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My goal was to find a reliable, comfortable and entertaining car for my wife and I to use everyday. I searched high and low through the bowels of the car market, used car dealerships. I was earnestly looking far a car that had not been salvaged after a wreck. Finally I found what would become my car.

That was in 2002, and everyday I still drive my 1998 Nissan Maxima. 220000 kms and going strong. This car is fabulous. It has leather everywhere, which in hind site, I should have avoided. I live in Canada and Leather seats do not feel so exotic in the dead of winter when no heated seats seem fast enough. Other than that seasonal complaint this car has loads of leg and shoulder room for my over six foot frame, and seats which are comfortable even after several hours of driving. I did some research and the list of standard options is two pages long.

The first thing I noticed about the mid-size sedan was the burgundy metallic paint. Yes I do know that "sedan" is a foul word to many young men, but fear not the Max will not disappoint.Upon entry you immediately come to appreciate the engineers at Nissan. Everything is within reach. No leaning, no asking your passenger to change the radio station. Everything is easy to read and logically placed. Behind the leather wrapped steering wheel are white faced gauges with black numbers. At night the numbers are back lit with white light and the gauge face is black.Nissan uses a Six speaker Bose stereo, which I never felt the need to replace with my system pulled from my last car. The stereo has in dash C.D. and cassette player. I know whats a cassette? The climate controls are digital and simple to use, just set the temperature you like and you are done.

There is plenty of room in back as well. On a trip to Nova Scotia I spent several hour in the back seat while my other half drove. I was never cramped, and come to think of rather enjoyed being chauffeured. I found the trunk to be enormous. Mind you I had only previously owned small Hondas, a Prelude an accord and an Integra. Interesting is the optional full size spare mounted to the same aluminum rim as the rest of tires with the same Michelins, a very nice touch.

The engine is a 3 liter V6, which puts out 197 H.P. at 5600 RPM. This car is large and weighs 1938 KGs, but feels nimble and is surprisingly quick. The engine is transversely mounted, has double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder and uses a timing chain not a belt. It provides 205 lb ft of torque. This proves more

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