Cmaxima

So I've been thinking about what my next mod should be, and it just so happens I know have some money to play around with, right around $1300. So here are the options I've been looking at...

-Finish the exhaust. I already have the custom maxima catback, I know want to run the Warpspeed Y-pipe with a new Cat, or test pipe.

-Redo suspension. My car sits stock right now and I hate it. I've been looking at going this route the most lately. Im looking at H&R springs paired with Tokiko Illuminas and possibly a Progress rear sway bar with ES bushings.

-Finally, overhaul the car's audio. I work at Best Buy in the car audio department so needless to say my discount is pretty sweet . I want to run my existing speakers, 4-channel them, put in 1 12" Kicker CVR, dynamat, ect.

So, what would you do?!

96nismoSE

iTrader: (2)

clear the tails and for $1300 all of it!

2000_MAXIMA_KING

iTrader: (30)

Definitely drop first, then exhaust, and not a big fan of audio so thats last

bkortee

DROP IT.

stamar

Ya suspension. Get the illuminas with tokico springs for 650 or so

defiance

iTrader: (1)

Drop it put some bigger wheels on it and get rid of that awful fart cannon ;]

ChrisMan287

iTrader: (34)

Drop it, get better looking rims, y-pipe, black bumper lights and red/smoked tails. Then maybe audio.

perkman87

iTrader: (6)

swap a vq motor into it....

cashoit

am i the only black guy here lol

AUDIO first man. Get your tunes right!!!!

y-pipe next. then u might still have enough for tokico blues w/ springs kit.

kiecas17

iTrader: (3)

For one I don't think you need a amp for our speakers they sound fine the way they are. Don't we already have mini bose amps for our speakers?
I would just get a 400.1 kicker amp for that cvr and build your own box using the re audio box calculator. Nothing personal, but don't get a box from your work they are too small.

Then:
-slam it ( IMO coilovers)
-y-pipe
-underdrive crankpulley
-clear or black bumper lights
-rims with low pros ( use the old rims for snow tires if you even get any snow)

tigersharkdude

iTrader: (20)

$1300=Coilovers

98Maximo

Is it just me or does your trunk not line up properly? (or is it just not shut?) I'd fix that first. That would **** me off, having the rest of my car look so nice and then having some body panels not line up.

tigersharkdude

iTrader: (20)

it looks popped

cashoit

coilovers gonna cost AT LEAST 1000 bucks. IMO if the stock suspension aint blown might as well wait.

Honestly man, dont spend too much on mods. jus save up and get the 06 maxi MT or the 04 g35 MT AWD. yup!

VQ30MPG

Must mean a VQ35.

I say lower it first. It's just looking way too high for those wheels right now.

Then finish your exhaust, if only for the sake of completion.

The factory Bose stereo is great. If it's still working fine, I'd leave it how it is. Even with an employee discount, it's probably not worth the money IMO.

JSutter

iTrader: (46)

LOL!!!! $1300 will do everything on that list.

Dont get a RSB. Been there done that. Huge waste of money.

Dont get a test pipe or high flow cat. See above. I had a car sound from Warpspeed which lasted about a year. The stock cat is not restrictive.

Konis, $500
Used springs, $100
Y pipe, $200

$500 left to start your stereo build.

Cmaxima

The speakers have already been replaced with Kicker KS series about 2 years ago and the headunit is an Alpine 9886

Yes, It is poped lol

Cmaxima

Hmm, I like this idea actually

MaxCrazy00

get some new wheels

blkA32

i think you should get a drop, thats what i would do

SiathLinux

Me personally - I'd replace those rims THEN lower the car ...

Cmaxima

Yes, yes I know the rims are awful, but as for right now im leaning for more performance mods, the wheels on there now were bought when I first got the car back when I was 16. Of course one day after its dropped it will be completed with bigger, much nicer looking wheels and low profile tires

Jdmfosho

Drop Rims system exhaust imo

bkortee

I dont know if you have a cold air intake, but I just installed mine and noticed some decent gains in power. This mod will cost you $50 at most for an ebay kit. Just make sure if you do decide to do it, make sure you drill into the fender. I love mine! Gives a growl and lots of low and high end power.

bkortee

I paid $37 for the piping, hoses, couplings, cone filter. A decent cone filter will cost you about $40 alone. Ebay is your best bet but hey, I cant fault you for DIY.

ES_Kev

both

stamar

ya the konis used springs and a y pipe are the smartest

as opposed to 500 for audio 500 for 00vi or mevi switch and a cai

then your car is pretty much done, modern vtech power and suspension.

then save for a manual swap id say

The Wizard

iTrader: (43)

Suspension and ypipe get my vote.
BTW, are those smoked ambers up front, or did you tint your OEM orange turn signals?

ColombianMax

iTrader: (7)

I'd say
1.bigger and nicer wheels
2.y pipe
3.drop
4.head light projector retro
5.LED tails
6.Rear Sway Bar, and Yes I actually noticed a difference.

Cmaxima

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wizard

Suspension and ypipe get my vote.
BTW, are those smoked ambers up front, or did you tint your OEM orange turn signals?

They are the OEM signals that were smoked a long time ago and have since faded due to weather contidions and what not, I have actual black bumber signals on order

The6spdMax

iTrader: (23)

1) suspension
2) VQ 3.5
3) send the rest of $$ to my paypal

pgmax518

100% suspension first.

FallenOne

iTrader: (17)

They don't make a Manual Trans AWD G35.

For the love of god No.


To all of you saying do a CAI. No absolutely No. All you get is Noise. Period. And if you drive through sufficient water, you hydro lock your engine. Not worth it for the wonderful raspy Noise you get.

The OP needs to figure out 2 things.

1. Does the car need maintenance? Maintenance is whats going to keep this car on the road not mods.

2. Does he want Audio or Performance, is this a show car or a go car.

Also.. on the Audio

If hes got such a sweet hookup with best buy, why are you only going to use 1 little sissy CVR when you can get ahold of a 100 other better subs and be more satisfied.

I personally have 2 CVR 12's and i hate them. They sound alright, and they shake the rear view, but they are Not worth the money. If your going to do Audio do it right the first time. Buy something your going to stick with, spend the extra cash, and remember this isn't a hatchback, we have a Trunk, and your going to need a whole helluva lot of bang to get the same effect as alot of other cars.

Performance Wise...

CAI's are a Waste of money.

If he wants go hes going to need to just have a quick look around at the rest of the forum and realize that in order to crank out the extra ponies he needs...

Strut Bar, Y-Pipe, 00VI, ECU upgrade/VAFC-II.

If he wants to make our grocery getters handle he needs...

Strut Bar, a Mild Drop (no Slammed car is going to handle like one that was intelligently done), RSB, and other OEM Suspension parts.

And onto the Cost..

1. With what your wanting to accomplish your Audio pipe-dreams can be had relatively cheap, just depends on what you finally decide on. I personally Despise Best Buy, so i dont really know what they carry anymore. But i would just grab a Type-R with a nice big Sealed Box, and a Kicker Amp stable to 1- Ohm. Im sure thats Doable for less than 300 With your discount. Obviously Pre-Fab boxes are Trash and you should make your own.

The way i see it.. 100$ for the Type-R, 35 bucks for a sheet of 3/4 MDF, and 130 For a kicker 400.1 amp. Thats assuming your getting a pretty kick *** discount.

2. Performance wise Y pipe 200$, 00VI 300$, VAFC/ECU 150-400$

3. Handling wise Strut Bar 15-100$ (why buy stillen anyways?), Springs and Struts are as cheap as 400 and as expensive as 1600, Rear sway bar is going to run 200$, and just getting the car back into an OEM performing state will run him a couple hundred im sure. Unless hes been good about the maintenance.

So for 1300$, you can do pretty much all three... With the Best Case Scenario i mean.... It just depends on how far you want to take each project..

Anyways, your choice, just dont waste 1300$ on Big sound, than expect to run with the big boys. Them subwoofers dont add no Torques yo!

Meh. Im sure i said alot of things wrong or priced them wrong, but quite frankly there's plenty of deals out there to be had.

Good luck. Also the car looks fine cosmetically.

maf2003111

iTrader: (1)

I vote for
1) Lip Kit, makes a world of difference.
2) Better wheels, Even the shock Se 16" alloys are better.
3) Suspension.

Nealoc187

iTrader: (23)

ypipe, suspension, 00vi if you're sufficiently mechanically inclined.

Cmaxima

I like the CVR's, and personally Im only looking for a little more bass, not so much that I cant hear my mids and tweets.


Also, as far as maintenance the car is perfect. It's a 98 with only 105XXX miles on it, I just recently did about 3 days of needed maintenance with my time off work

theWalkinator

+1

std aja de

iTrader: (3)

Get another 200-300 bucks and then buy set of JIC Coilover...

ES_Kev

again, BOTH! u have the money, but audio is the first thing u should do to any car imo. When u have a bangin system, nothing else really matters when ur driving.

skweaky

iTrader: (3)

You will get tired of sound. I have 2 Audiobaun 10s and a decent component set. I still like the sound of the car over the tunes. A Y pipe is the biggest bang for the buck while staying safe. a 75 shot is cheap.

That being said, i would do the drop first. If your town is anything like mine, a dropped maxima turns heads. A dropped maxima that isnt riced out is a very nice thing. With every mod i always ask myself,"should the factory have done this before they shipped it out.