<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by InDy:<BR><B>This is my take on things. I really like the BMW 330i, but where I live, the 3-Series is as common as the Suburban. I don't think that anyone will question how supurb a car the BMW 330i is, and I would take it in a heartbeat over the Nissan Maxima SE. But, since you have elimitated it from your choices, there isn't much more that I will say about it.<P>The Nissan Maxima SE is a good car, and it has the worlds finest V6 'VQ' engine. I havn't driven a 2002 model, but I have heard that the manual tranmission is far better than the new A4, for example. I really don't know how it compares to the S60's manual transmission. My biggest concern with the Maxima SE is its questionable styling. It has gotten better over the years, but it still doesn't have very good styling IMHO. I feel that the new Altima SE looks 10x better. If the Maxima SE suspension is anything like the Infiniti I30 Touring's suspension, then it is way to soft and doesn't handle all that great IMHO.<P>If it were me, I would skip the Maxima completely and wait for the new Infiniti G35. It is going to be an awesome car. It will be RWD, have 50/50 weight distribution, and have the supurb 260hp V6 'VQ' engine. Infiniti dealer treatment and service is beyond reproach, having experienced it. In fact, they will sometimes even give you a better loaner Infiniti than the car you actually drive.<P>If I were in your situation, I would really have a hard time choosing between the Volvo S60 T5 and the Infiniti G35. They are both great cars in their own way for different reasons. The seats, ergonomics, safety, looks, and feel are something that you might not find in the G35, but of course you will be paying extra for that in the S60 T5. Plus, there will be a lot of things in the S60 T5, that the G35 or Maxima will come no where close, like the stereo systems for example<P>Just test drive the cars you are thinking about and find out what your priorities are. A million people could give you a million different opinions, but you will be the one shelling out your hard earned money.<P>-Drew<P><BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>NO JAPANESE regular production car (and I mean NONE) will give you the feel of a European sedan...they are way off but they do win the gadget war! <IMG SRC="http://www.swedespeed.com/ubb/smile.gif"><P>Yannis<P><P>