Buy or Bye: 2002–2003 Nissan Maxima SE 6-Speed — 260HP VQ35DE FWD Manual, Torque Steer Monster, BYE!

The 2002-2003 Nissan Maxima SE with the 6-speed manual — the final manual of Nissan's original "4-Door Sports Car" marketing era (1989-2003), the 5th generation Maxima with the VQ35DE V6 and a clutch pedal sent through the FRONT wheels. The G35 sedan made it obsolete the day it launched in 2003. Engine: 3.5L VQ35DE DOHC NA V6 (Ward's 10 Best Engines 7 years running) Power: 255 hp / 246 lb-ft (2002), 260 hp / 246 lb-ft (2003) Trans: 6-speed manual SE ONLY or 4-speed automatic, FWD only, viscous LSD with 6MT 0-60: 6.0 sec / Quarter mile: 14.7 sec at 97 mph Notable: Optional SkyView fixed glass roof strip (unique 5th-gen Maxima feature) Built: Nissan Oppama Plant, Japan MSRP: $25,449-$26,140 base SE 6MT / Used 2026: $3K-$18K THE GEMS: Last manual "4-Door Sports Car" era Maxima, same VQ35DE as G35/350Z, cheapest manual VQ35DE in America. WATCH OUT: SEVERE torque steer (FWD with 260hp and viscous LSD), VQ35DE pre-cat ingestion, oil consumption, parts scarcity. Verdict: BYE. Same VQ35DE engine and 6MT as the Infiniti G35 Sedan — but FWD instead of RWD, torque-steering at every throttle input. G35 is right there for the same money. Skip unless you find a clean Titanium Edition under $10K as a curiosity. Every week on Buy or Bye, we dig into every known problem on popular used cars. Subscribe so you never buy a lemon! 🔔 New videos every week! #BuyOrBye #NissanMaxima #4DSC #VQ35DE #LastManualMaxima #TorqueSteer Tags: buy or bye, nissan maxima SE, maxima 6 speed, maxima manual, VQ35DE, 4 door sports car, 4DSC, FWD V6 sedan, torque steer, infiniti G35 alternative, last manual maxima, japanese sport sedan, viscous LSD, SkyView roof, A33B Cefiro platform