I got my 99 SE about 2 months ago. This morning i took my dads 1.8T passat out for a spin to see how it felt compared to my maxima that ive been driving. Both are stock. I was impressed with the Passat which has a 4 cylinder. What do you you think would win in a race? they are both 5 speeds.

Another question: My 99 se had 51K miles on it when i bought it. the car is fully loaded Leather, Bose, cold weather, etc. The exterior and interior look good as new. i paid 13,500 for the car from the dealership. do you guys think I got a good deal? i feel like i did, but i wanted to know what others think.

also, im thinking of putting Dunlop A2 Sport tires on, ive read good things about them. is there another tire i should look at?

thanx

 

Personally, I'd have to say you got a pretty good deal. I've been searching for a Maxima, and I've yet to find a fully optioned '98 for less than 13,500, and that's with more miles (I'm looking for older, though, but there's an annoying lack of '95 and '96 5-speeds here in Maine...). So yeah, I'd have to say you got a pretty good deal on that car. I, personally, am jealous.

As for the Passat, I can't imagine it would be much of a race. I don't have exact numbers in front of me, but a Jetta 1.8T runs a 15.7 in the 1/4, so you figure another hundred pounds or so is only gonna slow it down. Challenge your dad to a race, see what happens.

 

you'd lay the smack down on the passat in a race. just make sure your dad doesnt find out about ECU swapping

 

i've beaten a VR6 passat on my way to work one day. He had from the sound of it intake and rims and exhaust. I beat him easily so you should have no problem...

another thing is that the passat is heavier than the Jetta's and GTI's so if you've beaten them before (none chipped of course), then you should win.

 

My 98, fully loaded, with 63k miles, cost like 16k when I bought my car in June of '01...13,5 with 51k is a nice steal!!

 

yup that's a real good price, I'm looking for one for my bro now. Also I think that a passat shouldn't give you any problems.

 

I raced a vw gti 1.8t one night and we would be pretty close if it was driver vs driver. The only reason I won was because the other guy had 2 more people with him. I had like one car length on him at 85mph.

 

For the tires... I know diddly about A2 Sports tires... but because I see snow and didn't want to bother with snow tires, I wanted a good performance tire that could handle it.

So, based on what I read and experiences from people I know, I went with Potenza RE950s. I like them a lot... and they are decent in snow, awesome in the wet, and I have no complaints when dry.

I was particularly impressed with the wet traction. I get the biggest thrill out of lateral slides and these tires make them very easy to control... and predictable.

Consequently, my wife does not like them...

 

stock wise you'd beat him... however all the 1.8T engines from VW/Audi are highly tuneable simply because its a factory turbo.

 

A2's are the best tires I bought before I changed wheel size. They were pretty pricey though. I live in Louisiana, so winter tires are not an issue, but they definately handled curvy roads at 80-90 mph just fine.

 

when i first started lookin for my first car i ran into a nice vw gti. if it was in my price range... lets just say id be in a vw forrum right now. i know the 1.8 engine is used in the jetta as well but i didnt know it was in the passat. IMO its not a FAST engine but it is zippy. the gti i drove was all stock except for new tires and suspension. it handeled great and was a quick car, could it take my max...... im pretty sure, im a stock autotragic with bald tires and fu*cked up cv joints still pretty quick though. you should have nuthin to worry bout concerning a passat. enjoy your max

 

Chew him up and spit him out! Nah, actually it'd be a good race. Go for it! Did you say the Passat was a 5spd or auto? if auto the maxima might have the edge

 

that's a great price bro, there are still people today selling their 99's for over 13,000 and u got it from a dealership which is not the cheapest place to buy a car...mileage is good too, yea i would be happy if i were u

oh and i beat my friends 2001 manual jetta (regular i guess) so if a prassat is heavier and its not even a newer model, i think u should rock his jaw

 

There are quite a few 1.8T's in the 12's. There is even a Jetta 1.8T Automatic running 12's so depends on the mods.

Don't underestimate the 1.8T it has more potential than the VR6 for the same amount spent on mods.

Here is a list of 105 1.8T's running 14 secs and faster, the fastest is 12.2.

http://www.18turbo.com/quarter.html

 

I personally have beaten a highly moded 2002 gti vr6 in my 99se with just my CAI and greddy sp..the 1.8T, is considerably slower at stock, but the turbo is pretty strudy, with an ecu upgrade 1.8t is insane, i can't remember the exact percentage of gain from just an ecu, but it was up there.

 

is your car stock? my friend and i were driving last night. he has a GTi 1.8T. We street-started and he passed me so easily! he has the 150 hp one too, not the 180 hp one. Both are stock.

 

after chipped you get 250ftXlbs of torque

 

I just bought some A2's. I like them but I only paid 70 bucks a tire, I'm pretty sure if you wanted to spend more you could get a better performance or even all around tire. They break loose at like 50% throttle from a dead stop on wet pavement when its just above freezing and I see other cars(one instance in particular was a newish VW actually)getting traction. I've already had them in the snow sadly, and you know how when you change lanes there's that little snow mound between the lanes? I slide on those at 50 mph.

I bet you read the Consumer reports article that the tire dealer read to me.

When its warm out though I get great hole shots in the wet, like almost full throttle, lol I can smoke suv's out of the toll booth in the rain.

I certainly wouldn't say that you're going to be sliding all over the place or always wishing for better tires in cold weather, but don't expect miraculous performance that you might get if you spent $150 a tire on some top of the line eagles or whatever you would get for that. If you drive like you should in the snow and ice(not that I do ),I'm sure you'll be quite happy with them, plus they look cool.

 

No, I beat him with intake and y pipe, and he had intake and exhaust. I dunno exactly what he had except that but I pull on him pretty good. Plus these newer Passats are heavier.

curb weight: 2002
V6-auto: 3291lbs; 5spd:3411lbs. 190hp;206lbs/ft
GLS- auto: 3240lbs, 5spd:3350lbs. 170hp;166lbs/ft
GLX- auto: 3413lbs, 5spd:3536lbs. 170hp;166lbs/ft
W8-man: 3953lbs. 270hp;273lbs/ft

98 Max SE-auto: 3072lbs, 5spd:3014lbs. 190hp, 205lb/ft

I'm a 5spd and I raced a 5spd V6, that could be the difference...

 

i am a 97' auto with VB mod, PR CAI, y-pipe. how do you guys think i will do on sunday against my friend with a stock 95' GTI vr6 5speed??
last time i raced him with my stock 96' GLE he pulled a car or so up to 60

whats ur take on the situation considering my mods

 

it should be a good race, I think you would win if you get a good start.

 

is your car stock? my friend and i were driving last night. he has a GTi 1.8T. We street-started and he passed me so easily! he has the 150 hp one too, not the 180 hp one. Both are stock.

[/QUOTE]

Really? Are you an automatic because I beat my friends 180hp GTI in my max with no mods, both stock. I beat my friends by about half a car length.

 

Your numbers make no sense. An auto is lighter than a manual?

Here's what I got from the VW website for 2003 models

Manual Transmission
V6: 3,291
4MOTION: N.A.
1.8T: 3,225

Automatic Transmission
V6: 3,411
4MOTION: 3,602
1.8T: 3,322

Damn those cars are boats.. but they ride really smoothly and the interior is much nicer than a Maxima, without any rattles (my dad has a 4Motion Wagon).

 

I just went off of what the MSN Carpoint website said for year 2003, I think they put the numbers backwards so thats why my numbers are off; no wonder when I first looked at it, it seems wierd but I also check edmunds.com which had pretty much the same numbers so Carpoint prolly mixed them up: the link is below.
Don't be ****ed off at the messenger, just trying to help
Plus the weight also depends on what features or model that the Passat is.
carpoint msn

 

regardless, our max should have no problem beating a stock or somewhat modded (non ecu upgrade) 1.8T or a V6.

 

I agree

 

Stock 4th gen max vs. stock vw passat, stock maxima will win.

Once the cars are both modded, the passat (even with a conservative ecu upgrade) will give the maxima a run for its money unless the max has a SC or NOS shot.

My friend has a 2000 passat 1.8t modded with a ECU upgrade and recently just got an exhaust. My 4th gen is a 99 SE with intake and ypipe and we race all the time. We're about the same throughout all the gears only thing is his is a 5spd and mine is an auto tranny.

If only I had a 5th gear!!!