General Chat
Q:
My buddy is debaeting over these 2 cars
1996 Civic Coupe 1.6 L VTEC 5 speed 125 k miles $4700
1996 Maxima 3.0 L v6 5 speed 127 k miles $4700
Both in excellent condition from the same dealer. Which would you lean towards?
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Red 83 280zx 2+2
83 280zx Coupe SOLD
1st post 11/13/04
A:
DEFINATLY the maxima!!
'74 260z TURBO
'86 300zx N/A (SLOW!)
"All your base are belong to us" - God
Suck. Squeez. Bang. Blow.
A:
La is that bias, or are there resaons behind that?
I would personally lean to the civic because of the gas milegae and the fact that I am a coupe fan. Despite my love for Nissans, I would personnaly go eith the civic. But figured I would get some opinions here....
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Red 83 280zx 2+2
83 280zx Coupe SOLD
1st post 11/13/04
A:
your buddy can get a nice 240z for 4700 bucks.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
What does he want out of the car? Dependable, fun, & stock car? Or an aftermarket gold digger?
A:
well, i AM a big Nissan fan.....so im a little biased...... but Maximas acutally have some power, and i have driven one......they are nice
but i like the comment of getting a $4,700 Z
'74 260z TURBO
'86 300zx N/A (SLOW!)
"All your base are belong to us" - God
Suck. Squeez. Bang. Blow.
A:
If I was keeping it mainly stock, I would get the Maxima. But if U was going to soup' it up, I may would get the Civic because it is a 2 door, and has more stuff for it in the aftermarket. But I would miss the 3L V6.
A:
i guess more of a dependalbe, fun car. Hes the kind of person that isnt going to do anything mod wise to his car, but likes having power and likes some styling.
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Red 83 280zx 2+2
83 280zx Coupe SOLD
1st post 11/13/04
A:
Maxima all the way. I had a 87 model that was loaded with the 5 speed also, I hated to get rid of it and really enjoyed that car as it was lot of fun to drive.
Dave
12/70 240Z, L-28, flat-tops, N-42 head, N-33 intake, MSA 10-2002 cam, ZX ignition, early 5-speed, R-180,4:11 gears, 903 Blue paint.
A:
Is he married?
Is he planning on having kids?
If so Maxima.
The 96 Civic is nice car as well though. It's more fun to drive on backroads but it will be slower than the Maxima.
From a Reliablity and cost of ownership standpoint I would have to grit my teeth and say Civic.
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12.804 @ 107.26 mph on crappy street tires with Dual SU Powered 2.9L Stroker!
ZCAR.COM member since Aug 1998
A:
maxima, mines a2001 and i love it . its fun to drive and very fast.
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1980 280ZX coupe
2001 maxima
1994 F150 4x4 van works custom truck
170000 and never needed mech repairs
1996 ford explorer -they cant all be good
A:
18 yrs old.... no worry of kids.
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Red 83 280zx 2+2
83 280zx Coupe SOLD
1st post 11/13/04
A:
Author: 83Datsun280ZX
Date: Nov 18, 7:17pm
18 yrs old.... no worry of kids.
HAHA we hope...I know quite a few 18 years olds that became 19 year old fathers.
Anyway if he is single then what do you figure the chicks these days would rather be seen riding in?? haha
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12.804 @ 107.26 mph on crappy street tires with Dual SU Powered 2.9L Stroker!
ZCAR.COM member since Aug 1998
A:
I'd go with the maxima, it's bigger, nicer, more power, and probably cheaper to insure due to the stupid people that own civics.
---
Justin T
72 240Z L28, 5-speed
77 280Z 5-speed (t-boned 8-25-04)
80 280ZX automatic(retired)
A:
norm/santa has a good point. chicks would definitely rather be seen in a maxima. unless of course the civic has bling bling rims and a phat triple decker spoiler.
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
Yeah buy a car based on what chicks would rather be seen in, that's a great reason why to buy a car lol :P NOT!
But the Maxima is the better choice, Civics are poop.
85' 300ZX NA
86' 300ZX Turbo
88' 300ZX Turbo
89' 300ZX Turbo
300ZX Turbo Project
A:
civic! that four banger will outlast that six cylinder.
Z's are like woman maintenance,maintenance,maintenance!
1971 240Z gunmetal metalic 5sp 4:11 gears in the rear
illuminas and purchased from the original owner w/136k original miles
A:
I have to disagree with the last statement. There is little chance of the B16 lasting longer than the VG30. The VG in the Maxima was on the ten best engines list for a decade. As long as you service it right, it will go forever. The VG in my Hardbody was at 310k miles when I sold it. And this was in my worktruck that I beat the crap out of daily. My Pathfinder had over 200k on it when I sold that one. For longevity, you are really hard pressed to beat a Nissan engine. The Honda may get better gas milage, but for a daily driver the Maxima offers more creature comforts, overall equal or greater reliability, and the benefit of four doors.
Brian
A:
Agreed nismo73, you wont find many engines that will out last a VG...
85' 300ZX NA
86' 300ZX Turbo
88' 300ZX Turbo
89' 300ZX Turbo
300ZX Turbo Project
A:
The 95-99 Maximas all have the VQ-30de not the VG-30. I have worked on Maximas and I-30's with these engines, with over 250,000 miles and they still run and perform Great. Besides my Z That's why I have 2 Maximas a 96 with 125,000 miles, 97 with 114,000 miles.
Dexter 260ZT Weee Weeeeeeeeeeee
Rebuilt 280zx engine, n/a efi, added t-3 turbo to n/a engine, n/a intake, turbo injectors, n/a afm, 83 5spd, 3.90 diff, new front end, new seat vinyl, carpet, console, 240z black diamond hatch vinyl.
A:
Ah yep, good correction there... Still ole' Nissan reliability! :)
85' 300ZX NA
86' 300ZX Turbo
88' 300ZX Turbo
89' 300ZX Turbo
300ZX Turbo Project
A:
The auto tranny is weak in the Maxima's. When I worked at the Nissan dealer I remember a few being worked on. Go with the 5 speed.
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12.804 @ 107.26 mph on crappy street tires with Dual SU Powered 2.9L Stroker!
ZCAR.COM member since Aug 1998
A:
Both options are 5 speeds from the looks of his first post...
85' 300ZX NA
86' 300ZX Turbo
88' 300ZX Turbo
89' 300ZX Turbo
300ZX Turbo Project
A:
and unless that civic is DOHC or gonna be force fed, don't see a lot of speed in its future other than the little bolt on crap that makes it sound obnoxious. i'd go maxima if he plans on keeping it for a long time and take good car of it. but as one person said, the civic will probably cheaper to maintain. if the rear timing cover ever leaks oil (and it will one day) on that VQ, you can look at 20-25 hours of labor to fix, oh and a tube of silicone.
82 NA 5 spd
77 4 spd
A:
They didn't make a DOHC civic in 96 and it's a D16 not B16 series motor. The B series was DOHC and was only in the civic in 99-00. They both with proper maintenace should last indefinately as a car should. The Civic would be an easier resell probably, but the maxima is more practical. 18 years old means he probably will be moving alot in the next few years there is more space in the maxima. That and SOHC civics are sloww.... The Maxima should have less maintenance too, as there should be no timing belt to change. I say it's a toss up, Ive always loved the maximas, but on the other hand I bought a civic instead. Maybe when I have kids I'll add a maxima to the arsenal. Or I"ll just add a car seat the the wifes car... and go buy something for the z...
Ask stupid questions get stupid answers...
'73 240z... New Project
'74 Corvette Stingray... Old Project
'99 Honda Civic Si... Daily Driver
A:
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'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
'73 240Z
A:
i've always been partial to the civics when it comes to reliability.so my statement will stand civic all the way.this is my grocery getter and mule.i do like the maxima and wouldn't mind owning one.so in no way am i bashing anyone for disagreeing with me.it's just personal preference.
Z's are like woman maintenance,maintenance,maintenance!
1971 240Z gunmetal metalic 5sp 4:11 gears in the rear
illuminas and purchased from the original owner w/136k original miles
A:
My Maxima that I owned had over 214,000 miles on it but the electrical system took a turn for the worst and stuff started to melt down. The engine was still strong as heck and didn't burn a lick of oil. Oil changes sucked big time in it. That was the one and only time I actually paid someone to do my oil changes cause they were such a pain in the buttocks!
Dave
12/70 240Z, L-28, flat-tops, N-42 head, N-33 intake, MSA 10-2002 cam, ZX ignition, early 5-speed, R-180,4:11 gears, 903 Blue paint.
A:
IMO both cars are way overpriced. You should be getting newer cars with less than 100K miles ready to go for that kind of money. I'd say 1999 at the earliest, particularly the Civic. Never settle for what the dealer says. Shop around.
Rusty but running.
Polish cell phone and two tubes of Aluma-seal.
And, now we are historic.
A:
If gas milage is an issue for you, then definitely the Civic.
-MAS
1990 na 300zx
A:
Civic. I own a 96 EX coupe. Great car. It's reliable, easy to work on, gets great gas mileage, etc... Mine used be supercharged with a boost upgrade on a stock exhaust with a lumpy cam and some mild head work. That thing would freakin' move! Horrible torque steer though. Other than that, a civic will last forever if you treat it good. Civic!
'79 280zx (gone - head-on collision)
'73 240zt - currently in pieces
A:
With those miles, I'd suggest going for the civic unless your friend is a good mechanic. I'm not saying maxima's are unreliable, but the odds of major components failing is 3x greater on the maxima than the civic.
I'm talking with a lot* of experience to back this up. When you buy/sell used cars and therefore end up choosing 15-25 cars for friends/family per year because they think you know more than them, you learn very quickly which ones last a long time and which ones sometimes do not [they do not hesitate to let you know, and the costs/trouble resulted from it].
I've got a 94 acura gsr 4dr with 142k miles. It has held up very well, the suspension is dead stock and besides a tiny* bit of play in the steering rack bushings 99% of people wouldn't notice, it doesn't show its age at all.
The only other cars that hold up as well in my experience is some toyota and most lexus, but both usually cost more and can take less abuse than a Honda.
I could go on for 7 days about stories regarding abuse to honda's of all sorts, few ending with the car giving up. I know a guy who launched his auto 91 accord well over 10k times in its life time. He went through 6 sets* of front calipers in the 5 years he had it he drove it so hard. He only added oil when the oil light would come on [like 3 qts low], and even then he'd only put it in until the light would go off.
That motherf*cker still sits outside his parents house as an extra car, stock motor, stock transmission, 217k miles.
19[TT]91
My TT beauty is gone.
2[00]2 Honda 954RR
Suzuki 1200 S; sportscar eater
19[I4]94 Integra GSR Sedan
Long live the Z...
aka SAHTT
A:
I just looked at the prices.
1st rule in buying ANY USED CAR:
NEVER NEVER NEVER
NEVER NEVER NEVER
buy from a lot or Dealer EVER.
Find a responsible private owner with records and an honest attitude about the car, and take it to a mechanic if you don't know what you are doing.
A 96 civic with 125k miles in showroom condition [maybe 100 of those in the country?] shouldn't sell for more than 4k. I beat a 96 5spd hatchback to hell and back up to 96k miles before it was totaled [not at fault]. Considering the abuse that car took, if you drove it halfway reasonably it should last 300k+ miles.
19[TT]91
My TT beauty is gone.
2[00]2 Honda 954RR
Suzuki 1200 S; sportscar eater
19[I4]94 Integra GSR Sedan
Long live the Z...
aka SAHTT
A:
The maxima is a lot more car, however it will cost more to maintain as has been stated.
I have a 93 with the VE 3.0 and 5spd. I like the car so much I just dumped over 3G's in a motor rebuild and I'm not done yet. The motor will be making a little over 300 crank hp though.
Matt