Faults:

Oxygen sensor was replaced twice due to using regular gas. Muffler was replaced after 150K - $300.

Front passenger bearing was replaced at 176K - $240.

All rotors and brake pads were replaced at 170K - $300 altogether.

General Comments:

The car is good, and I don't see any replacement for it. Probably, a BMW 528 will be a good replacement.

After oxygen sensor was replaced twice, I use premium gas only. This problem doesn't appear again.

After 170K, all rotors and brake pads were replaced. Front passenger side bearing was replaced at 176K.

I did myself - $240 everything including all required tools.

This car has seen two sets of tires only. The second set has already 70K on it, and it is time to replace them, but it can run for another 20K.

I like how fast automatic transmission shifts gears. The engine doesn't take any oil, even though it is 182K on it. I always use synthetic oil. My driving is harsh, but there is no problem with the engine or anything else.

The car is very sensitive to what tires on it. Never use TOURING - it is very unstable in rain weather.

Never had a problem to start this car without any heater with outside temperature -40C (Alberta).

Gas consumption is 14L/100km in the city and 9.5L on the highway. Gas consumption very sensitive to the pressure in the tires - I always keep the pressure a little bit above 3.0 PMA.

No any rust on the body and doors, even though the car always was parked outside and has many scratches on the bottom.

But I am waxing it at least twice per year. The only rusty place is under the spoiler - I will never buy a car with a spoiler again - the most impractical thing. I had a problem with the thermostat when I just bought my car - probably why the previous owner has sold it. Simple cleaning of central rod from dirt fixed this problem forever. Dealer asked to replace the thermostat for about 600 bucks.

A few words about dealership service. After visiting them to fix one problem I was getting two more. I bought a book on how to do maintenance and repairs, and no more trouble. When I had a problem with the oxygen sensor, they charged me 83 bucks to take a battery off for an hour, and they didn't tell me what is the problem. I figured out myself that it is the problem with regular gas. When you have the engine light on, take the battery off for about an hour and put in premium gas - if the engine pops up again, it is the oxygen sensor. Take the battery off regularly every month, and you always will have good performance.

The only things I go to do at the workshop is balance the wheels and to do wheel alignment. Wheel alignment I did twice. The second time after I fly out of the highway.

I had Nissan Maxima 1994 SE edition - it had a better engine and was less noisy inside. I feel that I will drive this car until my retirement; no problem with it. I cannot find a reason to replace it.

Faults:

Trunk is rusting really bad around the rear spoiler.

Factory keyless remotes are temper-mental (even with new batteries)

Occasionally the factory BOSE CD player doesn't like working; radio still does though.

Steering wheel leather is tearing.

Regular maintenance and timing chain (as preventative maintenance)

General Comments:

Amazing car. I bought this car after it was imported from Illinois in 2001 from it's original owner. Hence the odometer reading will be miles.

It still runs amazingly strong. It has lots of extra power in any situation. And for a "family sedan" it handles very well too; a lot better then my 98 Cadillac Catera did anyways.

I don't know what Nissan did, but do they know how to make a fast car. I can cruiue at 85MPH and just punch it down and it shoots right off and before I know I'm past 100. I have gotten way too many speeding tickets with this car.

I've been tempted to take my car to a track and actually see it's numbers, but I never have the time. In the 5 years or so I've owned it I've put about 106,000MILES = 170 (ish),000 kilometers. I love my Maxima and I plan on having the body redone on it because I'm more than sure I'll get another 4-6 years out of her with no problem.

If you want a sports car, with room for a family and the budget price of a high end domestic car, Maxima is your car.