If i were to find a deal on 3rd gen maxi, what would be the best year?

 

I'd say a 1993 and make sure its a GXE

 

It would make sense that '94 would be the best year. Would think they had the productions bugs worked out.

 

94 is my first answer, but I would look for a 92-94 in good condition. They are only a few detail differences between 92-94.

92 - Air bag optional, A/C is R12
93/94 - Air bag standard. A/C is R134a

I think the moonroof was standard on the SE until about 91 or 92, but that became optional.

 

If you want a GXE I would have to say, 94, cause there is a different design in the timing belt, which was changed to a rounded teeth on the
cam sprockets, & the belt itself, with makes the timing belts last much longer, than the previous design......

 

yay for owning a 94 gxe... now all i need is a standard swap!

 

GXE's are a nono. The anything auto sucks with these cars. I'd say the 89-91 se's exterior wise in all black. But performance wise 92-94 Se's but I'd go with a 92 SE 5-speed in black with 89-91 SE tails. R12 A/C you can't beat and the tails in all black are sexy IMO. With the 92-94 SE's you have a timing chain so no T-Belt every 60k mile IIRC.

 

I have the best of both worlds..

 

In reality, it depends on what kind of things you want. The two most important being the engine and transmission. Everything else is fully interchangeable. All of the lights, interior, suspension, etc.

Even the transmissions can be used with the different engines, but it is a fair amount of work and requires extra parts.

 

I'm senseing everyone is going to be partial with their cars. Agreeing with Cliff, let's state why.

 

yay for having the 92 se tails. I like the VG engine better. Ive done alot of reading and it seems to be a lot better to turbo with its compression. i just wish it was manual :-(, also the keypad on the side of my car helps TONS. i lock my keys in my car purposely when i go skiing and do stuff like that.

 

The best "deals" would be probably mean cheapest-so the 89-91 SE 5 speed would probably the best out of that bunch. Otherwise I'd pick a 92-94 Maxima with the driver's airbag (optional in 1992). I'd probably suggest the 92-94 SE 5 speed-sportiest and no timing belt expense. Then again, I had good luck with my 94 GXE.

 

94 GXE, you take care of this engine, & it might last longer than you!!! No VTC problems to speak of, as far as the tranny is concerned, if you take care of it, & don't beat on it too much it will be just fine, I have seen many last well above the 200 K mark with no problems.....you take care of the machine, it will take care of you in spades!!!

 

i have a 91 se and that thing is sweet. vg power is the way to go. parts sometimes are hard to find but the car is well worth it.

 

I think it depends on whether you plan to mod it more than a CAI or Y-pipe. If so, I think the VG has more potential after those mods and I've heard of fewer things going wrong. As far as looks, I like my tails (black SEs), but I'm not entirely sure what years they come on. But if you plan to keep the car pretty much stock I'd say try to find a relatively low-mileage 92-94 SE 5-spd. You'd get more power that way. But let's face it, you can't really lose with a third gen maxima

 

well... to everyone picking the 92-94 SE 5spds... i would pick a 94 VE5... because nissan fixed the VTC problem in the 94's. (no clacking after 60,000 miles) thats my 0.02¢

its a BIG deal to me about those retched VTC (diesel sounding FI V6 engines lol)...


94 VE5 is my pick

 

No they didn't...

 

tis what i read before... cant find it (i suck at the search function)

someone said it and i asked if i can just swap out the 94 cams and they said yes... thats where i got that info from :-/ sorry for the mis-information then


92-94 VE5!!!!!!

 

92 is my pick
first year for the VE
Airbag optional

92 was the only year you could get an airbagless VE, so it is the lightest VE

 

I personally like the tinted tail lights.

 

Yes he does..he's tried having me convert my 92+ GXE tails to 91 below SE tails...oh just so you guys now, edethloff is a buddy of mine...the one I got my 97-99 SE rims off. He's got lots of goodies for sale..yes for maximas and other cars but I wont get into that, I'll let him introduce himself properly as I dont think he has yet.

 

That was the rumor and might have even been based on a statement from Nissan, I can't remember either. What does matter is that time has proven otherwise and the '94's clack as much as the '92-'93 cars.

 

I put over 80,000 miles on a VG auto and I currently daily drive a VE 5spd. I can assure you that you are wrong. Nothing but love for VGs though.

 

I guess i need to let him drive my car so he will know what a real maxima is..

 

I have a friend that tints my lights out. Sure i could buy a can from store for tinting the tails, but his just turn out incredible. I own a few Beretta's which use the same concept as rear center panel. Almost all the people are in favor or the darker panels used only in 94-96 while 87-93 are clear. Its like the reverse with the Max.

 

C'mon guy cant you see I'm saying that cuz I personally have a 93 GXE? I'd love a VE dammit. I know VEs produce more powa and more torqua! I'm being leSarcastic

 

Nice car man! I have a 91 se pearl white automatic. 118000 miles still rolling strong.

 

Uh yea I hope so...118k aint ****... :kool:

 

VG's RULE!!!

 

So stop wasting money on your leGXE and buy my VE

 

Mine is sans ABS, so it is lighter yet.

You can turbo either model and it has been done successfully. I think it is easier to turbo a VG and less fabrication is involved.

Aside from that (going turbo is a LOT of work newbies), I will also add that it is cool to the track and beat some "ricer" cars that are considered to be fairly quick. I have taken out the following:

Civic coupe w/ b16a swap
Stripped Accord w/ h22a swap
98 Prelude stock engine w/ I/H/E
97-ish Integra GSR w/ I/H/E
Newer Sentra SE-R (stock)
Late 90s VR6 GTI

My car has basic bolt on stuff and it is a full second faster than any non-turbo VG.

To a man, every one of the cars I have beaten couldn't believe it. That is a pretty nice feeling. There are still a LOT of cars out there that are quicker, and some of the cars mentioned can be made faster, but for the basic Import Drags, the VE-5 holds it's own very well. 14s is a lot more impressive than 15s or 16s.

 

No! I'm getting a 2003 6 speed, why would I get a VE when I got my trusty reliable VG?

 

Me: nice car
you: thanks
me: what's that in the trunk?
you: just my oil for the drive to work
me: you're taking oil to work?
you: no, that's the amount of oil I use on the way to work

 

--thats what im going to be shooting for when i get major stuff started




i have oil in my trunk but its just if i think im low because the VE dipstick... = zee sux0rs

 

Brian, Brian...what to do with you.. lol damn guy is a hardcore VE fan. C'mon man give it up, VQs are good engines as well. You know I take good care of my stuff.

 

VQ30 is fine, VQ35 has issues

 

a little bit of oil consumption?

 

im a VE man drove both sides both SE's and i preffer the VE over a VG anytime. vg=162 hp VE=190 hp both rated from the block now as for to the wheels i have no clue on the vg blocks but marshall has done the VE's a favor and shown that the ve puts down 162 to the wheels also takin marshall is also a VE-5 as am i

 

obviously more power feels better. What you think 30 or so hp wont make you like something better? Its obviously a big difference. but reason why I'm not really worrying about getting a VE is cuz I'm getting something with 255hp which will leave a VE in the dust stock for stock. So personally I dont care, I'm happy with my VG which still has ***** compared to lot of other cars.

 

juz cuz your getting more hp in a different car stock also depends on how much the car weighs,weather its auto or stick, front or rear or all wheel drive. and so on . in other words bro juz cuz your gonna get alot of more hp doesnt juz mean your automacticly gonna be alot faster you have alot of variables in this equation