2002 Maxima SE Annoyances

skalra · #1 03-01-2005, 03:49 PM

New to this forum. I own a 2002 6 Speed Maxima SE, fully loaded and love the car, except for a couple of annoyances:

The turning radius on the car leaves a lot to be desired.
The steering wheel is much too big. Any thoughts on available mods with a smaller radius steering wheel? I don't want to make the air bags inoperable though.
The car has an "Auto/Cancel" switch for the driver side power seat. The idea is that when the ignition is turned off the seat moves "out of the way", but the switch doesn't function at all. The dealer says this is the way Nissan designed it for 6 speeds. My question is then why is the switch installed in 6 speeds to begin with?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

thrasher · #2 03-01-2005, 08:27 PM

1. Long wheelbase + large wheels and tires = crappy turning radius. Get smaller wheels if it really bugs you.

2. Sure you could get smaller steering wheel, but you'd lose the kick ass heated steering wheel feature.

3. The switch is installed on all the Maxima's to save money. If they do everything one way, it costs less. I also find this rather annoying, there is no reason the seat can't still move out of the way with a 6 speed...many standard transmission cars have that feature.

BP2K2Max · #3 03-01-2005, 08:38 PM

the auto/cancel switch is for the memory seat. if you put it to auto and hold down one of the memory buttons it remebers where the seat is. then if you move the seat and push the button down it will put the seat back in the position you stored. if you put it on cancel the feature is disabled.

the turning radius, there's nothing you can do i don't think, maybe thinner tires(?), but if you get a new steering wheel you may lose your airbags, and you'll defintiely lose the controls for the radio, cruise control, the ambient temperature/mpg/dte display features, and as thrasher said the kick ass heated steering wheel.

thrasher · #4 03-01-2005, 09:10 PM

With the seat I think he's referring to the way that the Auto tranny models automatically power the seat back when you pull the key out of the ignition, to make getting in and out easier. 6 speed models have that feature disabled. The memory seat still works regardless.

BP2K2Max · #5 03-02-2005, 01:02 AM

really? that is kinda nice. wish i had that. i'm pretty sure my memory seat doesn't work when that switch is off though. i'll have to check tomorrow and see though.

OT: have you ever been in an acura CL/TL type S? when you put the car in reverse the mirrors tilt down so you can see the curb when you're parking, as not to rub your tires. that's one of the best features i've seen offered on a car in a while. never saw anything like it before.

#6 03-02-2005, 12:06 PM

i dont like the auto headlight feature. because sometimes when it is dusk out the lights wont come on when you want them on, or the other way around, where they will come on when you dont want them to...i have never really liked this, because if i want to just go to the regular headlight switch, it has to do the auto then the parking then the headlight...so sometimes the HID's turn on twice, which isn't good for the bulbs, and then they may do the same when turning them off...

thrasher · #7 03-02-2005, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BP2K2Max

really? that is kinda nice. wish i had that. i'm pretty sure my memory seat doesn't work when that switch is off though. i'll have to check tomorrow and see though.

OT: have you ever been in an acura CL/TL type S? when you put the car in reverse the mirrors tilt down so you can see the curb when you're parking, as not to rub your tires. that's one of the best features i've seen offered on a car in a while. never saw anything like it before.

Yeah I test drove a CL-S once, that feature is sweet. When you push the seatback forward to get at stuff in the rear, the seat automatically powers forward, which is really cool too. Too bad the CL-S is so damn ugly, otherwise I would have bought one for sure

BP2K2Max · #8 03-02-2005, 04:14 PM

my friend has one that's lowered, has a comptech cat back and an intake. it's not all that fast, i'll smoke him, my old 4th gen with y pipe and cat back used to hang right next to it. we're way better off in our 3.5's however i'd kill for an independant rear suspension, it's my only real gripe about the car.

and i checked today, my memory seat definitely doesn't work unless the button is flipped to auto. i have no clue why. you sure yours isn't like that?

thrasher · #9 03-02-2005, 06:06 PM

Nope, not sure at all

I just though it was that way, but I never use the memory function anyways. Guess I'll have to check later.

infinman · #10 03-02-2005, 07:37 PM

Just a note:The q45 has had the mirror tilt down feature since '94.Many people don't realize it though.

skalra · #11 03-02-2005, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinman

Just a note:The q45 has had the mirror tilt down feature since '94.Many people don't realize it though.

Thank you all for your responses. I didn't think I would be able to do anything about the annoyances, but just wanted to vent. I do love the heated steering feature and wish that Nissan also had a heated stick so you'd never have to wear gloves on those cold mornings. The "Ayuto/Cancel" switch definitely doesn't work the way it does with the auto tranny....

I test drove the Acura TL Type S when I bought the Max, but the Max was a much better value for the money.....

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