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Show The Salt LakeTribune OTIVE FRIDAY For 2000, Nissan Maxima puts its best wheelforward Carhas comfortable andfirmride on virtually any surface By Tom iNCANTALUPO (c) 1999. Newsow Valley due to reconstruction will hold about a cubic foot more stuff window are raked Open HClosed |] 7 Closed more fl steeply, that the base of the wind- fies } Other changes include 32 more Someone | know whodrives a 5 think of a single thingatfirst when L asked him what he would change abouthis car. , soonee mt) moi yeyJl shield is moved forward 2 inches andthat the trunklidraises higher. year-old Nissan Maxima couldn't a dune 4— June 10 Nissan says the windshield and rear ong Lake | Accessis restricted Interstate 15 through the by almost 2 inches and the trunk 5 horsepower for the standard 24valve. 3.0-liter V6 engine, raisingit to 222 hp. Nissan says the engine has a variety of other refinements for 2000, and our tester’s wassilky But Nissan has gone ahead and and powerful enough toleave most other sedans behind, producing just fifth a hint of torque steer in hard acceleration (a generation of Nis- slight tugging on the sampling the san’s flagshipvehicle, I couldn't think of a thing I'd change. Whichproves either tha Goth Ot elas easy toplease or, as I prefer to think, Nissan has taken a good car and made it better. The tester’s mon in powerful {ront-drive cars) and, occasionally, a whiff ariemclicd like transmission ie catalytic convert- was almost “This engine prefers wie premium gas, as did (You'll be able to see Seamless in its it at dealerships this month.) shifting and The most obvious change for 2000is in the styling and, if pressed for acriticism of the new Maxima, I'd suggest that Nissan’s California stu- steering wheel com- four-speed F CLOTTICLLE: its response to driver inputs. A five-speedstick is available. dios might have erred onthe side of conservatism this time. Nissan's flagship, it seemsto me,needstobe a visual knockout tohelplift this company from its sales doldrums. But this newest Maxima is not likely to knock anybody out — particularly the side view, which looks quite similar to earlier versions. The 2000 Maximais about the samesize as its immediate predecessor, which debuted in 1994 as a *95 model. Wheelbase is up by 2 inches, rear legroomis increased 1SEMA 006 And, after a week of its predecessor a changed the Maxima a lot for 2000, The ride is comfort- designedat Nissan’s California stuable on virtually any dios, is attractive and functional. surface, striking a nice The chrome shifter handle and balance between comfort and firmness for brushed metal cover over the shifter position indicator are aclass tester’s deft handling. The 215/SSR16 touch. The dashboard’s center stack is tires are not the biggest available on topped off with vents, below which are stereo and climate controls. the Maxima, but they Everything is well marked, intu- 4500 S Vine St. seemed capable of itive in function andeasy to locate handling anything eventhe rough- day or night. An adjustable center est driver will throw at themon the armrest has a high and low posiroad, although they rode a mite hard. Traction contro! will be available as an option, but the price hasn't been announced Thetester’s four-speed automatic transmission was almost seamless in its shifting and its response to driver inputs. A five-speedstick is available. The interior, all new and also tion. The Maximawill be offered in three versions, all of which will have anti-lock brakes, keyless remote entry and power windows and locks, The basic “GXE” will have a price expected to begin at about The “GLE” will have an empha- perature control, eight-way power sis on luxury, withits leather seat driver's seat. HomeLink garage The performance-oriented “SE” ing, simulated wood trim, 200-watt door/house light transmitter and will feature a firmersuspension Bose audiosystem, automatic tem- fog lamps 10600 S, $22,000. ZER PERCENT BLAZER BLOWOUT! © 1¢ UNDER INVOICE YOU KEEP THE REBATE ‘on Selected Models The GLE version of the Maximafeatures luxurious leather seating. t | Schedule subject to change ‘TheSalt Lake Tribune FINANCING AS Loe AS ae er9797 AUTO,V6, AC, POWER WINDOWS & LOCKS, MORE 8 IN STOCK LIST $19,407 az 15,995 AUTO, V6, AC, POWER LOCKS & WINDOWS LIST $18,520 | d ¥ 9% SUBURBAN4X4 AUTO, 454, V8, MORE 39,703 MSRP me15,9 & 995 99 TAHOE 4X AUTO, V8, LOADED 00126 0 DOWN 0 SECURITY DEPOSIT 0 1st MONTHS PAYMENT 1999 OLDS ALERO GX 0 DOWN 0 SECURITY DEPOSIT O 1st MONTHS PAYMENT 99 OLDS CUTLASS GL STARTING AT 99 MSRP 1999 OLOS BRAVADA = Sa gw @ Auto Mali Drive, Sandy E 1999 OLDS SILHOUETTE MSRP $29,320 ey 5 » $ yf... — ~——_v00130 EIGHTY EIGHT $25,495 Per Month By {7(7-0) |
