I'll be buying a new car after i crashed my '95 max. my choices are:

96 Lexus SC300, 5-speed.
98-99 Honda Prelude, 5-speed.
99 Maxima SE, 5-speed.

What would u suggest in terms of reliability and performance.

BTW...my friend is getting 2003 RSX-S...do i have a chance of beating him in racing in any of those cars?

 

On a Maxima site, you'll probably get more nods to the Maxima, especially over the Prelude.
For RWD you'd have to go with the Lexus. There are people out there who have transplanted Supra drivetrains into SC300s with stunning results after further modifications.

All it takes is $$$

 

This is not the place to ask an opinion on what car to get when a maxima is tossed into the mix, try to fish out the biased opinions and only use the good ones, personally i'd say the lexus or max, i'd leave the prelude out. Goodluck

 

Get the lexus SC300! Lets be real about it guys. Up to a certain point the MAXIMA can only give us but soo much power, right? Thier is a limit, I love my car to death, but damm we got to wake up.

 

yeah, SC300 is a great car. i wish i had money to get '97 model. but my only concern is whether it's a trouble-free car. i know for sure that maxima (or prelude) will never break on me......and i would really like to dust RSX-S.

 

I'm with you on that one Kolyn.

 

I've had both in the household at the same time, a brand new 99 SE-L 5spd and a 93 SC300 5spd (my wife drove it). On any given trip, I'd take the Maxima over the SC300 every time. More room, Bose stereo, and it was just a newer car. Performance under "normal" circumstances was comparable.
Now I have a 96SE with a ton of miles, and for my needs (2 kids), the Max would still wins (I really need 4 doors), and it works out better in snow.
If I was into expensive mods (i.e. turbo) and driving at 8/10ths or higher (RWD please), or didn't have kids (who needs the extra doors?), We'd have kept the SC300. I've always liked the look as well.
FYI, The SC300 left to make way for a 98 Ford Contour SVT 5spd and its extra 2 doors before our first child was born, and the Lexus hasn't been missed.
If the Maxima goes before the SVT (very likely), I'm seriously considering going to 3 liters and a Quaiffe. Serious NA performance.

 

i actually looked towards gettin a prelude when i was shoppin for a car. at the time maximas a year or two newer with less miles were goin for around the same price. so maxima seemed like the better value. def glad i chose the max

 

I forgot to add:
I think that it's safe to assume that the reliability of the SC300 shouldn't be questioned. The engine is the same base from the Supra (minus turbos of course), GS300 and IS300. AFAIK there were no reliability issues of note.

 

Thanks for replying all. I'll be getting my money together and starting to test drive my choices.

PS. the only thing that stops me from going straight to another Max is that it's a 4-door and way too many people are driving it. maybe also it needs more power.

 

cant help you out on the 4 door thing.. but u will be surprised at the power..and btw.. u will own a new rsx stock with any 95-99 maxima 5spd.. the 190 hp seems a lil low nowadays, but its a quality *** 190 hp with good low mid and after a mod or 2, high end power....been loyal to nissan for liek 5 years now so screw the prelude.. this board will tell you max all the way.ive driven my friends sc3..it was an auto though..its not as fast as lexus wants you to believe. if the 4 doors bugs you that much..get the lexus.. if not get the max..

 

I like all your choices I would lean away from the Prelude. It's a sexy great looking car, and you get 200 hp from a 4 banger, very impressive. But, it is a torqueless 4 banger, nonetheless. In order to get the full benefit of that VTEC motor, you have to drive it hard with hi revving clutch burning launches etc. If that's what your OK with, then go for it. In the city it'll feel somewhat sluggish. On the highway it will come alive With the V6 and the Supra I6, you got plenty of down low torque for around the town driving, plus enough gumption up top, especially if you add the MEVI to the Maxima, for enthusiastic highway romps.

My 2 cents

DW

 

Well, the Prelude is already out, and now it's down to Lex SC300 or Max. Wherever i get a better deal, that car i will buy. it will probably be Max since they are more common.

And guys check out the interesting thread at clubrsx.com

http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread...5&pagenumber=1

 

yeah, i think we have all reas their thread..........rather disgruntling to hear someone bashing Max's, especially when the only RSX owners I know are women.......It just seems to be one of those cars that Acura(Honda with leather) produced that is decently quick, but their market demographic are young-middle aged women of middle-class income. If the Max and RSX run around the same speed, I would take the Max only cause it is pimp. I guess I'm too old to be driving a economy sport compact.

 

Sorry for bringing this thread up again....but i was looking through the cars and another one came into my mind: '97 BMW 328is coupe.
It sure has better road holding then Max, It also has 190HP, 206T.
What do u thnink about those cars? Any reliability issues? What about Max(5-speed) vs 328is(5-speed)?

Thanks

 

I have not driven a 328..but i have driven a 318coupe..its a POS handling is gayy, the controls on the dash are confusing... and if your not 6ft tall u will have a hard tiem with seeing if you dont get the power seats...id drive my max over it anyday.. but i think there are significant improvment on teh 328..if u can find a good steal id say go ahead with the bmw if u test drive it and u like it..its a good car..cost for repairs are gona be rough though so make sure u get a good one..ill still be loyal to my max all the way, but i wont feel that way about it until you own one..

 

true.......
A BMW handles great, better than my friend's Mercedes in my opinion.
The Mam doesn't handle so well (don't flame me), in comparison to small sport coupe's and BMW's.