And yes people, Lingenfelter is overpriced, but he is good

 

Cadillacs is a 4.6 300hp Oldsmobile has a 4.0 v8 with 250hp or somthing like that.

 

I'm not trying to flame you but a V6 stang or F-body is slower than a stock 5 spd Max, contours are quick but still not as fast as the 5spd Max. Both the Camaro and the stang are heavier than the Maxima and have about the same amount of horse power.

 

There is a man By the name of John meaney he owns a 1300 hp 89 Vette he drives it everyday and gets 18 mpg on the highway, Track officials won't allow him to run the car because it has no parachute or wheelie bars. On street tires he pulls the wheels about 6 inches off the ground. And he only spent 50k total, car included, on the project, of course he did do most all of the work himself but still here is your vette that has the potential to be A LOT faster than a 9s supra and it doesn't have a big block. Lt1 bored and stroked with 2 GN turbos and only 10 psi of boost.

 

I was talking about Jamie's automatic Maxima vs a 99+ V6 Stang or 96+ 3800 V6 F-Body. The 99+ V6 5 speed Stangs and the 5 speed/auto F-bodies are good for mid to lower 15s@89-90 which is more than competitive with a auto VQ and usually most 5 speeds (most of the guys in here can't drive). The Stang and F-Bodies don't weigh, but more than 100lbs more than an auto Max, but the Stang and F-Bodies are far easier to get off the line (RWD) and they have a more torque.


Dave

 

Thank you Dave for bringing some sensibility back to this forum. When you see posts of kills of V8 Stangs or even C5 Vettes, the writer conveniently ignores the use of NOS, supercharger and even Y-pipe.

 

I agree with you, my uncle drives a 95 5spd RS with the 3800, off the line he could problably wax me his car doesn't spin at all off the line and most maximas if not driven right will spin all the way through first and half way into second (Physics sucks). But the good thing is were I live most v6 stangs and camaros are autos so its real easy to but them behind you. whats the torque on the 3800, its like 220 or around there isn't it?

 

Every time I read what you write I have to wonder what you are thinking. Today in any auto trader across the united states you can find a 95 Z28 that is stock that cost around 8000 about the same as a max of the same year. a Z28 stock will run mid to low 13s which is faster than a maxima, and you can get a supercharger for a Z28 for less than one for the Max yeah they both run around 3000+ but there are alot more companies that make things for F-bodies than for Maximas. If someone who knows what there doing drops 10k into a Z28 you'll never be able to keep up with them, thats enough money to make that car pull the front wheels off the ground, in fact if you put 3k into a TA with slicks the car will pull the front tires, There is a kid who is not 21 who has a TA that does this a Charged max will still not keep up with that, BTW he runs mid to high 12s. There is no REPACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT whether you like it or not. Don't even try to bring the supra into this,a 93 model in good condition (2JZ with 6spd) still runs around 23k. Yeah reliability is a problem in domestics but it still takes more money to get the same results in our maximas or even in hondas. We can talk all day about what you can do to make a car fast and there are some cars out there that are very easy to mod and that react well to mods like the supra or any factory turbocharged car. But the fact of the matter is that if GM decided to put a factory turbo on an F-body it would be faster than a stock twin supra, and if the supra were still offered in america it would probably cost less. But GM will never do this so it doesn't matter.

 

Get stickier tires and the 5 speed Maxima is far easier to get off the line. The 3800 V6s put down ~200-210 rwtq and about 170rwhp. This is more power to the ground than the 4th gen 5 speed, but the 4th gens advantage comes in the topend where the VQs longer powerbands take hold. In stock form, most 3800 V6 Fodies run 89-90mph and most VQs run 91-92mph, but they ET in the same range simply because of traction.


Dave

 

Amen. Like I said before, my buddy will be running 11s in his auto 95 Z28 with just NA mods. All he has is headers, heads, cam, intake manifold, gears, catback, chip, and intake. He runs deep 12s with this. When he replaces the torque converter, he'll be in the 11s. He will be nearly as quick as the 11.5-second single turbo 95 Supra at my track. The Supra has about 15K in mods (turbo setup and built tranny mostly) while my friend has 5K in mods.

While I would much rather have a Supra TT, I know that the best way to fast is with a Domestic V8. It's cheaper, easier to fix, and much easier to go REAL fast.


Dave

 

What about other twin-turbo engines...Like the early '90's 300ZX's, '93 Mazda RX-7, or a '94 Mitsu 3000GT? Those can be had for far less than the Supra, right?

 

American cars benefit exponentially more from the same mods that only incrementally improve us. Reason: American engineering is so inefficient to begin with that when you "loosen" some of the restrictions the cars come alive (in a nutshell).

This has got to be one of the most ignorant and overused import argument I've ever heard. The concept that Japanese engineering is some sort of god-like entity, infinite in superiority to those stupid American round-eyes who can't design anything for sh**. What sort of "restrictions" do American built cars have that Japanese cars (sold here in the US) don't? Last time I heard, everyone has to conform to the same emmision/crash test standard, regardless of who manufactures the car. Japanese motors are efficient because they have to be; they lack the inherent power/torque advantages of a larger displacement motor, so they maximize power with what they have. That's why you only see small gains in power from imports; they are already "maximized" from the factory. American engineered motors do not have to be "maximized" from the factory; they have enough displacement to compensate. The funny part is, once those American motors are made more efficient, the import will be seeing taillights, if both cars are equivilently modded.

The Corvette and Supra debate makes me laugh; this Supra that Supra might run 9's at the strip (I have several MPEGS of street Supras running nines, so I don't doubt they can), but how drivable is it on the street? That Lingenfelter Corvette is one of the most flat-out impressive vehicles on this planet. It runs 0-60 in 1.97 sec, and 0-100 in like 4.1 The Vette is at 150 6 seconds after that; can any modded Supra do that? Probably not, because it's not that a Supra can't make that kind of power (it can probably make more), but it's the way that power is delivered that is gonna give it a disadvantage.

BTW, most of the Mustangs/Camaros that get really good MPG on the highway get that because of the overdrive in the gearbox (it's sixth gear on a Camaro). You can turn really low RPM on the highway and still get a good cruise speed.

And I agree, American V6's suck compared to a Japanese V6. The 350Z is gonna ROCK; I'm very happy that Infinity has injected some life into it's new line of cars/motors.

 

oh my I dont beleive this thread is still going...

 

All of those with the exception of the 3000 can be had for less than a supra, but a supra is the fastest of them and the RX-7 has some problems along with the 3000GT the one thats really fast is the VR-4 but reliability is an issue in those, I really don't know about the 300z but I'm sure it to could be made ungodly fast if tweaked.

 

The lingenfelter Vette is fast but because of traction problems it only does 0-60 in 3.3 they had to skip 2nd to get that so it definitly has potential. Where did you get the 1.97 0-60 (what magazine)? I guess with slick thats definitly possible but I'm skeptical so prove me wrong I would love to see those time slips.
Thanks,
Ryan

 

The GMC Envoy, If you'd like I'll list more.

 

Please get off your high-horse.

 

I got my data regarding the Lingenfelter Vette out of last months Motor Trend; they raced it against an F/A 18 from the Blue Angels.
Check out the stats sheet; it's an amazing car.

 

 

I had a rolling from 50 race with a 03 Cobra the other day. He pulledo n me without too much difficulty, but he didn't destroy me either.

And I'm boosted + MEVI.

IanS

 

4.2L/270HP is close to 300...

The envoy couldn't hold the 350's jock strap in anything but towing/passenger capacity. Keep dreaming.

Go on and list more.

 

 

Please take a step back and look at this forum from a non-Maxima owner standpoint. Ignorance is all over the place in these forums and it's getting worse. Maybe my voice of reason upsets you, I'm sorry.


Dave

 

Ahh yeah, the classic import vs. domestic debate. I am a maxima owner however I'll be the first one to tell you THIS CAR COSTS TOO MUCH FREAKIN MONEY TO MAKE FAST and has never even been "really fast". Also When you start cranking out the horse power, stuff starts to break. Japanese cars are too freakin expensive to fix. Yes an american car may break down more, but when performance is concerned reliability will go through the floor.

I too am sick of hearing stories that a maxima beat a corvette or mustang. Its usually 1 of 2 things. The mustang driver screwed up. or 2 we're comparing a fully modded (and sometimes with boost and NOS) family sedan to a stock mustang or a mustang with something wrong or a bad run. How many times have you lost to a neon/civic/cavalier because your car wasnt running right or you missed a shift?

Another thing is if you go to our 1/4 mile section, just look at how many people are running high 15s! Ontop of that the vast majority are auto's.

If I were to do it again, I'd buy an american car to hop it up. Cheaper to fix, and cheaper to make go fast. Money does not grow on trees for me so dollar per HP is important (dont ask why i got this car). If I won the lottery would I drive foreign? You bet. But I have more chances of dying driving my car then winning the lotto.

Another thing is the maxima is hardly what I call an enthusiasts car. It is designed to be a grocery getting machine driven by mini-van moms, not a race car. Thats why the real enthusiasts drive real enthusiast cars such as Mustang, Corvette etc. It features all of the items NOT to make it an enthusiasts car such as: heavy weight, front wheel drive, non-independent rear suspension, limited and expensive aftermarket, expensive repairs.

However the Japanese have made one part faster in doller per HP. Motorcycles. The japanese sport bikes run circles around the american sportsters. If you want cheap speed buy a sport bike. My $8000 when-new bike can run 10s with a good enough rider out of the box, and its one of the smaller sized sport bikes.

 

Then why do you go to the track?

I have never considered the Maxima a grocery getter. A Buick Roadmaster is a grocery getter, or a Dodge Caravan, or a Camry.

The Maxima wasn't made to be an enthusiasts car, I agree, but I really do believe it is as close as you can get to a sports car with 4 doors. It's a great car for something you want to go fast but is still respectable and has alot of room, built-in options, and 4 doors.

And if that's the argument, an Accord, an Integra, and ESPECIALLY a Civic was not made to be an enthusiasts car.

your theory is somewhat flawed, my friend. You're discounting 90% of the import enthusiasts out there. Not everyone can afford the base price of even a used TT Supra or Skyline.

My last car was a Camaro. it is why I will NEVER buy anything domestic again. $3000 for a engine from a junkyard is not cheap....especially when you have to buy 3 of them in 6 years.

IanS

 

Maxima's are the fastest cars in their catagory. 6.5 seconds 0-60 out of a 1995 190HP V6 maxima is very impressive if you ask me. Just think if Nissan engineered VQ technology into a 4.6L V8. Well I can tell you that particular V8 would destroy any other 4.6L in the world performance wise.

Maxima's are sleepers becuase just like Eric D wong said, who is so full of hate, they are grocery getters. But that doesn't mean they can't be made very sport car like in handing/looks/performance.

The Maxima is a totally different car than a 300zx, Supra, Mustang or Camaro. It's main intention was NOT to be a sports car (as it's FWD is pretty good proof), rather a midsize cruiser with smooth strong power unlike anything else in it's class. That doesn't mean it can't compete with sports/muscle cars to a certain degree.

People, take the Maxima for what it is, and take Sports/muscle cars for what they are, and let's end this gay debate.

 

I completely agree

 

Cause theres a certain part about me that yells "I like speed". Unfortunately I bought the wrong car for that. So I rung what I got.

I do. It sure isnt the hot stylin machine such as a BMW. "What do you drive?" "Oh I drive a Nissan". or "I drive a BMW".

I disagree. There are 4 door enthusiasts cars. WRX, most BMWs, Mercedes, Audi, even the Passat W8.

Actually an Integra can be considered an enthusiasts car. A civic...well I'm willing to bet theres MORE 13 second civics then 13 second maximas. AND there are 7 second civics while there are NO 10 second maxes.

So is yours, no offense.

Right and not everybody can afford to make a maxima run 13s costing $3000+. This car is just too expensive to make fast and the lack of parts doesnt help. Supra's are nice cars as well, but those too are too freakin expensive to make fast.

What motor was this? You can find LS1 motors for relatively cheap on ebay and on swap meets. Case in point.. a very quick search on completed items on ebay had 3 LS1 motors with AUTOMATIC transmission going for $2700 give or take some. Anyway its not like I've had very good luck with my foreign made vehicle either. Most of my friends drive domestics and none have had the woes I have with my car. And this is with different motors from the 350 from 68, LT1, LS1 and LT4 motors. And they still run faster then me stock then I would supercharged.

 

They got competition. Acura CL-S and Passat W8.

Yes but they did not. Not to mention that motor would be $10,000.

Handling? Please tell me you are joking. This car can't handle at all. Its just too heavy to handle like a champ. Not to mention the 62/38 uneven weight balance. Add that with mcpherson struts in the front and a beam in the back and a super flexible chassis and you really got a handlin machine!

Really? Then why is it hailed as the 4DSC or "Cars like it 0".

OK, I'll take the max for what it is. Family sedan. I bought the wrong class of car, and within that class definately the wrong car.

 

Wrong catagories. Only the 2k2 Max is beginning to fit into that catogory..the Max is a midsize car and the CL-S is a near luxury coupe.

Quote:

Handling? Please tell me you are joking. This car can't handle at all. Its just too heavy to handle like a champ. Not to mention the 62/38 uneven weight balance. Add that with mcpherson struts in the front and a beam in the back and a super flexible chassis and you really got a handlin machine!

Actually it's 61/39.

I've gotten compliments from people who drive other Maxima's, camaro's, mustangs, ect. ect. on how TIGHT my maxima takes curves. A Maxima can be made to handle very well.

Quote:

Really? Then why is it hailed as the 4DSC or "Cars like it 0".

Becuase there is no other car that can keep up with it in it's catagory. Besides it's just marketing

Quote:

OK, I'll take the max for what it is. Family sedan. I bought the wrong class of car, and within that class definately the wrong car.

Yes and you sure do b!tch alot about it. The Maxima is a far greater cars then what most teenagers get so just STFU and be thankful for what you have or sell it and buy your own damn "muscle" or "fast" car.

 

BE car specific then all I did was give you an Engine there are also engines in Opels made be GM that produce the amount or HP you are asking for no they're not in america but they are GM engines and some of those cars are quick and most likely the 350z won't be as fast. The 350 will cost with all options 34k I'm looking at it in car and driver now so don't argue there's no point, the camaro cost 29k and has 320hp the 350z has 287hp, 350z 0-60 in 5.4 the Z28 5.2, yes the 350 has better reliability yes it is more refined and yes it looks better but were talking about engines here not cars, so why would GM build a V6 with 300hp when it can produce a V8 with more hp and torque that gets the same mpg. GM could use the 3.4L from the catera and up the compression ratio and have the same end result but whats the point you have a high reving 6 that still cant do what their V8's do. The thing is were talking engines here not cars and every car company has their own engines each with a different purpose. That being said if GM wanted to build a high revving high hp V6 it could and if nissan wanted to build a torque filled V8 it could. Each company does what it wants, not to say that one engine is better than the other because each has its own purpose. Also everybody has their own opinion about certain cars and thats fine it will always be that way and I think that it is stupid to say that one car or engine is better than another just because of the company that car/engine comes from. We all have been guilty of doing this in the past and it will probably happen again. This web site is suposed to help us with our cars not makes us argue about engines, we could keep that up for years and still not get anywhere, Lets stick to the MAXIMA and try to get somthing else done.

Ryan

 

Yeah right, go check the sticker prices again and see who compares with who. Now that the max is over $30K, its stepped up to a higher level.

Now we're really smoking crack. Its obvious you have never driven a real handling car such as any BMW/Mercedes/Audi, Subaru, Corvette, Miata, S2000 even most VW's.

Well its sure marketed wrong thats for sure. And to me thats like saying this: My Ford Windstar is faster then your Dodge Caravan. Its like who cares. Its straight line acceleration isnt that impressive. Most all of our cars are stuck at the fastest mid to high 14s almost never faster then 100 miles trap speed. IF YOU THINK THIS IS FAST once again you're smoking crack, especially with your AUTOMATIC that probabaly cant break 15s. And as for handling, its just not there either. i know what it can do well though... it can haul groceries.


I dunno what town you live in, but in my town alot of the kids drive muscle cars and cool vehicles such as many Camaro SS and Firehawks, Corvette (c4 and c5), BMW, IS300, Miata, S2000, Turbo eclipse, toyota supra TT gen 4. Everytime i see someone driving a max theres an old fart driving.

 

Jesus. Shut up and sell your Max and/or leave the Forum.

Everything you're saying is very biased and mostly a matter of opinion, and not fact. You can't argue with someone when the argument is about opinion.

You think your Max is slow, can't handle, and is a grocery getter. Fine, sell it.

I think my Max looks SWEEET, handles pretty darned good for a 4 Door, and is mad fast for a daily driver.

The only point I agree with is that Mods cost too much. This is of course changing because the resale value of the 4th Gens are going down, and more people are buying them to mod them, which creates demand in the marketplace, and creates new products, raises competition, and ultimatley lowers the prices of the Mods.

IanS OWNZ JOO!

 

I don't know who you're talking to, but I didn't start a debate on engines. I have been trying to make the point, which now Craig has so gratiously stepped in and is handling his own, that people come in and make idiotic statements about something ALWAYS happens and it doesn't. You could make all the ASSUMPTIONS in the world about what a GM engine could be. All I said was that it was funny that most "muscle" cars needed a V-8 to beat our V-6's and since bigger USUALLY beats smaller out of the box, that in itself is a stupid reason to beat on your chest about.

As for Mr. Wong; If you hate your maxima so much, then sell it and get what ever it is you do want. Crying in your beer is not going to make it any better. Looking at your mods list, I can see why you would say that it's expensive to have one. Maybe if I ordered NASA to bring me back a moon rock to put in my ashtray to make my car better, it too would get expensive too . Bottom line is; you don't like your car then good for you. As you stated, the domestic car you desire is cheaper than it's nissan counterpart. I'm sure you could drive around the corner and find a dealer. Go and buy what you want and trade your God awful maxima in on it.

 

This is gonna be my last post in this thread:

Most of my facts are facts and not opinions. What is so opinionated about these: This car has these items that make it handle poorly: 61/39 (or was it 62/38) weight distribution. Over 3000 pounds of inertia to overcome on usually 215-235 wide tires (skinny). Has a NON INDEPENDENT rear axle, great for bumps and refinement... Has a superflexible chassis (read- crash tests and how well FSTB and subframes work). Even consumer reports- the most nonenthusiast magazine of them all said in 98 the 4th gen's suspension "exhibited rubbery side to side jolts" over bumps.

Is FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. Has REALLY BAD high and low speed crash test results (95-96) and below average for 00 up (www.iihs.org). Has LOUSY depreciation (www.kbb.com, www.edmunds.com).


I wish I could but nissan depreciation nailed me in the butt. Thats why I will never buy another one again. Believe me once I get some $ together I will loose this car very fast.

This car will still never be regarded as a performance/enthusiast car. Try getting more then 400 HP out of this 3.0 v6.

 

You know, he's right.

I'm going to sell my Max today and buy a 1995 Integra....



IanS

 

Eric:

Weight?

An F-body weighs 3300-3600lbs depending on model (base Z28 to the up level TA). The Corvette weighs 3200-3400lbs depending on model (Z06 to convertible auto). The 96+ Mustang weighs 3200-3500lbs depeding on model (Cobra to GT). The 4th gen Maxima........2900-3100lbs.

Handling?

My Maxima EASILY outhandles my 94 Z28 which BTW, also had a solid axle in the back too. The Mustang GT and many VWs also have these solid axles if you didn't know. Have you ever driven a Mustang, especially the older 5.0s? They handle like a wet porkchop. They stick well, but the everything else is horrible. They lack feel, have **** poor brakes, and the suspension is awful. I see you listed Mercedes as a "good handling car". Nearly all the Benz's sold are shod with crap tires and soft suspensions. I wouldn't call a 2-ton Benz a "handler". Nor would I call the new W8 Passat a handler. The W8 has been critisized for being very nose heavy and exhibits severe understeer.

Acceleration? My 4th gen Maxima with simple bolt ons is damn close to being as quick as my 94 Z28 was with a catback. The only thing holding my Maxima back is off the line traction. My Z28 with a catback went 99mph where as my Maxima is going nearly 98mph. A car that's running deep into the 90mph range is fast. There's not many cars out there that run over 90mph in the 1/4 mile and the ones that do are typically very expensive and/or built for the sole purpose of speed. I'm proud on my little Nissan. I get to go fast in a pretty luxurious car for very little money. I couldn't be happier.

Lay down the crack pipe Did you really think you could extract 400hp from a NA DOHC 3.0 V6? It's costs money to go fast and clearly you have any money so obviously you wouldn't have been able to make this sedan go fast anyways. Right? It takes BMW 5.0 liters to get 400hp NA, why you think you can get 400hp NA with your 3.0? Sure, there are plenty of fast Honda's running around, but they break down just like any other car that wasn't designed for super high power outputs which brings us back to the money thing. It takes money to go fast and money isn't something you have therefore maybe you should lay off on trying to have a fast car. Corvettes, BMWs, and even Supra TTs break down too as I saw at a Solo II event last weekend.

If you really wanted to go fast for cheap in the Maxima the answer is quite simple. NOS and slicks. That's EASY and DEEP 13s for about $1000. It's not brain surgery. Low 13s puts you in the ranks of the infamous LS1, the quickest BMWs, any Benz, nearly every Stang, etc. When buying the Maxima, most of us understood that a Maxima is not a drag car and making a 11-second sedan is quite stupid and rediculous.


Dave

 

OMG! This thread is old, please let it die. Domestics can be made faster than Imports. I have yet to see a 4 sec import motor.

 

BWAHAHAHAHA, tell me you don't mean that, AHAHA, I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous. Dude, Maximas are cool and I respect your loyalty to the car; hell, one of my best friends has a Max. But, a sports car with four doors, you are kidding yourself. No, you really are kidding yourself.

 

look you little ****...go pull that bird out of your car and go run with richard simmons on a beach somewhere..."000h erik wong you're a pony!"