1998 Nissan Maxima QX V6 review from South Africa

Nothing has gone wrong with the car.

The bonnet shocks are worn out, but I have not yet replaced them because they are very expensive and not essential.

The 2.0 V6 has sufficient power for my driving style, but lacks the acceleration of the 3.0. The engine is very smooth and quiet and reasonably economical.

The car is quite big, but handles without fuss provided that you drive it within its limitations.

The lines are quite pleasing and I think the design has aged quite well.

The interior is very comfortable in front and in the back. Driving position is good and the gearshift falls comfortably to hand. It is a relaxing car to drive over long distances.

There are loads of luggage space.

Building quality feels quite solid, not unlike the Merc 230e I had before. There are no squeaks or rattles inside.

A 2nd hand Maxima QX is much cheaper than a comparable used Camry or Merc or BMW. It is much more spacious than an Audi A4, which costs more or less the same 2nd hand. It may be less attractive than a comparable Laguna or Peugeot 406 but its reliability more than compensates.

Parts are a bit expensive, but certainly not more so than parts for the W123. Thus far, I've in any event only replaced the brake pads.

The Maxima has been withdrawn from the South African market. Maybe it didn't sell very well? I don't know about later models, but given its comfort and reliability and other qualities I find it hard to understand why the Maxima has not achieved the same popularity here as the Camry.