Nissan Maxima (1985 - 1988) Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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User reviews for Nissan Maxima (1985 - 1988)
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by Jeff L
Nov 25, 2011
I had my 84' 300ZX running fine in 1994 when the Martin Luther king birthday earthqake hit LA hard. For two weeks I "can't get my car out of second gear" as Sammy Hagar would say. The next week my friend asked me to help him go pick up a new Mazada 929 out in the middle of nowhere, that I could drive his old Maxima there. So we embarked on a 80 mile drive and talked about the new car and also what he'd do with the old Maxima. I had him bring thecar to my own mechnanic a few weeks before who said it was in pretty good shape for a 85' with 132k on the odo. Long story short by the time i got him dropped off I decided to make him an offer to get the slushbox tranny alone. I gave him a cool $3,200 bucks for the car and rest was history.
The two major issues I had with the car were things he'd fixed at Pep Boys that reoocurred in 1 or 2 years, namely the power steering rack and the fuel injectors. Nissan actually cut me a check for 1k for injects as there was a recall!!
Long story short I drove her until 300k when it finally died and sent to charity. It made 40-50 trips in between LA and SF as I was relocating and never broke down once on me. Great car if you can find one, but more stuff to do than newer cars so I wouldn't buy one if you plan to put lots of miles on it.Nov 25, 2011
by Patrick H
Nov 11, 2010
well this was my first car it had no acceleration but it would get up there once going it was a well built car it was just really old by the time i got it so it started to fall apart it looked good for what it was but the paint was so dull there was no sense in washing it but i did it anyway cause thats how i roll lol it didn't cost much to own except when replacing much needed parts but all around not a bad first carNov 11, 2010
by Anonymous
Oct 04, 2010
Very Reliable, Easy to work on as a back Yard Mechanic Very Happy with this car would never sell it. Gas Mileage I can't complain about at all, Its a bulky looking car but people ask me about the car everywhere I go Bought the car for 450 can dollars and was purchased with 118,000 Kilometers what a steal never had to do anything to get it certified passed first time and don't have to get emissions on it because of the year VERY HAPPY with this carOct 04, 2010
User rating:
by Jeff L
Nov 25, 2011
I had my 84' 300ZX running fine in 1994 when the Martin Luther king birthday earthqake hit LA hard. For two weeks I "can't get my car out of second gear" as Sammy Hagar would say. The next week my friend asked me to help him go pick up a new Mazada 929 out in the middle of nowhere, that I could drive his old Maxima there. So we embarked on a 80 mile drive and talked about the new car and also what he'd do with the old Maxima. I had him bring thecar to my own mechnanic a few weeks before who said it was in pretty good shape for a 85' with 132k on the odo. Long story short by the time i got him dropped off I decided to make him an offer to get the slushbox tranny alone. I gave him a cool $3,200 bucks for the car and rest was history.
The two major issues I had with the car were things he'd fixed at Pep Boys that reoocurred in 1 or 2 years, namely the power steering rack and the fuel injectors. Nissan actually cut me a check for 1k for injects as there was a recall!!
Long story short I drove her until 300k when it finally died and sent to charity. It made 40-50 trips in between LA and SF as I was relocating and never broke down once on me. Great car if you can find one, but more stuff to do than newer cars so I wouldn't buy one if you plan to put lots of miles on it.Nov 25, 2011
by Patrick H
Nov 11, 2010
well this was my first car it had no acceleration but it would get up there once going it was a well built car it was just really old by the time i got it so it started to fall apart it looked good for what it was but the paint was so dull there was no sense in washing it but i did it anyway cause thats how i roll lol it didn't cost much to own except when replacing much needed parts but all around not a bad first carNov 11, 2010
by Anonymous
Oct 04, 2010
Very Reliable, Easy to work on as a back Yard Mechanic Very Happy with this car would never sell it. Gas Mileage I can't complain about at all, Its a bulky looking car but people ask me about the car everywhere I go Bought the car for 450 can dollars and was purchased with 118,000 Kilometers what a steal never had to do anything to get it certified passed first time and don't have to get emissions on it because of the year VERY HAPPY with this carOct 04, 2010
by Brian S
Mar 21, 2010
4 door, White Sedan, SE Trim. Best car I've ever owned! Bought it used in Jan '87 (had 8800 miles on it) and have owned it ever since. At 275,000 miles, it still has great acceleration, good gas mileage (27.5 highway) and great reliability. Other than replacing the fuel injectors under a safety recall early on, I've only had to replace one water pump and 3 alternators in addition to normal maintenance. I did replace the a/c compressor when it was 17 years old and after 273,000 miles and 23 years, I had to replace the manual transmission with a used one (found one that only had 40,000 miles on it). But, still not bad for a car that old. The car still has the original paint job and looks great. It has been, and still is, a fun car to drive. Mar 21, 2010
by Sam D
Aug 11, 2009
Sport performance orientated, equipped with adjustable suspension for different driving conditions, really hugged the road, and hugged it tighter upon acceleration, fuel economywise not quite economical for it's class, the original sound system very up to speed for the those yearsAug 11, 2009
by Anonymous
Dec 09, 2008
I love my car. It runs like a gem. I make sure to keep it up. Had some problems due to age, but now it is so reliable. I am very fortunate. It was my mom's car before she passed, and I take very good care of it.Dec 09, 2008
by Ray W
Aug 15, 2008
vg30e great motor and sport suspension very simple
to work on power distribution was great nothing really
to complain about except for sun roof leaked wasn't
the best gaskets for oregon weather great car to drive
very quick throttle response another negative was
power steering pump went out there were three hose
clamps that nissan had initially put on and they didn't
tighten them on the way out of the factory so you
would have a burnt up pumpAug 15, 2008
by Anonymous
Mar 17, 2008
Have put a lot of work into the vehicle and it is still running great.Mar 17, 2008
by Bryant B
Feb 17, 2008
This is almost always the underdog. Any one who ever has owned an Maxima period, would know its a hard car to give up. Its a hella fun to drive, a lot quicker than one would think and you can fit friends in it!Feb 17, 2008
Nissan Maxima (1985 - 1988) Pricing
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Trims & specs
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