2009 Maxima...nice doors :)

[Hawaii200sx]

Was waiting for someone to post this. lol
Tried....props to you

Edit for the SKIN of the doors

http://nissan.iconicweb.com/assets/libraryImages/2009_Maxima_17__mid.jpg

http://nissan.iconicweb.com/assets/libraryImages/2009_Maxima_47__mid.jpg

http://nissan.iconicweb.com/assets/libraryImages/2009_Maxima_Interior_1__mid.jpg

[psypher22]

impressive.

But i think the doors are even sexier from the outisde...

[Tried]

I tend to agree. I worked on the sheet metal and mechanisms...not the interior trim panel.

[RonSteinbach]

I tend to agree. I worked on the sheet metal and mechanisms...not the interior trim panel.


Tried, what are the chances of convincing Nissan to offer factory designed side moldings as a dealer installed extra? The new doors look pretty -- until they get their first parking lot dings. After that, the new cars look like dented tin cans -- butt ugly.

[delerium75]

I've loved the Maxima ever since '87 and have owned 3. That said, if they could do 1 thing...make the IP hood outline look a little less like the outline of my grandmother's head when she wears her rain bonnet. Sorry but that's the first thing I thought of when I saw the shape.

[RHMax]

Tried, does the 4DSC has chrome handles? Or is this still a secret?

[Tried]

Ron, that would be an accessory part, so I don't get involved in that. I don't know how side moldings would look, though.

RHMax, I'm confused...I thought the Maxima WAS the 4DSC. All of the pictures show chrome handles.

[RHMax]

Ron, that would be an accessory part, so I don't get involved in that. I don't know how side moldings would look, though.

RHMax, I'm confused...I thought the Maxima WAS the 4DSC. All of the pictures show chrome handles.

Well, no 4DSC in any pics other than one in the teaser shot; or on the car that Nissan chose to debut in NY. Is 4DSC an after thought? Couldn't someone send a couple of stickers to NY? Not taking anything away from the car, but this makes the 4DSC less special to the few nerds like me.

The beautifully designed chrome door handles would be as equally beautiful, yet more sporty, body-colored. :p

[jcalabria]

RHMax, I'm confused...I thought the Maxima WAS the 4DSC. All of the pictures show chrome handles.

Not to put words in his mouth, but I think he may be asking the same question I have... Will there be, now or in future, a (sport/sportier) version of the Max with body colored door handles? All the pics we see, even those with 19" wheels and spoilers, have chrome door handles.

I personally think that any chrome completely cheapens the look and has no place on a car that has any type of sporting pretensions. The car has such flowing and sculpted lines... the door handles look like chrome warts.

[ZYAL8R808]

I've loved the Maxima ever since '87 and have owned 3. That said, if they could do 1 thing...make the IP hood outline look a little less like the outline of my grandmother's head when she wears her rain bonnet. Sorry but that's the first thing I thought of when I saw the shape.

If your grandmother looks like that then she must be hawt. :26: Just kidding. I can't believe I just said that. LOL

[RonSteinbach]

Ron, that would be an accessory part, so I don't get involved in that. I don't know how side moldings would look, though.
.

It is the lesser of two evils. And, factory designed moldings always look better than after market.

I remember the days when the El Cheap-O models came without side moldings and with painted bumpers (instead of chrome). Those cars looked mighty sad after a few years. I can't understand why anyone would want to go back to those days: the paint peeled off the bumpers, and the car doors would end up with hundreds of dings.

There are some people who will intentionally dent your doors when you have a new car. My wife refused to drive her new 2007 Murano until we had some side moldings installed. Later, my wife reported that she thought some people had unsuccessfully tried to dent her new car with some minor damage to the moldings -- which mostly healed itself.

The problem I see is that the current auto designers are too young to remember the above history -- so history has to repeat itself. :eek: Also, designers all copy each other. The moldings can and should be designed in with a minimal intrustion. Plus, I don't feel that molding-less doors even look attractive.

[2002MaximaSE]

It is the lesser of two evils. And, factory designed moldings always look better than after market.
...

I know what you mean the integrated moldings on the 2002-2003 fit in so well you barely notice them. I think I like that the most about the car, they don't look out of place like on some cars. GM was famous for putting those after thought moldings on their cars.

Not sure if Tried can chime in on the SE question, but I'd be very curious to know if there will be a sportier version in the future with color matched door handles.

[RonSteinbach]

Not sure if Tried can chime in on the SE question, but I'd be very curious to know if there will be a sportier version in the future with color matched door handles.
I would add that there ought to be some sporty colors for a 4-door sports car! Like: bright yellow, red-red, lime, silver blue, dark silver blue, medium blue. Bright yellow might not sell a lot, but it would attract a lot of attention on the street and in car magazines.

I have read that Ford is going to totally revise their colors to attract the younger people, rather than grey and black for the old folks (who only recently bought Lincolns and Oldsmobiles). I for one am totally sick of locking at cars without any color: white and black and shades in between.

Nissan corporate, we are living in the 21st Century. Let's get some modern colors!

[InfiNissan Lover]

Hey Ron,

You might want to install a thick clear bra on the doors if dinging is a problem in your area. Door dings and dents were also the first thing I noticed would happen most to this car, especially around where I live. Also, I think the reason why door moldings were removed from this gen Maxima is because you can see how the door kind of like curves from the top to the bottom most part. If you do put side moldings on this car you may have to put them a bit higher than where you would find other body moldings located due to this.

The '09 Maxima design is nicer without the body side moldings, but risky. The Lexus IS also does not come with standard body side moldings from the factory.

If I were to buy this car then I too would put body side moldings on it. I would also do the wheel well lips and the ends of all 4 doors like I did with my 2008 Maxima.

I was eating dinner with a friend at a restaurant one night and I was at a table that allowed me to see my car. Low and behold, someone parked next to it, opened their door all wildly and the person's car door totally went into my car. Those thick rubber moldings that I had the dealer put on the wheel wells probably saved me like a $200 ding removal job right there, so as a result, the moldings on my car have already paid for themselves.

It was funny cause I ran out and got right in that person's face and told them that they just opened their car's door into my car's side. I was so pissed, but luckily there was zero damage. Even other people who saw me come in and park my car were going to tell me that someone just ripped their car's door into my car, but I beat them to the punch. ;) It all turned out well. :)

[NissLover]

I also think that the moldings wouldn't protect much because the top of the doors is where they "stick out" the most. The molding would have to be around the area of the character lines. Plus with all these SUVs around that sit up so high you still have a chance of getting dings with them installed. I have so many dings in my doors on my 01' I30 that have the huge stylized side moldings. Thats why when I am at work I take up two spots. Home Depot parking lot is flooded with SUVs and trucks and my car has many battle scars from when I first started working there.

[psypher22]

the easiest solution to dings?

Walk.


Seriously.


As we all know, s14's have no side moldings. So, I park as far away from other cars as possible. Its a natural instinct to me now. I just automatically park away from cars. Whether its the back of the parking lot or the top of the parking garage, i stay away from cars wherever its practical. It makes my walk longer, but thats good for me anyway. lol.

[ZYAL8R808]

You could always get a Saturn if door dings is your number one concern. Otherwise, there is nothing a manufacturer can do to prevent idiotic, incosiderate people from slamming their door into the car next to them.

[Hawaii200sx]

um..i thought that saturn went back to metal doors?

[da99]

um..i thought that saturn went back to metal doors?

Saturn didn't "go back" to metal doors they actually just switched over recently from the plastic panels they were known for TO the industry standard "metal" within the last few years.

[ZYAL8R808]

Well, then get a used Saturn with plastic doors.

[psypher22]

Well, then get a used Saturn with plastic doors.

LOL.

wow, i forgot that Saturn used those dent-resistant doors as a marketing tool back in the late 90's. So funny.

[Hawaii200sx]

i'd rather roll down a hill in a rubbermaid trashcan than a saturn....although the same thing.

[SHIFT_6speeds]

I tend to agree. I worked on the sheet metal and mechanisms...not the interior trim panel.

Good because that is the most boring part of the car, the interior door trim panel.

I thought it would be cool of Nissan brought back the hidden door pull in the arm rest like that of the Gen 3. That would give a very clean, classy yet sporty look inside.

[SHIFT_6speeds]

The beautifully designed chrome door handles would be as equally beautiful, yet more sporty, body-colored. :p

I think so too..that was 1st gripe...too much chrome!

Ohh and my major gripe...the chrome is a very minor issue when I found out about No real manual tranny with a real clutch to keep my left foot happy.

I am hoping they are reserving the 4DSC stickers for the manual tranny cars that are yet to be announced! (Obi Wan, you are my only hope...please use the force to make this happen)

[07G35S]

Its amazing how much this picture looks just like my G35. I knew there was a reason I liked this new max.

http://nissan.iconicweb.com/assets/libraryImages/2009_Maxima_47__mid.jpg

Hell even the wheels are very similar. I'll keep my headlights though :p

http://photos.freshalloy.com/gallery/d/13783-2/100_2295.jpg