My maxima is giving me problem after problem, and I'm kind of debating keeping it at this point, even though I love it so much. I've replaced the MAF, ignition switch, Rear VC gasket, belts, and now I'm told I need a new starter in the near future.

My point is I was looking to sell it and get either another maxima, or something lighter.

I was really looking at Preludes or a 240sx because they're lighter. I was WAY surprised to find out today that preludes only weigh about 100 pounds less than a maxima, and 240's only about 200 less.

I've also looked into weight reduction and I want to know how much of a difference a couple hundred pounds makes?

Am I better off sticking though the maintainance and building up my 3.0?

 

Preludes have been known to heavy for YEARS. I say keep the vq i dunno how it is in FL but in NY your gonna have a hard time finding a nice 240sx. Unless you want to find a nice auto and convert it.

 

sell/keep depends on what kind of car you want. If you want comfort, then keep; if you want handling, then sell.
Weight matters but there are many more significant differences between a 240 and a max aside from weight. My philosophy (that I've developed after I bought my car lol) is that lighter is letter. My next car will be under 2500lbs. Lighter = better handling, better acceleration, better gas mileage, even more reliability since shocks, for example, have to deal with less weight.
I'm not a big fan of preludes... and, up here at least, good 240s are hard to come by and cost good money.

 

How much does weight matter? Depends what type of use you want to get out of your car.....

 

A lot. Remember torque = lb / ft. So, if you have less weight, you will have a higher torque rating. And don't confuse this with gaining more engine power, you're not gaining anything, just pulling less.

Also, I searched for 3 years before I found a nice 240sx SE. And even then, the engine is on its way out, but it has a cherry body and awesome interior. The fact of the matter is, most 240 owners are kids with no car sense, bad taste, and bondo where paint should be. There are people out there who take care of their 240's and there are some really nice 240's but to find one for a good price, i.e. drift tax exempt seller, will be a long and difficult process, especially if you want one in running condition.

 

if your talking 1/4 mile i believe it is accepted that for every 100lbs you take off your car, you can expect a .1s decrease in 1/4 mile time. Of course theres tons of factors, but just a general rule of thumb ive heard before.

 

A 4th gen Maxima is relatively light when compared to today's cars. Civic's and Corolla's now weigh almost as much as the the 4th gen Maxima.

If you want something light, look into Integra's that are GS-R or Type-R's. Preludes are also great cars even for their weight. They were once considered the best handling under $50k and many compared the handling to the E36 M3 BMW.

Lower your Maxima with quality suspension components, replace old suspension bushings, and add thicker stabilizer bars and you will be happy with the car.

What type of problems are you having with your Max that you've haven't resolved yet? Also how many miles are on it. Auto or Manual?

 

Weight is huge. Accelerate up a hill with just you, then repeat with a car full of people.

 

EnervinE, do you notice a performance difference with the Murano's? I hear they are heavy.

 

A COUPLE HUNDRED POUND MAXES A BIG DIFFRENCE. TRY RACING WITH A COPLE PEOPLE IN YOUR CAR AND THEN JUST YOU, SO U CAN SEE THE DIFF

 

Number 1: Fail;
Number two: Stop yelling.

 

Now I have to replace the starter and there's a problem with the electrical system that's making my lights act funny. Bu I know there'll be something else soon, there always is. I've got an auto with 170k on it but I might swap it to a 5th gen 5spd and rebuild the engine eventually. So far I haven't had any real major mechanical problems with it, just alot of electronics failing.

 

Who let this n00b post in here?

 

I hate to break your heart but those are all little petty problems, nothing major (valvetrain or rotating assembly going to ****).

If you want to find a prelude or 240 which will probably be in worse condition than your maxima unless you are spending an extra 2k-3k on top of what your car is worth, the car is probably gonna have allot more crap wrong with it than the maxima ever did.

 

I'm assuming you bought your car used. Do you know where it's been? Electrical problems are never a good sign. If it is in good shape otherwise, and you like it then keep it around and do the mod's you want to it. If it isn't in the best of shape or you know other wear and tear parts are gonna need replacing soon (shocks, struts, belts, etc) then you need to factor all of those additional costs in to it and see if its really worth it to keep it. Once you drop the 3.5 in it, you aren't going to get a return in the car of anywhere near what you modded into it when you do decide to sell months/years down the road so keep that in mind.

 

I suggest keeping your car and fixing the few maintenance items you have going wrong with it. Diagnose the electrical issue properly with the help of someone in the field and fix the alternator.

Most cars you purchase used will be "cats in the bag" and may have more underlying problems to them than you will initially see.

Avoid Preludes with Automatic transmissions at all costs as they are problematic.