In my 87 maxima, the clutch has about 6 inches of play if not more when I
press it down, but in the newer cars I have driven there is very little -
if any, play at all.   The clutch is hard as a rock.

any ideas ?

thanks...

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Not sure about the 92, but I believe 95 or later are hydraulic.  Maybe
they had some sort of aftermarket high performance clutch or improper
maintenance (something kinked or cooked hydraulic fluid from riding the
clutch).

The clutch in my 95 SE is over 10 years old (original, purchased May 94)
and has always been easy.  And that has included a considerable number of
Solo II events (parking lot slaloms) and high speed autocross (2 mile
track).

Those Maximas you drove must have had aftermarket clutches put in. My 98
SE when stock had a smooth and light clutch pedal. I 'upgraded' to an
aftermarket clutch, it was stronger and could grab the engine like the
OEM never could, but it was also tougher to push the pedal and harder to
do smooth clutch engagements. Basically, you could teach a new driver
on the OEM, but definitely not on aftermarket.

CD