Used 1997 Nissan Maxima Sedan Consumer Reviews
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What a vehicle
It just won't die!, 10/13/2010
1997 Nissan Maxima SE 4dr Sedan
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought my Max with 42k miles in 2001 off a lease from a single previous owner. Almost 10 yr later it is still going strong with 234k miles on it! Yes it has issues with the sunroof leaking, and things that just go wrong with a car with its age but overall I am in awe at how good the engine still is. I bought this after a short stint with a 1989 maxima (my first car) which I loved and have no regrets. Every time I go looking at a newer ride I just cant justify the payments and contently crank up my trusty maxima and go about my business. This thing moved with me from Atl to TX (2 trips back to ATL and back) been to FL, DC, AL, MS, NC, SC and the states in between with no issues!
1997 GLE ... At 26 years old ...
97 Maxima, 11/11/2023
1997 Nissan Maxima GLE 4dr Sedan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This car has been in the family since it was new, mostly in Oregon where they do not use salt on the roads- but there's plenty of moisture - no issues with rust. At 26, and 180K, it's still a great car that I love to drive and it hasn't lost a step. From long experience, I know I can get exactly 10 8ft 2x4s in there. Of course, any car at this age will have "things" that will happen when keeping a car this number of years - but no big engine or transmission problems and it has NEVER EVER stranded me while out and about- just the standard "battery finally died" morning. The list of things below isn't a rant or a gripe fest - it's simply a list of things I've tackled to keep up on an aging vehicle - things I would not bother with if the car itself wasn't still great at 26! Just replaced the suspension and I wish I'd done it about 5 years ago - because it drives like brand new again. Yes, the hood struts gave up and with about 10 minutes of work and $20 bucks on ebay - fixed. That's one of the things I appreciate most about this car- a very small tool kit will get a lot of things done. 10mm wrench !!! Last year we had to re-weatherstrip the moon roof as it was leaking down into the passenger side of the vehicle- predictable. One of the door latches gave up and would not lock- but excellent youtube videos and full-on manuals - did that myself... but no new parts available - so used one from an old Sentra. The leather is showing wear- the driver's seat is split to the foam - just about to tackle the re-foam and a new leather upholster on at least that seat. All the non-contact leather surfaces, like the seat backs and the sides of the seats are pristine. Last year the Bose head-unit gave up. Driving along it would sporadically turn itself on and off every minute or two - and that did get annoying. So I got an aftermarket - installed myself with the help of the folks at Crutchfield and their super convenient adapter kit and good youtube videos. I will say that undoing the 26 year old screws from the bracket that holds the head unit in place ... the innocent looking short little screws - ended up having to be drilled out. (no easy source to find new brackets for my car) - but worth the effort - because the new one hooks to all the current-day toys and now I too can use the phone through my sound system after running the microphone behind the dash, up the A-pillar and running it through the visor screw. The speakers are still excellent- when the head unit gave out, I toyed with buying new speakers but decided to give the old ones a shot- and I'm so glad I left the old Bose ones in place. Oh- and the tachometer now floats freely about, but doesn't cause any problems. It might be as simple as taking the instrument panel out and tightening 3 little screws - but I haven't done it yet. It's almost an entertainment. At 26, it will still beat pretty much anything off the line at the traffic light and has great power and acceleration on the freeway. The only downside to that much take-off power is it will easily spin tires when stopped on a hill in wet weather- without trying. This year the original clear coat started giving up on the hood and a front fender - as a car that hasn't had a garage the last 15 years or so - if I'd been more attentive it probably would have lasted longer. So- because I love this car so much - now it will get a new paint job and who knows how many more years the beast will continue!
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mhorn325is, 12/16/2014
1997 Nissan Maxima SE 4dr Sedan
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought my 97 SE with a 5 speed manual trans in 2006 with approximately 90K miles. The car appealed to me for a variety of reasons: silky 3.0 liter V6, plush creature comforts, impressive factory Bose unit and the relative ease of finding a reasonably priced variant with a proper 3rd pedal. I certainly indulged in a bit of wrench time - Koni struts, Eibach springs, Centerforce clutch, front/rear Brembo cross drilled rotors and a few Stillen add-ons - that greatly increased the pleasure of being behind the wheel, but the car was a solid, quick-ish workhorse even with the OEM equipment. Be mindful of rust and leaks (oil, coolant, etc.), but I'll miss the old girl when I trade her in this week
My 'forever' car
BevMaxima, 09/29/2008
1997 Nissan Maxima SE 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
She's had an alternator, a starter, CV joints, & McPherson Struts replaced... lots cheaper than making car payments for 10 years. She still merges effortlessly onto interstates, paint job looks great, just love this car! I'm only at 146,000 miles, plan on driving my maroon beauty another 10 years. And 26 around town, 34 on cruise control at 64 mph on vacation this summer. Can't beat a Maxima.
Great car!
bemmoftn, 09/01/2010
1997 Nissan Maxima SE 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I loved this car from day 1, and I still love this car on day 4,655. It has always been a reliable car, never let us down. Nissan may not have built the most beautifully designed Maxima in 1997, but it sure built a fun to drive, sturdy one. We finally decided to buy a new one, and let this one go to someone else. We couldn't buy any other car. We bought a 2010 Maxima.