Move to U.S. plant tarnished Maxima's reputation

Are North American-assembled Japanese cars as good as the ones that ride the ships from the land of Godzilla and Hello Kitty?

Manufacturers swear up and down that there is no difference in build quality and dependability, but there's considerable anecdotal evidence online that points to occasional lapses in quality.

Ohio-built V6 Honda Accords and Ontario-assembled Odyssey minivans were plagued by bad transmissions a few years ago, and the current-generation Toyota Camry also exhibits a poor-shifting automatic, owners report.

Likewise, the front-drive Nissan Maxima – a longtime enthusiast favourite with its athletic V6 engine and manual tranny combo – has seen its reputation take a hit after assembly moved in 2003 from Japan to Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn., plant.

"During the fourth and fifth years I had nothing but trouble: motor mounts, transmission, computer errors, sensor trouble," reads a not-so-uncommon lament on the Net.

CONFIGURATION

The sixth-generation Maxima arrived on dealer lots in early 2003 as a '04 model. Nissan's "four-door sports car" had grown into a bigger, heavier sedan than the seminal 1989 model that had knocked critics' socks off.

The wheelbase grew by 7.4 cm and overall length by 5 cm compared to the outgoing model. By adopting the rigid Altima platform, torsional stiffness had improved by 40 per cent. Combined with the new multi-link independent rear suspension, engineers had made strides in the ride and handling department.

Inside, front headroom actually lost 2 cm, while rear hiproom increased by 3 cm. Fortunately, there's still enough elbow room to comfortably convey four adults, five if everyone's on a first-name basis.

Nissan's trademark triple-barrelled instruments perched atop the steering column gave the sedan a futuristic accent, further advanced by the fake-titanium trim – the source of some unwelcome glare in the driver's workspace (wood-tone trim was available on some models).

The odd, longitudinal Skyview glass roof was standard issue, while a conventional sunroof was optional. There's no shortage of safety gear, including front, side and curtain airbags, front-seat active head restraints and all-important seatbelt pretensioners.

The lone engine was Nissan's ubiquitous VQ-series 3.5 L V6, fortified in horsepower and torque to the tune of 265 hp and 255 lb.-ft., respectively. While the same motor motivated the Altima 3.5, the Maxima scored 20 additional horses to reinforce the corporate pecking order.

Transmission choices included four- and five-speed automatics and a six-speed manual on the SE (a limited-slip differential was optional with the stick).

Nothing changed until a mid-cycle renewal for 2007, which specified a new front grille, interior upgrades, fresh colours and a continuously variable automatic transmission. The six-speed manual was sadly nixed.

ON THE ROAD

"This car is not your boring family car. The power is unbelievable."

Thanks to a touchy electronic drive-by-wire throttle and torquey V6, drivers needed to launch with care to avoid abusing the clutch or automatic transmission. Channelling 265 horses through the front wheels was tricky, too.

"Unfortunately you better keep both hands on the wheel when flooring the gas pedal – terrible torque steer," noted the owner of a '05 model.

Zero to 96 km/h came up in just 6.1 seconds, while stopping required 55 metres of the Queen's highway to scrub off a speed of 112 km/h. There's nothing particularly sporting about the skidpad number, though, at 0.80 g.

The Maxima didn't understeer much when flung around corners; turn-in was enthusiastic. But many owners couldn't help but notice the car's turning circle was only slightly smaller than that of the Queen Mary.

Drivers described the ride quality as firm; passengers might be more inclined to call it slightly punishing. And true to its visceral nature, the Maxi was less apt to coddle occupants in silence than, say, a Lexus.

WHAT OWNERS REPORTED

Since the Datsun 810 Maxima debuted in 1981, Nissan's flagship sedan has earned a lot of repeat business over the past three decades. Owners have been enamoured with the car's style, road-going talents and sterling durability.

While the 2004-08 models are the most powerful and sporting yet, their dependability has been called into question by the faithful.

The biggest concern has been the five-speed automatic transmission, which is reputed to shift hard or slip in the first three gears, eventually giving up the ghost at 100,000 km or more.

Another common complaint is a "shimmy" or vibration at highway speeds. Some owners traced it to bad tires, wheels or even hubs. Suffice it to say, the Maxima is difficult to balance and align properly.

There are numerous other gripes, including faulty air conditioners, noisy struts, bad steering racks and engine mounts, wonky coil packs and headlights, short-lived brakes, leaky sunroofs, peeling chrome grilles, falling headliners and lousy radios.

It's best to avoid the 2004s and sample a newer model. Or skip the Tennessee-built cars altogether and find a 2003 or older Maxima. Your wallet will thank you.

We would like to know about your ownership experience with these models: GMC Canyon/Colorado, Suzuki Grand Vitara and Saab 9-2X. Email: toljagic@ca.inter.net.