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Maxima or Grand Prix?
I am looking to get a daily driver, stang is too rough... no a/c, suspension is shot etc etc... I'm going to use it for a weekend car so I can really get crazy on it... or I might sell it since I kind of want a 5spd now. Anyway I'm thinking about either a 97 or 98 maxima or a 97 or 98 pontiac grand prix gtp. I want a 4 door sedan that has a little power to it, leather, sunroof, something that has a good amount of room and is comfy to ride in. I won't be modifying it much probably just a stereo and maybe some rims. Any of you guys had experience with either of these 2 cars... opinions? Thanks.
------------------ 92 AOD GT, K&N, ram air, pulleys, 2 ch. flowmasters, 4:10's, shift kit, 1 5/8 mac longtubes and offroad hpipe 14.249 @ 97.34 mph before the headers and hpipe |
Why not stay in the Ford family with a Thunderbird (2dr, I know), or an SHO?
As far as the SHO goes, I don't wanna hear anything about repair bills, if you've got money to wig that Mustang out you've got money for the SHO. LOL. |
I had a taurus sedan before and didn't really like it too much, I want something a little more luxurious... and yeah thunderbird is 2dr.
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The Pontiac is probably faster, but they feel cheap to me. I've been in a 98-99 Gran Prix GTP and 99 Grand Am GT, and am not really impressed. I've also been in a 95-96 Maxima and it feels more like a luxury car. So for performance I'd go with the GTP, for overall quality/feel I'd go with the Nissan.
------------------ 1989 lx notch 89,000 miles bolt-ons,stock heads/cam 60'- 2.07, 8.90@78, 13.93@99 |
Yup, I would say the Grand Prix might be a little faster, but the Maximas are no slouch, either! I would go for the Maxima for quality, and smoothness. My daily driver is an Olds eighty eight. Got to love a/c!
------------------ Joe! 1988 GT, 167,000 miles!!! 13.58@105mph Check out my listing! Click here! Or my website:www.joe4speed.com 99 Ninja ZX-6R:10.32@135mph! 1993 Olds Eighty Eight LSS 16.40@88.8mph http://www.duhspot.com/users/smiley/.../outtahere.gif |
I would say the Maxima, cause we all know how badly gm cars are built, and how cheap they feel b/c of that.
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Have any of you actually owned/driven maximas and gtp's(besides tjr) or just saying that they are better because they aren't GM... personally I would kind of rather buy an american car than a foreign car even if it is a GM....
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I know you are not looking at modifying it ... but the GTP has some really nice potential! I've heard of high 13s for under $1k.
I have a buddy here that ran last year 13.1 at the track with his GTP, and did some minor adjustment that should make him go over to the 12 second side this year!! http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/biggrin.gif Maxima is a nice car as well... don't they cost an arm and a leg everytime something breaks down though? ------------------ http://members.mustangworks.com/liza...rdKing_sig.gif 13.66 @ 100.3MPH, Stock (except for K&N Filter) • Quartermile run |
i say go for the nissan. A lot of people i work with have them, and have put TONS of miles on them with no problems whatsoever.... on the other hand, i know a lot of people with pontiacs that are DEAD or getting there fast. Besides, pontiacs are ugly http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/wink.gif hehe
------------------ *-Emilee-* |
Go With the Nissan!
------------------ 1990 GT 5k Original miles!! Ripper,Pullies,73 MM C&l Mass Air,8mm Wires,Piaa Headlights,MAC Cold Air (Fender) |
I have ridden in both. Go with the Maxima. It is posh, and pretty quick too. It just feels like a better car.
Light Em Up! http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/smile.gif ------------------ My 87 GT....Marbles http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/contrib/icw/019.gif AIM: Marbles87Fox Light Em Up!!!:) |
The Nissan has a great resale value. A feind bought 1 at an auction and put 22,000 miles on it and NO repairs and when he sold it it took about 2HR and had over 10 look at it and got $1300 More than what he paid for it. I guy saw how many were looking at it and paid $500 more than what he was asking http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/smile.gif Why doesn't that ever happen to me http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/frown.gif
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My dad owns a 98 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, I personally like the car. Its got some decent kick to it. Before I got my New Mustang, I was always borrowing his car on real hot days, or real rainy days, when he was down here (lives in PA).
I'd say I've put about 8 thousand miles on it myself. They drive and Handle nicely, look pretty good especially in RED. http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/biggrin.gif Accerlerates quick, but I dont really like the interior, to much open space for me, and the consule looks kinda funky, but hey thats just my opinion. Oh one thing about them, MAJOR Torque steer. Can be Extreme at times. If your driving at about 20-30 MPH and FLoor it so it kicks into first, the car about turns 90 degrees and goes flying off the road. Well not quite that bad, but of all the front wheel drive cars I've driven, it has the worst Torque steer. I personally would go with Pontiac. ------------------ 64 1/2 "D" code Red Mustang Coupe. 289, C4, Mallory duel point. Ported & Polished 65 heads shaved .01 with 351 valves, 11:1 comp, 1.7:1 rockers, blue wolverine lumpy cam, modified 4100 Hipo 4 barrel. GT Apperance pkg. And to many others to list 2000 Perf Red Mustang GT. 5spd. BBK Underdrive pulleys, Flotech off-road H pipe. Hurst T-Handle, 40 series Flowmasters, Steeda Tri-Ax 64 1/2 red 6cyl coupe. http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/contrib...uble0smile.gif |
Personally I'd ditch both choices and go with an Intrepid ESI. I drove a 95 for 3 years and it was a sweet daily driver. Comfortable, great milage and plenty of power. Way better quality than the Grand Prix and not as pricey as a Maxima.
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If someone else works on the car i'd say the Nissan...everything is inaccessable in there and parts (of course) are more expensive than for a domestic, but if it stays reliable it wouldn't be a bad car, but i'd go with the Pontiac. Either one is a decent choice.
I myself was considering getting another vehicle for driving everyday because i'm going to go crazy on my mustang (just ordered some gauges and chassis stuff...waiting for chassis stuff, then more will follow http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/smile.gif ), but if i did get another vehicle i wouldn't have any money to mod it and i'd be driving a vehicle i don't like as much, so i said hell with it, i like driving a 5.0L mustang. Do you really want to drive something else? Good luck on whatever you decide. ------------------ '84 Mustang 5.0 LX My car |
Picking out of the two, I'd personally much rather a Maxima. Good power, very comfortable, very dependable (not to say that the GP isn't).
----------------------------------------- '79 Mustang Coup w/ 4" Cowl Stock 5.8L, C4 w/ shift kit Holley 750 cfm, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake 1 5/8" MAC shorty headers, Al driveshaft 2.5" Off road H-pipe, 2-chamber Flowmasters Front: 225/60/15, Rear: 255/60/15 Eagle GT II Weld wheels (15x6;15x8), 8.8" Rear w/ 3.55s 14 x 4” K&N air filter (getting the Xtreme setup someday) http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/cool.gif "Red, thou art my companion. Hasten now your quickened metamorphosis to Green that I may conquer all who dare abide there beside me. May they be left thither behind burnt black." ---Fox Body |
I travel a lot, and I have driven all kinds of cars over the last couple years, even though they are always rentals you get to get an idea about all of them. I like both, but my vote would be for the maxima. Plus I remember back in 96, a friends mom had a brand new fully loaded maxima and it was damn nice.
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Without a doubt the Maxima. I owned a 96 SE with leather, moonroof, CD, etc. Great car for the money. IMO you get good quality, reliability, performance, luxury, and it's not any more expensive to maintain than a Pontiac, maybe less so. The GTP may have more horses but I believe it's heavier, doesn't handle as well, only offered in auto, resale blows, and is probably much tougher on brakes.
------------------ ************************ 1999 GT - Laser Red K&N, Steeda pulleys, Steeda strut tower brace & Tri-ax (Upcoming mods: subframes (bought), Bassani X (next), & FMS 3.73s |
given the 2 choices, you can't go wrong either way.
i have driven many differant versions of each (wife worked at a nissan dealer and now works at pontiac dealer) i would have to agree that the nissan would have a slighlty better resale (not too much though when compared to the gtp. the other grand prixs drop bad though) the big question is do you want an auto or a stick. i would not buy the maxima auto (it sucks all the power out of it) the gtp only comes in auto. ------------------ 99 30th annv. Trans am 79 Trans am black se |
Are u kidding? Nissan vs. GM.
Nissan, no brainer. There is no way a GM poroduct could even begin to come close to the quality, fit & finish, and reliability of a Nissan. But, if poor quality american cars are your thing, go for the Pontiac. ------------------ 1993 GT/AOD '93 Mustang GT |
Well i'd really like an auto for it's ease of use... looks like maxima is the winner... now I just gotta find the right one. http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/smile.gif
------------------ 92 AOD GT, K&N, ram air, pulleys, 2 ch. flowmasters, 4:10's, shift kit, 1 5/8 mac longtubes and offroad hpipe 14.249 @ 97.34 mph before the headers and hpipe |
63 Plymouth Valiant push button auto
or maybe anoTHER FORD MAYBE USED MAYBE LIKE A CROWN VIC OR A NICE TARAUS ..maxima come with a free copy of pearl harbor that might be nice Please ------------------ 1991 5.0 NotchBack,Black as of 06/08/01 23,000 mi. 2001 LIGHTNING Black 800 mi. |
I actually made a similar decision. It was between the Maxima and the Buick Regal GS, same as GTP but IMO more luxurious. I was purchasing new, and being a big guy 6'2", 240lbs, it was a no brainer. My feet kept getting caught on the pedals. I bought the Regal for about $8K less than the Maxima. If you're considering a Maxima, keep in mind that the auto is a HIGH 15 sec car, and the GTP is a low 15 to high 14 sec car, and for a $40 pulley, you could be a mid-low 14 sec car.
As far as GM reliability, the fit and finish on the Nissan is clearly better, but over the long term, the GM will be reliable. My father-in-law's 93 Regal has over 300K miles, and never had any work done other than the alternator, it is still going. Like the other's have said, either car is a good choice, but in the end the GTP gets my nod. Happy motoring. |
I just read something (i think in newsweek) about the quality of new cars. Sadly, ford was last (many new models coming out with lots of recalls) and second to last was Nissan. This really doesn't help at all, but i thought it was amusing.
------------------ '84 Mustang 5.0 LX My car |
Ya, but see ford recalls stuff that is wrong, GM just says that nothing is. "sir, your car is supposed to rattle like that, it was designed that way" "well yes, it is supposed to get only 175hp from that 350 cu/in engine"
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Neither! Both the Maxima and the Grand Prix are wrong-wheel drive. Find yourself a nice intercooled Turbo Regal.
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Then the 4th time, they told him it was some kind of Firewall vibration damage caused from driving it hard and the warranty wouldnt cover it. They wanted over a grand to fix nothing but a design flaw. I've heard the same from a few other New generation camaro owners. No complaints from the FireBird people though. |
My 2 cents...Maxima. My aunt has a like a 98 infiniti I30 thats basically a maxima...all the options sweet bose stereo very good power..the engine was in the top 10 list of best engines. Heard really good stuff bout nissan. Every year the maxima just gets better although the new models look kinda funky.
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go with the grand prix my buddy has one and he actually backed up into his ex's car and totaled her car and all it did to the his was put a couple scratches in it...grand prix are very tough cars..only thing is there known for having fuel pump problums..like with the relay and stuff
my freinds grand prix is a 89 and it actually has a 5 speed in it..only seen like three of these in my life ------------------ '91 GT,91K,T-5,air silencer removed,HD clutch,K&N air filter,Mac long tubes,Cat-back,off road H,FMS 9mm wires,180 thermostat,Competition gauges,C&L 76mm MAF,Accufab 70mm TB,TFS street heat intake Waiting install:Nothing Future Mods:3.73's,Pro 5.0,TFS heads,TFS stage 1 cam,lakewood struts/shocks,nitto DR's ICQ#35670781 http://www.mustangworld.com/mpics/mwl1.gif |
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