only 290HP?
i've always liked the maxima. it's midsize with a badass engine always.
but for the price of one i'd step up to something like a WRX or MS3.
IMO its ugly and all those ponies have to go through the only transmission available, the CVT. The Maxima used to be a formidable opponent on the street (5.5gen and the first 6th gen ones with 6 speeds) but now they have gone ful luxury.