, Bose sound system with subwoofer, moonroof, xenon lights, 17-inch rims and tires, heated seats and steering wheel and more. GXEs lack many of these features, but are still the same car underneath.

The features are a big draw, as is the reliability, which carries a very good reputation. Doing my research, I found that the 2000 and 2001 models had some issues, but the 2002 and 2003 are fine. The example I got was absolutely flawless. The interior was in brand-new condition (no wrinkles on the leather even) and drove like a brand new car - no squeaks, rattles, or bad noises of any kind. This was very impressive compared to other cars I've seen of the same age and mileage.

One of the bigger features of this Maxima is the use of the 3.5-liter version of Nissan's VQ V6. This engine is used in many Nissan and Infiniti products, but perhaps made most famous in the 350Z and G35 cars. Nissan/Infiniti use a fancier exhaust to give the engine a more exotic sound in those cars, and it's a real shame that the exotic exhaust note isn't present in this car. This engine has won a lot of awards, and in some ways it's easy to see why. It's incredibly smooth and fast-revving, and produces great power all the way from idle to redline, building smoothly with no dead spots in the rev range.

What I personally don't like about it is that it makes close to 50 hp less in this Maxima than it does in some other cars, which is a huge difference. I also don't like that the sound has no character to it. This is not a big issue to most people, but to a car enthusiast like me, it matters - it sounds pretty utilitarian, like a Ford minivan V6 or something. Lastly, I dislike how it requires premium fuel. It actually MUST have premium, otherwise it'll turn on the check engine light on you, and I hate the idea of putting premium into a standard non-premium sedan, let alone a $7,000 used car.

My other complaint with the Maxima is that the suspension just doesn't have the right balance. It doesn't soak up the bumps all that well, but the ride car get a little choppy and harsh at times, in addition to being floaty. The SE is much worse still. The rear suspension isn't independent, so it does a little left-to-right dance on expansion joints on the highway, but that I can look past. I just really dislike that it has a suspension that is equally as harsh as my other car, a Volkswagen GTI VR6, but handling prowess could not be more different.

Even though it has its drawbacks, the Maxima is a well-made, capable, comfortable sedan. It's roomy enough for four of the largest adult humans you can find (five if they're not huge) and its wealth of features is a great big plus. It seems to be very well targeted towards North American buyers, which is why it is a success here. So far, it has been exceedingly reliably for me, and it, overall, leaves people in disbelief when they hear the price. If a midsize sedan is what you're looking for, the 2002-2003 Maxima is a great bet.

Thanks for reading!
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by Jeremiah Carmichael

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