Saddles

iTrader: (2)

I love my 02 Max SE w/ 6speed. But she has 196k on her now and I am starting to think about an upgrade, but that is what I want, an upgrade, not just a newer car.

I want my next vehicle to have a manual transmission as all my others have. As we know, 2006 is the last year we can have a Max and still get a manual transmission.

2006, besides being very hard to find, is still an 8 year old car and are averaging nearly 100k miles from what I can see. I have read some about the 6th generation and many people say to stick with a 5.5 gen due to some issues with the 6th gen anyway. (Comments? Notes? Suggestions?)

Where do we go from here?

What are you other manual lovers doing? I don't know that my blood is rich enough to move to Infinity.

What other vehicles are you guys looking at or have you decided to get the 6th gen or keep your 5.5gen going forever?

I looked at a VW CC just because it was a nice looking car and was only lux sedan with a 6 speed in it on dealers lot.

(Aside from a very sad 02 Max w/ 6spd that I drove. It had less miles than my car, but my car is in better shape, poor thing was all rusted out and sun faded, felt bad for her. And of course they had the audacity to offer $2500 for my car towards their $6000 car that was only better by 45k miles and worse in every other way.)

D.Stillwell

E46 M3 can be had for around $20 grand with 30-40k miles. I love those cars, I've had two e36's (one now) and one e46 and those things are awesome.

If you want 4-door, I'm pretty sure you can get like a 2010-2011 335i for around the same $20k price and with similar miles.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

I feel your pain. Manual trannies have gone from rare to being practically extinct. Maybe the new Acura TL with 6-speed? The 6MT is only available with AWD version though

DjHackStyle

I feel your pain, love the max especially my 6spd but whats next? I feel the only choice we have is g35 or g37

Maxterror

iTrader: (2)

pretty much and Id rather keep my max than move up to a g35.....I've toyed with the idea MANY times.

Child_uv_KoRn

iTrader: (7)

He doesn't want to go broke repairing it or lose 10k grand when he sells it from being a pile

There's a reason they lose 50% of their value in 3 yrs. I'd buy an E34 M5 if I was going to spend decent money (old bimmer = not a POS).

D.Stillwell

I've seen an e34 up close and personal when my uncle had one new back in the day. I've seen a few M5's, those things are crazy dude. You don't want that car. Actually, I can't believe you brought up any M5 when it comes to not being a POS money pit and costing crazy $$$.

Both the e36 and e46 M3's are actually reliable cars, the inline 6 engine is solid. Plus you're buying it used, so it's already lost most of it's value.
If you know how to buy these things you really won't even lose much. I got my e46 with 30k miles for $25k, put 50k miles on it, then sold at 80k miles for $20k. That car came from Guam military base, I only lost $5k over 50 thousand miles not bad at all. You just have to find the right used M3, and you have to be willing to go anywhere in the country for it, keep it maintained and in good shape and you can lose minimal money on em.

Acura TL sucks, especially the brand new one. G35 or G37 is a good choice though, why don't you just do that? Even though I understand where you're coming from, I'd rather have the Maxima over Infiniti myself.

rbaksi

iTrader: (3)

This thread is useless without saying how much you want to spend.

I bought a manual C5 Corvette that is now my summer daily. My I35 is now my winter daily. I looked into the e46 M3, 335i, G35, G37, M35, GTO, S2000. I wanted speed, comfort, moddability, reliability, looks, and <10K budget, so I went with the C5.

I might sell my I35 and upgrade to a G35 sedan or maybe an M35 for winter.

mazda626es

iTrader: (1)

I've been thinking about something similar. What car to get after mine dies. And from what I've seen, keeping with a six speed. They're look to be two, maybe 3 options for what I would want. A 2008 or better Subaru Legacy GT Spec B, Volvo S60R, or a BMW 535XI. All come in manual, all are AWD.

Fakie J Farkerton

iTrader: (51)

Dust N Bones

iTrader: (1)

Here ya go:

2015 Chevrolet SS Getting Manual Transmission

jr schultz

This sounds like a great idea if the OP's car is reliable for the most part. Buy a fun warm weather/weekend car and keep the Maxima for winter driving. If you don't mind my curiosity, how many miles did your C5 have on it when you bought it? getting a $10K reliable and fun summer car sounds like something i may do in the next couple of years.

King_Ten_Ahead

iTrader: (2)

Why do you say tl's suck?

Emaximus

I'm looking into a used G37 when it's time for a new-ish vehicle. I wanted the 7th gen Max until I read about some bearing issues a lot of those guys are having in the forum here. I love my Max, it has been rock solid for me at 228k. If I could afford one of the new 2015 Max coming out this fall, I would get one. Who cares if a car depreciates by whatever % in X amount of years, if you plan on keeping the car. I'm going on 14 years in mine. I'm going to try and get the newest car I can afford because I plan on keeping it a LONG time.

george__

iTrader: (1)

Saab

nestorlugo

iTrader: (11)

2012 Hyundai Sonata turbo with shiftronic

LabbRat

We have a 07 G35 sedan and recently picked up a 03 Maxima SE. I love em both! Use the G35 for road trips, goin to the grocery store, and for those mornings we wake up late for church. Use the Maxima for the wife's photography business, running errands, backup car, ect. If you are looking for a serious upgrade in power, style, handling, and quality, you can't go wrong with the G35/37. Drive one and you'll see what I mean. Mine has been great, no issues, it's sexy, fast and Japanese made. The Maxima's nice, but it is what it is...a $5000 car, but I love my Max also and I plan on doing whatever it takes to keep her going for a long time.

rbaksi

iTrader: (3)

My 2000 C5 had 87K on it when I purchased it this January. I paid 9K for it because the clutch was on its way out. I swapped it myself (a large undertaking) and its perfect now. My C5 also came with an LS6 swap, headers, cam, intake, exhaust, and tune. It dynoed 424 hp at the wheels. I love this ~500 hp monster. The way it has torque at ANY time is surreal.

I love my I35 for how reliable, comfortable, relatively quick, and dirt cheap parts are. It has has 190K and there is no real reason to sell it.

To OP, if you plan on selling your Max and getting another 4 door, I would look long and hard on a 2005 or so Subaru Legacy GT. The turbo 4s are very quick, they're nice inside, cheap to maintain, AWD, come in manual, and have excellent modding/forum/aftermarket support. If I sell my I35 or give it to my parents, I will definitely pick up one of these. It would be my perfect summer/winter combo with the C5.

D.Stillwell

Fakie J Farkerton

iTrader: (51)

Prophecy99

iTrader: (1)

side note rbaksi your I35 looks really good ! i like those wheels! they are infinit-ish !

rbaksi

iTrader: (3)

Thanks! They are actually for sale if anyone is interested. My car is going back to stock.

alanfury75

I agree with everything that was mentioned here. I have a friend that has an 07 G35S RWD 6MT Sedan. Its beautiful, fast, elegant, and ferocious. One with about 100k miles can be had for over $10k. That'll be my next one when my Max dies.