i have a 92 se going onto 135,000 miles and have a problem...do i mod it or keep it stock? im 16 right now and dont have the most $ inthe world...but i have enough right now to buy a cat back exhaust..and then for end of august springs, struts and wheels...right now my car is basicly stock except for aftermarket wheels, a pr cai and light tints...now i dont know if i sell it and buy a newer max like a 96 se, kepe this stock and just drive it around, or mod this but be broke but have a nicely moded car? my other problem is im afraid somethin is gonna happen to this car..tranny probs or engine etc, cause lets face it 3rd gen max's are the nicest max's ever made, and are really nice cars...but they are on average aroudn 10 years old...any input on this would be great!!!just that when i see a riceboy with a civic and clear tails i think to myself boy would it be nice to mod my car even more and show him off

 

Dude, I can definitely relate to where you're coming from. Except for the fact that I'm twice as old <<jeez, now I feel ancient>> and that my Max has 15,000 less miles, we're in the same boat.

The way I look at it, your car is a personal expression of yourself. Of course, money will be the primary consideration for deciding on whether or not to mod your car out or keep it stock. Then there are the mechanical reasons, too. Sure, your car is going on it's 10 year anniversary..... mine too! But hey, just think of Kaleb, Cheston, Matt, or others in this Group, and where they'd be if someone told them not to do anything with THEIR rides....

All I know, is that my ex-girlfriend (that's why she's my EX!!!) ragged on me when I first bought my Max, and it all nasty and ratted out, and didn't have an engine. Now, she's begging me to ride in it!! And the ONLY thing I've done with mine was bulbs!

I think the point I'm getting at is to not let anyone talk you out of doing what you WANT to do. If it's financially within your means, and you don't think it'll put you out a lot, then go for it, I say.

 

thanks..i think il be ordering that cat back exhaust next week and then once funds allow me ill be buying the 17 wheels and an eibach and koni struts...then ill see how it goes from there...im guessing most of these guys on the forums are a lot older and with steadier jobs then working at ahardware store for $7.50 an hour...but ill do my best and mod my car as much as i can...even ifi am broke all the time

 

Don't feel bad, bro.... I work at Amazon.com, and don't make crap for money. So I'm STILL trying to save money to get a cat after dropping money into an engine in December..... But good luck!

 

I was in the same position a couple of months ago...I love my max, but is is 11 years old...I was thinking about getting a newer one...But then I realized I didnt have enough money ( i'm only 19 ) to buy a new max AND mod it...so I chose to mod my max rather than drive a stock new one...I am VERY happy, only a couple of mods, lights, system, FSTB, and I have springs and stuts in my basement and 18 inch rims in the mail !! I am very happy with my decision...But everyone else is right, dont let other people make up your mind...Good Luck ~!!!

P.S. - Mods dont raise your insurance, a new car will !!

 

Just do it man I'm only 17 and my car has more miles in it than yours. And theese cars run forever my max has about 170 thousand moles on it and it still runs like a top and I plan on keeping it for a while.plus you only live once!

 

damn im glad i own a max, especially a 3rd gen..ive seen other people say this but i wouldnt know you guys if i didnt have a 3rd gen max...and that woudl suck...anyways im gonan buy a catback exhaust in about a week and a half...then either move onto suspension or finish helping my car breathe with a y pipe...ill keep you guy sposted on how it goes...

 

today I relaized that modding the hell out of this car(like the major engine/trans work I had planned) isn't gonna work out or be worth it. sure my engine has thousands of mile left on it(currently 136k), but financially its not worth it considering I have to pay for a crap load of other things including future maintence *knock on wood* on the POS and school! so in the end it looks like just the usual bolt-ons, VB, rims/tires, body kit, finish the stereo setup and THATS IT! and if you're not into trying to make these cars FAST(which most auto Maxs won't reach without crazy cash) just get appearance mods and some minor performace mods and have it looking good and just fast enough to beat most of the riceboys running around out here faking! plus now I can save up for my dream Z32TT pop a few mods on that bad boy and be a happy man running 12's!

 

I've been down that road. Looking back I would have to say that if you really want to mod the car do something that is really noticeable in gains. Like for example do a complete tune up and make sure the engine is operating in normal parameters. Then upgrade the suspension and brakes, those by far produce the best results that engine mods. My se-r only had an intake when I bought it and the only reason I got an exhaust is because the stock one rusted. However my car has Axxis MM pads, ES motor/trans/suspension bushings, KYB AGX struts, eibach springs, addco RSB, courtesy FSTB and it drives like a dream. I have set it to a real stiff controlled ride at the turn of a dial or just slightly stiffer than stock. To me suspension and brake mods make the car alot more fun to drive an any engine mods. I basically had all of the engine mods minus nitrous and high compression. Even though it was fun, I liked the suspension upgrades better. Since your on a budget I say get the FSTB, then RSB. AFter that get some axxis MM pads or goto a junkyard and snag some 300zx brakes. Then do the Y-pipe and JWT ECU.

 

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