4th Gen Maxima (95-99) vs Toyota

[mjk]

Probably splitting hairs here, but was curious to know how the 4th gen Maximas hold up long term, compared to a Camry of that era.

Resale certainly favors the Camry, and I know the Nissans have some quirks with sensors, etc.

Just looking to see the potential to take a 4th gen Maxima to around 250-275k, given proper a proper maintenance history.

 

[brages]

That Maxima had a really nice engine for its time...

4th gen Maxima is a very reliable car. No glaring weak spots. Also, they are pretty quick. Just 190hp, but plenty of torque in a 3000-lb car. I hear the Camries from that time period were also very solid.

I expect it will come down to condition or luck as to which particular car would last longer.

I'd take the Max as a lot more fun than any Camry though.

 

[Mykl]

With a car that age I believe it comes down to how well it was cared for. As I understand it though, that particular generation of Maxima was built very well. I don't see why you couldn't get 300k or more out of it.

 

[mjk]

I ask, as a very clean 97 GLE popped up near me. Only 120k on it.

I am actually a previous owner of a 97 Maxima. The reason I started this thread was that I sold that car way too soon. I bought it with 18k on it, and had it paid off with about 110k on it. Sold it with 117k, running perfectly. Really stupid move on my part.

Thus, I understand the car, but have limited exposure to the higher mileage issues of that generation.

 

[dparm]

As long as the Maxima wasn't totally abused, it should be quite reliable. The VQ motors are exceptionally solid.

 

[RISUPERCREWMAN]

I drove both cars from that era! Not a bad choice on either side!

 

[Vikas]

The RUST; Maxima tends to dissolve itself over the time.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
The RUST; Maxima tends to dissolve itself over the time.



I think any car pushing 15-20 years of age will be at high risk of rust.

 

[k24a4]

Although not directly comparable, a workmate of mine has a ~2000 Maxima with 220k and it is running fine, no leaks but a bit of fender well rust. As others have noted, the VQ engine is stout. If the vehicle is well maintained it should get to 200k and beyond without issue.

I tend to agree with the sentiment often shared on this site: Car bodies generally disintegrate before a well maintained engine gives up the ghost.

 

[Nick1994]

I really like the Camry, rides smooth and handles fairly well for what it is. It's dead slow though, no power at all in the 4 cylinder. I get 24 mpg commuting with a semi-lead foot. My best tank on the highway was 36.72 mpg.

 

[CBR.worm]

I had a '97 Maxima SE 5mt that was flawless to well beyond 100k. My feeling at the time was that the Toyota was probably a better car, but the Maxima was much more enjoyable to drive (for me). My only real complaint was the wacky rear suspension that never felt planted in hard cornering - although it stuck well.

 

[artificialist]

The Maxima is an excellent car. One huge advantage the 95-99 Maxima has over the Toyota is the lack of a timing belt. In 1995 Nissan used timing chains in every version of the Maxima.

You may get less life from the lower control arms and tie rod ends when compared to the Toyota, but that isn't too expensive to fix if you can DIY.

I'm not sure how Nissan or Toyota did engine management back in 1995. Many cars would have different ways of diagnosing the check engine light, and it got worse in the year 1995.

Do you know the last time the Maxima was aligned? in 1995-2003, every Maxima had a solid axle rear suspension, and shims were the only way to properly align the rear wheels. That can get expensive.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
The Maxima is an excellent car. One huge advantage the 95-99 Maxima has over the Toyota is the lack of a timing belt. In 1995 Nissan used timing chains in every version of the Maxima.

You may get less life from the lower control arms and tie rod ends when compared to the Toyota, but that isn't too expensive to fix if you can DIY.

I'm not sure how Nissan or Toyota did engine management back in 1995. Many cars would have different ways of diagnosing the check engine light, and it got worse in the year 1995.

Do you know the last time the Maxima was aligned? in 1995-2003, every Maxima had a solid axle rear suspension, and shims were the only way to properly align the rear wheels. That can get expensive.


I'm not sure why people fuss about timing belts. My car's timing belt lasted 186k miles and it still didn't break, that's when I changed it. It wasn't that big of a deal to replace either. Remove motor mount, alternator, a couple brackets, serpentine belts, tire, splash shield, harmonic balancer, timing belt cover, tensioner, idler pulley, water pump, timing belt and reverse steps. Only took a few hours. Plus Oreillys sells the full replacement kit for $149

 

[KitaCam]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: artificialist
The Maxima is an excellent car. One huge advantage the 95-99 Maxima has over the Toyota is the lack of a timing belt. In 1995 Nissan used timing chains in every version of the Maxima.

You may get less life from the lower control arms and tie rod ends when compared to the Toyota, but that isn't too expensive to fix if you can DIY.

I'm not sure how Nissan or Toyota did engine management back in 1995. Many cars would have different ways of diagnosing the check engine light, and it got worse in the year 1995.

Do you know the last time the Maxima was aligned? in 1995-2003, every Maxima had a solid axle rear suspension, and shims were the only way to properly align the rear wheels. That can get expensive.


I'm not sure why people fuss about timing belts. My car's timing belt lasted 186k miles and it still didn't break, that's when I changed it. Only took a few hours. Plus Oreillys sells the full replacement kit for $149


...because most people don't do their own repairs...because they are spec'd to last 100k miles not 200k miles (though newer belts are made of kevlar I believe that do last longer)...because the vast majority of belts are replaced by dealers that charge up to $1,200 when timing tensioner, water pump, belts and other related parts are included in the "repair"...

...and because...I'd bet that the fuss is made more by 2nd owners who bought the car when it was time to replace the belt than by the 1st owner who sold the car when it was time to replace it...

 

[Mykl]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I'm not sure why people fuss about timing belts. My car's timing belt lasted 186k miles and it still didn't break, that's when I changed it. It wasn't that big of a deal to replace either. Remove motor mount, alternator, a couple brackets, serpentine belts, tire, splash shield, harmonic balancer, timing belt cover, tensioner, idler pulley, water pump, timing belt and reverse steps. Only took a few hours. Plus Oreillys sells the full replacement kit for $149


I'd rather change a clutch on a FWD car than a timing belt on the same car.

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Originally Posted By: artificialist
The Maxima is an excellent car. One huge advantage the 95-99 Maxima has over the Toyota is the lack of a timing belt. In 1995 Nissan used timing chains in every version of the Maxima.

You may get less life from the lower control arms and tie rod ends when compared to the Toyota, but that isn't too expensive to fix if you can DIY.

I'm not sure how Nissan or Toyota did engine management back in 1995. Many cars would have different ways of diagnosing the check engine light, and it got worse in the year 1995.

Do you know the last time the Maxima was aligned? in 1995-2003, every Maxima had a solid axle rear suspension, and shims were the only way to properly align the rear wheels. That can get expensive.


I'm not sure why people fuss about timing belts. My car's timing belt lasted 186k miles and it still didn't break, that's when I changed it. It wasn't that big of a deal to replace either. Remove motor mount, alternator, a couple brackets, serpentine belts, tire, splash shield, harmonic balancer, timing belt cover, tensioner, idler pulley, water pump, timing belt and reverse steps. Only took a few hours. Plus Oreillys sells the full replacement kit for $149

An inline 4 requires much less labor than a V6 engine. That is one reason to hate timing belts.

Nissan gave every Maxima an interference engine. That led to disaster if belt replacement was delayed.

Toyota gave the Avalon a non-intereference V6 engine, so someone could drive the car many years and miles before the belt fails, and have no problems. That isn't as nice as having a timing chain, but it is better than having an interference engine. That ended around 1999, when they added VVT-i.

 

[brages]

Originally Posted By: Mykl

I'd rather change a clutch on a FWD car than a timing belt on the same car.


I did both on my 4-cyl Honda within a month or two of each other. The timing belt was quite a bit easier.

 

[bowlofturtle]

having owned both (still do but not daily drivers)

the 4gen maxima is still my favorite car. Seem to have the best blend of power/handling and comfort. RUST kills it tho, front radiator support is prone to rusting out in the midwest. My rear fenders are showing signs. I bought mines at 60k took it to a nice 120k. Nearly problem free. Just replaced a knock sensor and a valve cover gasket. My brother is driving it now and its near 150k. CV axle and exhaust patch work.

The camry... well its a car that runs forever. Not much fun. Floaty car. Sloopy steering but that runs FOREVER. 5SFE motors are very hard to kill. My parents drive it now, runs on 1qt of oil if need be.

Never owned the accord to finish out the big 3 but they had V6 auto trans issues around this time.

 

[asand1]

I'm over 300,000 miles in my 96. Replaced struts, one wheel bearing, one axle, radiator, and change oil every 3-4K.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3344563/Clicked_over_300,000_miles_tod#Post3344563

Originally Posted By: artificialist
The Maxima is an excellent car. One huge advantage the 95-99 Maxima has over the Toyota is the lack of a timing belt. In 1995 Nissan used timing chains in every version of the Maxima.

You may get less life from the lower control arms and tie rod ends when compared to the Toyota, but that isn't too expensive to fix if you can DIY.

I'm not sure how Nissan or Toyota did engine management back in 1995. Many cars would have different ways of diagnosing the check engine light, and it got worse in the year 1995.

Do you know the last time the Maxima was aligned? in 1995-2003, every Maxima had a solid axle rear suspension, and shims were the only way to properly align the rear wheels. That can get expensive.


Nissan Maxima was OBDII starting in 95, ALL 4th gens have it. I've had no problems with my control arms or tie rods.

Originally Posted By: artificialist

Nissan gave every Maxima an interference engine. That led to disaster if belt replacement was delayed.

The VQ30DE in the 4th gen Maxima had a series of three timing chains that NEVER break. I am a member on the most populated Maxima enthusiasts board (Maxima.org) and have NEVER seen nor heard about a broken timing chain. The guides do wear and make some noise sometimes.

 

[asand1]

Originally Posted By: artificialist

Do you know the last time the Maxima was aligned? in 1995-2003, every Maxima had a solid axle rear suspension, and shims were the only way to properly align the rear wheels. That can get expensive.


The spindles are welded to the axle beam, there is no adjustment whatsoever. The ONLY adjustable alignment angle on a 4th gen maxima is front toe.