1992 Nissan Maxima SE | Retro Review

[@BennyT_3434]

In hindsight....this was peak Nissan wasn't it?? And 0-60 in 7.2 seconds was haulin for a sedan back in 1992, would still be acceptably quick by today's standards!

[@bruceyung70]

4DSC. Lol yes you are right. I do remember that about Nissan of that era.

[@jameswillard1]

C&D Magazine actually got 0-60 in 6.6 seconds. I remember because my dad had one and a friend of mines dad had a Taurus SHO and that was 6.4 to 60MPH so he’d remind me they’re car was technically faster even though the Maxima was basically as quick and way more classy

[@brianbfree2328]

Its really quick for 190 hp. This is probably my favorite gen of the Maxima. It was sporty looking amd driving! And for the record, the odd gauges were what attracted me to the gauge cluster. Overall it was a compelling and reliable sedan!❤

[@lldjslim]

4DSC - four door sports car, those were the days baby

[@cessnafun5385]

Someone finally gets that a 7 second 0-60 is actually quick, rather than being a muscle car owner wannabe who says anything above a 0.1 second 0-60 is slower than a drunk slug

[@vwestlife]

These Maximas had a sticker on them proudly proclaiming it to be a "4DSC" -- a 4-Door Sports Car.

[@faheemabbas3965]

The latest ones had them too before they were discontinued.

[@dohc1067]

One of the best sedans to grace our shores at least up to a point. The power train is still better than many of today.

[@basshead.]

The gs300 is 100x better.

[@fernandorocha901]

Beautiful the Nissan Máxima 1992

[@palebeachbum]

The engines were good, but the automatic was pretty terrible.

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Actually the SE's 190hp 24 valve DOHC was riddled with problems and was very complicated and expensive to fix. The standard version 160hp SOHC engine was the bulletproof one.

[@beb1527]

@@oldtwinsna8347100% correct. I had an ‘86 SE with an earlier version of the SOHC 3.0 V6. It was happy in fifth gear at 1500 rpm’s. And it got 25MPG (it’s highway rating) no matter how hard I drove it. I made the mistake of trading it for a new 92 SE. loved the car, hated that the valves were making noise at 36k miles on nothing but Mobil 1 changed every 3k miles.

[@hellkitty1014]

The 90-94 Maxima SE w/ 5spd was THE car! It really had amazing curb appeal for that era, seemingly to appear much more expensive than it was. The interior was nice for a car of its price. And I loved John's reference to the all-white gauges being odd...which became a HUGE trend in the 90s/2000s😂.

[@bigbodyrydagarage5488]

I had the last year of the square Maxima ('88) in SE trim w/moonroof and 5-speed. Awesome car.

[@deborahchesser7375]

They really were great cars, we had an 87’ and a 93’ those cars would move especially the 93’.

[@williamegler8771]

My neighbor bought one when she was promoted to principal at the elementary school she worked at. She drove it for twenty years and replaced it with a new one when she retired. She said she has had more trouble with the new one in the short time she has owned it than she did in the two decades that she owned the original one!

[@HereForAStorm]

Don't doubt it for a second, it's very unfortunate that Nissan ruined their legacy of reliablity. They were always mentioned in the same breath as Toyota and Honda and they threw it away, especially with the cvt.

[@nwezetx1]

The name of the game is cost cutting in the corporate world. That's what they're all about. Making money and finding easier ways to make money faster. The best business people manage to make more money while improving the product, from being efficient with resources. The laziest and unimaginative, just cut corners while reducing quality.

[@100percentSNAFU]

The 90's were like the golden age for Nissan. Maxima, in my opinion, was always a cut above competition in the segment, for what little competition actually existed. For most brands you would have to go to their premium marque in order to get something comparable.

[@patrickwatrin5093]

So true

[@palebeachbum]

Honda didn't even sell a midsize V6 sedan to compete with this. You had to step up to Acura. Toyota didn't sell anything comparable until 3yrs later when they came out with the 1992 Camry V6, which wasn't remotely sporty, but did put out similar power at 188hp.

[@Wasabi9111]

80/90s were prime Japanese car years. But as a kid, I never understood the maxima premium over the Camry or accord. A friends dad had this car and as a passenger i didn’t see why it was more expensive than all the other Camry or accords everyone else had.

[@nwezetx1]

​@@palebeachbumSee the 1993 Camry SE V6 MW review then. You always have some weird complaints about older Camrys, that ring dubious from how subjective they are.

[@jpaz4901]

​@palebeachbum The new at the time dohc 190 hp se tested here was a 92, the same yr Toyota redesigned the camry with a 185hp v6. The 188hp didn't come till the all aluminum motor in 94.

[@RetroCarsForever]

Incredibly handsome design. Sadly, you never see these anymore!

[@ejohnson3131]

These were fun to drive. 0-60 in 7.2 seconds and 60-0 in 109 feet was impressive even by today’s standards. My family had one of these and I learned how to drive in it. So much fun stepping on the gas. That V6 was so smooth! 😊

[@N1120A]

And Motorweek were notoriously bad at launching. Car and Driver got 6.6

[@PatrickRob82]

Cruising at 25mph and stomping it was always my favorite thing to do.

[@joskjj3625]

Back when Nissan had reliability that actually rivaled Toyota

[@Mr-Clark]

CVTs is Nissan's downfall.

[@faheemabbas3965]

They better start ditching CVTs. Even though the current Pathfinder doesn’t use them, let’s see if Nissan is actually dedicated to cars without CVTs once the new Murano is revealed sometime next year. There’s already spy shots of it.

[@dogie8c]

@@Brian_Eugene_LeeThe problem now with the Infiniti brand is the lack of sales and also thieves stealing the Q50 to do crimes and takeovers (burnouts). I don’t think Nissan can survive with two brands with weak sales.

[@carlasghost656]

I always saw Nissan as just a bit behind Toyota for build quality and reliability. But close enough that you weren't missing anything by choosing Nissan. For most people cross shopping the two it probably came down to style and option choices. Nissan may have had a slight price advantage, but not much. Maybe the sales staff had more wiggle room at Nissan.

[@peatyxxjxxx1494]

My first car at 16. 1990 red Maxima GLE. Looking back I cant believe how nice of a car it was for being only 10yrs old when I purchased it. Some of the more interesting options were the digital dash with heads up display. Comfort and sport suspension buttons and Bose stereo. Until this video I had no idea it was a twin cam v6.

[@jameswillard1]

That’s because yours wasn’t a twin cam V6, that was only the new for 1992 till 1994 SE models that had that engine. All GXE models had the SOHC V6

[@nwezetx1]

GXE, not GLE

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

@@nwezetx1 Very beautiful the Nissan Maxima 1992

[@palebeachbum]

I lusted after this car throughout the 90s. I still love the design. I always thought the "4-door sports car" advertising was a gimmick, but after watching the MW review of the 1992 Honda Prelude Si, the Maxima SE proved itself worthy of such a label with faster acceleration and better braking. The Prelude Si was no slouch either.

[@cgreenfield6655]

Back when Nissan was a truly respectable car company

[@nwezetx1]

Nissan USA was losing so much money through corrupt schemes and Bubble Economy burst didn't help matters either. Nissan Japan tried to make great cars, but between the Japanese economy and bad USA execs, they were in trouble.

[@intel2133]

The New Pathfinder & Ariya are good promises !

[@bradleypollack5658]

Nissan with CVT = Disaster.

[@Mabeylater293]

@@bradleypollack5658the cvt wasn’t the problem. It’s UNRELIABILITY was the problem. And thanks to Renault and Carlos Ghosn that wasn’t the only part that suffered.

[@FarmerDrew]

Tuned up, these things would smoke just about anything at the street race. This and the Gallant, fun times.

[@joesmith9216]

yeah, these were cool cars, my father had a '94.

[@SP84Fanatic]

This generation of Maxima definitely earned its "4-Door Sports Car" moniker with this powertrain and chassis.

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Just like today's Maximas

[@palebeachbum]

Unfortunately, it's being discontinued beyond 2023. :(

[@boostedmaniac]

I loved the white analog gauges.

[@tinhinnh]

me too. nothing “odd” about it

[@tinhinnh]

@@evorider3689i guess its ok on a mustang 😏

[@BigBoyz33]

Such a fun car to drive with a manual

[@zbrembo]

gateway to the stick shift v6 nissan's for me

[@mvnorsel6354]

Aren't they all?😅

[@ericharrison619]

Peak Japan was in the late 80s through the 90s. Manufacturers had plenty of extra money to make some really interesting stuff. Even their bread and butter cars were full of unique touches to try and one up the competition and were for the most part dominating the reliability market. On the other end, their sports cars were legendary.

[@patricklinkous]

My dad had a 1990 and 1997. Amazing cars and integral parts of my childhood memories. 👍

[@palebeachbum]

I've driven a 1990 SE, a 1995 GXE, and a 1997 GLE. The 1990 SE was my favorite. It felt more substantial.

[@EricFortuneJr.]

7.2 seconds was pretty fast for it’s time. It’s curb weight was only 3,000 lbs so it didn’t have much body mass. These were probably the most reliable imo, especially with the manual. The best Altimas however for reliability were first and second gens (93-01) and the best performing Altimas were the third gen (02-06). Third gen Altima was the only one that could be purchased with a 3.5 V6 and a manual.

[@buffalop32acdm23]

Such a handsome car!

[@1989pulsar]

I had a 1993 Nissan Maxima GXE over 24 yrs ago (Ibought used. 6 yrs old when purchased). Loved it for 4 yrs. Until it was totaled. I now own a 2022 Nissan Maxima SV (I bought new). I love the final generation Maxima! Long live Nissan's 4DSC!

[@dogie8c]

Sadly the new Maxima might not be as reliable as the earlier models. All thanks to the French company Renault.

[@EffDinero8]

The white Guage's were the thing that made the whole interior pop,my favorite aspect of the interior...

[@kennethpowers8995]

I remember back when I was a teenager I had a white 93 SE and a friend of mine had a Civic EG hatch with a B16 swap that everyone thought was really fast, another friend had a then new 2002 Sentra Spec V. We all went to the track and my 100k+ Maxima with a filter on a stick and no muffler was the only car to get into the 14’s. 🤘

[@beb1527]

I seem to remember November 1991 issue (approximate) car and driver getting 14.9 stock on a ‘92 SE. Too long ago to say with confidence though.

[@dimaslopez-dejesus2371]

R.I.P. Nissan Maxima (1981-2023)😢

[@marvinmurakami8828]

Tragic Nissan would let the Maxima nameplate go by the wayside. Hopefully Nissan will bring it back in the near future.

[@TheTallMan50]

You were a baller if you had one of these in SE trim back in the early nineties.

[@bruceyung70]

Best part was its silky rev-of the engine for me. Awesome shifter also.

[@hamanlalman7240]

Had a 93 SE same color great car

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man my nephew is a fan of those! He love them! He’s been buying Máximas since 1990s! He still has a 92-2001 and now he owns a 2020 sr! They are awesome cars! They’re all in color white!

[@thekhakiobserver3128]

This vehicle is an absolute legend! I remember my neighbor had theirs parked on the curb and I was enamored by that 4DSC in the window. So good looking.

[@ZeGermanHam]

I had a 1993 back in the day, and it was an absolutely fantastic sedan. Build quality was amazing, much better than the BMW I bought to replace it afterward.

[@tommutchler2939]

My parents drove their 1992 SE until 2009. Probably their favorite car ever. It took some convincing to get them to move on, but the mouse belts, ancient airbag, and 20-year-old-design crashworthiness (plus the rusty sills) meant it was time.

[@trentpettit6336]

What are mouse belts?

[@carexpertandy]

Great looking design for being introduced in the late 80s and sold into the early 90s. I remember I had a preschool teacher who owned one of these.

[@fernandorocha-dx1wv]

Very beautiful the Nissan Maxima SE

[@mega-hb4re]

This was a real beautiful car back in the day.

[@ericervin4778]

When Nissan had life!!!!!

[@RSRS-ws3px]

I remember people who I was stationed with during my time in the Air Force who owned these and were always bragging about them. I couldn’t afford one in the 90’s and in the early 2000’s I went through a few Mustang GT’s before buying a 2011 Maxima. I loved that car even though it had a cvt transmission and it handled so well for the car it was but still rode smoothly on the highway. I ended up trading it for a 2014 Stage 3 Roush Mustang in August 2015 because the car had sat on the lot for 16 months and it was discounted $20K! Over the next year I had a smaller pulley installed and the tune to go with it, a MGW shifter which completely changed the fun in driving the car, a one piece driveshaft, and spherical bearing suspension by BMR. After all that work it was definitely faster than the Maxima but still couldn’t hold a corner as well unless the pavement was completely smooth!

[@MichaelJones-xl1uu]

This body style was and is the best Maxima style that Nissan has ever made.

[@noseefood1943]

Had a 91 Infiniti i30 basically same car, to this day smoothest engine “vq30” I ever drove

[@projectJ30]

i30 is based on the 95-99 Maxima. There was no i30 in '91, nor VQ. VE in the 92-94 Maxima was the predecessor to the VQ.

[@TorquilMcLeod]

I had this same year and model but with black interior. I put 16" wheels from a 98 Maxima SE which gave it a nice OE plus update and improved the handling. My Dad had a 94 Taurus SHO manual at the time, both cars felt about as fast, with the Maxima's handling and ride feeling more direct.

[@smartkid1201]

One of the best looking Maxima's! 😍

[@777jones]

Nissan’s peak, with the 300ZX and the excellent Sentra.

[@marvinmurakami8828]

And the 240sx.

[@ericharrison619]

And the GTR aka Godzilla@@marvinmurakami8828

[@ericharrison619]

The 300zx still looks modern even today. Stunning design.

[@westmister]

7.2 seconds 0-60 miles/hour in the 1992. such an amazing car.

[@hailstorm1986]

I'd love to find one of these and excellent condition with the stick shift. That'd be an absolute blast to drive. 😇

[@silverhornet9916]

This was my first new car. Put 120k on it in five years. Fun, practical and very reliable.

[@georgewilkinson1068]

Oh yeah. Try finding one in a stick with less than 100,000 miles? Owners ( and I had a neighbor who owned one) loved them. They drove them until wheels came off.

[@theKevronHarris]

Rest in peace, Nissan Maxima (1981-2023) 😢

[@HereForAStorm]

Quality has been absolute garbage on them for a couple of decades now.

[@doug6191]

For me, Renault killed the Maxima in 2006. They dropped both the manual and automatic for the CVT. That was the end.

[@damilolaakanni]

Maxima died in 2003, IMO. The generation that followed had worse quality.

[@100percentSNAFU]

RIP sedans in general. Especially larger sport sedans. All that's out there now pretty much are econoboxes, crossovers, and trucks.

[@georgewilkinson1068]

​@@doug6191: So heartbreaking. Nissan let a good thing go away.

[@ericbritton9346]

I remember my math teacher Miss Allen had the exact same one fully loaded back in 1993 in elementary school and it too was a 5 speed manual and she gave me a ride home. I was the man back in the day and it was a fine ride back then and finding one in good condition if any left is impossible.

[@TW---]

I remember the sticker on the rear window: 4DSC. Unfortunately, it's achilles heal was Front drive.

[@rushmatic]

My friend is high school got his dad’s hand me down ‘90 Maxima SE 5 speed. I thought that was the coolest car especially considering I got a hand me down ‘89 Civic DX sedan(black bumpers, no passenger mirror and NO RADIO😢).

[@leakyjeep5.9]

Best car of the 90s!

[@MarkMeadows90]

Maximas were small back then. The new Sentras are just a tad longer in wheelbase length. Cars have gotten bigger over the years. It's all about comfort and safety.

[@Troggle84]

My dad had 2 Maximas. One was a 1990 GXE that had the 160 horsepower 4-Cylinder. He bought it with 60,000 miles on it in 1994 and when he traded it in 6.5 years later, it had over 400,000 miles on it (for much of that time, he lived near Poughkeepsie and worked in Rensselaer, across the Hudson River from Albany). He drove 750-900 miles a week for the last 5 years he had it. It was comfortable and my dad liked it. He replaced it with a 1998 Maxima GLE in 2001, right around the time he moved to New Jersey. That car had the same engine as the car tested here. I drove it a few times and liked it. He drove it until it had 315,000 miles on it before he got rid of it. By that point, a lot of stuff had broken (like the driver's window controls), but it was a comfortable car and rarely let him down mechanically.

[@t20sgrunt36]

The maxima was such a great car from the early 90s until the early 2000s. The 5.5 Gen with the 3.5 VQ and the 6 speed was such a quick, fun FWD car. Nissan was historically the sporty and reliable Japanese choice. CVTs and silly choices have now become what Nissan is known for.

[@antwalker916]

You’re right about the 5.5 six speeds I have one and it’s definitely a fun car to drive

[@tford17]

Love this car. Always one of my favorites.

[@Micherson]

I bought a 1991 maxima only had ironically 91k same as the year made when I got it . I had to change all the heathers front and back change timing belt water pump . A tune up . Then I took it to Vegas with a trailer that weighed over 2500 pounds . What help with that Nissan is I had more torque then horses . 181 torque and around 165 horses . I drove to Vegas and back . No issues . . That was 2006. Love that car . Great engine .

[@glovedcop69]

Damn those old school nose dives! 😂

[@Mabeylater293]

3:00. That rear seat looks massive and comfortable

[@timkebienda1809]

My dad had one. Black on Black. Man, the seats in the winter were ice cold in the back!

[@ak2112]

My aunt drove one. In red, with the 5 speed. She was cool.

[@troymitchell9612]

Aww that my car. She is sitting in the garage now

[@marvinmurakami8828]

This was my favorite version of the Maxima.

[@ricknolan1671]

Love seeing this review. I bought my '92 SE a year and a half ago in the same color combo but with cloth interior. It drives great but definitely more of a luxury ride than sports car as advertised. The engine is still smooth with 110k miles on it.

[@projectJ30]

Sounds like a GXE to me.

[@joeseeking3572]

I really liked these back in the day - but I went with the car the mentioned as a competitor, a 91 SHO - and overall I think it was a better choice. I really miss the days when you could choose from any number of interesting mid sized near luxury sport sedans with a manual; there was always something interesting to consider when it came time for a new car.

[@jwuuds6003]

This was my second car (first was a 1988 sentra) I bought this car "preowned" in 1997 for i think like 10k from a dealership. This is my most memorable vehicle I've ever had in my life. It was a pearl white 1992 maxima SE manual transmission with tan and black interior like this one, 4dsc , 145mph on the dash (Gxe only had 125mph on the dash. ) and i had that car pinned past the 145 , i don't know how fast i was actually going or if it was accurate but it was extremely fast , I felt like the car was going to turn upside down sideways like a speed boat and flip. I had no respect for the car at the time though because i was making money young 17 years old. I still have weird dreams where i still own this car and it's still sitting somewhere stored. I threw 18" rims on it which were huge back then. This was my most memorable car. RIP because I destroyed it in just under 2 years. Lifters were ticking on month 2 🤦‍♂️ I destroyed it and now i want to buy a cream puff version of it if anyone selling lmk. I did so much wild cool stuff with this car.

[@cmair77]

Oh man! My mum had a 91 with a 5 speed, that thing was fast and somewhat luxurious for its time. Great memories in that car. Nissan in the late 80s early 90s was fun.

[@lldjslim]

4DSC - four door sports car, those were the days baby

[@atribecalledcookies4]

I've been waiting for this episode ! classic , thank you .

[@fj06carnone]

It's so odd how few views these mtoroweek retro reviews get. I honestly don't get it.

[@jameswillard1]

It’s only been up for a few hours 🤔

[@nwezetx1]

​@@jameswillard1Good points from JW all over this page 😂. +1

[@DJBiv788]

I was handed down one of these (Burgundy with 4 speed auto) after my sister bought a newer car. I really liked this ride, one of the most fun cars I’d driven.

[@jw3521]

I had a 1990 Nissan Maxima in standard, and to this day i still believe it to be one of the best cars i have ever owned. Have had a 1986 Mazda 626 (junk), a 1995 Volvo 850 (not bad), a 2001 Acura 3.2 TL (faster but smaller), A 2006 GMC Envoy XL (still have it but don't drive it) and a 2017 Cadillac Escalade Platinum (only car i have purchased used but love it). To me the Maxima went downhill when it started getting smasller then they came out with the lower priced (don't remember the name off the top of my head) that was just a little smaller then the Maxima but had better sales. Also how can they not say anything about the Bose radio! I was told the bass was so strong that they had to redesign the rear window seal as the bass would cause water leaks. Had it for over 20 years and gave it to my Aunt. she traded it in and never told me as i had a friend at work that wanted it to replace the back seats in his as I only had a few people ever sit in the back seat. they were like new still 20 years later.

[@ACedricArmstrong]

I would love to find one in decent shape today

[@crigger]

I have one with only 70k and i love it!

[@PasleyAviationPhotography]

One of the last reliable Nissans, before the CVT debacle.

[@nwezetx1]

​@Jonathan-mp32xYeah, late 2006. Guys act like the CVT was in Maximas in 2003 already. Could get the Maxima with an auto or stick until 2006

[@jameswillard1]

One of the least reliable Nissans?? These things constantly went well past 200k miles with no issues (other than Nissans fuel injectors sometimes) but show me any car that doesn’t have some type of issue. Not to mention, Nissan knew it was an issue and stood behind them even when they were well beyond warranty 👍🏻

[@borninhk1]

My father bought a 1993 Toyota Camry XLE 4-cylinder. I told him to consider this car instead, but he didn't listen! Man, if he did, I would have loved to drive this car!

[@ezrashonor]

The GOAT. I should have bought one when I could. Probably my greatest automotive regret.

[@AllyMcLesbian]

I had a used 1992 Maxima GXE. Very fun to drive compared to the Corolla my sister had totaled. Sadly my sister ended up totaling the Maxima too - though that time it was not her fault. Needed very little work up until being totaled. I absolutely miss that Maxima - never cared for any later Maximas (or Nissans in general).

[@chinohja]

My first car! Bought it used with about 190k on it in ‘06 for about $1,000. Lasted me 3 years before I sold it to a friend. I miss the ole girl.

[@injustifiiable]

My aunt had one in white! Ran for 130K miles until it got wrecked by a flood.

[@AndresSalazarAutos]

This has always been my favorite Maxima Styling... it might be square and bland but I always liked it, a lot over the following jelly bean styling

[@edhartman2860]

A step above most American sedans from that time...Good car

[@burntoast8259]

Yes Motorweek! Thanks for sharing this review, although it's a short one. Where's the capacities, mileage, hits/misses, competitors? Not even a quip from John Davis that the gauges aren't comprehensive enough lol. Anyway, this is my white whale. Going into university in 99 I begged my folks for a few grand to get a 92 SE manual, pearl white on black leather one owner in great shape. It was $12,900. Saved for another year but none were up for sale sadly and had to settle for a 93 626ES V6 manual. Although I have a 90 GTR, I still scour the web for a clean 92-94 Maxima SE manual!

[@chriscornelius2518]

This and the next generation in Black or Cream color were really amazing cars. The 90s was an interesting time for Japanese cars. I love them.

[@jonmcclane7433]

By far and away my favorite Gen Maxima. They just got too big after this generation. These had nice lines, were fun to drive, and if you add window tint and some aftermarket rims then you had a real head turner.

[@SAKtime1]

Still a good looking car after 30 plus years

[@mconfive2nine]

The white gauges were anything but odd. I'd love have them now with the orange backlight, so killer. RIP.

[@nathanielcargile7135]

Truly built much better than today’s Nissan. And I’ve owned a couple. I hope things change.

[@brandonbutler9833]

From the days when you could trust the transmission in a Nissan. I had a '99 Maxima...not altogether different from the 1992. It still had the 3.0 VQ engine. It was a great car and the build quality was excellent - it was built in Japan. I'm not of the opinion the current ones coming out of Tennessee are nearly as high quality.

[@TheJahbrother]

These are so cool! The '95 edition with the vq motor was even faster and lighter weight!

[@sunilayya8948]

When Nissan had the best line up of Japanese cars. Sentra SER, Maxima , 240sx , 300zx twin turbo, hardbody pick up, Pathfinder. Only the stanza was not a class leader, though it was a very competitive car.

[@evelynbaker6715]

Such a great weekend to have a appointment at the same time to myself need to start going to the ymca and I will be fine.

[@kgthegreatone943]

This was such a cool car

[@politicallyunreliable4985]

Had a 1992 SE 5M w/ the sunroof, LSD and BOSE sound system I got used in 2002. I REALLY wish I had held onto that car.

[@CPMUNSEY]

Great cars. I had a 93 I put 163k on before trading it in. It still ran like a new one.

[@jemwh1]

My dad had this model year maxima with the 5 spd fun car

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

Menace II Society, check out those wheels

[@projectJ30]

Only this is a 92, not a nineteeninney.

[@Kiss__Kiss]

Had an '88 Maxima SE-V6 and a Nissan '92 Stanza replaced it. Both 5-speed manual transmission. Both Black!! 👌 These were the days!!!

[@nwezetx1]

That's a downgrade 🫤

[@7heartchark]

My mom had a '93 in White Pearl. Whenever i would drive it, that car would haul ass.

[@projectJ30]

01:28: Was there even any oil in the gearbox? Seriously, it sounds like shifting through gears with the transmission on the bench.

[@Andy-kw5nw]

Early 90’s Maxima’s………………my all time “passenger” car favorite.

[@user-iz3gv5vo6b]

Love this generation of Maximas. The '89s were not Japan's first true sports sedans. By that time the Honda/Acura Legend and the Toyota Mark 2 /Cressida (some with supercharged 1G GZE and some with the twin-turbo 1JZ GTE) were already on the market.

[@stevennevins6643]

Nissan absolutely squandered away Maxima’s reputation

[@aaronswink8554]

When Nissan decided to put the same 3.5L V6 in the same size (or slightly larger) Altima, and left the Maxima out to dry back in 2002, that was it. Infiniti was already the luxury brand. Altima was the powerful family sedan. Maxima literally had nowhere else to go. It's such a sad end to what was truly an excellent 1990s sports sedan (and we had several in the family that lasted a long time and were a lot of fun to drive.)

[@nothingnew....9341]

This is back in the old days. The maximum SEwas a car everyone liked. the motors back then were not as powerful and the transmissions were a lot more clunky but the old cars had one thing going for them that you don't see today, lightweight. A commensurate 2024 sedan is going to weigh at least 500 pounds more and that is what takes away the sporty feel. A comparable vehicle today would be a Honda Civic. Yeah a civic

[@carzak]

These things had too much grip for their suspension you could say (although their soft suspension likely contributed to the grip). A friend used to autocross one of these, and with modern summer tires the body roll was even worse. I rode along with him one run and it was the worst I'd ever experienced. Fairly typical of Japanese cars of the time though according to their soft suspension philosophy.

[@Jeff_F7]

That could easily have been remedied with stiffer aftermarket suspension. My guess is your friend didn't want to compromise ride quality, and so didn't opt to modify the suspension? With grip being so good, I'd love to see how a Maxima of this generation performs with performance suspension upgrades.