well my boy left me his 2001 maxima se since he on vacation.i have a 1995 maxima gle...and today was the first time i really drove his car. but i felt that my car has more power and handles better.maybe its cause i have an intake and the noise makes it seem like im going faster then i really am and his is completly stock and his is so quiet like u cant even hear the engine. i felt more stable in my maxima then his in curves. i also felt better throttle response in mines then his.i'm pretty sure that with y pipe,b-pipe,ill probably either beat him or it would be neck and neck. he takes me by like a whole car lenght thats it...anyways i just feel that our 4th gen rocks no matter what...lata guys

 

May be your boy had never done any kind of Tune Up to his 5Th GEN max.... How many miles on your boy car????

 

that doesn't seem off...he's right

the 4th gens are about the same as the 2000-2001's
the 02+ is obviously faster

if you put a ypipe in...expect to be beating that 5th gen

my friends 99 with intake pulled a car on a 2001 stock (both auto)
so i don't know why you're even losing right now...?

 

We have a 5th and 4th gen in the family, my Dad's 5th gen feels much faster. People tell me that his car used to push them into the seat while mine doesnt. Throttle response is much better on the 5th gen, the steering is heavier which is much better on the freeway. But the 4th gen has more sensitive brakes and feels more nimble...That's what I've noticed.

 

my boys car has 36k and its completely stock performance and suspension wise. but his steering is better i like it better steering wise. my is auto so is his...he doesnt really pull hard on me till the end of first dats when he start gaining lenghth on me. i think i would rather a 5spd 4th gen then a 5th gen auto anyday...ive been in car with him and weve gott ripped a new a-hole but a 4th gen max 5spd wit intake ypipe,and stillen cat back...by like 3 cars

 

usually they run pretty similar times at the track, maybe you need a tune up?
my friends max took 2 stock 2001 maxima's (other ppl that went to our high school) and there was no doubt his car was faster (99).

and yes, 4th gen 5spd is definitely the way to go

 

personally i think the 5th gens handle much better stock for stock over the 4gen. my gf 2k, hands down, has better handling than mine.

also the 5gen is a beast on the highway with that better intake? while my 4gen is all low end power

i rarely screw around on the highway with the ricers in my car, but i cant resist in the 5gen

 

If i were to choose over the 4th or 5th gen i would have to choose the 5th... even tho the 5th is heavier, it doesn't lose its power at 4300 Rpms.... for the 4th gen you would need to get the VI to get the peak end power