As I was reading an earlier thread about aero Kits. It's so unfair that stillen is the only one we have to depend on of an aero kit. I don't understand way Honda/Acura and Toyota/Lexus get all the cool stuff? Isn't the Maxima an import? Why is it the only Nissans that get anything is the Z, Sentra, 240 and of course the Skyline which the majority of us can't afford?
I am so fed-up with going into speed shop and seeing shelf after shelf of useless s**t for rice rockets. It time that manufactures realize that the Maxima has a cult following and they need to provide us with some toys. I am tired of seeing the same setup on all the Maxima in my neighborhood, nothing impress me anymore because it's all the same with minor twist. Sorry guys! But I am just tired of watching us chase our tails and not getting anywhere.

 

Sad but true fact of the matter is that the Max 'cult' is MUCH smaller than any other group. Most Max's are bought by rental fleets or people who never do a thing to their stock vehicles. The other Nissan vehicles you metioned are the ones with the demographics prone to purchase aftermarket parts. Heck, if I were an aftermarket company (with no bias toward any make), I would be making stuff for 'cults' of thousands like Hondas, etc. rather than waste my time on a few hundred (if that) modded Max's where I could barely get back my R&D and initial run money.

Another aspect is the high efficiency of the VQ engines to start with...hell, even the stock exhaust has been noted to be very efficient. Perhaps if Honda and the rest wrung out every last ounce of oomph from their engines when they put them in stock vehicles, the aftermarket would not have so many 'go fast' parts for them either.

Just some thoughts...

 

True, but if you make something decent for the max, you have no competition. I wonder how many of these companies making honda junk actually stick around for more than a year...Honda has every part duplicated 100x over.

 

The problem with that is that the demand is not high enough. Most teenagers can't afford almost 30k car, let alone do any mods to it. I am 22 and I dont see too many people my age or younger driving maximas, its mostly older crowd that is not willing to do anything to their cars. You see more civics out there with exhausts, intakes and clear lights than stocks, that is because those cars are affortable and the parts are fairly cheap.

 

I have to agree there are some excellent points being made here. The car is expensive and modding it sometimes take heart. I dont think the max is a car owned to refit like civics. Heck, I was thinking of buying a used civic just to experiment w/mods. Wouldnt dare try that on a note of $410/m. Another thing.. whenever someone spots a maxima..they dont need to look for mods.. they already know you an all stock street race winner!

 

I understand what everyone is saying but look at MB, yes this is a fairly high price car but you still have a few aftermarket suppliers. For example You have AMG, Brabus, Carlsson, and Lorinser just to name a few of the higher end companies. I am sure that a body kit from one of these companies is much higher in price than a stillen body kit but at least the MB owner has a choice. My point is; price of the car is a main but not the deciding factor when it comes to supplying the community with cool aftermarket stuff. I am sure that there are fewer MB drivers wanting to mod their cars than Maxima drivers wanting to mod their cars. The 5 gen Max just got looked over in the mod world.

 

once you start to mod your 25k + car your local dealers service rep usually immediately begins to mess with you.

 

Again, look at the demographics and economics of the situation...Max's are mid $20k's (some a bit higher)...this is pretty much what mainstream America can afford as a primary vehicle, and need to budget for it accordingly...

now as for your AMG example...people who can and do drop $50K+ on cars quite often do not have the same budget constraints...the other aspect is that the AMG versions are sold 'modded' as a complete package to upscale car buyers, not the backyard wrenchheads who put parts on themselves...

 

jjs I totally agree with you on all the points that you made but I believe that I am being misunderstood. What I am trying to get across is, if a company was to make a part for the Max it will not sit around in a warehouse gathering dust.

One thing I have notice with the ppl on this .org "Price does not matter when it came to quality" as long as it's built well and do what is promised we will buy it.

"if you build it, he will come..." Field of Dreams

he = Maxima owners

 

not at all, understand your point completely!

thing is, if a company can make 1,500 'whatever's' for a Honda and more than likely sell them all for a one time tooling, etc. charge, or make 1,500 'whatever's' AND make 150 'max-things', they are going to incur tooling costs, etc. for the new part.

I also agree about certain people on the .org and your qaulity and price comment. Thing is, if you look at the .org members who actually purchase stuff, the majority of members go for low cost, bang for the buck things like $40.00 FSTB's, $60 intakes, $115.00 RSB's, etc. The true 'I'll pay whatever for quality' are a handful of members who have the cash flow to allow it. That is a handful of an already small handful (Max's owners as a whole). If we would all pay for quality, price be damned, Stillen would have all the business and provide a much wider line of parts.

Oh well...

 

Buttomline we get the short end of the stick

Oh Well... is right

Peace
Nice

 

I would also agree with your explanation of some, maybe alot of .org members going with lower cost stuff. but does low cost mean low quality? i mean if u can get an intake for $65 versus $130 and it provides u with everything u want, then i say to each his/her own.

I think some of the lite debates that go on here as to which product is the best, who will win between x&y car and so on... is just a continual process of our quest to finely tune the cars we drive. And yes, body kits is a part of the whole process.

I myself realize that my budget has limits, that's why i decided to mod the max at pace that i'm comfortable with. On the main components(tires,suspension items,engine add-ons) "I" want quality even at a higher price. On things i consider asscessories i will try to find the cheapest price going.

So much talk about NISMO and when if ever parts will be available for our cars, just look at the price of the radiator cap/engine oil fill cap that 's listed under parts for the 350Z at courtesyparts.com. I mean, I would like NISMO to offer some of the things that they provide on the SKYLINE, but like what was previously stated i think only a hand full of .org member will be willing to pay for NISMO.

 

Good point,
but you are talking about completely different market segment. People who mod MD, BMW or any expensive cars have much larger modding budget. Aftermarket parts for this cars are way too expensive. Profit margins are much higher, therefore, they don't need to sell large quantities to make money.
Basically, Maxima owners are screwed by aftermarket support. Most of us don't have large modding budgets to afford expensive part and there are not many Max owners wheeling to mod their cars for "cheap" suppliers to justify making parts for us.

 

Quit whining about no aftermarket support, especially aero kits which there are like 4 choices for a 2k0/2k1 now, and 2k2/2k3 are on the way. We are getting plenty of aftermarket support for a 4 door family sedan. Try driving an Intrigue, then you can cry about it.

As for 2k2, it's only a year old! I'll bet the 2k0 owners were whining just like you thier first year. Look at all the crap for them on custommaxima.com now?

As for the price BS, $tillen can kiss my ***. $180 for a strut brace? It's a ****ing peice of pipe and a few screws for christ sake! Not all thier stuff is overpriced though; the body kits and SC are fair, compared to similar products for other vehicles.

If I had all kinds of money to throw at a car, I wouldn't be driving a Maxima. So I have to weigh cost vs. value, which is the reason I chose a Maxima in the first place: good cost/value ratio.

Addition: and now CF hoods for 5th gen! http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=155784