Hey everyone, I just wanted to say that this is certainly an awesome site. TONS of members!!! But I do not currently own a Maxima but am looking at buying one within the next week and am looking for a 95-97 SE 5Spd. But I just have a couple questions that will help with my search:

1. Is the SE the quickest one or is the GXE just as fast?
2. Is the 3.0 dohc an interference motor if the timing belt breaks while the engine is running? Or won't it hurt the motor...as in letting the valves hit the pistons.
3. What is the gearing ratio in the 5spd manual?
4. Anyone have 1/4 mile times for their stock maxima (same style as listed above)?
5. Is there a speed limiter set on these cars? If so, where at?
6. What is the most common problem with these cars?
7. What is best to watch out for when looking at these cars?
8. What is the headlight bulb number?

I guess that's all the questions that I can come up with right now but feel free to send any information to me that you can think of, it will come in real handy.

Thanks alot everyone in advance for your help!

Ryan

 

why a 95-97? 95-96 are different from 97-99...
ok, i don't have answers to all of your questions, but i will tell you what i DO know...
1) although the SE is the "sport" model, which comes with the best suspension...all three models (gxe, se, and gle) have the same motor, so there is very little speed difference...
you should be looking at either a GXE or an SE...GLE's come only with automatics...SE's also come with 5 spoke alloy rims as opposed to the GXE's hubcaps...
4) give or take... the stock 4th gen maximas run about a rumored 15.5 seconds on the quarter mile...good drivers on here can do high 14's with a stock car though...
5)YES, there are speed limiters,(only on gxe and gle, NONE on the SE) but you can remove it by clipping ONE ecu wire (if you are willing to stare at a constant CEL lamp) and go as fast as your car will take you..i don't know where the limiter is set at, b.c i have an SE, why would i care??? without a limiter, stock cars are rumored to be capable of 145!!!
7) watch out for the usual $hit...body rust, drive the car, check the clutch/tranny/alignment and if there is stuff you don't like, INSIST they fix it...if you are really worried, flip a mechanic a few, and have him look at it...
8) our cars take 9004 headlight bulbs (one set of bulbs is high and low) and foglights (se only) take H3's

My last two cents is that 95-96's have their rear tailights reversed from 97-99...95-96 has clear and amber on top red on bottom, and 97-99 have red on top and clear and amber on bottom... and also 95-96 and 97-99 have different front bumpers, so they cannot accept the same stillen boy kit, etc... just something to think about when selecting year...Theres my two cents!!! WELCOME TO THE ORG, and good choice on a car and generation!!!

 

SE the lightest? thats a new one

 

ok

GXE is quicker because its lighter

the VQ Engine used in the 4th Gen's don't have timing belts... they have timing chains...

3.285 1st
1.850 2nd
1.272 3rd
0.954 4th
0.795 5th
3.428 Reverse
3.823 Final


check the 1/4 mile forum.. any where from 14.7 to 16 seconds

some GXE's have limiters.. ALL 5spd GXE's have limiters.. SE's and GLE's do not have limiters. The limiter hits at 117 mph


paint chips, staters for 95's, altenators for 97 - 98 (recall), front 02 sensors, knock sensors.. common but minor problems.

frame damage.. basically anything on any car.. not in paticular


9004

 

Alright Folks!

I appreciate the help and advice and have finally purchased a car that fits my purposes. I went with a Black 1995 Maxima GXE 5 Spd, and I found one with 83000 miles, cloth interior, no big options so I figure it'd be even lighter yet and it has the 190 hp 3.0L motor and manual tranny. This will be my new project car. I picked it up for 6 grand and found NOTHING wrong with it, car is in MINT condition. Perfect paint, no scratches or dents. It had one owner that took very good care of it. So now I'm wondering, what is the first performance modification everyone does with theirs as I am still new to being a Maxima owner. Of course that ugle amber corner lense will go and I will get fog lights and professionally tinted windows and new wheels and tires...(NO WHEEL COVERS :-))

But anyway, the help was certainly appreciated!

Thanks guys!

Ryan