My buddy just traded in his 00' SE and got the new 03' 6-speed. I got to take her for a little spin last night and I must say it is definitely quicker than my stock 99 SE-L. But I was not impressed at all with the feel of the gearbox. It was very stiff and there is something different with the gas pedal. It seems to have a lag when you press it down. My 99 has much more throttle response than his car. He said the 03' did away with the throttle cable and they use a drive-wire system. Whatever it is I just didn't like the way it responded. But other than that I must say the 3.5L really gets the car on down the road. BUT, I definitely enjoy driving my 99 much better.

Now if Budget would only make a Y-pipe that eliminates "BOTH" pre-cats for my Cali-emissions . I spoke with Jeff at Budget and he still claims that they are in the process of making one. Do you guys think that he is just blowing smoke? Becasue I know there must not be too great a demand for a 99 Cali-emission pipe. Is it worth the time for them to do the R&D? Thanks in advance for any answers and lets pray for the new y-pipe all of you 99 owners with the same problem.

Eric

 

I hear you on the Y pipe issue. I also spoke with Jeff at Budget back in October. He said a pipe for our 99 Cali spec cars should be ready by Feb or March this year. So lets hang in there a bit longer and see what they put out.

 

I felt the same way. I test drove a 02 SE a few months ago with every intention of buying it, and I flat out hated the car. Lack of throttle response and tranny feel, and it felt so damn small inside.

4th gens are the way to go!

 

Yes sir. I agree whole heartedly. The feel of the new ones is not even close to what our cars feel like. My buddy said he is anxious to drive mine to see the difference. I told him to expect it to be slower but it drives and shifts so much better.

Yep, 4th gens are the way to go. Plus you can install that turbo that Harold (hlh0501) has for much less than the cost of buying a new Max. Did you happen to see his video of him accelerating from 50-120? I don't know how to post the link to it but you can find it under search if you put in his screen name. That video was insane. He said he walks the new vettes. How about that for a sleeper. Plus you keep the same beautiful styling of our 4th gen .

 

The new Max has the drive by wire throttle system. Since there is no mechanical connection between the gas pedal and the throttle body, there is some sort of a lag. By the way, 4th gens are so much better than the 5th gen!

 

I love the interiors of the 2K-up but i have issues with the front end, wierd looking. Never drove one though. Couldnt see myself giving up my 99 though. I love it

Eric

 

about the cali-spec y-pipe from budget, i think it may already be available, its listed on their website with a pic, right under the federal spec, and its the same price.

 

Robo,

You had my hopes up man . I just checked the Budget website but that is the same info as what I saw about a month ago. I called Jeff about 2 weeks ago and he said they are still working on it. But hopefully it won't be much longer. I assume you are one of the lucky ones with the Fed spec. I sure wish I was. But oh well. At least I have a 4th gen .

Eric

 

Your are correct. There is a pipe available right now, but it doesn't yield the gains like the fed pipe does. Our cali spec cars have to keep one pre cat in place or it will trip the CEL. There working on a new pipe that will remove both pre cats, just like the fed pipe but the problem is we have more o2 sensors. They have to be relocated someplace else in order to "trick" the Cali spec ECU into thinking it's monitoring pre cats as well as the system main cat.

Thats the big differnece in Cali spec pipes and fed spec pipes. Cali spec ECU's monitor the Pre cats, fed spec doesn't.

 

ezemax, sorry about that bro, didnt realize you were looking for the pipe that eliminates the last pre-cat. I'm actually not one of the lucky ones, i have a cali-spec. I threw down and bought the stillen pipe, but would definitely swap it out if budget came out with the new pipe that eliminates that damn pre-cat.

njmaxseltd, now that I think of it I remember reading the thread you started about the new y-pipe that's in the works. Hopefully they'll release it soon.

 

I like the styling of the 4th gen much more than any 5th Gen.
It's possible that after I sell this Max, I may go for a 99 5-speed.

 

I saw a thread where Cattman has headers for the 4th gen. That'll eliminate the stock Y and the exhaust manifold. So the pre-cat issue may be gone as well. Who knows

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....attman+headers

DW

 

Now first off, I'm about to buy a 97 SE, so don't think I'm just doggin 4th gens. But my girlfriend just bought a 2003 SE fully loaded, and we love it. It handles nice, has great brakes, awesome interior, and not to mention it's a freakin' rocket. Oh yeah, don't forget the HIDs. IMO the 2003 SE takes it hands down.

Clayton

 

I bet that 2003 SE was an auto. And, being an auto, you don't notice the drive by wire lag as much. The 5th gen 3.5s are nice. I drove a 6 speed. But, being the enthusiast I am, I prefer the 4th gen because:

1. The drive by wire system's lag is more apparent in the manual than the auto. I guess maybe it may take some getting used to.
2. The cable shifter in the 6 speed isolates you from the motor. The rod shifter on the 4th gen 5 speeds has a more solid feel, and the slight thrum of the motor that you feel on the stick keeps in touch with your VQs heartbeat, so to speak. WIth the cable shifter, you are so isolated, it's like the VQ is somehwere out there ahead of you, not right in frot of you, in the engine bay, as the 4th gen makes you feel.

3. The larger wheelbase of the 5th gen makes it a little more limo like, and less sports sedan like, IMO. I think the 4th gen is the perfect size for a sports sedan.

DW

 

they should bring the 4th gens back.......with supercharged v8's

 

anyone know what would happen if I took a 99 fed spec ECU and dropped it into my cali-spec?

 

I don't think it would have any advantage, you'd still need a special y-pipe because on the cali spec cars the flange where the y-pipe meets the headers has 5 bolts where as the fed spec cars have three, please correct me if i'm wrong but I think thats how it is.

 

Unfortunatly I am one of the people wit a 99 SE-L Cali spec as well. I bought a Y-Pipe off Budget right before Christmas and it is still in my room. What kind of gains should I expect with this? and should I just wait for the other new one to come out?
Thanks,
Dan

I am cali-spec

 

Install the pipe now and just swap it out and sell when the new pipe comes out. You'll still see good gains if you install it.

 

After reading this I got to thinking, I wonder if JWT, or some other company could produce a small cheap upgrade to the ecu to have pre cats monitored...

 

So the impression I get is that most 4th gen owners don't like the 5th's setup. I pose another question, if 4th gen > 5th gen. We know the 3rd gen > 4th gen, so does that mean 3rd gen > 5th gens? 3rd gens equal best maxima eVaR next to the RWD 1st gens .

 

I agree, my dad drives a 5th gen and i like my 4th gen much better. Except for the fact that he has a VQ30DE-K.

 

I did drive an 03 meridian ed. 6 spd.

VERY nice car inside and out, but as you all have commented, the throttle response is yet to be desired by this guy.

But I have to admit that the interior is a bit more quite than our 4th gens.

 

Of course you would need the exaust manifold and the ECU from a 99 fed spec. Does anyone know if this would work or are we better off waiting for Budget to get the Y or Cattman to get the headers? Thanks all.

Eric

 

Eric,

Budget does make a y-pipe for Cali specs. I got one the other day & I'm putting it on this weekend. I don't know if you mean Budget needs to make a Cali-spec pipe that has the same gains as a Fed-spec pipe...that's not done yet. My Cali-spec pipe starts after the great big pre-cat that the Cali specs have so I know it's not going to be the same amount of power as a Fed-spec. I get dynoed on Sunday so I'll repost how much it is (or is not) on Sunday.

 

My sentiments exactly. The interior is very well done in the 03. I like the silver trim around the gages. And it definitely has the boost in power. I just can't believe Nissan would put the Drive-wire system on the market yet if they haven't worked the kinks out yet. I want the car to go right when I push the pedal. I don't wanna wait for it. My buddy also said that he heard some folks were having troubles with leaking moonroofs. I hope that is not the case.

Eric

 

Maxhead,

Sorry man. I should have been more informative as to what kinda pipe I was referring to. Yes I meant the "NEW" y-pipe that will eliminate "both" pre-cats. I am holding out for that one unless Cattman comes up with the headers deal. But I am interested to see how much power your new y-pipe makes. Let us know how the dyno works out. Thanks.

Eric

P.S. -- I edited my original post to clear up the y-pipe issue to eliminate further confusion.

 

Yeah, I figured that out after reading the rest of the thread. After I read your first post, I just responded without reading the 2 pages of posts.

Anyway, I'll let you know after Sunday.

 

Cool, thanks man. I look forward to hearing the results. I am looking on the Custommaxima site now. Do you have a RSB on your ride? I think I am gonna go ahead and order one.

 

I know I might get flamed for this but how much faster is a 03 6 speed max versus the set up I have now, assuming equal skilled drivers.( 96 5 -pseed with a pop intake and y pipe)

 

RSB is one of the best mods I have on the car. You'll be amazed at how well you can take turns, especially long tight curves like on-ramps and high speed highway curves. You definately won't regret the RSB.

 

Thanks for the input. I have had the FSTB for two years but I just hadn't gotten around to the RSB. I am gonna order one today. I checked on the Custommaxima.com site and they have the progress RSB listed for $119 but when you go to the checkout it comes up as $129. That doesn't appear to be with shipping charges so I guess I will have to call them. Either way, I will be taking some high-speed sweepers in the very near future

 

my friend is looking for a max. so we went to the dealer yesterday, i'm trying to talk him into getting a 4th gen. but he is to worried about getting a car with more than 30,000 miles, so he wants knew. everyone down at the dealer told us that the new 6 speed was having a lot of problems but i don't know if this is for the 2K3 or not. the shouldn't of messed with the 4th gen. in my opinion it was perfect.

on the other hand do you think my buddy should be worried about getting a car with more than 40,000 but under 70,000.
Mike

 

IMHO, it depends on who took care of it. A large % of 4th gen owners have over 70K on their cars. I have 86K and the most major thing I've had to replace is the starter (& it was covered by the dealer). However, if the owner didn't take care of it (oil changes, regular maintenance, etc.) it could be a nightmare. Best advice for a used car is demand to take it to the mechanic of your choice before you buy it. Most mechanics charge about $50-$65 to look at a car. They'll tell your friend the real condition of the car.

 

Another problem with the Drive by wire is the fact that they stick sometimes at WOT.

Check the TSB's, some people were having that problems when they mash the gas down, they had it stuck WOT, rev limiter bouncing and all

 

5th gens are a bit odd, they only lasted 3yrs. Just wait a little and go for 6th. It looks like they'll be around for awhile, like the 4th gens did.

 

Nah, the went their normal 4-year cycle (2000,2001,2002,2003). And the Gen6 is fugly. Needs serious front AND rear facelifts.


Eric

 

yay for 4th gens

 

Any opinions on the "Skyview" moonroof?

I think it's pretty cool.