Used Car Reviews – 1998 Nissan Maxima 3.0 V6

MPH speedo. Serious business.

Just in case I’ve ever seemed too pointedly Euro-centric in my posts, here’s what is most likely the most American car I have ever driven. It’s a 1998 Maxima in appliance white, but what makes it stand out amongst Finnish Nissans is that it’s originally been sold new in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Like the Mustang featured some weeks ago, it’s been brought into the country by a Finn moving back here. There are Mass stickers here and there and other little quaint US market details that make it look like it’s been through a Stargate or a space wormhole and just been transplanted into the midst of Finnish used cars. By its special brand of blandness, it stands out. Despite being one of the most anonymous cars in America, a watchful eye here notices its pedigree from afar.

Since a large share of the Hooniverse community has most likely been subjected to these Maximas, either inside or outside them, for me to truly fit the picture I wanted to take this one for a spin.

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Quick Drive: 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan

Please ignore the other Nissan in the picture

This is the 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan. In its lowest trim level, this is the cheapest least expensive car sold in the United States, priced just shy of eleven grand. I drove the mid-level $14,560 SV model which adds useful features such as power windows and door locks. There is also the baller SL version too for a few bucks more. All models are powered propelled by a 1.8L direct-injected four-banger with Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System® (CVTCS) on the intake side. This engine makes 122hp and 127torques. At this time I would like to point out that the B13 Sentra SE-R had a 2.0L 140hp/132trq engine, and that was twenty years ago.

EDIT – I screwed up. The engine in the Versa SEDAN is a dual-injected (why?), variable cam timing on both cams, 1.6L. with 109hp and 107 torques. My bad, thanks to Tyler Lipa of autobirdblog.com for pointing that out.

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Hooniverse Weekend Edition: Last Call: Hooniverse Exclusive: The First Nissan LEAF Commercial

With this olelongrooffan’s apologies to Mr. Brennan, in the midst of this Toyota Weekend Extraganza, I feel obligated to submit the following:

If all ya’ll fellow Hoons remember, your fellow Hoon was presented the opportunity to Hoon a Nissan LEAF around earlier this year, and I did. At the time, my email address was provided to NissanUSA marketing and a couple hours ago, this arrived in my inbox.

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AC/DC: A Drive in the Nissan Leaf

Would you let this Hoon drive your new car?

No, not that AC/DC! This is Hooniverse after all.

A couple weeks ago, this olelongrooffan received an email from Nissan USA Marketing at my personal email account asking me if I would be interested in test driving Nissan’s new all electric LEAF?

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2010 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition

Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park hit the bookshelves right as I was graduating from literature aimed specifically at kids. The combination of science, espionage and intense action had me thrilled. I couldn’t wait to see the movie. After all, who didn’t want to see Spielberg’s take on dinosaurs run amok? Unfortunately, by the time it was tweaked for mass consumption, most of book’s greatness had been edited out. The detailed science was glossed over, the gore was edited out to get a PG-13 rating, Ellie Sattler was no longer hot, and Tim was downgraded in favor of his now older sister Lex saving the day. Grossing over $900 million, it was no flop and to be honest, still an great flick, but not quite what fans of the book hoped it would be.

The on its face, the Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition should be the perfect sports car: six speed manual, two seats, sumptuous looks, a great driver interface and a wonderful engine note. The tricky question remains: is it great like the book, or just good like the movie?

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2011 Nissan GTR

Having started late that morning, there were already cyclists all over the road, so I’d been keeping it mellow. But as I came around the corner onto the ridge, I saw half a mile of gently winding road ahead. No cars, no bikes, no cops, and I was terrified. Terrified because I knew just how fast I could be going at the other end. Think helicopter crane recovery and dental records identification.

That’s the thing about the GTR. You’re never worried about what it’ll do to you, you’re worried about what you’ll do with it.

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2011 Nissan Versa Sedan

In 1968 Car and Driver made history by excoriating the Opel Kadett. They were new and needed attention, so they used the public slaughter of an innocent, if underwhelming car to do so. Coming off of a solid decade of increasing horsepower, the 50-something horsepower 1.9L powered car made an easy target. GM thought the car could offer a sensible, affordable alternative to the fulsome muscle of the day, but C/D pummeled it like a chess club member with too much milk money, going so far as to shoot it in a junkyard. They caught hell for it from GM, but it kicked off a golden era for C/D.

…which brings us to the 2011 Nissan Versa Sedan 1.8. After a week in “The Dorkmobile”, I desperately wish I could unload on it in Yatesian fashion. The problem is, the Versa’s actually a good little car.

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2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V

I often bring up the concept of driving slow cars fast here on Hooniverse.com. Anyone can jump behind the wheel of a powerful car and get themselves in trouble, but to experience some real joy behind the wheel is much more difficult. It can be obtained in high-horsepower beasts yet it’s more rewarding to push something with less power. You can learn a lot about yourself and your ability behind the wheel of a slower car, as you push it faster and harder. Some automakers realize this and they offer specific trims on otherwise economical models in their lineup. One such automaker is Nissan and one such car is the 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. … Continue Reading

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2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster

2010 370Z Roadster

“Top down, chrome spinnin’…” or in this case, it would be the 19” lightweight alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance Bridgestone Potenza tires; 245 in the front and large 275s strapped to the back. The song continues that “you see the boss grinnin’…” and I am doing more than grinnin’. I am behind the wheel of the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster – smilin’ because this is one convertible sports car that gets it all just right. … Continue Reading

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