1997 Nissan Maxima SE review from North America
"Reliable, bargain, roomy high performance car"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
AC doesn't get very cold on hot days.
Leather seats don't seem to hold up too well. I have no cracks or tears, but some seats are getting crispy while others are getting shiny.
MIL/Check Engine Light is on. My car VIN falls under a recall notice, but because I live in California, it is not covered. O2 sensors are expensive.
General comments?
Very reliable. Only maintenance I have done on the car since I got it was oil changes every 3000 miles with Mobil 1 Synthetic.
Good performance in factory form.
Good acceleration.
Handling was helped a lot with the addition of a front strut tower brace.
Very roomy inside and in the trunk.
Long cruising range... all freeway around 75mph will get you almost 500-600 miles per tank.
Smooth ride.
VERY quiet car.
Fast, track 1/4 mile times around 15.0 seconds and a top speed around 140mph!
I love this car.
Recommended reviews
| Fun to drive, but not much fun to live with |
|
| Lots of fun, mostly reliable, economical |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2001 |
| Engine and transmission | VQ30DE Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 95000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 135000 miles |
| Previous car | Nissan Maxima |
| Date of Entry | 20th June, 2001 |