Originally Posted by UNKNOWN_370 (Post 3163776)

It looks like Nissan stole the Kia Optima design... :ughdance:

Originally Posted by 6spd (Post 3163923)

/\ Yeah, especially that rear quarter panel design

Originally Posted by Firebase99 (Post 3161874)

$40K for a Maxima....*High pitched whistle*. Cars in general are expensive.

Originally Posted by RicerX (Post 3160818)

The reason behind Nissan not fixing the CSC issue is a matter of lowest common denominator. You can bet that if the Z was a volume car like the Altima it would be a different story.

The CVT is less of an issue when mated to a 3.5 and more of an issue on its 2.5 counterpart, but they're still a crapshoot. I have owned CVT-driven Altima coupes without issue, but can tell you their 6MT counterparts are completely different vehicles.

Now to my point - you say why buy the Maxima if you're looking for what the Q50 already has, and I say why buy the Maxima when the 3.5 Altima exists? It's not $3,000 better looking (yep, subjective for some), it's not $5,000 better driving (slightly less subjective, but still subjective), and it doesn't carry $8,000 more tech in the car (not subjective at all).

Those numbers represent a ballpark of how much more it costs you to get into a Maxima with respect to looks (S trim over Altima 3.5 SL), handling characteristics (SV trim over Altima SL), and all the tech (Platinum or SL or whatever).

You're paying a lot more money for not a lot more car. The car makes little sense if you look at the big picture of things - the Altima has been nipping at the Maxima's heels since 2002, and this generation needed something crucial to truly set it apart from an optioned out Altima. Hell, the last generation needed something to truly set it apart, and while it is indeed a nice car, it failed.

It looks different. That's it. And that's not enough.

Originally Posted by 6spd (Post 3163923)

/\ Yeah, especially that rear quarter panel design

Originally Posted by 6spd (Post 3164823)

Lol, I think the Murano nailed the redesign, but the maxima... not so much. I wish each car got its own character rather than each being some reiteration of another just in a lightly different package.

Originally Posted by RicerX (Post 3165080)

Is it bad that I'm trying to talk my wife into trading her '14 Rogue for a Murano? That car is absolutely gorgeous. I'm not a huge crossover person, but I think the Murano may well be one of the most nicely appointed and most handsome crossovers on the market.

What's funny is, the Rogue to a Murano is a true step up (more tech, more appointments, upgraded powertrains as the Rogue is not available with the 3.5 engine) and is executed better than the Altima to Maxima hierarchy.

If it wasn't for Toyota's marketing success with their Camry V6 in the most recent redesign, I would almost wager that the midsize sedans will eventually lose a V6 option entirely and stick to a more economical 4 cylinder engine. Perhaps Nissan is banking on that happening, which is why they didn't do something radical with the Maxima.

Something as simple as an AWD option in the new Maxima would have been enough as the Altima does not offer that at all, and it's an option that is trending upward with buyers. They already have the parts to make it happen (executed in the Murano and Pathfinder as far as 3.5 with AWD CVT, would only require a few tweaks).

SSFirehawk - Enjoyed reading the input from a current-gen owner. It's nice to have some mature discussion with valid points on both sides. Cheers!