Things missed from the 6th Gen Max...

[06maxSE]

Im hoping maybe some engineer from nissan will read this thread and maybe incorporate some of the things from the previous generation into the 2010 model.... so i am starting alist that has the things that i miss most from my 06 maxima:

1. 6 speed manual transmission!!!!!
2. Power folding exterior mirrors and both mirrors auto dim... why would nissan get rid of this feature its one of the things that differentiated it from cars like the acura tsx/TL... and now the new 2009 only has the drivers side mirror dim whats the point of only one mirror dimming?
3. The third 12V port (for lack of a better word) in the passanger side foot well

if anybody else has anything else to add please do those are the three i would miss most if i were to upgrade to the 2009 maxima

[NismoMax80]

ONLY thing i noticed was the headlight stalk is still Off, Auto, Park, On.

wait, you mean there isn't a manual?



btw 07, and 08 only offer a CVT as well, so not sure what you mean. there is at least one thread about manual desire already (also explaining why it is highly unlikely to change).

[STARR]

I can go without power folding mirrors but I need them to auto dim, soon as you drive a car without them you will regret not having them

[ikalinin]

max website says folding mirrors are avail.. was is standard on the previous years ?

[4DRSpeed]

I don't believe folding mirrors were standard. maybe 07-08? I know we've had a few 05s come in to work and one was fully loaded with folding mirrors, heated wheel everything. The couple others did not have the folding mirrors.

[jcalabria]

Originally Posted by 06maxSE

Im hoping maybe some engineer from nissan will read this thread and maybe incorporate some of the things from the previous generation into the 2010 model.... so i am starting alist that has the things that i miss most from my 06 maxima:

1. 6 speed manual transmission!!!!!
2. Power folding exterior mirrors and both mirrors auto dim... why would nissan get rid of this feature its one of the things that differentiated it from cars like the acura tsx/TL... and now the new 2009 only has the drivers side mirror dim whats the point of only one mirror dimming?
3. The third 12V port (for lack of a better word) in the passanger side foot well

if anybody else has anything else to add please do those are the three i would miss most if i were to upgrade to the 2009 maxima

The 6MT and third power port were already gone in the 6.5g.

I agree completely about the auto-dim mirror... last night I was driving my daughter's car (ES300) and was constantly blinded by the lights in the right outside mirror. Funny how you don't think much about some of these things until you don't have them.

I would add the rear sonar to the list. The rear camera just seems like a dangerous distraction to me... the sonar supplements my awareness of surroundings... the camera detracts by making you look at it. I believe that this is gov't mandated, just like other regulatory fiascos such as the '74 seatbelt/starter interlock, 85mph speedos and TPMS.

[lightonthehill]

06maxSE & ikalinin; I have power folding outside mirrors with memory function on my '04 SL. They were part of the Driver Preferred package for the '04, '05 and '06 model years, and probably the '07 and '08 as well. I'm sure they will be available via some option for the 7th gen Maxima.

[STARR]

my 06 has power folding mirrors, but I don't understand the theory behind a drivers side dimming mirror and a normal passenger side mirror on the 09, for anyone who tints the windows the outside dimming mirrors is s moot point but but still, it's a great feature and you don't realize how great it is until it's not their.

not that I missed it but the inside rear view is auto dimming right

[NismoMax80]

i have my side mirrors set for my blind spots so i don't get direct headlight glare anyway.

you shouldnt see something in you rear view mirror the same time as your sides. otherwise you have 3 rear view mirrors and you can't see the sides...

[Blulytes]

yup, no power folding mirrors for 09. Shame. That is always a feature I love showing off when parking with people in my car.

The controls on the steering wheels are much better than the 6th gen.

However I do like that the Premium has all 4 windows auto up/down.

What is "premium mood lighting?"

[avocent]

No Stick No Buy, i was sad after realizing there isnt one available

[lightonthehill]

Like NismoMax80, I set my outside mirrors where I can see what is beside the rear portion of my car on both sides. That means headlights of vehicles behind me will not be visible in the side mirrors (that's what the inside mirror is for).

I never used the folding mirrors on our 6th gen, as our garage doors are each 10 feet wide. Those who have 9 foot wide garage doors don't need the folding mirrors either. 8 foot garage doors can accomodate the Maxima without folding the mirrors, but one has to be careful, as the clearance is close.

Garages with one door opening to two parking spaces will be fine if the double door is 18 (common) or 20 (not common) feet wide. Those with 16 foot doors (fairly common) may miss the folding mirrors, but can still park.

I realize there are special situations some orgers have in which they need the mirrors folded. Sorry about that.

I will enjoy the fact the outside mirrors on the '09 turn down (to view the curb) when the car is put in reverse; that option came to the 6th gen after I bought my '04.

I also look forward to using the new turn signals on the outside edge of the outside mirors. Those will be visible to drivers who may be alongside the rear portion your car and not in a position to see your rear turn signals.

[jcalabria]

Its not the cars directly behind you that blind you in the outside mirrors... its the cars in the adjacent lane. At some point of you passing them or them approaching you, their lights will be in the outside mirror. In urban/suburban 4+ lane commuting... that's pretty much a constant condition - there is ALWAYS somebody beside and to the rear of your car. If all you drive is 2 lane country roads or wide open interstates, then its not a problem.

Does anybody know if the reverse mirror tilt feature is still in the '09?... very useful for backing into my narrow garage with the garden supplies lining the wall on the right side as I back in.

[lightonthehill]

jcalabria - Yes, the headlights of cars in adjacent lanes do hit the outside mirrors, but that is usually at only one point as they either move past or fall back, and not at the centerpoint of the headlight beam. In rural areas, that will no be a problem. But, as you said, in city traffic, that can still be a fairly constant parade of annoying headlights. Where you and I drive, the auto-dimming outside mirrors would be much-appreciated.

Yes, the '09 still has the reverse tilt-down outside mirrors in both the Sport and Premium packages.

[95Max]

Power folding mirrors are an important feature. I am in a townhouse with a one car garage. I need to pull over to the right side as far as I can to so you can move down the left side of the car (garbage can, recycling, etc is there). So I hit the switch and the mirrors fold and in to the garage I go. With the manual ones I will have get out fold get back in the car then into the garage. A pain in the butt...especially if it is raining.

Looking at the brochure it says the if you get either the sport or premium package the 60/40 folding rear seat is replaced by a pass through. I work in sales and I occasionally have point of sale displays to get in the trunk and without the folding seat....problem.

No 09 for me

[tyler5619]

Originally Posted by NismoMax80

i have my side mirrors set for my blind spots so i don't get direct headlight glare anyway.

you shouldnt see something in you rear view mirror the same time as your sides. otherwise you have 3 rear view mirrors and you can't see the sides...

blind spots FTL

everyone should set their outside rear views as follows:

1. sitting in driver seat, lean all the way to the right. set your passenger side mirror to where you can barely see the body of your car in the mirror.

2. do the opposite for the driver side. lean your head out the window, set your driver mirror to where you can barely see the body of your car in the mirror.

3. it takes some getting used to, but looking in your side mirrors to check your blind spots is much easier, AND SAFER, than turning around and turning a blind eye to the truck in front of you who just slammed on his brakes.

YOU SHOULD NEVER TURN YOUR HEAD UNLESS YOU ARE DRIVING IN REVERSE! and for those of you with a rear camera, no need to turn around! FTW!

another safety tip brought to you in part by me.

[tyler5619]

Originally Posted by jcalabria

Its not the cars directly behind you that blind you in the outside mirrors... its the cars in the adjacent lane. At some point of you passing them or them approaching you, their lights will be in the outside mirror. In urban/suburban 4+ lane commuting... that's pretty much a constant condition - there is ALWAYS somebody beside and to the rear of your car. If all you drive is 2 lane country roads or wide open interstates, then its not a problem.

Does anybody know if the reverse mirror tilt feature is still in the '09?... very useful for backing into my narrow garage with the garden supplies lining the wall on the right side as I back in.

lol...headlight beams typically go straight ahead. you ever looked at a laser pointer from an angle as opposed to directly into your pupil? that is pretty much the same principle, but a little exaggerated. my point is, you're probably not going to be blinded by people in an adjacent lane unless they're coming straight at you. in which case the least of your worries should be "o noes, i need dimming mirrors..."

[lightonthehill]

95Max - After seeing so many weak excuses from so many folks for not being able to fit an '09 Maxima into their life, I must admit your two reasons are completely valid. You really do need a power folding outside right mirror, and you really do need the 60/40 rear seat fold-down, which you can't get with either the Sport or Premium package. You have my sympathy; I don't know what I would do if faced with your dilemna.

tyler5619 - Your procedure for setting the outside mirrors does indeed enable their proper angle for use to cover the blind spots, just a jcalabria and I are using them for. And you are correct that the headlights of a car in an adjoining lane will not have the center portion of their headlight beam directed into our side mirrors. But I have noticed the same thing jcalabria has noticed, in that even the more diffused side portion of an HID headlight beam in the outside mirror can sometimes be a distraction.

Something I haven't seen mentioned here is that the outside right mirror is not auto-dimming, so when that mirror is properly set so the driver can see the blind spot, then the passenger in the right front seat will have the headlights of the car(s) behind directly in their eyes. I split driving with my wife, in that I do most of the day driving, and she does most of the night driving. So, as a passenger in the Maxima, I have been greatly bothered by the full glare of headlights in that right mirror for decades. It is so bad I sometimes just lower the seatback and lie way back to avoid it. Thankfully, this problem is not quite as bad in the Maxima as in our trucks, on which we have large 'West Coast' outside mirrors.

[BluFlame]

i will miss the elite seating most, it sure set it apart.

[RacerX1320]

^^^ Deff, that was probably the sickest option ever an im sure will be collectors as they get older.

[ICEMAN76]

Originally Posted by Blulytes

What is "premium mood lighting?"

I have no idea. I was wondering that myself. Does n e one know? Has n e one witnessed or experienced the "premium mood lighting?"

[lightonthehill]

'Premium mood lighting?' I don't know. If I had to guess, I would think Nissan may have used more lights, but softer ones, with most of them either screened in some way, or truly indirect. But I really don't know. Someone needs to take a peek at the Owner's Manual, which is online somewhere at nissanusa.

The 'light' that will improve my mood is the one that will go off in my dealer's Internet Manager's head when she grasps the fact I will deal only from invoice. But then she probably remembers that fact from the Maximas I have bought from her in the past.

[Blulytes]

i found it out. In the brochure, it says that it adds interior lights to the cabin while driving to lightly illuminate the passenger compartment.

Now I have to test drive at night....

[reb]

Comfortable seats.

[lightonthehill]

Blulytes - Thanks! Wonder if they are Blu Lytes? Like you?

[drakutis]

I think it may be like the "Ambient Interior Lighting" that the CTS has where you have gentle lighting in specific places in the cabin.

[ICEMAN76]

True. Who's gonna b the one to test drive at night?? Let us know what it looks like.